does it make sense to encode a 480x576 file to a 528x576 kvcd, or does the quality decrease if the resolution is higher than the source resolution?

__________________
greetz Kane

IMHO, it doesn't make any sense to do that : the more you manipulate your source, the more you decrease the quality.

Your video is already in a valid resolution (SVCD reso), so you can completly avoid the resize/crop operations. And you'll save time for encoding

hmm, don´t know, if my dvd player also accepts 480x576 mpeg1 (vbr)

__________________
greetz Kane

I encode everything in MPEG2 (and burn as SVCD whatever the resolution) because my Pionneer DV454 doesn't play correctly MPEG1 VBR.

I trust Kwag when he says that the result in MPEG2 is awfull compared to MPEG1 (I don't really see a such difference myself), but it's better than nothing

i´ll just try, till now my dvd player has accepted every kvcd , no matter which resolution

__________________
greetz Kane

U always can to encode to MPEG1 , mux and burn as SVCD .
U'll enjoy MPEG1 quality and SVCD Compatibilty to your dvd player
bman

my cyberhome is kvcd compatible, so i don´t need to use any tricks, i just never had made a kvcd with svcd resolution, but i´m sure, it will work

__________________
greetz Kane

Hi kane, thats not allways the case my Sony DVP-NS315 doesnt play svcds or mpeg 1 burn as svcds however, the next model up DVP-NS415 does.

No, that trick doesn't works. The problems don't comes from the "1" or "2" after MPEG, but from the VBR mode : the player don't like it at all with MPEG1 video, and during travelling sequences, the image seems to freeze for a while and restart, making the movement far from smooth.

With MPEG1 CBR thats ok but... by by KVCD then

Not so fast
You can use the standard VCD templates (or any MPEG-1 encoder), but patch them with the KVCD "Notch" matrix. You'll see a HUGE difference in quality, specially on low lit/dark scenes. You'll still have a standard VCD compliant MPEG-1 capable of playing on every VCD player

-kwag

Are u sure that original VCD res 352x288(240) too needs CBR ?
If so than u are right , U can say good bye to KVCD or just purchase another player
bman

You're Right

I should have said "Bye bye 2 hour KVCDx3 on a 90 min CD like I did last sunday".

The problem wasn't so present in VCD res than SVCD (or KVCDx3) res. But I really didn't want to use such res as I found the result too blurry for my eyes.
(I use this only when I want to burn TV shows up to 6 ep. per CD but not for movies)

You misread me : I use KVCD either, but encoded in MPEG2 insteed.

Note: I already have an other player (Thomson 4500) in my room that reads MPEG1 KVCD. It's too long to tell you why I don't just swich the to players

The "header trick" works on the SONY DVP-NS315.

Tested. It works.