8 Encoding and Authoring

Not all the guides are up-to-date any more, but we think our tests have shown you can use the mentioned programs for encoding/authoring/burning caps. Most of the guides are geared towards DVD ripping, so be aware that not everyting in them may apply to you. It's not perfect, but at least it will give you a place to start. If you still have problems don't hesitate to look around and ask in the forums.

It is assumed that the deinterlacing (if you have chosen to deinterlace), resizing, denoising and color corrections are already done. Often there are also settings for these options in the codecs themselves, but we advice you to do them in the video editing programs (VirtualDub or AviSynth), since they do a better job of it.

8.1 DivX/XviD encoding

8.1.1 Video

The encoding is done in VirtualDub(Mod). Thus, if you used AviSynth for the postprocessing, open your script in VirtualDub(Mod). In the video tab, select "Fast recompress" and under Compression select your favourite encoder. For example:

• DivX3 in the form of SBC (Smart Bitrate Control) with Nandub
• DivX5
• FFVFW
• XviD

If you want to put your encoding on a CD/DVDr, you might need a bitrate calculator to determine the average bitrate for your video: Bearson's Bitrate Calculator.

8.1.2 Audio

Your audio should be compressed to MP3. After setting up your video codec, you have to setup the audio:

• VirtualDub -> as described in the Multiplexing part
• Nandub: use similar settings as described in the VirtualDub guide.

Use 128 kBit/s 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz MP3 audio.

8.1.3 Synchronization problems

If you have synchronization problems (the video and audio streams not being sync), you should check whether the video and audio stream have the same length. If not, you should either change the video or audio length. For DivX/XviD encoding you can safely change the video length in VirtualDub. Have a look at section 18: Synchronizing Video and Audio.

8.2 DVD/SVCD/CVD/VCD encoding and authoring

If you processed your video in VirtualDub you will have to use its frameserver to frameserve to an external encoder. The procedure for setting up VirtualDub frameserver can be found here. The only problem is that IVTC and the temporal denoisers don't work with the frameserver. If you still want to use those filters, you can't use VirtualDub's frameserver. There are several "alternatives": 

• Create an intermediate Huffyuv. This is only suitable for short clips (like music clips), since the intermediate file is very large, about 4:30 min = 3 GB.
• Create a MJPEG@18. The resulting intermediate file will be smaller than huffyuv, about 30 min = 3 GB.
• use AviSynth instead. 

For completeness, the differences between the formats are given in the following table (specific values for NTSC are listed between brackets):

All software can be downloaded from Doom9's download page, unless otherwise stated.

8.2.1 DVD/SVCD/CVD/VCD encoding

There are several MPEG1 (VCD) and MPEG2 (DVD, SVCD and CVD) encoders. Some of them are free. Some of them work in different color formats. If you used AviSynth for postprocessing, we advice you to do the color conversion in AviSynth itself (otherwise it is done by some external codec) in the last line of your script. Remember to use the interlaced=true setting for passing through interlaced material (we remind you that VCD needs deinterlaced material). For example, when using TMPGEnc for encoding an interlaced stream (TMPGEnc works with RGB24 internally), end your AVS script with the line:

ConvertToRGB24(interlaced=true)

Some important issues regarding the audio stream:

• When using TMPGEnc or CCE the audio can be compressed with these encoders too. However, not all encoders offer AC3 as an option. But NTSC DVD does not support mp2, only AC3 (and PCM)! Even though some encoders will offer you the option to encode NTSC DVD with MP2 sound, be aware that the result may not play on all DVD players.
• Some people are not satisfied with CCE's internal audio encoding routines. It is recommended to use Besweet or HeadAC3he instead. In TMPGEnc, it is recommended (and possible) to select an external audio encoder like Lame. The procedure is described here.
• In the case you have to encode the audio to AC3/MP2 separately:
  • Demux your wav-file in VirtualDub (File tab -> Save WAV), or in VirtualDubMod (Streams tab -> Stream list -> Save WAV).
  • Use Besweet or HeadAC3he to encode the audio to AC3 2.0 / MP2. For Besweet, just open your wav-file, check the SSRC box to either upsample the audio to 48 kHz or downsample it to 44.1 kHz (if necessary), and select AC3 or MP2 (for VCD-MP2: go to the Lame1 box, select cbr 224 kbps, and go back to the BeSweet box). Finally, check the "WAV to AC3" or "WAV to MP2 box".
• If you use AviSynth and QuEnc (for the authoring process) you should also use Besweet or HeadAC3he to encode your audio.
• If you are going to use IFOEdit for authoring your DVD, it needs a separate video and audio stream. In that case you will might need to demux the audio stream in TMPGEnc (file -> MPEG tools -> De-multiplex -> open file -> run) or CCE (Output files -> Audio file -> MPEG).
• If you are going to use VCDEasy for authoring your SVCD/CVD or VCD, it needs a muxed stream (the muxing of the video and audio stream can be done with bbMPEG, see subsection 8.2.3).

When encoding your video (DVD. SVCD or CVD), you will need a bitrate calculator to determine the average bitrate for your video: Bearson's Bitrate Calculator.

Here is a list of some encoders (including some features):

TMPGEnc:

A guide can be found here (remember to select the appropriate profile).

• requires RGB24
• mpeg1 encoder is free, mpeg2 encoder is not free
• can open VirtualDub frameserver (vdr) files and AviSynth (avs) scripts

DVD/SVCD/CVD: Encode mode should either set to Interlace for PAL clips, or Interlace for NTSC (29.97 fps) clips or 3:2 pulldown when playback for NTSC titles (23.976). (Instead of 3:2 pulldown, the command line utility pulldown.exe can also be used. Have a look at subsection 8.2.2 for more information.)

VCD: Encode mode should set to Non-interlace for PAL and NTSC clips (both for 23.976 and 29.97 fps)

CCE SP:

A guide can be found here.

• requires YUY2
• encoder is not free
• can open VirtualDub frameserver (vdr) files and AviSynth (avs) scripts (v2.62/v2.64 can't)

QuEnc:

A guide can be found here. You only need to follow the encoding step. ⁽¹⁾

• requires YV12
• encoder is free (and open source)
• in the advanced options there is an option "Interlaced encoding (for MPEG2)". Use that for interlaced encoding.
• can only open AviSynth (avs) scripts
• Audio compression is not possible.

Note that there's only a profile for DVD. If you want to encode to SVCD, CVD or CVD, you have to enter the correct settings manually (bitrate, size, etc.).

At the time of writing this section, audio encoding is not supported in QuEnc. This can be done with Besweet or HeadAC3he. Just demux your wav-file in VirtualDub and open it in Besweet/HeadAC3he. For PAL encode to MP2 at 192 kbps, and for NTSC encode to AC3 2.0 at 224 kbps (remember that the samplerate should be 48 kHz, thus you have to resample 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz if necessary).

8.2.2 Pulldown (for 23.976 NTSC video streams)

Regarding 23.976 NTSC video streams: DVD/SVCD/CVD only accept streams with a bitrate of 29.97 fps. This can be accomplished by applying 3/2 pulldown to your 23.976 video stream. The process of 3/2 Pulldown or Telecine is explained here. You can download a command line utilty called pulldown.exe (at doom9's download section), and apply it to your encoded m2v stream:

pulldown input.m2v output.m2v

Pulldown is a command line utility so you can't just double click on it, but you have to go to a command prompt to launch it. Once you've performed this operation you're done and the video file should now be accepted in every authoring program. Get DoPulldown it's pulldown.exe with a GUI.

8.2.3 Splitting with bbMPEG

In case you need to split your encoding or you need to mux your video and audio stream, this can be done with bbMPEG.

8.2.4 DVD/SVCD/CVD/VCD authoring

8.2.4.1 DVD authoring and burning guides

Authoring - IfoEdit (freeware):

• Start IfoEdit:
  • Under the "DVD Author" tab, selct "Author new DVD". Fill in the video (m2v) and audio (mp2 or AC3) source and the destination folder: VIDEO_TS.
  • Create your image file without leaving in between: Under the "Tools" tab, select "Create Image" (creates an .img file).
• Preview with Daemon tools: select mount image -> open the img file.

Authoring - DVDAuthor (freeware and open source): ⁽²⁾

• DVDAuthorgui is a basic win32 frontend for the DVDAuthor project. It can be downloaded here.
• A nice guide can be found here.
• Start DVDAuthorgui:
  • Set the DVD format on PAL or NTSC.
  • Press "add title" and add your video stream (m2v) and audio stream (AC3 or mp2).
  • Under the file tab select "create iso after authoring".
  • Press "author dvd".
  • Enter a folder name in which the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders will be created.
  • The iso file will be created outside the named folder.
• Preview with Daemon tools: select mount image -> open the iso file.

Other authoring programs:

Other non freeware DVD authoring programs are for example: TMPG DVD Author, DVD-lab, Scenarist NT and DVDMaestro. Guides for these programs are given in the following link:

• DVD authoring guides - This page lists about 10 different guides for as many products. There is even a comparison matrix.

Burning programs:

• Burn the ISO file with DVD decrypter (freeware): Mode -> ISO -> write, and select the image file.
• Nero: In the File tab, select "Burn Image" and open your image file.

8.2.4.2 SVCD/CVD/VCD authoring and burning guides

Authoring - VCDEasy 1.1.5 (freeware): ⁽³⁾

A guide can be found here.

• VCDEasy needs a muxed video and audio stream.
• The CUE sheet can be previewed with Daemon tools (select mount image -> open CUE file)
• Use VCDEasy's integrated CDRDAO to burn. Tip if your burner is not recognized, try the following: Force. Pick settings, CD writer, generic-MCC. Should work with most modern writers.

Other authoring programs:

An other freeware (advanced) SVCD/CVD/VCD authoring program is TSCV:

• Complex VCD/SVCD Authoring - TSCV is a complete VCD and SVCD authoring solution for VCDimager. It supports chapters, still menus, motion menus and can even create menus that have small thumbnail videos for chapter selection for you.

A non freeware (advanced) SVCD/CVD/VCD authoring program is I-author:

• Complex SVCD Authoring - I-Author was the professional commercial product of its time. It allows subtitles, chapters, menus, and multiple audio for an SVCD. The open source VCDimager + various GUIs have mainly replaced it's use.

Burning programs:

Besides VCDEasy's integrated CDRDAO, there are some other (non free) burning programs:

• Nero: Apperently only Nero 6 can burn .cue/.bin files. In the File tab, select "Burn Image" and open your CUE sheet.
• CDRWin

Footnote:
(1) At the time of writing this page, QuEnc (0.51) is still in the development phase. CBR doesn't work correctly (due to a bitrate control in libavcodec). We advice to use the following settings: VBR 2 pass, lower the "Max Bitrate" to 8000 and set the (average) "Bitrate" to something lower (say 4000).
(2) The gui is freeware, but not open source.
(3) 1.1.5 is the last version which is free, and it can be found in doom9's download section.

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Last edited on: 06/13/2004 | First release: n/a | Author: Version4Team | Content by Doom9.org