TMPeg Settings

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Hi All, I have three questions regarding creation of XVCD (MPEG-1 with higher bitrate) using TMPeg. Source is MiniDV from Camcorder, edited by Media Studio Pro and re-encoded to DV Type-1 AVI NTSC 29.97 fps with CD Quality Audio (128kbps)

1) I use CQ-VBR-100%, max bitrate 2200, min 1500 (that worked best for me). Now in the last tab, I choose "MPEG-1 Video CD Non-Standard". Is that the right option to choose? I have never tried "MPEG-1 Video CD Standard". But my understanding is that option will do a CBR even if I choose CQ-VBR. Can somebody please verify this.

2) For the Audio, I choose the default option "MPEG-1 Layer-2". I have never tried "MPEG-1 Layer-1". Can somebody tell me the difference.

3) I use "Field B First". Never tried "Field A First". Can somebody please tell me the difference.

BTW, the resulting XVCD plays perfect in my AD-600A with very good quality. The only thing I am concerned about is if any of the above settings will make it even better or more standard (I have never tried them on any other player).

Thanks in advance, Subhadip

-- Subhadip Chatterjee (subhadipsas@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001

Answers

(1) as posted on the TMPGEnc forum:

In general VCD or XVCD spec requires CBR encoding but people often seem to report success with other methods, in the end its by testing that you find what works. I have XVCD templates on my web site that can be down loaded for a comparison. I would suggest you set VBV's to auto by using "0" in the window.

http://www.geocities.com/aussie01au/

You will note the option to change output frame sizes is left open for you to choose within the XVCD concept all other out of spec options are set to nul. Its a good starter!

The DV camcorders use Field A in both Pal & NTSC, but again by testing you find which is best for your process and certainly in SVCD thats a must for interelaced field processing.

If your intending to ship XVCD's to friends then be aware that some standalone DVD players will not play them and from that point of view its better to comply with the specs to broaden the audience.

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), February 01, 2001.


(2) as posted on the TMPGEnc forum: Here is what used to be on my web site about XVCD's and it explains some of the settings in my web templates for XVCD: ========================================== UPDATE - 31 August 2000: There is a lot of confusion associated with the other forms of the Video CD, in particular with what is known as a XVCD. Depending on which discussion site you read a different interpretation is often given. This information update has been supplied by Roberto in Mexico, a friend from the very start of my VCD involvement and very experienced in producing XVCD's. The information is based on that derived from the RAITE FAQ site. EXTENDED VCD (XVCD): What is a XVCD video CD, or "extended video CD"? It is actually a VideoCD according to the VideoCD 2.0 standard, but with MPEG videos (MPEG-1) encoded into higher resolution data rates of up to 3.5mb/s. Currently we have VCD (1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0), VideoPerfect (2xVCD), CVD (by CCube), HQVCD (by VideoCD Forums) and SVCD. The SVCD specification covers both CVD and HQVCD. The XVCD actually confirms to both VCD and SVCD specifications. Therefore XVCD is a valid all encompassing name. Any SVCD player will play XVCDs up to 2.6mb/s. The same goes for DVD players that support SVCD. Advantages:
- Higher picture resolution - Higher bit rate = fewer compression artifacts and therefore a better picture Disadvantage: - Plays only on SVCD capable (external) DVD Players ("only " VCD capable DVD Players do not play those CD's) - Goes at the moment only with MPEG-1 video - Produces big files. Which resolutions are supported? - 352 x 288 (PAL - 25 fps) - 352 x 576 (PAL) - 480 x 576 (PAL) - 352 x 240 (NTSC - 29,97 fps) - 352 x 480 (NTSC) - 480 x 480 (NTSC) Data rate: MPEGs can use a data rate of from 1150 up to 3500kBit/s. As everyone can imagine: with such high bit rates, less time fits on the CD (with 3500kBit/s, less than 30 minutes). The audio data rate must be 224 kBit/s as VideoCD specification indicates. COMMENTS: I do not agree that all standalone DVD players that play SVCD will play an XVCD, my Philips 725 will not. Its interesting that all program providers have a different interpretation, for example, in standard VCD's the Panasonic encoder allows a combination of video and sound up to 1376kb/s and it or Nero allow it as compliant. The listed formats do not include that which so many people use on the Pioneer 525 as not one is related to a 720 or 704 wide frame size which I believe, like a great many others, is the highest VCD standard available to us if your lucky enough to have equipment to play it. People have called these X or HVCD's??????? Confusing - sure is! =======================================

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), February 01, 2001.

Wow what a mess if you cut and paste! Hope the moderator will delete the previous post.

(2)Try this one instead, as posted on the TMPGEnc forum:

Here is what used to be on my web site about XVCD's and it explains some of the settings in my web templates for XVCD:

UPDATE - 31 August 2000: There is a lot of confusion associated with the other forms of the Video CD, in particular with what is known as a XVCD. Depending on which discussion site you read a different interpretation is often given. This information update has been supplied by Roberto in Mexico, a friend from the very start of my VCD involvement and very experienced in producing XVCD's. The information is based on that derived from the RAITE FAQ site.

EXTENDED VCD (XVCD):

What is a XVCD video CD, or "extended video CD"?

It is actually a VideoCD according to the VideoCD 2.0 standard, but with MPEG videos (MPEG-1) encoded into higher resolution data rates of up to 3.5mb/s.

Currently we have VCD (1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0), VideoPerfect (2xVCD), CVD (by CCube), HQVCD (by VideoCD Forums) and SVCD. The SVCD specification covers both CVD and HQVCD.

The XVCD actually confirms to both VCD and SVCD specifications. Therefore XVCD is a valid all encompassing name.

Any SVCD player will play XVCDs up to 2.6mb/s. The same goes for DVD players that support SVCD.

Advantages: - Higher picture resolution - Higher bit rate = fewer compression artifacts and therefore a better picture

Disadvantage: - Plays only on SVCD capable (external) DVD Players ("only " VCD capable DVD Players do not play those CD's) Goes at the moment only with MPEG-1 video - Produces big files.

Which resolutions are supported? - 352 x 288 (PAL - 25 fps) - 352 x 576 (PAL) - 480 x 576 (PAL) - 352 x 240 (NTSC - 29,97 fps) - 352 x 480 (NTSC) - 480 x 480 (NTSC)

Data rate: MPEGs can use a data rate of from 1150 up to 3500kBit/s.

As everyone can imagine: with such high bit rates, less time fits on the CD (with 3500kBit/s, less than 30 minutes). The audio data rate must be 224 kBit/s as VideoCD specification indicates.

COMMENTS: I do not agree that all standalone DVD players that play SVCD will play an XVCD, my Philips 725 will not.

Its interesting that all program providers have a different interpretation, for example, in standard VCD's the Panasonic encoder allows a combination of video and sound up to 1376kb/s and it or Nero allow it as compliant.

The listed formats do not include that which so many people use on the Pioneer 525 as not one is related to a 720 or 704 wide frame size which I believe, like a great many others, is the highest VCD standard available to us if your lucky enough to have equipment to play it. People have called these X or HVCD's???????

Confusing - sure is!

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), February 01, 2001.


Actually, XVCD is even broader than that. Take a look at the specs listed at www.vcdhelp.com - they show that you can run 720x480 resolutions on XVCD (XSVCD is MPEG2 compression on the same resolutions).

I have successfully tried the following on my Sony DVPS-360 (which does NOT support SVCD) using TMPGEnc: VCD (352x240, 1150 CBR) XVCD (352x240, autoVBR: max 2500, avg 1150, min 0) XVCD (720x480, 2500 CBR) XVCD (720x480, autoVBR: max 2500, avg 1150, min 0)

The last two had weird audio, probably because of a misconfiguration by me with the audio stream... still they all visually played on the DVD player....

-- Schwinn (schwinno@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.


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