comments on my current 3 pass (1+2) workflow? help appreciated.

[loyalty_anchored]

Here is my current workflow for backing up my DVDs:

1- use AutoGK in "target quality" mode at 75%
2- use the filesize generated from step 1 to do a "Custom Size" two pass encode

Am I wasting my time? I currently do not see a difference when playing back via my AppleTV on a 27 inch LCD TV, but I would like to be as prepared as possible for a future display upgrade.

Can someone with more experience then me tell me if I am wasting my time doing this 3 pass method?

Any explanation as to why my method is a good/bad one would be greatly appreciated.

The way I am thinking about this is, i use the "target quality" pass to find out what approximate filesize is necessary to achieve a certain quality, then from there use that filesize and run a 2 pass for better bitrate distribution.

Am I thinking straight? or am I completely off? I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I would like to pose this question specific to AutoGK as I am not sure what it is really doing in the background.

I thank you all in advance for your help and knowledge.

[mr soft]

Hi
In my opinion you are wasting time and extra thrashing of hard drive and cpu can´t be doing your pc the best.
Myself I just run the custom size. Start with app. 1200mb
When the compressability test is finished (app.5 min) you will have your comp. % if you think it´s too low, you can abort ,add an extra 100 mb or so and run another test.

[loyalty_anchored]

@mr soft:

thank you so much for your reply, from what i understand, in essence you are recomending the same procedure, to find the correct ending filesize to run a 2 pass encode with to acheive 75% or whatever target quality one would like.

as for canceling and restarting, it is not possible, i set about 5-10 DVDs to do quality based at 75%, when i get back to my computer, the queue is finished, i take note of all the final filesizes and run 2 pass target size.

this allows me to do all of this with minimal interaction, the method you suggest requires me to be at my machine. but the final outcome should be the same correct?

i do not mind putting wear on my machine, i am trying to get all the work done with minimal interaction.

[BigDid]

@mr soft:
... i set about 5-10 DVDs to do quality based at 75%, when i get back to my computer, the queue is finished, i take note of all the final filesizes and run 2 pass target size.

this allows me to do all of this with minimal interaction, the method you suggest requires me to be at my machine. but the final outcome should be the same correct?...
Hi,

I have done that as tests and the results were completely correct, see other post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1010977#post1010977

You method is time consuming but, as you point out, has minimum interaction (and uses a lot of disk space :) )
So if it suits you and results are correct, why bother ...

Did

Edit, just re-read your first post, stating you see no difference between a 75% 1 pass or 2 pass. This can be related to the very good 75% quality. Do it again (1 versus 2 pass) with 65% or less, I believe you will spot some differences :)

[loyalty_anchored]

@BigDid:

Thank you for your reply, I will take it that with lower beginning quality based encodes, that the next 2 pass encode is clearly beneficial, when going up into the 75% zone, the bitrates are high enough to not notice the difference.

I will invest the time in doing this second 2 pass step in hopes that i will have files better prepared for my larger screen upgrade.

Does anyone know of a way to automate my workflow?

1- do 1 pass at 75%
2- use the final filesize in a 2 pass target size encode.

?