What's the best MPEG 2 Encoder at DVinfo.net

Ron Stoole · October 17th, 2002, 06:47 PM

Can someone tell me what is the best MPEG 2 encoder available, under about $1200?

Thanks

Ron

Jeff Donald · October 17th, 2002, 07:09 PM

What platform, Mac or PC?

Jeff

Jacques Mersereau · October 18th, 2002, 08:17 AM

Tricky question.

There are hardware and software encoders. Prices go from
hundreds to $30K+. Long crunches to realtime.

If you want "Hollywood" results, you'll have to spend Hollywood $$$.
(I don't know HOW they get almost two hours (4mbs) that looks great.
Then again, they hand out oscars for this.)
Part of the high end process is to use uncompressed footage
(so for DV, sample it in and save off as uncompressed) run that through
a $40K hardware de-noiser, then encode with 2 or 3 pass variable bit
rate encoder.

For us normal humans, I've heard that one of the best mpeg2
encoders is Heuris.com.'s Power Professional DVD. Long crunches, but excellent results. It was $2500, but I think it's about a grand these days.

Chris Hurd · October 18th, 2002, 09:34 AM

The $1200 Canopus DVStorm 2 PC-based DV editing card now ships with an hardware MPEG encoding module (previously costing $400 by itself).

The performance is pretty snappy, about 1.1 times real-time (a 40 minute project would render in about 45 minutes). See www.canopus.com for their MPEG encoder product line. Hope this helps,

Rob Lohman · October 18th, 2002, 10:59 AM

One of the best software encoders (which you can both download
demos off) I've seen are (for PC):

1. Cinema Craft Encoder (CCE) -> expensive, best results
www.cinemacraft.com
2. TMPGEnc -> cheap, very good results
www.tmpgenc.net or .com

Try there demos. Both can be very frightening products at
first but deliver truly amazing quality. Check out the guides on
these two at doom9.org -> guides -> authoring -> encoding.
You'll find guides for both there (mainly targeted at DVD ripping,
but you can use their settings etc.)

Good luck.

Ron Stoole · October 19th, 2002, 07:43 AM

Thanks everyone.

I downloaded the Heuris encoder and it wouldn't even run on my PC (Windows by the way) What I did see of the U/I looked patchy. But I didn't get to see what the final output was like so can't comment on that.

However, I did download the TMPGenc and that is fantastic! Excellent quality and packed full of features that blow the mind. Easy to use an only $50! Also, they allow a 30 day open trial.

Regards

Ron

Andre De Clercq · October 19th, 2002, 01:01 PM

TmpgEnc is wonderfull and outperforms all the "expensive" guys!

Ron Stoole · October 19th, 2002, 03:34 PM

Also....

TMPGEnc has a multithread capability which took full advantage of the Dual processors on my machine and the 2 pass encoding was very fast.

Ron

Rob Lohman · October 21st, 2002, 10:42 AM

TMPGEnc is great indeed. Although many consider it to be too
slow (CCE is a lot faster). But then again, for $50 you cannot
beat that product! I'd rather wait a bit longer for sweeter
quality than the other way around. MPEG compression is the
last step in the process anyway, so doesn't hurt to let the
PC render for a few days if needed.

Justin Costanzo · October 21st, 2002, 11:44 PM

This is great site/page for DVD compliant MPEG2. Check it out at:

http://pwp.netcabo.pt/rmn/TMPGEnc_Template.html

October 17th, 2002, 06:47 PM	#1
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	What's the best MPEG 2 Encoder Can someone tell me what is the best MPEG 2 encoder available, under about $1200? Thanks Ron

October 18th, 2002, 08:17 AM	#3
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	Tricky question. There are hardware and software encoders. Prices go from hundreds to $30K+. Long crunches to realtime. If you want "Hollywood" results, you'll have to spend Hollywood $$$. (I don't know HOW they get almost two hours (4mbs) that looks great. Then again, they hand out oscars for this.) Part of the high end process is to use uncompressed footage (so for DV, sample it in and save off as uncompressed) run that through a $40K hardware de-noiser, then encode with 2 or 3 pass variable bit rate encoder. For us normal humans, I've heard that one of the best mpeg2 encoders is Heuris.com.'s Power Professional DVD. Long crunches, but excellent results. It was $2500, but I think it's about a grand these days. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

October 18th, 2002, 09:34 AM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,379 Images: 513	The $1200 Canopus DVStorm 2 PC-based DV editing card now ships with an hardware MPEG encoding module (previously costing $400 by itself). The performance is pretty snappy, about 1.1 times real-time (a 40 minute project would render in about 45 minutes). See www.canopus.com for their MPEG encoder product line. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 18th, 2002, 10:59 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	One of the best software encoders (which you can both download demos off) I've seen are (for PC): 1. Cinema Craft Encoder (CCE) -> expensive, best results www.cinemacraft.com 2. TMPGEnc -> cheap, very good results www.tmpgenc.net or .com Try there demos. Both can be very frightening products at first but deliver truly amazing quality. Check out the guides on these two at doom9.org -> guides -> authoring -> encoding. You'll find guides for both there (mainly targeted at DVD ripping, but you can use their settings etc.) Good luck. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 21st, 2002, 10:42 AM	#9
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	TMPGEnc is great indeed. Although many consider it to be too slow (CCE is a lot faster). But then again, for $50 you cannot beat that product! I'd rather wait a bit longer for sweeter quality than the other way around. MPEG compression is the last step in the process anyway, so doesn't hurt to let the PC render for a few days if needed. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 17th, 2002, 07:09 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	What platform, Mac or PC? Jeff

October 19th, 2002, 07:43 AM	#6
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	Thanks everyone. I downloaded the Heuris encoder and it wouldn't even run on my PC (Windows by the way) What I did see of the U/I looked patchy. But I didn't get to see what the final output was like so can't comment on that. However, I did download the TMPGenc and that is fantastic! Excellent quality and packed full of features that blow the mind. Easy to use an only $50! Also, they allow a 30 day open trial. Regards Ron

October 19th, 2002, 01:01 PM	#7
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	TmpgEnc is wonderfull and outperforms all the "expensive" guys!

October 19th, 2002, 03:34 PM	#8
Ron Stoole Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 27	Also.... TMPGEnc has a multithread capability which took full advantage of the Dual processors on my machine and the 2 pass encoding was very fast. Ron

October 21st, 2002, 11:44 PM	#10
Justin Costanzo New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 14	Here is a great link for TMPGenc This is great site/page for DVD compliant MPEG2. Check it out at: http://pwp.netcabo.pt/rmn/TMPGEnc_Template.html __________________ "Sometimes when I sleep at night I think of 'Hop on Pop." - G.W. Bush speaking on educating children, April 2nd, 2002