Hi all,
... sorry, after 140 posts in this thread, I shouldn't ask this question, but...
2 pass is not working for me.
My settings:
Encoder: MPEG2 FOURCC: MPG2 Mode: two passes - 2nd pass int
Size (Kbytes) 570000
Generic: Max I frame interval: 15 Min I frame interval: 1 max consecutive b frames: 2
Motion estimation: ---
Quantization: Quantization type: MPEG Min Q 2 2 2. Max Q 25 25 25 Trellis activated
Custom tables: grayed out (default)
Masking: ---
Ratecontrol: grayed out
Credits. ---
Two passes - 1st pass: grayed out (Stats file: D:\Temp\video2.stats --- grayed)
Two passes - 2nd pass: First pass stats file: D:\Temp\video2.stats
Second pass stats file: (grayed out) D:\Temp\videogk.stats
Max bitrate: 9800
Rest: default ---
Output: Store frames to external file Raw frames D:\Temp\ffvfw2pass.m2v
Libavcodec stats: Don't use (grayed out --- D:\Temp\video.ffstats)
...
what wrong?
Using ffvfw last version (Jan 13 2004)

Trying 2 pass because after trying mencoder two pass,... buff really nice (even with double encoding time: hope we'll manage some day to speed it up )

@digitall.doc
First do the first pass (select it in the pulldown menu and choose the localtion where you want to store the stats file) and then do the second pass (select the stats file you stored with the first pass). These are two different steps you have to do manually.

Should work now.....

Thanx staigerpaip, didn't know .
I'll try

@digitall.doc
If you have some experiences with XVID or DivX 2pass encoding, it is pretty much like it. First pass collect informatrin of movie (and therefore in the output tab you can deselect "store frames" of any kind, it will save you some space on HD). Second pass uses stat file to beter redistribute bitrate and quantize alocation. This is whole idea of two pass encoding, and it is proven that this produces better quality than one pass. Of course not all the time. For instance TMPG produces better quality ant CQ 1pass mode, also I can't force ffvfw to produce better quality, that with one pass setings. Major improvement is that 2pass produces sharp fitted file size and respect max bitrate limit.

@Rui
Can you write mi small how2 on miniDVD mastering with this programs Thx. (might be throught PM)

EDIT:
We must to split this post. It is to much about everything

__________________
Go for SECAM =)

Thanx all for your help, now also working for me (I never had made divx, so I was lost in two passes).
I think I already read this in other place, maybe even in this thread, but ffvfw takes 2 seconds or else of the encoding to balance Q value (begins at 4.36 and finally it levels at 2), but maybe I didn't set correctly the parameters.
I made a comparison with same source with mencoder, and mencoder was faster, and with Q leveled at 2 since the begining. About bitrate peak, was almost the same, slightly higher in mencoder.
But again, maybe is due different parameters in two tests (but same script and source).
Keep testing.