Looking for a high quality xvid encoder

[Chengbin]

I'm using AutoMKV to convert files to xvid for my MP4. Anything better than AutoMKV at encoding video files to xvid?
I'm looking for the most accurate and sharp encoded video files without using quarter pixel and GMC.
BTW, I need one that can utilize a quad core processor, but quality is more important than speed. I hope there is a program that will do both.

[jeffy]

Please correct your title and wording.

Rule 12:
http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm

[Adub]

AutoMKV isn't an encoder. It's a GUI, an interface that makes it easier to navigate xvid's many options so make an encode. If you don't like AutoMKV try MeGUI or Staxrip.

[Chengbin]

I don't care about interface, I just care about quality. Are AutoMKV, MeGUI, and Staxrip the same in terms of video quality (assuming the same settings) since they're just GUI's?

[Dark Shikari]

I don't care about interface, I just care about quality. Are AutoMKV, MeGUI, and Staxrip the same in terms of video quality (assuming the same settings) since they're just GUI's?Of course, since they all use the same Xvid encoder.

[Chengbin]

I'm using AutoMKV, can anyone tell me the most optimal setting for the best (I know best is like a swear word here, but need an answer) video quality? I have set it at all default except profile is at 2 pass SAP

[Guest]

I know best is like a swear word here, but need an answer OK, then you'll be happy with your first strike.

[Adub]

Okay, so the fact of the matter is that the *optimal* quality settings for a video will vary from source to source. However, there are settings that will increase quality in all cases, but will significantly lower speeds.

You will have to do the research your self and figure out what is best for you, or you can go ahead and use a higher quality profile in AutoMKV. By "higher quality" I mean that you encode will be higher quality, not that the profile itself, (probably an XML file) is any better.

Just browse through the provided profiles, their names should be pretty self explanatory.

[blizard]

Why do you, Chengbin, not make use of another encoder like x264 which will make better use of your quad core system and at same time offer some more option for encoding? Note that Xvid is also capable of utilise quad core, but not as efficient as x264 which make it easier to take advantage of some more demanding setting.
Be also aware that two pass in Xvid will provide better quality as encoder will make a fast first pass to analyse video (which produce a log file) and then a second pass that will try to balance between file size and bit rate pr frame with the first pass
log file as guide.

You don't say if you have any hardware that need Xvid (MPEG-4 ASP) encoded material and if that hardware also is restricted to some special profile and level when video is to be decoded. In other case you could use x264 (MPEG-4 AVC;H.264) which also make use of profile and levels which can be useful if you want to keep your material within a compatible hardware specification.

Wikipedia:
MPEG-4 AVC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264)
MPEG-4 ASP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_2)

Read up these sources and you will have better understadning of how to pick setting and what different profile/levels mean.

Xvid today is a very capable encoder which with the right source will create a visual clear and stable image that in many way is very near the visual image of x264. You use some setting that will reduce noise (denoise;high quality denoise etc) and other problem that might confuse encoder before sending image to encoder for compression. Scaling and cropping is another way to improve xvid encoding and to use less time in encoding areas that isn't important like black borders. You might even want to try out different sharpening on image before encoding, but not all sharper algorithm will give you the effect you desire when used for encoding.

In the end your question of how to reach as high quality as possible is depending on both what is input and how/to what it is output. A High Definition resolution [i.g. HDTV] of a DVD source (there are PAL/NTSC/SECAM standards which complicate matter more) can never be better then its original size, so encoding this source would mean that you need to reduce size (or keep it as is) in some way and during play back make an upscaling. The opposite effect is when you have DVD resolution and want use an IPod screen which have lower resolution and frame rate. In that case it will be rather fast to reduce size and still have a visual image that keep the impression of a DVD on a small screen with reasonable speed.

For quality of image there is as important to know what kind of hardware that are in play and how this can decode+(post)process your material before it is output to a display.

[Chengbin]

Thanks for all the reply. I am limited to xvid because I'm planning to buy a Archos 605, which has a very high resolution screen (800x480) and only plays xvid (x264 with a plug in). I might consider buying the plug in for x264, but even with my q6600, encoding an episode of Prison Break takes almost 5 hours using x264. I'm looking for the most quality within a small size. I'm looking at about 350MB per episode and 150MB for Family Guy. So far with my comparison between xvid and x264 by encoding an episode of Family Guy, x264 look significantly better than xvid (same size), even at 2/3 of the size it still clearly looks better. This is encoded with 128kbps mp3 and 75MB file size.

Oh BTW, xvid seems to use 90% of my quad core. Pretty good.

P.S. This is the first time I've seen xvid using 90% of my CPU. I upgraded my AutoMKV to 0.95, but I also have Denoise on. It also seems to take significantly longer to encode. Does denoise slow things down significantly(and use 4 cores)?

P.P.S. Is there a reason to do a third pass on x264? So far I have selected to do three passes. Will that increase the quality of the output?

[Dark Shikari]

Oh BTW, xvid seems to use 90% of my quad core. Pretty good.Note that the amount it uses doesn't directly relate to efficiency; Xvid is notorious for its inefficient multithreading, where it uses Y% more CPU to get X% more encoding speed, where Y is much bigger than X.

[nm]

Thanks for all the reply. I am limited to xvid because I'm planning to buy a Archos 605, which has a very high resolution screen (800x480) and only plays xvid (x264 with a plug in). I might consider buying the plug in for x264, but even with my q6600, encoding an episode of Prison Break takes almost 5 hours using x264.
That's about 5 times more than what is necessary to get good quality from SD sources on that CPU.

P.P.S. Is there a reason to do a third pass on x264? So far I have selected to do three passes. Will that increase the quality of the output?
Not really. One CRF pass is enough if you don't need to have a specific file size.

[Chengbin]

There is a need for specific file size (350MB) and I'm using an HD source to encode (2GB per episode) .

[nm]

I'm using an HD source to encode (2GB per episode) .
By SD source I meant the resolution of the source fed to the encoder. If you're aiming for 350 MB encodes with XviD, I'd guess that you scale down to SD (or 800x480?). x264 is fast enough to encode such video at 30 fps on Q6600 without sacrificing much quality.

[Chengbin]

Umm, no. On AutoMKV, using x264, insane quality profile, converting DTS to MP3 192kbps, HQ first pass, 3 passes, it takes 5 hours with a q6600

[nm]

Umm, no. On AutoMKV, using x264, insane quality profile, converting DTS to MP3 192kbps, HQ first pass, 3 passes, it takes 5 hours with a q6600 5 hours.
Insane quality profile is insane, and so is the third pass.

[Chengbin]

Is there any GUI that can convert RMVB to xvid or x264 directly? I don't want to use Mainconcept MPEG Encoder to convert it to MPEG first then convert.

[Dark Shikari]

Is there any GUI that can convert RMVB to xvid or x264 directly? I don't want to use Mainconcept MPEG Encoder to convert it to MPEG first then convert.As long as your system has a DirectShow decoder for RMVB, any Avisynth-powered GUI like MeGUI can read it.

[Chengbin]

I'm using AutoMKV, and it should be powered by Avisynth. How do I know if I have a DirectShow decoder for RMVB? If I don't, how do I get it?

[Dark Shikari]

I'm using AutoMKV, and it should be powered by Avisynth. How do I know if I have a DirectShow decoder for RMVB? If I don't, how do I get it?If you have a DirectShow decoder, any ordinary media player (MPC, Zoom, WMP) will be able to play the video. If you don't, get Real Alternative.

[Chengbin]

OK, I can play the RMVB on my MPC (of course), but AutoMKV won't read it. It has trouble decoding the audio. My mainconcept MPEG encoder can read the RMVB perfectly, but not AutoMKV.

[stax76]

Most popular players have the filters build in (that's why they got popular) but AviSynth powered GUI's like AutoMKV require to install filters. The filter package for rmvb files is called Real Alternative and can be downloaded here (http://www.codecguide.com/download_real.htm). Besides AutoMKV there are a few other GUIs you can try, StaxRip (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=102652)beta and MeGUI (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=105920)for instance.

[Selur]

@stax:RealVideo Codec Packs
Note that distributing so called RealVideo codec packs, which is nothing but re-distribution of codec DLLs copyrighted by RealNetworks, and a few registry keys, is illegal. This is not unique for RealPlayer DLLs, most proprietary software products have this restriction. Any posts of links to such codec packs will warrant a double strike for breaking of Forum rule #6. To obtain legal and the most recent RealVideo decoders, install the latest RealPlayer. A link to instructions on how to make this well behaved, can be found near the end of this post.
see: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=73035
-> you might want to edit your post,...

[stax76]

Didn't notice that it's illegal, only thing I want to add is that I think their products suck and I'm trying to avoid using them.

[Dark Shikari]

@stax:
see: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=73035
-> you might want to edit your post,...Unlike rule 6, this is a bit questionable, because its a violation of Real's EULA, not a violation of the law.

[Ajax_Undone]

I thought the eula was to be fallowed otherwise its a violation of copyright law???

Stax you couldn't hit the target any better there products do suck...

[Dark Shikari]

I thought the eula was to be fallowed otherwise its a violation of copyright law???Totally different. That would mean that if you put a clause that said "you must pay the company a million dollars if you click accept" 50 pages into the EULA, people would have to obey it if they clicked accept without realizing it.

Contract law covers EULAs, not copyright, and even then its questionable because clicking "accept" is not a widely accepted manner of entering into a contract. Most of the enforcable parts of EULAs are those parts that merely restate existing law in specific relation to the product.

[Chengbin]

I installed Real Alternative and it AutoMKV still does not decode RMVBs.

[Dark Shikari]

I installed Real Alternative and it AutoMKV still does not decode RMVBs.Can you play them in a DirectShow media player like MPC?

[Chengbin]

Yes, I can play them in MPC, and WMP.

[Ajax_Undone]

I see so if i were to insert "I will own your soul" and you accepted it would not stipulate a contract in binding but more or less passive useless amount of garble that is utterly useless accept when addressed in a court of law. Meaning your souls future was left up to a judge who decides upon that eula that stipulates me owning it: could go either way... Right? Until judgment made its not law... Just more or less a said company's useless plead for compliance.....