KVCD: No macroblocks, but the resolution is horrible!
 

I am capturing miniDV from my camcorder thru a firewire card onto my P4 1.5 gig processor 256 meg ram computer using videostudio. No editing, just straight into TMPEG so I can burn and play them on my sort of compatible dvd player (rca 5220p--plays vcd and SVCD if you multiplex as vcd)and I have been disappointed with the tmpeg results.

SVCD--have to use standard bitrate of 2520 (player can't handle more than that) and too many macroblocks around moving objects, resolution is nice but movement sucks.

So I try another opion

XVCD---done with 2500 bit rate. No macroblocks, but the resolution is horrible. Going camcorder to tv with rca jacks looks better I swear!

I thought I was screwed until I came across your site kwag. :D

352x480 sounds great! but 2 questions though.

Is your high quality kvcd 352x480 template for mpeg2 or mpeg1?

and is it really NTSCfilm? Will I notice a difference dropping from 29.97 frames per second, and can I put it back to 29.97 or will that mess up your whole template structure?

Appreciate your help and efforts



scottymac

Hi scottymac,

If you're going to encode from a camcorder, you'll have to deinterlace, and encode at 29.97. All KVCD templates are designed around 23.976 for FILM. So just change the fps to 29.97 to encode your DV.
If you want MPEG-2, you can use the SKVCD template, which is 352x480.
Thats basically a SVCD and CVD substitute, as it will give you more play time per CD than either of them, and the quality should be the same as a CVD ( or better, because of the use of our Q. Matrix ).
Try encoding a couple of clips, and see if you like the results. :wink:
All KVCD templates use MPEG-1. The KDVD and SKVCD templates use MPEG-2.

-kwag

Wow, an answer from the man himself, thank you very much :D

2 more Q's if I could, Why de-interlace? Since the source is interlaced (I understand that most miniDV camcorders are interlace) and I'm going to be watching it on my tv, shouldn't I leave it as interlace?

And finally, since your kvcd template is already 352x480, is there really a point in choosing mpeg2 since the resolution is already decent with your template?

Thanks for taking the time!





scottymac

Hi scottymac :D
If you're going to encode to any VCD, KVCD in this case, you must deinterlace, because interlaced is not supported by VCD's. However, if you use the SKVCD or KDVD templates, which are MPEG-2, then your encoding can be interlaced.
If your player supports the KVCD templates, that is the MPEG-1's, go for that, as your quality is going to be higher. If you have problems playing MPEG-1 VBR as in KVCD templates, and your DVD player supports SVCD's, the go a head and use the SKVCD template and burn your mpeg as an SVCD.

-kwag