is it better to... (re-encode for DVD?)

[buzzerbee]

1) encode at say 2 hrs of video / DVD with no further compression after the fact or encode at some really high setting like a constant 8000000 (or something like 1 hr / DVD) and then use DVD author & DVD shrink and make it compliant for burning?

I will be recording 7 one-hour episodes- using 4 discs leaves about 2.17 GB /file; 3 discs would be about 1.8/file. Can you tell the difference in those quality levels?

I'm just hoping to not recreate the wheel, when you guys are so much saavy about this stuff than me.. hey I didn't even know what VBR and CBR meant 2 days ago!

Right now, the TV isn't so hot but maybe one day I'll have a better setup.

Sorry to keep rehashing all this. I will quietly go away next week after I get this done!
Thanks

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by buzzerbee

1) encode at say 2 hrs of video / DVD with no further compression after the fact or encode at some really high setting like a constant 8000000 (or something like 1 hr / DVD) and then use DVD author & DVD shrink and make it compliant for burning?

I'm not sure, if you were truely re-encoding I'd say going really high (like MPEG2 Max Quality) and then recompressing would be the way to go, since the re-compressor can take it's time and do a really good job (ie like Digital cable can get by with 2Mbps where it takes the 250 about 6Mbps). However DVDShrink doesn't really re-encode, it just uses the already compressed file and pars it down.

I will be recording 7 one-hour episodes- using 4 discs leaves about 2.17 GB /file; 3 discs would be about 1.8/file. Can you tell the difference in those quality levels?

IIRC the 1.8GB/Hour DVD quality gave pretty good quality, especially if you have a clean source. There probably wouldn't be that much difference between 2.17 and 1.8.

[dvd_maniac]

What DVDShrink does is called Transcoding. This is exactly what the Satellite company does.
If you truly want to re-encode something then you are better off using Cinema Craft Encoder (or CCE for short) or TMPGenc.

I found this on Doom9 forum

Real transcoders reuse much of the information that was collected during the original encoding -- for example the bit allocation that is normally determined during the first pass of a conventional VBR encode can be simply reused and adjusted when transcoding. Other time consuming actions like motion vector computations, scene change detection, and organizing GOP structures can also be copied from the original.

Either way would take time and CPU cycles without giving you any quality benefit. I would figure out what bitrate to use first, and lower it a little for a safegaurd.

Also, IMHO, I wouldn't burn a disc over 4.1GB either. Sometimes they become unreadable on the edges after a while. Even with high quality blanks...

[buzzerbee]

ok, maybe I'll just go for the middle 2gb/hr.. I don't think I can tell the difference unless I see massive pixelation in compressed movies, but I've skimped on things in the past then regretted it much later when I decide I want it.
Thanks for the help everyone!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by buzzerbee

I will quietly go away next week after I get this done!

Wait a minute... once you figure it out and know what you're doing, you are supposed to stick around to help the next person who wants to know how to do it.

- Andy

[buzzerbee]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Wait a minute... once you figure it out and know what you're doing, you are supposed to stick around to help the next person who wants to know how to do it.

- Andy

hehe- you got me there! I guess you're right!

but we're making a big assumption that I'll know what I"m doing!! Actually after this marathon weekend and safe backup to DVD, I'm going to install my first STV.. so I may not be too quiet!

[korben_dallas]

From experience, using a slow high quality reencode can really shrink down large MPEG-2 files with minimal impact on quality.. but be prepared for your computer to be busy for a long time. Overnight is generally a good time to do a reencode.

[buzzerbee]

I had recorded shows in about 6-8 various settings and just got done viewing them. I've settled on GREAT as a minimum setting. I think it's better to record high and then figure out what to do. I don't mind reencoding overnight. I'll look into CCE & TMPGenc.

[dvd_maniac]

think it's better to record high and then figure out what to do

Buzz,
what is it that you want to accomplish? Do you plan on archiving shows to DVD?

A rule of thumb for capturing is to try to get it to the right size the first time. Capturing to high quality mpeg-2 and shrinking to a lower bitrate will cause some quality degradation and also just wastes time.

Reencoding an mpeg-2 2hr movie in CCE or TMPGenc using good settings (4-5 pass) could take more than overnight on some computers. And unless you know how to use filters and settings the quality will not be as good as if you just recorded it to the resulting bitrate anyways.

[glbrown]

Set the quality to great and just copy the data file to dvd. 90%+ of the movies I have archived fit with no fuss, just a raw copy. My external 4x Plextor copies about 2 hours of content in 15 minutes. They play in sage just fine. I can always spend the time to author a dvd if I need to but why spend the time up front. It's just SDTV.

A 4x DVD-RW+ is 60 cents. Make a mistake and just re-write it. don't want that show anymore, re-write it.

I modified the play DVD button in my STV play both sage and regular dvds seemlessly. My archive function even creates the xml EPG data file that stays with the copy and sage can read it when you play the sage dvd.

The next step is to write a script to read the video directories, write the batch files, and call the CLI in Copy2DVD. Start it up and all you have to do is number the dvd when the tray pops out and stick in a new cookie. The show info for that number dvd on the drive ready to import into MovieLib or create a label or whatever.

it aint prefect but it works for me

-gary-

[buzzerbee]

@dvd_maniac- this is my goal:
record 5 episodes Sat and more to come over the weeks - total 14 I think. I guess 2 or 3 eposides / DVD is the plan. Probably 2 is better. I don't actually ever watch on sage. For most shows, I do burn and erase & I'm not picky. But for these, I want to archive them. So I was wondering if it's better to record on Best then shrink the resulting DVD or just go with Great/DVD_ELP/DVD_LP from the start.

@glbrown -
You say write a script like it's so easy!! I never have and prob never will! Modifying apps is also not something I'd know how to do.

I tried the mpeg2max quality but TMGDVD author rejected it becaise it's 12kbps and the max it accepts w/o errors is 9.6

I won't even open up the can of worms about audio settings ...

[dvd_maniac]

I would record to the size you ultimately want it to be and do not shrink.
Unless you know alot about encoding with filters, and this would only be if your source was screwed up to begin with. Use VBR to keep file size down if you want and record with a lower setting.