Conversion to MPEG1/2 - pixelization

[techreactor]

Okay, I am trying to convert a movie avi file so that I can put it in a DVD and view on the DVD player as below:

Original Video size : 640 x 288 (2.22 aspect ratio)

to MPEG1 - Option 1
--------------------

Aspect ratio : 4:3
Video Output : 352 x 288 (I scale the video size to 352 x 160 to maintain aspect )
Variable bitrate Avg :1250
Output Quality : Good

to MPEG1 - Option 2
--------------------
Aspect ratio : 4:3
Video Output : 720 x 576 (I scale the video size to 720 x 320 to maintain aspect)
Variable bitrate Avg :1250
Output Quality : poor with high pixelization in scenes with quick motion, like moving car etc and slight shadow (noise) on the edges of objects like ppl.

to MPEG2 - Option 1
--------------------

Aspect ratio : 4:3
Video Output : 352 x 288 (I scale the video size to 352 x 160 to maintain aspect)
Variable bitrate Avg :1350
Output Quality : Good

to MPEG2 - Option 2
--------------------
Aspect ratio : 4:3
Video Output : 720 x 576 (I scale the video size to 720 x 320 to maintain aspect)
Variable bitrate Avg :1350
Output Quality : poor with high pixelization in scenes with quick motion, like moving car etc and slight shadow (noise) on the edges of objects like ppl.

Now the queries ???

- What should I use in the DVD - MPEG1 or 2 since MPEG1 saves on size (I can put more into 1 DVD) but MPEG2 offers more quality(by the book).

- Does the source video format matter i.e. conv of avi (mpeg4) to mpeg1 is better than to mpeg2 or vice versa ????

- Why does it pixelize/noise is created in the output video sizes of Option 2, will increasing the bitrate help ?????

- What benefit do I get in maintaining the video size of 720 x 576 vs 352 x 288 and vice versa, if any ??????

Those are my dilemmas in which I need your opinion's

[tigerman8u]

"Video Output : 720 x 576 (I scale the video size to 720 x 320 to maintain aspect)
Variable bitrate Avg :1350"

this is why your video looks bad. the bitrate is way to low for that resolution. as your resolution gets higher you have to use a higher bitrate. the 2 go hand in hand.

you can't put info into the video that is not there

"but MPEG2 offers more quality(by the book). "

if you have dvd quality to begin with

If you want to go to the higher resolution I would use atleast 6000k/bps of video bitrate. but this will give you large file/s.

[techreactor]

Okay, got it, but what would you use if assuming your source avi file is extracted from a DVD and you want to remux it,, between the two MPEG1 or MPEG2.


Assume that the size is irrelavant and you will encode at the same video size and bitrate for both formats (mpeg1/2).

[tigerman8u]

you state your original size is 640x288. If you want to stay dvd compliant you could use 1/2 D1 (352x480/576) but then you reduce the 640. I would encode a small portion at full D1 16:9 and see how it looks. if the original avi is of real good quality and you do a good encode it should look good
2 if you encode at the same size and bitrate the result will be either a non compliant mpeg1 or non compliant mpeg2 or both. maybe check here www.videohelp.com in the "what is dvd,vcd,svcd" section will help