Which Template?
 

To get Kwag's templates to work on both the Apex 1500 and 1200, I have to convert in 352x240 resolution. My question is, which template should I start with?

I don't like the 352x240 template for quality. I have used the KVCD 352x480 template and converted and gotten good quality. Will try the KVCDx2 704x480 template next.

My final result should be the best quality possible on one disc. I will tinker with templates on a per movie basis since each movie is different.

Just looking for opinions.

I have had the best luck in terms of filesize and quality by using the 702x480 template. The 352x480 template looks _almost_ as good, but is slightly more 'blurry' and typically comes out slightly larger in size. This is without using a sharpen filter... with a sharpen filter, it is quite close to the 704x480 template.

The nice thing about the 352x480 templates, is that if the file is coming out too large for you, you can adjust the CQ (default is 70, you can still get good quality if you have to drop to 68, or probably even 64). With the 704x480 template, you are basically at the lower limit of acceptable CQ (50), so you have little wiggle room to adjust a file coming out too large.

Re: Which Template?
 

Hi sterogers !
IF u are looking for quality then u are wasting u'r time - go directly to KVCDx2 704x480 1CD or 2CD .
I upgraded a little KVCDx2 704x480 to KVCDx2 720x480 ( with original res so I've not to resize ) and file fits to 1 CD-R90 ~ 940mb with excellent quality
It's up to u - choose one of those and u'll see
bman

apex 1200
 

I have one of these units also (1200 apex) and have to convert down to 352x240 for a vcd. I guess if it is burned as an svcd, you can use a higher rez?

I was planning to take the kvcdx2 1cd or 2cd, dump the rez down to 352x240, and make a regular vcd.

How do you go about doing it if you dont want vcd rez? make an svcd and use a 704x480 file? will the apex play that?

I downloaded the hq matrix trailer off the site here, and that would NOT play...maybe I didnt burn it correctly...I use nero and I assume that you are to burn it as svcd, but still just had green blocks...audio worked, but no dice on the video...

Some of you guys are misunderstanding me. I have tried all the templates at their original resolution. But I am now converting them to 352x240 res. I can convert the original KVCD (352x480) down to 352x240 and get better quality than using the Kwag 352x240 template that is currently up on this site. Haven't tested 352x240 with the KVCDx2 templates yet.

jaymel

The only thing I have gotten to work on the 1200 is the 352x240 res or 352x480 as vcd and demux/remux as SVCD. Just use the 352x480 template and change res to 352x240 and up the CQ a couple notches. I upped the min bitrate to 500 also. Pretty decent quality for 1 disc rips.

I gotcha sterogers...I just didnt know if you had tried any of the kvcdx2 templates yet...I might try this out this weekend...that is, trying out both the kvcdx2 templates and dropping the res down to 352x240 and also just trying the 352x480 vcd template and knocking its res down also.

I dont ever want to spend more than 10 mins at the computer getting this going, its a waste of time to me to do that...in fact, even though most people disagree with my method, I dont even use smartripper...I just use dvdx and frameserve to tmpg. I really dont mind if it takes 8 hours to run at night, I just dont want to mess with copying a vid for hours on end, and then having to start all over again later on cuz it didnt work. I am all up for trying something new, but I hate tweaking with such a long process (the 8 hours part).

I have some 90 min cdrs that I got cheap from all media outlet: http://www.allmediaoutlet.com , I started off with 25 for like 13 bux or so...they worked in my liteon 24x burner, and I even burned them at 24x...no problems in the pc, will find out how the apex 1200 likes them when I get home. I dropped exactly 89 mins of standard vcd video in 352x240 format...no templates...

Keep me posted if you get a chance to try the KVCDx2 templates though...I am very interested to see how it turns out...

KVCD
 

Hey guys. :o sorry for the interuption, but i'm trying to figure all these settings without haing to ask everyone. I have a Spny Ns300 and according to the compatibilty chart, the KVCD and KVCDx2 will work on it.
So should i just put the KVCD template and KVCDx2 in the TMPG and run it? I'm still having problems with changing the settings on the KVCD to make a good one. Just like jaymel, i don't want to spend a lot of time trying to get everythign right. my computer takes 9-12 hours to encode, so this can be very frustrating if it doesn't come out right. BUT all-in-all, thanks for the info. :P

The chart says the Ns300 will play the templates as is. Download the samples and try them.

I don't test with the whole movie. I just test a 10 min segment. Doesn't take long to encode then.

Hey Sterogers...

I agree with you that the original template can do better image than the new one, and i prefer it too. :wink:
But for me the old template is making too large files, about 900-850 megs in 100-110 mins of movie... :?
What config do you use in the template, and how much megs per 1 minute it does ?

Thanks in advance, man... 8)

My testing was with fullscreen Shrek (~90 mins). I used 352x240 CQ 80 and got it below 800 meg.

I wil make a test and i tell u later how it worked...
Just a final ( and dum) question.
The KVCD template you used was the original one : 2300-300 Max-min ] CQ 70 ] right ?

Se ya around

Not at my home computer now, but I do believe that is the one. It's not up on this site right now I don't think. I will test further with all and report back with best version for Kwag to put up as the standard 352x240 template. Not much time for testing right now though.

Hi Jaymel:

Just a thought.
One thing puzzles me. I know you use DVDx as I often do myself but I see you say you do 8 hours test. Why not just set the number of frames in the "OUTPUT" settings of DVDx instead of the whole file that way you can do a few minutes if you want. Tmpg will stop normally when the server stops sending frames. If you want to pick from within the movie instead of the beginning then use the "jump" feature to a timepoint in DVDx. When you like the results then do an all nighter.

:D