Best program to encode mpeg-2 to divx?

[jettman]

I am wanting to encode some mpeg 2 files into divx. Also would like to encode dvd files .vob files to divx as well. I would like to be able to que up some jobs and have it run in the middle of the night.
What is the best program to do this?

[dvd_maniac]

I would highly recommend AutoGK. And unless you own divx and have Divx hardware you play it on, I would recommend the included free Xvid codec over Divx. But it will use both.Find it here:http://www.autogk.me.uk/modules.php?name=Downloads

This program allows batch encoding as well.

[dvd_maniac]

Another great tool is Nero Digital. But it can't be played on very many settop players yet.

[jettman]

Thanks for the reply.
I record my tv in Sage using the Best setting. Using AutoGK, what settings look good for a 2 hour movie? I want it to look good but not take up a lot of HDD space.

[dvd_maniac]

Hi Jettman

I record my tv in Sage using the Best setting. Using AutoGK, what settings look good for a 2 hour movie? I want it to look good but not take up a lot of HDD space.

If you plan on encoding the movie and then deleting it then I would recommend using Max mpeg-2 quality as it doesn't matter what the filesize starts off as. As long as your tuner supports it. I use roughly 350/hr. So a 2 hour movie should just fit onto a cd. A good idea is to record a 15 minutes of a show in Sage then experiment with it. Try to get a good action scene like the fight in the rain scene in Matrix. Then use different sizes until you are comfortable between size and quility. Your TV/Setup will be different as will your level of acceptable quality compared to others.

Personally I use Nero Digital AVC to encode my DVDs. I get excellent quality movies at half the size over divx. 200MB/hr average.

[SHS]

You also check new tool called Wing from Hauppauge which I found to keep sync far better AutoGK

[holozaen]

Does Hauppauge wing by chance support command line transcoding support? So one of you coding freaks could integrate it into SAGEtv?

[SHS]

As matter fact yes it can run in a command line but there on downside which I pettey sure it dosen't have an option for putting in systray or minimuze mode.

[MystaMax]

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

Another great tool is Nero Digital. But it can't be played on very many settop players yet.

hello dvd_maniac.

hows the Nero Digital (ND) working out for you? I've been following this (as well as the DiVx standard) for quite some time now. I'm leaning towards nero Digital, but I primary goal is integration. I would like to have everything done from w/in SageTV if possible. I know that may not be possible now, but hopefully, in the future.

Using the home theater profile and encoding say a show like CSI: Miami in HD, or a movie such as The Matrix widescreen, I was wondering what file size I would be working with. I would like to archive all video content I have in one of the mpeg4 standards, and haven't decided just yet, but I'm liking what Nero Digital brings to the table.

BTW, Nero also has the MediaHome product, which seems to let you transcode files on the fly (which is nice).

So basically, I wanted to get your overall opinion on Nero Digital vs any other codec you've used. Thanks in advance!

[dvd_maniac]

Nero ASP format is supported in Sage natively (But not Client)
However, with a little work and a custom STV it is very usable.
AVC encoding is still slow but the quality is about the same as Divx/Xvid/ASP at only half the filesize.
I have Star Wars Episode III encoded into Cinema AVC at 700MB and nobody I have showed it to could tell the difference between it and the original DVD on my 57" Hitachi HDTV.
I have been doing all my movies in Standard AVC profile except for Sci-FI, High Action and favorites. I am building for the future.

I would Highly recommend Using ND AVC profile over anything else.