Re-encoding svcd for DVD-R

[r47463]

I am wanting to put an SVCD onto DVD-R (DVD compliant). What would you recommend for re-encoding the video? I only need to change the resolution so don't want to lose any quality. Would setting it to a constant bitrate of 2500 in TMPGEnc be good or is there a better method? Thanks.

[Mosaic]

Calculate the highest bit rate u can fit on the DVD and use that. Remember to account for the audio...u can't use mpeg 2 audio on DVD with full compatibility. U gootta go PCM or ac3.

PCM audio can account for 20 - 25% of the disc space.

[r47463]

Thanks. I've got soft encode for ac3 but can't set the bitrate to 192 for a 2/0 track. Would I be right in using winamp disk writer to convert mpa to wav, and would the wave file be PCM? (it comes to about 1GB).

[jdobbs]

Yes, the wave file is PCM. Also set Winamp's file output mode so that it converts the file to 48Khz sample rate. Since PCM is so large, though, you may want to then use the resulting wav file to create an 2/0 AC3 stream at 192Kbs.

[r47463]

Great thanks. I've got a bit of a problem though, I can't choose 192 in soft encode, the lowest bitrate I get in the drop down list is 224. This is under Options, Encode Settings and version 1.0 Soft Encode. Is there an update I can get to get 192? My version seems to be different :eek:

[jdobbs]

r47463,

224Kbs is the lowest setting available for Dolby Digital 3/2. After you set the audio encoding mode dropdown to 2/0 you will see more choices for data rate (all the way down to 96kbs).

[r47463]

Aha! Teaches me for not looking at the settings a bit closer. I should be well on my way now.

cheers
r47463

[ulfschack]

Sorry for barging in, but why the heck reencode? There's an exellent guide here at doom's that tells you how to go about fooling the authoring program into thinking 480x480 is a dvd-compliant resolution.

The only thing that needs reencoding would be the audio -> 48 kHz


cheers

[jdobbs]

Because 480x480 isn't a standard for DVDs. It works on some players and not on others. "Fooling" the system into accepting an unacceptable stream is not the same thing as authoring a DVD. Doing so only sets you up for headaches later on. The SVCD standard will (in my opinion) die soon because DVD-R has gotten so cheap. It has never truly been accepted outside of China anyway. What are all these folks going to do with 480x480 video discs that eventually may not play?

[ulfschack]

The SVCD res works in almost any DVD player NOW. Later, it's of course gonna be even more supported. It's really only a matter of a few lines of code in the firmware and ... eeh to hell with this. It's your call anyways. Good luck :)

cheers

[jdobbs]

Hey, didn't mean to offend anyone. It's not a big deal one way or another. I'm just a stickler for standards.

[ulfschack]

Well you should be... I am. And please know that I'm in no way offended (thought the smiley took care of that, tho :))

SVDCs are pretty new "standardwise". I think the specs were laid down somewhere in the years 96-98, so I expect all future players to support it too. I mean have you noticed the unwavering support for simple VCDs ? Take that and exrapolate. DVD+/- R(w)'s (especially the media) are still not light investments like CD-RWs.

To clarify on the "fooling". We're not fooling the player, but rather obstinate authoring programs. The resolutions are easily supported in many players and it is really (like I mentioned) only a matter of firmware coding.

Cheers

[jdobbs]

But the SVCD spec doesn't apply to DVD, only CDs. You have to go 352x240 (MPEG-1), 352x480, 704x480, or 720x480 (MPEG-2) when authoring DVDs (or the PAL equivalents).

Give it a year and you'll be buying name-brand DVD-Rs for under $1.00. The authoring programs reject 480x480 because it isn't compliant, and there are players that even though they will accept SCVD still won't play a 480x480 on DVD.

jdobbs

[ulfschack]

...there are players that even though they will accept SCVD still won't play a 480x480 on DVD.

Fortunately I have yet to come across such a one (audio can hit snags tho). In matters like this there are of course no certainties, and I guess it comes down to what you feel the most secure with.

cheers

[Mnemonic]

I have 6 different DVD players one of wich will read an SVCD. None of the NON-SVCD players will read my SVCD/DVD! Re-Encode, its worth it!

[ulfschack]

You work in an antique shoppe ? :)

[Mnemonic]

I have 2 Sonys, one RCA, 3 Panasonics, and an Apex. The Panasonics and Apex were all bought within the last year. The panasonics will read anything i throw in there DVD-R wise, including the DVD-Pro discs with the speckles! THe only thing that will play the SVCD is the APEX. I have looked and i find VERY VERY VERY few players SVCD compatible in the US! I tried Circuit City, Best Buy, Sam's, Wal-Mart, Brands-Mart etc etc etc, apex is one of the FEW sold here that will do SVCD. The new panasonics at wal-mart are amazing at playing cheap DVD-Rs tho. If you figure the cost of apple DVD-Rs you can buy a panasonic after buying 25 discs!!!! So i just bought the panasonic and now i can play 1.65 discs!

[ulfschack]

Hmm, I'm wondering if this is a PAL - NTCS issue, but I don't think so. Ok, the five or so friends of mine that have bought new players over the last year were of course "SCVD-aware" and made thorough investigations before purchase (all different players, tho). It is true that some of the "big ones" like Sony and Panasonic have very poor support for this. On the other hand Philips and Pioneer (have a look at www.vcdhelp.com) does that very well. So start buying products from the latters and the others will come around soon enough.

Cheers

[jdobbs]

Why take the chance? If you reencode with CCE the loss in quality for the conversion is negligible. I convert to 720x480 using bicubic resizing -- and since the "true" resolution never really increases you get a great encoding rate (its pretty easy to fit 2-3 of these on a single DVD-R)...