Which Transcoding Tools Produce The Best Picture Quality.

UUgghhh! That's those damn gators' colors, just bring 2 caps.

 

I thought they were green and yellow. I'll just root for the home team.

 

Sophocles,

I have been using Movietrack to keep track of my movies. I also have the Movie Collector demo for research. Movietrack is fast and free but Collector is a better program.
Do you like Movie Collector?

 

Maybe you missed the post where I mentionned the transcoders I tried.
[bold]- DVDCopy2: I must admit I only tried it once.
Its output was mediocre on the DVD I tested it with.
It might be better with others though, but I'd rather trust v3.1.7 as its quality is much more predictable (when good or bad).[/bold]

heh heh heh indeed.

My guess is you're refering to some DVD Shrink users who think DVD Shrink v3.1.7 gives equal or more satisfying results at low levels of compression (<20% or thereabout)than CCE.
If that's the case, you can include me in that small group.

As I previously said, I use DVD2DVD-R/CCE for backups requiring 20-25% compression or more (depending on the original DVD).
It was in the same post you might have missed.
[bold]That's when I cursed at Pinnacle for a short while, and decided to stick to DVD2DVD-R for backups requiring more than 20-25% compression.[/bold]
_X_X_X_X_X_[small]~ ddlooping~
For DVD Shrink and related softwares guides and downloads, please visit http://www.dvdshrink.info[/small]

 

Since this seems to becoming a quotefest, here goes:


[bold]"My guess is you're refering to some DVD Shrink users who think DVD Shrink v3.1.7 gives equal or more satisfying results at low levels of compression (<20% or thereabout)than CCE.
If that's the case, you can include me in that small group.[/bold]

Well, that is NOT the case. Absolutely nothing was said about LOW levels of compression, but even if I conceded that point (which I don't) the "more satisfying" still doesn't hold water, unless by more satifying you mean less time to do the project, then I will agree. As far as quality CCE does a better job, period. The results may be minimal at low compression, on that I agree also. I too, only use it for longer movies, only because of time constraints. But, that wasn't what was said and no way, no how, is any app "better", at low or high levels of compression when it comes to pic quality.

You yourself admit to using CCE in conjunction with dvd2dvdr, [bold]I use DVD2DVD-R/CCE for backups requiring 20-25% compression or more (depending on the original DVD).[/bold]so you must agree somewhat.

I like menus and some extras so I use Rebuilder/CCE, thus the reason I don't use dvd2dvdr. I have used the program, and it's results were excellent, unfortunately it was movie only.

Either way you're still using CCE. So defend your fellow D.V. members if you must, but......


BTW, have a nice day
_
_X_X_X_X_X_[small] [bold]GO VOLS![/bold]........Dell Media4600, XP home,Pentium 4 @2.80GHz/800Mz, 512MB, 280 HD w/8MB, 17" flat panel, AIO-A920, 8x DVD-ROM, integrated 5.1 audio, HP dc4000, Plextor PX-708UF[/small]

 

Ok, I give up.

P.S: thanks, have a nice day too.
_X_X_X_X_X_[small]~ ddlooping~
For DVD Shrink and related softwares guides and downloads, please visit http://www.dvdshrink.info[/small]

 

Damn, my DVD Shrink vs DVD2One 1.4 tests are moot anyway, there is a new version of DVD2One out, lol.

 

Does that mean I can update my old version or is it an upgrade?



do we have time to redo all tests? lol
_X_X_X_X_X_[small] [bold]GO VOLS![/bold]........Dell Media4600, XP home,Pentium 4 @2.80GHz/800Mz, 512MB, 280 HD w/8MB, 17" flat panel, AIO-A920, 8x DVD-ROM, integrated 5.1 audio, HP dc4000, Plextor PX-708UF[/small]

 

I don't know, bigorange.
I've just downloaded the trial version and giving the new compression options a twirl.

 

P.S:

 

cool, looks like another one in the mix, lol

 

Hey BigO,
If you and ddlooping are through discussing the merits of CCE, I have some interesting news. Sort of sounds like apples and oranges again. Low compression very little visible difference between programs, jack it past 20 and CCE starts running away. And even at low compression CCE isn't going to be beat. Trade off, CCE takes a lot of time. Negligible difference at low compression, faster wins; CCE isn't usually used. But for true quality at the higher compression load CCE shines so the faster software falls to the side. That's the gist of the situation and I haven't seen either side dispute it. Seems like everyone likes the dance. And please don't quote me. If I was the Admin here, I would hide that quote control for a while.

Mr. Shrink allowed me the use of the new Beta version. Eye candy aside, this puppy does the job. Just ran Pirates of the Caribbean through, used all the new options for quality. And the deep analysis and the new options have overcome much of the compression woes of the past. I only dropped some sound tracks to get the compression level around 67%. That is over 30% compression. This is where I usually only use Recode2 or DVDCopy2. Since Copy2 is my favorite, I usually go with it.

The improved Shrink, I'd almost call it new due to the quality, didn't skip or show deterioration as the older product does. The trade off is that the movie took approximately 2 hrs to record. Copy2 does the job in about 2/3 the time or less.

Quality? There is a difference, but it is in the eye of the beholder. Copy2 generates a sharper picture with brighter colors. The colors in the Shrink are very good. They are to my eye less vibrant. The picture of the Shrink is very good but softer. Since Copy2 is faster and very good, I would probably choose it for the big movie tasks.

I'm going to have to go into Re-Author now to edit, so I can see what the picture only choice looks like with the lower compression. I must say Shrink developed a winner here and I was somewhat skeptical. I put the quality of this new program on the level with the Recode2 which I use quite a bit. The one fault that I hold against the Shrink is the inability to retain functional menus in the editing mode. Recode2 is ahead there.

In the end we look at price and there is an interesting variable in there. We all know Shrink wins the price battle hands down. Free. But for Shrink to do its best it is used with the retail program Nero. I know, Decrypter is a backup. But most people use Shrink with Nero. What comes with Nero? Recode2. Go figure, 2 nice programs. I'm not throwing any programs away, so my go to list is DVDCopoy2, Recode2, and the improved DVDShrink. If I didn't already have these programs, the decision would be diffucult. Everyone has to weigh the variables for themselves and make those decisions. We all see things differently at times.

 

WOW, I just read through this whole thread front to back and Im still mixed on what to use. I have currently DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter, Clone DVD 2, Instant Copy 8, DVD2One, and DVD Copy 2. So far Ive used DVD Shrink alone and it put out a good result on a small movie (The Goonies) and even still I got rid of everything but that main movie. Now sure there will be times when I have a much larger movie OR I want to keep the menu and the extra features...then what do you recommend I use?

Is DVDRebuilder worth learning?

 

brobear, did you use beta3 or beta4?

Also, what do you think of the idea of starting a new thread?

 

Yes Rebuilder/CCE is worth learning. Note, everyone agrees when the compression goes over 20 to 25%, the hands down winner is CCE, the trade off is it takes longer. Wonder if you read the last post there, I went over most of your questions. IC8 is one of the programs I don't have, but hear good things about. Shrink and no Nero? I wonder, I mentioned that to. Go back and read the last post. Decrypter is a great ripper and that's what I use it for. If you get the Nero pack for the Shrink, get the Recode2 and you'll have a bunch of good software programs to choose from. I believe someone said it was on sale for $49 somewhere.

 

P.S: the most improvement should be seen when compression is superior to 30%.
Give LOTR-ROTK a try, movie-only, AC3 5.1, 1 subpicture stream.
That should bring the Ratio to about 60.8%.

 

ddlooping,
You are a member. So if you want to start a new thread, by all means, do so. Let us know the name an URL and we'll check it out. Might be a good idea. I'm even difficult to pin down on ideas.

 

I meant for you to start a new thread.
We all know what credibility I have here.

 

By the way, POTC was at about the low 60% level, I dumped the sound tracks to get it up to the high 60s. I was pushing over 30% compression load here. LOTR isn't that much bigger. I'm going to do LOTR later to check the higher rates, but from what I've seen, I doubt the results will vary that much. The picture quality and playability are a vast improvement. The picture is much like the present Shrink at low compression or no compression.