Step-By-Step Tutorial: Get Best Quality 4 Lowest File Size
If there is a web-page or FAQ sheet with this information, please provide a http:// address.
My Experience:
I was immediately attracted to the concept of divx/xvid because they claimed they could encode with the *same* DVD Quality at a reduced file size (5 to 10 times smaller)
but after playing around with some encoders I found that it was not so 'automatic' or easy to encode the best quality.
I discovered after encoding:
- sometimes the audio would be out of sync.
- colors were less vibrant; faded.
- patchy squares of different color-shades,
would spoil otherwise smooth background
walls.
- the 'edges' of persons face,
were 'staircased' or 'fuzzy'.
- fast motion scenes 'paused' on a
DVD Player appeared sharp.
The same encoded xvid/divx scenes were
blurred or missing frames.
- overall the encoded file would be
less sharp, blurred.
how can i fix these problems ?
step-by-step ?
maybe the freeware encoders have got bad quality,
and I would need to spend ##$100's of dollars
for a professional encoder software ?
maybe i didn't know how to adjust the xvid checkboxes ? I-Frame values etc ??
maybe i need another pre-processing program
before it is passed to xvid/divx encoder ?
Your input dvd files have to be in an ISO format. If they are in a video_ts folder, just use dvdshrink to back it up to ISO.
Next on fairuse use the h264 codec and the 2-pass method. h264 will give you the best quality at the lowest file sizes. 2-pass method will keep the fast-motion scenes from breaking up. Also fairuse is very reliable in keeping the audio in sync with the video.
This is the best program to use for converting dvd to avi. You don't really need step by step directions with this program. Browse to your ISO, let it analyze the video. Crop the video if you need to ,choose the h264 codec and 2-pass method. It takes 2-3 hours for the conversion, but it's worth the time.
A quicker program is the free avidemux, but you need to convert the dvd to an mpeg2 file. It's slightly harder to use but it can do a good conversion without going out of sync. A conversion takes 1-2 hours with this program.
Quote:I was immediately attracted to the concept of divx/xvid because they claimed they could encode with the *same* DVD Quality at a reduced file size (5 to 10 times smaller)
That ain't gonna happen. Usually cutting the size in half will produce an Xvid that is nearly indistinguishable from the original on today's larger screen sizes.
okay, so the summary is:
xvid will cut dvd file-size by 2 preserving same quality for large TVs.
xvid will cut dvd file-size by 5-10 for smaller screens.
I tried using dvdshrink, but it says:
"invalid dvd structure"
how can i convert the dvd structure ?
I tried using avidemux/fairuse,
but after encoding once again,
the color was 'faded'.
I tried directly copying the vob files
to hard disk, cut/edit them.
Of course these files preserve color
quality just fine,
playing at 2220kbps video, 256kbps audio.
once again i was hoping i could
find a free utility, or even pay money
for an 'AUTOMATED' solution.
But its *not* so automatic.
I have to do a lot of 'tweaking'.
If you have vob's to work with, you can use the free dr.divx 2.0 to convert them. Dr.divx 2.0 always produces dvd quality results when I have used it. That might be another option for you.
When dvdshrink gives you "navigation errors", you need to run those vob's through "Fixvts" that small/quick program can fix the navigation errors.
