I got it figured out

[BR7]

Now I just have a few small questions
1.How long does it take to do a DVD. Keep in mind I have the freeware version.
2.From what I have been reading HC is the best to use is this right or wrong
And I just wanted to say thanks to all the people that put up the posts to show how to use this program it has been very helpful

[2COOL]

Now I just have a few small questions
1.How long does it take to do a DVD. Keep in mind I have the freeware version.

There's alot of factors to consider.

- How big your files DVDRB detects to encode
- How many passes
- Avisynth filters used
- How fast is your CPU?
- Is your DVDRB output in another drive?
- What encoder you using.

2.From what I have been reading HC is the best to use is this right or wrong

This is subjective but coming from me, I've made the transition from CCE to HC. It may take a little longer but I place quality over process time anytime.

[UncasMS]

well the speed question.....

as 2cool already said the primary factor is the running time of the material to be encoded

obviously a 90 min title will be finished quicker than a dvd with 122min main movie + 72 minutes total bonus material - you get the idea

then the encoder is a decisive factor:
cce is fastest, but hc comes next and is faster than eg. procoder

one thing that speeds up the conversion time CONSIDERABLY is a function you do not have available in the freeware edition (another good reason for donating $10?):
OPV

OnePassVariable is available for cce in the freeware edition (get 095, it was released yesterday btw) but HC Enc can only be used with OPV in the pro version

OPV makes some sort of small test-analyzing and then encodes your dvd with only ONE pass and thus saves much time

here are a few numbers from my latest tests:

my test movie VanHelsing is 126 main movie + 35 min total bonus which makes it almost twice as long as two disneys

CCE 3 passes + NO FILTERS: 183 min
CCE OPV + FIlters (which increase processing time noticably!): 133 min

HC 016 TestRelease2 + NO FILTERS: 213 min
HC 016 TestRelease2 OPV + Filters: 188 min

[done on an athlon @ 3500+, 1gb ram, across 3 harddrives]

of course i am comparing apples to oranges because the opv test were done with filters and thus slowing down the conversion considerably but you see that even WITH filters used OPV was way faster and it would have been even more had i not use *undot + fluxsmooth* for this test

the results by the way looked excellent


i dont dare saying OPV is the best you could go for but in my last couple of tests with heavy data reduction (vanhesling with ~160 min + dead poets society with more than 190min [main movie ~120 min + 70 min extras]) i was not only pleased but impressed so to speak with the quality


so my suggestion is: give the OPV mode a try and see for yourself!

[BR7]

Thanks that was very helpful

[blutach]

HC 016 TestRelease2 + NO FILTERS: 213 min
HC 016 TestRelease2 + Filters: 188 min

Are you sure? I'd like to get that filter!!!

Regards

[UncasMS]

Are you sure? I'd like to get that filter!!!

ok, you got me once again ^_~

especially for you - the secret "FILTER":

[blutach]

I guess I figured that. Considering my encoding is done during dreamtime, I don't use OPV.

Regards

[ElBoricua433]

so UnCasMs, do you still recommend me to go the Pro Version to Help Me Out Better With Quality?

[blutach]

@ElBoricua433

If I may answer - the pro version gives you heaps more flexibility. For example, you can use different encoding matrices and even set your bitrates on a cell by cell basis.

But even the free version will beat any transcoder hands down (except time wise).

Regards

[UncasMS]

so UnCasMs, do you still recommend me to go the Pro Version to Help Me Out Better With Quality?

i should think so, YES

not only will you be able to use time saving options like the OPV method with a freeware encoder like HC Enc but you will be able to use featrues like these:



which can save you time preprocessing and might be one way to achieve higher average bitrate (by omitting unwanted parts of your dvd)

the pro version will also let you use different matrices like blutach already mentioned and using the pro version you'll definitely be able to use things like RME:

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=55613

[ElBoricua433]

I am just asking cause I need a program that can give me better quality even on 3 hour movies, I really don't like the split to 2 discs option, that is why, but the freeware version keeps giving me some bad quality for Salem's Lot which is a 3 hour movie, and I used HC Encoder

[jdobbs]

How does the original look? Sometimes you'll find that it also looks bad -- that's one advantage to using AVISYNTH as the input... on poor looking originals you can clean them up with filters.

[2COOL]

that's one advantage to using AVISYNTH as the input... on poor looking originals you can clean them up with filters.

I'm still a newbie when it comes down to filters. What to use is always subjective. Soo many filters, so many parameters to learn, and so much testing time to do when you don't have the knack of "reading the green".

I still tell my friends on a main note...crap in...crap out.

[ElBoricua433]

I really don't know how to use those filters yet

[2COOL]

Besides reading forum threads' scripting samples, here's a great place to start.

http://www.avisynth.org/