How to encode mpeg-2 at vcd resolution?

[rixkix]

I've tried the 'resize to VCD (half size)' setting in DVD2SVCD, but it still outputs 480x480 through CCE. I want the lower resolution in mpeg-2 because I'm trying to fit my movies onto 1 cd for the kids and I think it will reduce the motion artifacting. 320x240 looks fine on my tv as long as there is no blockiness.

[rixkix]

I was using the SVCD .ini file and changing settings from there. I'm now using the VCD .ini file and changing those settings (mpeg2, VBR, stuff like that). I forgot to try that....sorry

[pcs334]

reducing the res won`t decrease the file size it will just encode faster, you`ll have to reduce bitrate to reduce the output size

[mkanel]

Rixkix,

I tried making SVCD's at a resolution of 352x240 and found that I could get a decent picture on my boring 20" TV at lower bitrates by doing so. To resize I just selected everything as I normally do for making SVCD's but I selected Edit the Avisynth Script File - Edit when dvd2avi processing is done. When the script file appears you should have this line or another resize option.

SimpleResize(480,480)

Just change it to

SimpleResize(352,240)

or whatever size you want. I believe the SVCD specs allow for 352x240 (NTSC), this played fine on my TV but 320x240 did not. It only covered 1/4 of my screen.

[rixkix]

I was hoping that reducing the resolution by more than half would reduce the amount of artifacts, but it did not do so noticeably. As fas as I could tell, the settings were the same, just different resolutions. Was I wrong to expect that?

[mkanel]

Rixkix,

I not sure what we should expect. My goal was similiar to yours I was trying to squeeze more onto one CD, in my case 1 hour of home video. I thought the results were a little more watchable at VCD resolutions, 352x240, I recall seeing the biggest improvement in still scenes, I don't remember seeing a difference in moving scenes. In the end it was a failed experiment for me, I decided the quality wasn't good enough I've gone back to standard resolutions and 1/2 hour per CD. Here's another thread about another way of trying to pack more video onto a CD by changing the matrix.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15728&highlight=matri%2A

[RoopeT]

Actually you can fit 1 hour on a single CD quite easily using 352x576 and 3-5 multipass and temporal smoother.

[ux-3]

I must say that meanwhile, using the cinemacraft encoder, I have no problem to put over an hour on a CD in SVCD resolution. I do use 90 Min Cds for that, but I even encode two audio tracks, at 192 and 128 usually. I find the Quality on a TV much better then that of a VCD at the standard bitrate. I do not watch these at a computer though.

I find the results of a 5pass bicubic encode quite satisfactory.

[RoopeT]

Of course you can beat VCD, but can you really fit 60 minutes on 1 Cd (even on a 90 min CD) with excellent SCVD quality? If you're doing 16:9 NTSC, I'm sure you can. But, if you try to fit 1 hour 4:3 PAL material on a single CD, I'm sure you begin to see artifacts.