Thanks for the information.

What I really want is a fast codec with high quality (don't we all) for making VCDs and SVCDs, and soon DVDs.

Having the convenience of rendering once from VF using a decent, fast codec is my ultimate goal. Rendering once to AVI, then using TMPGenc is for the birds. Two step processes are not nice.

It would be nice to capture once, render once, and burn once, and be done with it.

Mike 10670 said: Having the convenience of rendering once from VF using a decent, fast codec is my ultimate goal. Rendering once to AVI, then using TMPGenc is for the birds. Two step processes are not nice.

My feeling exactly, only I suffer through FOUR steps in making VCD's! While VF is a excellent editor, it falls on its face when it comes to rendering, it simply can't handle simple tasks as it should and being limited to the Ligos MPEG CODEC is a major pain I think is the source of some problems.

Look at the torture I go through trying to edit a collection of MPEG files.

Problem One
Can't apply the HSL filter directly to a MPEG file or VF will badly distort the file.

Problem Two
Opening a MPEG file in VF and rendering to AVI uncompressed will introduce severe jitters every few seconds.

To overcome I need to do all of this:

1. Open MPEG source file in a different editor creating a series of uncompressed AVI files because of the 4 GB limitation of Windows 98.

2. Open the created AVI file in VF then do editing and
apply filters then render as a series of 2nd AVI files. This for reasons unknown prevents the jitter.

3. Because for now I'm using Win 98SE file limit of 4GB
means file size limited to 6.55 minutes for VCD. I open each of these small files in TMPGEnc, using its NTSC template once VF renders them.

4. After processing all the short AVI files into MPEG files use TMPGEnc again to combine into single VCD or SVCD compliant file.

Finally, done.

All that nonsense means the source file is processed
four times. First in a competing application to create a AVI file that Video Factory will accept without introducing jitter. Second make a new AVI file in VF applying editing and filtering. Third, convert to MPEG in TMPGEnc, finally forth, join the sections.

The only reason I haven't deep sixed Video Factory is because it does great editing. Rendering is another story. It may work great for DV, it stumbles making VCD's which is mostly what I do for now.

And I thought I had it bad!

TMPGEnc's new version has something called VFAPI. I wonder if that will let Video Factory use their encoders directly?

I agree that VF leaves a lot to be desired in the encoding arena. Perhaps Vegas Video is better? Who knows.

If I could render even in real time I would be happy as a clam. I have considered buying a machintosh just to do my VCD stuff, but I do not know if they are any better.

discdude,

Your tips on the TMPGEnc settings were perfect! I set the program exactly how you described, and I was very impressed with the results.

I am wondering, since DVDs can have bit rates above 5k, why is it that we task our DVD players by setting the SVCD video bit rate above 2500 ??? Logic says that I should be able to have a 5k bit rate on a SVCD without any problems.

Do you understand the mechanics behind the DVD players, and why they can be "bogged down" from a high bit rate SVCD?

Thanks Again!