QuEnc settings for basic DVD->DVD-R scenarios?

[ljpp]

I find it a bit frustrating to determine what settings I, or a Joe Average, should use when encoding DVD material using QuEnc / DVDRebuilder.

We have alternative matrices, quality affecting settings (trellis, extreme...) and so on. Forget me if I have missed a web page clearly describing when and what options should be used.

I think it would be a real FAQ to construct a list a recommended settings for typical encoding scenarios. My target is usually max quality, while encoding time is really not an issue - after all you can pause & resume with Rebuilder.

Scenarios:

Low bitrate DVD encoding (2000-3000kbps?): Encoding an extesive amount of material to a single DVD-R

Moderate bitrate DVD encoding (3000-5000kbps?): A typical movie backup perhaps?

EDIT: Subject
High bitrate DVD encoding (5000+kbps?): A scenario where the bitrate reduction is rather minimal.

Could Nic or some other expert enlighten me which settings to use in these scenarios (please to adjust my bitrate ranges if you think they are off), when using QuEnc + DVD-RB for movie backups, in order to get best possible quality.

[Nic]

@ljpp: Strangely, I'm probably the best one to state exactly what settings are "best". But QuEnc is pretty straightforward. DVD Rebuilder picks most of the settings for you. But basically, if you want absolute best quality, use "extreme". That turns on trellis, high quality and everything automatically. As far as Quant Matrices go, I can't help. Hopefully someone else can help you with that.

I meant to put tooltips on all the QuEnc options but forgot. I'll do it for next time.

-Nic

[ljpp]

@Nic

Thanks for the quick reply. Some more noobie questions:

- How to enable Extreme in DVD-RB?
- Trellis+High quality+2-pass = Extreme?
- The use of QLB matrix is bugging me. According to what I have found here, it aims to reduce macro blocks on low bitrates but results in a smoothed output? So it's use is or is not advisable when the bitrate is not exceptionally low (scenario 2 and 3)?

BTW, thanks for the great freeware tool.

[dragongodz]

use of "Extreme" is for if you REALLY dont care how long it takes or if you have a REALLY fast pc. "High Quality" gives a small quality increase aswell without as big a speed/time hit. you would also get more out of these at lower bitrates than higher of course IMHO.

The use of QLB matrix is bugging me. According to what I have found here, it aims to reduce macro blocks on low bitrates but results in a smoothed output? So it's use is or is not advisable when the bitrate is not exceptionally low
QLB tries to reduce fine detail you wouldnt notice in normal playback, NOT smooth the crap out of it. as such mid range bitrates(4000 and under maybe ?) should generally not be hurt too much either and definatly may benefit from its use. so should try it with your low and moderate bitrate scenarios and see for yourself.

[Rassilon]

Hi Nic,

Originally posted by Nic

I meant to put tooltips on all the QuEnc options but forgot. I'll do it for next time.

-Nic

Please do and also on ReJig.

Do you have any help/info/guide for either of those creations?

When I press [F1] in QuEnc it comes up with an error that it cannot find the help file, was there ever one?

Thanks for your time.

[dragongodz]

When I press [F1] in QuEnc it comes up with an error that it cannot find the help file, was there ever one?
no there never was one. thats generated by visual studio and is easy to fix, meaning F1 will do nothing.