Thank You, You did a great JOB, but now...

[joesloppy]

Well, here I am,

One year ago I had never heard of a svcd, NOW, after all this time, thanks to DVD2SVCD, the first and only software that I have used, (maybe because nothing else it like it) I have a full backuped library of DVD titles, Never a problem with sync, never a problem with CCE, never of problem with it crashing on my WIN XP PRO DELL 8200 2gig, Everything has always gone smoothly, EVEN my wife who doesn't now the 'start button' from the 'my computer icon' can click on the little happy face and put in a dvd and hit 'go'. Wow, its pretty cool. Thanks to all who contributed!!!

Well, I have a simple question, and I think I already know the answer, Divx 5 and Xvid have both been out and I havent done any comparison conversions yet with those codecs compared to SVCD because maybe you guys can tell me. I love the fact of just being able to put a cd-r into my apex-1000 and play these svcds, always works and its remote controlled! But I have a video out on my computer and I have been seeing a lot of computer ads for divx to tv boxes or whatever they may be rather cheap! Will Divx provide a higher quality picture on 1 or 2 cds, (i never split a movie to 3 disc, I hate changing them) or what is the general feeling about svcd compared to divx, why not use divx if it could be better?

[winxi]

Simply because divx isn´t standalone - compatible.

[UltimateDBZ]

DivX is generally considered to be superior quality, especially when filesize is taken into consideration. However, all SVCDs and DVDs must use MPEG-2 video, and cannot use MPEG-4 video (divx). So unless the standards are modified (unlikely) we will have to wait for newer technology to come around before such a process is supported.

[Jason28]

I have done some tests myself with divx and SVCD. From what I can tell SVCD is better (for me anyway). I like that I can watch my movies on my set top DVD player. You meantion that you have seen some stuff for divx to your TV but AFAIK for all of those products you have to have your comp hooked up to your TV. I dont have my comp near my TV and I dont want to run an S-video cable from my comp to my TV.


As fas as quality is concerned I have seen some aswsome divx rips (Blade 2 comes to mind) that rival and in some cases beat SVCD. I have tried converting from DVD to divx and I can never get the quality that I want. I have done some reading on this and from what I have been able to tell, you have to know A LOT about divx and the filters and settings to use. I dont think that the gains (somewhat better quality) that I would get from switching to divx would be worth the losses (alot of time spent learning and not being able to play them on my DVD player).

[hoozdapimp]

i think if you go bitrate for bitrate (do like a divx at 2000kbps instead of like 900) then divx will be better (especially 5.0)..but like you said, there's no portability for playing divx on a dvd player :(

soon, very soon i hope

[LeonMcNichol]

When I got into converting, I got in during the mid stages of DivX4.x and didn't know a lot about encoding. I would do 1 pass or 1 pass quality base. Which resulted in rather unsightly quality, but I didn't let that beat me. I read a lot of guides and did a lot of trial and error. I found out how to use the 2 pass method and came to a lot of good encodes with divx4. Finally, divx5 came out I must say, it's quality is awesome. I did a few comparisons with DivX5 and SVCD. I found out, that quality for size, divx5 is much better. 1 disc at 640x480 with 128kbps MP3 audio (usually with just deinterlace filter set to blend in virtualdub) is just as good as (or better, if there's a lot of motion) of a 2 disc SVCD for the same length.

Of course, when the SVCD is watched on the stand alone, you really can't tell. The stand alone makes a nice blur and sharpen to it. (I know, because I've done many poor quality asf/avi to vcd and it looked worse on the computer, but it looked quite good on the DVD player.)

Now, the advantages of SVCD to DivX, is you can watch it on your TV, where you can relax, but there is work for a stand alone MP4 Player in the works and probably soon after a DVD/VCD/SVCD/MP4 player. Like all things new, there is a time period where it's a disatvantage.

If you watch it just on your computer, I think maybe a 2 disc DivX avi file would be better quality. You can also add the original ac3 file if you want to, to keep the original sound quality and stuff, but you need an ac3 decoder. Which your dvd software can be used for.

Me, I've decided to go to VCD/SVCD, because I like to watch my movies and anime on my TV and I can lay down and relax on my bed and enjoy it.

[Boulder]

It's going to be very, _very_ hard to get a standalone player to support all the possible DivX content there is.. Think about the differences between versions 3,4 and 5, the varying resolutions, the enhancements in DivX5 (B-frames, qpel etc.) . I doubt that will ever be possible. Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely want to be able to watch my DivX clips with a standalone player, but it's still a helluva long way.

[badbert]

Just my opinion, please don't flame me... Everyone has an old 'puter sitting around... For less than a couple hundred bucks you can make it a Movie server. I have a 500mhz celeron with 128mb sdram and a 20gb HD. I bought an AGP (PCI works as well) version of the ATI All-In-Wonder 128 for $60.00 at the local trade show. And a used DVD-rom(?) for $30.00. I also bought a SBLive sound card $40.00 to get some good sound. The DVD-ROM is not necessary for SVCD or AVI discs. I will confess to spending $600.00 on an APEX 32 inch flat screen. In my humble opinion, a 2CD, 2-pass, DIVXPRO 5.02 is far superior to SVCD. For the most part, a 700mb Divx file is at least equal to a 2cd SVCD using 6-pass CCE. The ATI TV tuner works better than the cable alone. And the interactive guide plus rocks!! Not to mention I can set it to record different shows with a simple click. It records in a variety of formats, SVCD, VCD, AVI...etc.

[hyperspaced]

Well, DivX has a lot of advantages over SVCD :

Quality : On a single CD you can fill an entire movie with quality better than 2 SVCDs (almost always)

Resources : You spend half the resources for the same (and better) quality. Ever wondered how it feels to stand up from the couch to insert the second SVCD ??????

But, if you ask me to what format I make my backups, I say SVCD after a long time of DivX use. Can't watch movies only from the PC. I hope that soon there will be MPEG-4 decoders available, so that my DivX collection dont go wasted. Till that time, I am SVCD-ing...


--hypersp0aced


PS: using a PC to view DivX on TV really sucks. just imagine the horrible sound of the CPU and the power supply fans, as well as the sound of the DVD player in the PC. Add up the video signal degradation from the converter and a couple of meters of cable, and you pretty much (don't) get the picture... :)

[markrb]

Home Theater PC's are quite common, actually. Especially in the Front Screen projector world. With just your PowerDVD, a decent capture card, a good quality video card (Usually ATI is recomended), a 15 PIN VGA to RGB cable and a couple of pieces of freeware you have everything you need to do some great things with that projector.
Most people use them to do line doubling, tripling or progressive scan DVD watching without the added expense of a stand alone line doubler(very expensive). Simply make a quite PC, which is not that hard to do and go.
I will be making one in a couple of months when I get my new projector. I plan on putting my 80Gb 5400rpm drive in it and I can store some videos on it. It can also be used as a TIVO type device with the right software.
You don't need top of the line, but at least a 1Ghz CPU and a Radeon 7500 will do. With a big heatsink you can use a slow/quiet fan and just get yourself a quiet PSU and you will barely hear it in a quiet room.

For more info check out the Home Theater PC forum at www.avsforum.com
Very good and informative site.

The main reason Divx will never see much play on the TV is that the people in charge have decided that Mpeg is the way to go and they own the rights to it. Divx is no longer open and even if it was the companies that have the power won't work with anything open. They want as much control as possible. Parts of Divx may end up in the next mpeg, but only what the consortium feels it's willing to pay for. It's all about the money and control.

Mark

[hyperspaced]

It's all about the money and control.

How true. It always has, it always will be...


However, this does not rule out the creation of DVD/SVCD/DivX players. On the contrary.
Think of all the million DivX CDs out there... In Greece, DivX is "in fashion". A friend of mine in Italy told me that they even sell movies in DivX on the streets (illegally) !! Everyone has at least 10 movies in DivX.

I think DivX is the way to go as far as viewing movies on the PC. More than that, everybody in this forum wished there was a DVD/SVCD/DivX player (we could post a poll on this).

Well, since there is growing demand, and since it's all about money, we are not far from seeing DivX players. Until that time... SVCD.


About Home Theater PCs : This is a quick solution, but there are some maniacs (hi-fi community) out there that will start laughing with the idea (if not already)...
As long as the output video signal comes out analog, there will be trouble and complaints.

About projectors: Ahhhh.. A dream for many, reality for few. I was thinking about an Ampro projector with a Faroudja line doubler but the cost is HUGE. SONY has created some new video projectors but they are still expensive. Think I'll wait until the DSP hardware (digital comb filters) prices fall.

--hyperspaced

[markrb]

hyperspaced for front screen projectors look into the refurb market. You can get a good 5-10 year old unit with good tubes for as little as $1200 US. For a higher end Barco 808 you are looking at just under $4000 US. I am going to be getting a NEC PG series and it will run me around $2400 with new or slightly used tubes. I don't need anything better since I am going to be using it on a relatively small screen of 84".

It's all relative as far as cost goes and it's all about doing the best you can with the money you have. Yes you can get a digital projector with a Faroudja line doubler, but as you said it's huge money. You can either have an analog front screen projector with a Home Theater PC for under $4000, get that high end system for about $20000 up or go without. Personally I choose the first option.
I would never do anything, but a CRT projector myself since I like real black levels. I will not consider a DLP until they get real black levels and they fix the rainbow problem.

I think you are missing my point on stand alone Divx players. I do realize they exhist, but I am trying to point out they will never be truly supported by studios. They will always be a niche product.

Mark

[ux-3]

well, when it comes to encoding interlaced material, I prefer mpeg-2, which allows keeping it that way. The whole discussion seems a bit futile though. In a very short time, DVD recording will merge the quality of divx with 5.1 channel audio and the ability to play it back on standard equipment. Why argue which flintstone is sharper?

[joesloppy]

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/3474.cfm

Hey, has anyone ever seen this, I think the time has come...

Where can I get one?

[ux-3]

Please post when you actually have seen one of them available on sale. This link is an announcement...

[mrbass]

read my two posts in this thread. Basically I'm sticking with mpeg-2.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?&threadid=23354