I've been messing around with KVCD for the past two weeks, just encoding a few DVDs I have here, using various options and seeing what the result looks like.
I've been using
Red M's guide as a... uhm... guide.
Now I have a few questions:
1. Is Moviestacker a load of cr@p, or am I doing something wrong?
It doesn't seem to recognise a load of filters. Or rather, it only recognises filters it has listed. Which wouldn't be bad, if it weren't for the fact that any time you change *anything* it updates the file, and removes anything it doesn't recognise!!! Moviestacker is a huge pain in the arse. So much so, I've been forced to use Notepad to write the .avs files. Much simpler, and things just don't suddenly disappear on me!
2. Can't seem to use arbitrary resolutions in TMPEG
Somewhere it says that the resolution has to be a multiple of 16. Even when that is the case I have a difficult time picking a resolution which TMPEG will accept. Why is that?
3. What is an .avs file? What's the purpose of AviSynth?
The .avs files are loaded by TMPEG. But it's actually an AviSynth file? From what I can gather, AviSynth is a frameserver. I have installed AviSynth but noticed there's no exe in it's install folder. Am I right in assuming that it's installed in the Windows folder somewhere, and always running in the background, and when an avi is played it 'feeds' it to TMPEG? The filters mentioned in the .avs files are used by AviSynth, and NOT by TMPEG? (as I noticed that TMPEG has filters of its own, which can be used, but loading an .avs file never selects or sets those).
4. Why not use the filters in TMPEG?
A follow-up question from the one above.
5. Time for an all-in-one program!?
To make a KVCD you have to use (small) parts of about 4 or 5 different programs. This seems rather inneficient. Not to mention extremely confusing.
Red M suggests certain settings for the various programs, but doens't mention what they are and why. What are the advantages of the chosen settings, and what would happen if other settings are chosen?
6. How can I retain picture quality? CQ vs resolution vs filters
I have encoded "Below" at 528x576 with CQ at 50, to fit it on one CD. The results were 'satisfactory', but I would like some better quality - a sharper picture, and less blockiness in the background.
What would be the best way to achive that - increase the resolution to add more details? Remove some/all filters to get rid of blurriness? Or increase CQ for more quality?
To put it another way, I want to put the movie on two CD's. I have a normal TV - what would be the best trade-off for picture quality between CQ, filters, and resolution?
7. Why use bbMPEG to mux the audio and video - why not TMPEG?
Maybe a stupid question because I'm a newbie at this, but why use another extra program (bbMPEG) to put the audio and video back together when TMPEG can do this as well?