Video Encoder Review |
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I may as well admit that I'll
never finish this section. As of January 2006, I use a reasonably
recent version of XviD for AVI files and TMPGEnc for MPEG-2 (DVD)
files. WinDVD Creator is the only decent DVD authoring software I've
used, though it is quite buggy. Sonic MyDVD is junk. I would like
to try Apple's iDVD since it comes with new systems.
For a good set of standards, all encoders that have bitrate settings were set to 1150kb for 320x240 (VCD spec) and 4600kb for 720x480 unless otherwise noted. Source was ripped using Flask and encoded to Pic Video Lossless MJPEG. MPEG video was recorded at 320x240. Other encoders were tested at 320x240 and 720x480. Deinterlaceing was done by Flask. |
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MPEG 1 Encoders |
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avi2mpg1 version: 1.10 bitrate: 1150kb resolution: 320x240 VBR: NO Quality: poor Notes: I hate to knock a free product, especially one of the first free encoders, but it really isn't useable. |
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bbmpeg Adobe plug-in version: 1.23 bitrate: 1150kb resolution: 320x240 VBR: NO Quality: moderate Notes: Another free encoder. Encodes Mpeg-2 as well. Run using standalone software. I don't know why the sound isn't working, it should be, it has before. |
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LSXmpeg Adobe plug-in version: (unknown) bitrate: (unknown) resolution: 320x240 VBR: (unknown) Quality: Excellent, but irrelevant Notes: The pirated plug-in for Adobe Premiere would crash when attempting to change settings. Whatever it's set to is what you see. |
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Panasonic mpeg Adobe plug-in version: Nov 01, 1999 bitrate: 1150kb resolution: 320x240 VBR: NO Quality: moderate Notes: I can tell no difference between the standard and CG settings. |
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Tsunami MPEG Encoder (TMPGEnc) version: a bitrate: 1150 resolution: 320x240 VBR: YES Quality: moderate + Notes: The newest and best free encoder and the only one that is still being updated. |
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Xing mpeg encoder version: 2.20 bitrate: 1150 resolution: 1150 VBR: NO Quality: moderate Notes: Xing encoder is very annoying. It sets the Xing mpeg player as the default video player and the encoder will crash if it is not. |
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MPEG 2 Encoders |
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bbmpeg version: 1.23 bitrate: 1150 resolution: 320x240 VBR: NO Quality: moderate Notes: Same as mpeg-1. Sound still doesn't work. |
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bbmpeg version: 1.23 bitrate: 4600 resolution: 720x480 VBR: NO Quality: Better Notes: Sound still doesn't work. |
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bbmpeg version: 1.23 bitrate: 4600 resolution: 720x480 interlaced VBR: NO Quality: Better Notes: Seems smoother than non-interlaced. Sound still doesn't work. |
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TMPGEnc version: a bitrate: 1150 resolution: 320x240 VBR: YES Quality: moderate Notes: Same as mpeg-1. |
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TMPGEnc version: a bitrate: 4600 resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: Good Notes: Visually not as good as bbmpeg |
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TMPGEnc version: a bitrate: 4600 resolution: 720x480 interlaced VBR: YES Quality: Good Notes: Seems smoother than non-interlaced, but more noise. |
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Other Encoders |
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Divx Fast Motion version: 3.11 Alpha bitrate: MAX resolution: 320x240 VBR: YES Quality: poor Notes: I'm not impressed. Horizontal lines through video instead of macroblocks. Note2: I just found that the horizontal lines aren't really there. They don't show up in VirtualDub or Media Player 7, just Media Player 6.4 Why do I have Media Player 6.4? That's the last one that runs on Win95 and the one that comes with Win2k. I don't like Media Player 7 much. |
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Divx Fast Motion version: 3.11 Alpha bitrate: MAX resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: moderate Notes: better than the 320x240, but still not impressed. Same horizontal lines. |
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Divx Low Motion version: 3.11 Alpha bitrate: MAX resolution: 320x240 VBR: YES Quality: moderate Notes: Same horizontal lines. |
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Divx Low Motion version: 3.11 Alpha bitrate: MAX (very large) resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: moderate Notes: Not as good as other encoders, and much larger file. Same horizontal lines. |
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Divx 4 version: 4.0 bitrate: 4600 resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: very good Notes: Best codec I've tried so far. Requires rather alot of micromanagement to run VBR. |
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Divx 4 version: 4.0 bitrate: 1150 resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: moderate + Notes: Scales to lower bitrates quite well. Looks as good at 1150 as the best mpeg-1 at 320x240. |
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Divx 5 version: 5.1 bitrate: 1150 resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: good Notes: DivX 5.1 and XviD are a close pair. Didn't do higher bitrate tests since these look good. |
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XviD version: 2.1 16-Jul-2003 bitrate: ~1150 (can only set desired file size) resolution: 720x480 VBR: YES Quality: good Notes: DivX 5.1 and XviD are a close pair. Didn't do higher bitrate tests since these look good. |
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