Encoders Reviewed

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I have seen a lot on the Software encoders in this forum and just thought I would add my 5 cents (For what it is worth!).

I have tried Panasonic (2.21), LSX 3, DVMPeg 5.1 and XING 2.2. Of these DVMPeg gave the worst result, LSX is good but over priced, Xing is okay and Panasonic is the best. HOWEVER, after saying that Panasonic is not my choice. Reason? TOO BL%#DY slow! LSX, Xing & DVMpeg all take around 1.5 - 1 conversion from AVI (ie 51 seconds of AVI takeas around 1.5 mins to encode) Panasonic however take nearly 8 minutes! Far too long for the small quality output it gives. So I use XING as I bought it a while back and I have never found a crack for LSX that works and I think that 30 secs is not enough time for me to evaluate the output. I have to try too many small clips to gain an insite to it. I also said that DVMpeg was the worst and compared to XING and LSX it just doesn't hold up. I like an encoder to give the optimum settings as default and not have to play too much when encoding.

Well thats my 5 cents worth.. Regards IY

-- IY (iy@sakina.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

Where did you get the Panasonic software and how much was it?

-- Joe (damicojl@bellatlantic.net), December 29, 1999.

Joe;

You can get it for "evaluation purposes" at http://come.to/powerkiller it's a working link by now.

-- Fabian (f_slider@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.


From Here and $79.95 http://www.networkserve.co.jp/mpeg/index_e.htm

-- IY (iy@sakina.com), December 29, 1999.

While were on the subject of the pansonic, can anyone tell me why it can knock off the audio and video sync after converting? I am converting from mpeg1(30000) bit to mpeg vcd format. Its roughly 60mins long and it only seems to effect this one film im trying to put on vcd. I have converted quite a few other things and they came out fine. Is it possible that the filters, or having a too strong filter on, can knock off the sync? Any info would be greatly appreciated--thanks. PS i agree it takes 4rh30min for 1hr of video

-- Doug (mazinz@aol.com), December 29, 1999.

I don't know where mine goes wrong. I personally found Xing Encoder 2.20 quality is the worst of them all. DVMPEG seems okay to me, but somehow I cannot combine the MPG file using iFilmEdit.

And, when I use LSX encoder, it seems to be much slower than my Panasonic. I am abit confused, but is it LSX 3.0 is much slower than LSX 2.51?

-- Rusman Priyana (priyana@eudoramail.com), December 31, 1999.



Speaking of MPEG1 I think LSX 3.0 doesn't offer nothing more than 2.51 (except some more artifacts around moving titles and objects). I think also that DVMpeg 5.01 at best quality is not comparable to LSX and Panasonic, but it installs itself at a dummy codec giving thus a better flexibility (you can use it with Virtual Dub with no problems). From the other side I think that LSX and Xing are the only codecs that can set the sequence headers not only at the start. This can give access to the entry point features in VideoPack (one of the most important features of this package). So, in the end, the I think that the use of the Panasonic plugin with Premiere remain the easiest to get our job done. Unfortunately, easiest does not mean better. Brambus

-- Brambus (kdwbr@tin.it), January 02, 2000.

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