I'm trying to make some vcd/svcd from dvds that I own. I ripped them no problem, but encoding to mpg stream is a real pain. TMPEnc is fast, but doesm't decode audio, Xing can't seem to do the job at all, I get a black screen and panasonic standalone encoder won't recongize .vob extension. That leaves one prog. - Flask and it is so painfully slow. like 20 hours to encode a 175 mb file. is there any other way thats faster?

Tygrus

-- (tygrus2000@hotmail.com), November 09, 2000

Answers

Yes, the fastest way is doing encoding with hardware. Dazzle DVC II (which is what I have) Is a sub $300 solution but quality is very good for SVCD, especially when doing it from DVD. You capture in realtime (the newest software has pre settings for SVCD), and you can adjust the bitrate. Software encoding just doesn't cut it as far as speed is concerned. It may be free, but quite honestly you get what you don't pay for.

-- MrVCD (mrvcd@juno.com), November 09, 2000.

Tygrus. here is a faster and safer way to do what you do. Use a dvd ripper program (like vobdec or something that can rip away the macro) and copy the vob files to your hard drive. Then use the flask mpeg and look for a vob file. it will pick up the whole cluster as thats how they are made (ex: vob_1_01.vob, vob_1_02.vob, etc). This way you are not having your dvd rom drive read a dvd for something close to 7-12 hours (this way you wont burn out the laser) NOW: for whatever version of panasonic you have, get the pluggin thats normally used for the adobe premiere(you do not have to havethe adaboe at all). instal the panasonic pluggin and when it says it cannot find the premeire folder, click browse and put the pluggin where ever you want. Once this is done (i usually hace mine set up in the "my documents" folder). change the name of the pluggin to "panplug.cm.flask (use ms dos to change the name properly). Once you do this make a folder somewhere 0n your PC forthe flaks program itself and then put the panasonic renamed pluggin in this folder as well. Now when you run flask and click for the output you wiull see it now will frame serve it to the panasonic and letyou set somethings up. Now that 7-9hours it will be going through the panasonic as well saving you sometime. Also a faster pc will speed up encoding time as well

-- Doug (mazinz@aol.com), November 10, 2000.

If you want Panasonic quality in real time you need a $4000 card like the Optibase MovieMaker Plus. Not to wory you can sometimes find the Optibase on ebay for about $1000. Also, there is another card called the PrimeView which uses the same C-Cube chipset as the Optibase. Same quality, but the Optibase software is better.

Good luck. If quality is important to you, say away from the toys (Dazzle, MPEGator, etc.)

ALSO, always calibrate your monitor before viewing and judging VCDs. It makes a big difference.

-- Anvil (anvil@san.rr.com), November 11, 2000.

unless you use the longer encoding process if you get a dazzle which is what i have to use and to this day i sitll have not seen any films or clips that i could not compare any of my final results to (some where the same or better)

-- Doug (mazinz@aol.com), November 11, 2000.

I have a dazzle as well as a pin dc10+ They both look good on the computer but you really see the difference when you play it on a 27" or bigger tv. It is like night and day. The dazzle just can't cut it for this use. If you are just interested in making mpg's for the computer or internet, dazzle would rank #1 for cost,ease and speed.

-- Holy Cow (i_was_probed_during-@n_alien_abduction.org), November 11, 2000.