KVCD: my First KVCD! Plus Some Questions...

[byondo]

hello 2 all
I made my first experiment w/ this great video-coding mode (???)
my source was a divx (don't twist your nose, please when I will buy a new dvd player for my pc, I'll do better things, don't worry...), "shrek", do ya know it?

first, I did a loooooong period of making short samples to view wich one was 100% compatible w/ my standalone dvd player (a samsung sv dvd3E); it can play kvcdx3 and kvcd-plus very well (I have to burn cds in s-video mode, is it correct?), kvcdx2 gives me some problem like "accelerating video" or some video/audio off-sync, but I have to try more material.

for my "transcoding" I used tmpgenc 2.5 w/ kvcdx3 mpeg2 pal cq vbr25 template, I modified resolution to 352x288 (the source was 16:9) 'cause I wanted to put it on 1 cd.

results: great! image quality is better than all my vhs, yes low-res is noticeable if u push your nose on the video , but at a normal "tv-viewing" distance u cannot notice it.
and audio is beatiful too, w/o any problems of off-sync.

questions: my final mpeg file was only 660 megs, 'cause I don't know how to estimate more precisely this size, I did it manually w/ 1 min of movie and then simply multiply it by the length, I have acp but I don't know how to load templates (especially kvcdx3) in it; any suggestion?

the eternal fight between mpeg1 and mpeg2 : I notice that I have less compatibility problems w/ mpeg2, some1 says that I have a slight increase of quality, is it correct?

divx transcoding: okkey we talking about crap, but for me it's very useful, 'cause nowadays I cannot rip any dvds. It would be a great thing if some1 makes some templates especially dedicated to this task (okkey, low res ), maybe using various filters for reducing some divx artifacts...

the future of kvcd: following the evolution of mp3 encoding (lame w/ dibrom preset), I hope that this can happen w/ kvcd too, we're talking about mpeg standards and vbr, it's the same, no?

my congratulation to kwag and his team, you're making dreams come through

bye, MAX il bYOndo

[jorel]

we are happy with your result too!

but,answer first please:
"(I have to burn cds in s-video mode, is it correct?)"

what is burn cds in s-video mode?

[byondo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorel

but,answer first please:
"(I have to burn cds in s-video mode, is it correct?)"

what is burn cds in s-video mode?

yes, sorry, I forgot to say that I use nero br to burning cds, w/ the "s-video cd" mode (or template, or wizard...dunno), unchecking "make a standard videocd"
that's it

bye, MAX il bYOndo

[jorel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by byondo

Quote:

yes, sorry, I forgot to say that I use nero br to burning cds, w/ the "s-video cd" mode (or template, or wizard...dunno), unchecking "make a standard videocd"
that's it

bye, MAX il bYOndo

me,muaddib and funil99 are from Brasil, you too?

[urban tec]

G'day
Great to hear about your success, I have been doing a bit of encoding from divx lately for my kids so have a little experience I can share.

Quote:

questions: my final mpeg file was only 660 megs, 'cause I don't know how to estimate more precisely this size

This link http://www.kvcd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2102 will help with the file size prediction, I my experience if you are using 352 x 240/288 sometimes you cant fill a cd but it depends on the length of the movie, I've been doing kids stuff and they are usually short.

Quote:

I did it manually w/ 1 min of movie and then simply multiply it by the length

I sometimes do this too but the prediction formula will be more accurate especially when you start using dvd sources.

Quote:

I have acp but I don't know how to load templates (especially kvcdx3) in it; any suggestion?

on the mpeg settings tab in ACP you set this up manually just load the template in tmpgenc and copy the settings.

Quote:

divx transcoding: okkey we talking about crap, but for me it's very useful, 'cause nowadays I cannot rip any dvds. It would be a great thing if some1 makes some templates especially dedicated to this task (okkey, low res ), maybe using various filters for reducing some divx artifacts...

here is a script I used recently

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MPEG2Dec\MPEG2DEC.dll")
AviSource("D:\bond\007.Die.ANother.DayCD1.avi",fal se)
ConvertToYUY2()

LanczosResize(352,208,54,0,500,256)
AddBorders(0,16,0,16)

BlockBuster(method="noise", variance=1, seed=1 )
fluxsmooth()

#sampler()

The first 3 line are from a default ACP generated script and the resize and borders are copied from the fitcd script.
Remove the # from infront of the sampler line to generate your sample files for size prediction.
This is using the lbr template, I upped the min bitrate to 750 cos my dvd (pioneer dv-344) pops the audio below this, it is of course using mpeg1.

If divx is all you got you might as wll make the most of it, it has its place.
Hope the sample script helps you, it is a bit of a frankenstien but I have good succes with it.

[SansGrip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by byondo

maybe using various filters for reducing some divx artifacts...

Blockbuster should be able to help with this, since the main problem with MPEG-4 movies is generally noticible blockiness in parts. You might also want to try the different resizing filters (BilinearResize, BicubicResize, LanczosResize etc.) to see which gives you the best quality coming from an MPEG-4 source.

[byondo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorel

me,muaddib and funil99 are from Brasil, you too?

no, I'm from Italy
great country brasil, especially now that there is summer

MAX il bYOndo

[byondo]

Thanks for all the info you give me, I have to do another hundred of experiments
but now I have a BIG problem w/ my KVCD: I didn't notice it the first time, but when I play it on my tv-set (a 16:9 loewe + samsung DVD3E) it is CUTTED on right and left sides
(example: when it comes out the logo "dreamworks" I can't see the "s")
the funny thing is that on my computer the KVCD is perfect
I tried with "addborders" function in the avisynth (using fitcd for exact value), but results are worse....
any suggest? I don't want cropped movies
please help me!

MAX il bYOndo

[jorel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by byondo

Thanks for all the info you give me, I have to do another hundred of experiments
but now I have a BIG problem w/ my KVCD: I didn't notice it the first time, but when I play it on my tv-set (a 16:9 loewe + samsung DVD3E) it is CUTTED on right and left sides
(example: when it comes out the logo "dreamworks" I can't see the "s")
the funny thing is that on my computer the KVCD is perfect
I tried with "addborders" function in the avisynth (using fitcd for exact value), but results are worse....
any suggest? I don't want cropped movies
please help me!

MAX il bYOndo

Italy......my 2 grandpa(write this way?)(fathers of my father and mother) was from Italy.

i worked with television,videos.....etc for 30 years.
in pc, you can adjust more or less width , but not in tv.
you have to test with other television and see if you get the different result.
is hard to find a tv with very best adjust from factory.
maybe could be an adjust (width and/or center the image) in your tv-set.
(or a little problem,but don't worry...is simple repair it!)
first make a test.

[m0rdant]

Use the FitCD program and the "Blocks - TV Overscan" setting to make your avs. You'll have to play with it a bit to figure out what your TV Overscan is, but if you set it for 2 it should work. This adds a border around your encode but keeps the correct aspect ratio.

[byondo]

YEEAAAAHHH
completely solved my problems! it was the absence of "tv-overscan" borders; I placed it "1" on fitcd w/ source "dvd anamorphic" (is it right for a divX?) and destination "vcd anamorfic"
in my new version I added an avs script edited by kwag (many many thanks kwag ) too, that uses blockbuster tuned w/ "auto strength" legalclip and fluxsmooth:


LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\acp\MPEG2Dec\MPEG2DEC.dll ") # don't delete, needed to prediction
LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\acp\AviSynth\plugins\Bloc kBuster.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\acp\AviSynth\plugins\Flux smooth.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\acp\AviSynth\plugins\Lega lClip.dll")
AviSource("E:\Shrek.avi",false)
ConvertToYUY2()

LanczosResize(336,192,1,0,718,400)
FluxSmooth()

######## Auto Strength, proportional strength depending on resolution #####
## Remove only one "#" on front of the resolution that matches your encoding.
BB_Resolution = 352*240
#BB_Resolution = 352*480
#BB_Resolution = 528*480
#BB_Resolution = 544*480
#BB_Resolution = 704*480
BB_StrengthConstant = 352 * 240 * 20 # Base strength
StrengthValue = round (BB_StrengthConstant / BB_Resolution)
Blockbuster( method="noise", detail_min=1, detail_max=10, variance=1 ) # Apply noise if complexity is <= 10%.
Blockbuster( method="sharpen", detail_min=20, detail_max=90, strength=StrengthValue) # Sharpen only if complexity is >= 20% AND <=90%.
# The last ~10% is left untouched (pass-through), to avoid sharpening highest frequency components ( Peak artifacts, sharpest edge, etc. )
##
################## End Auto Strength ####################

AddBorders(8,24,8,24)
LegalClip()

#Trim(0,139425).FadeOut(150)



w/ acp, it predicted a cq_vbr 100 ( ) and a min-bitrate 850, max-bitrate 1150, almost a cq_cbr
ah, and I used the new gop 1 12 2 1 24 by kwag
result: I challenge everyone to say if it's a VCD
MANY MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE for your precious suggestions, w/o them who knows how many hours/cds/patience/hair I'd loose....

bye,
MAX il bYOndo

[SansGrip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by byondo

w/ source "dvd anamorphic" (is it right for a divX?) and destination "vcd anamorfic"

For a DivX source you want source anamorphic unchecked. When making VCDs, you want destination anamorphic unchecked.

The reason you probably got the aspect ratio correct with that encode is because you checked both when you should check neither . If your DVD player actually supported anamorphic VCDs, the picture would be squashed vertically.

Quote:

Blockbuster( method="sharpen", detail_min=20, detail_max=90, strength=StrengthValue)

I would recommend leaving this line out. Artificial sharpening is generally a bad idea. I think that's also in line with kwag's latest thinking on this .