Specs for saving video files

[Rock10]

Should I save the file in the largest file size? In Ulead, there's a bar that you slide for quality over speed, and it makes the file a lot larger. I don't want it compressed. I am using MPEG2.

Thanks

[pawel]

MPEG2 is lossy codec hence is always compressed, and the smaller video size the more crappy it looks like.

[Rock10]

Originally Posted by pawel

MPEG2 is lossy codec hence is always compressed, and the smaller video size the more crappy it looks like.

But that is the larger file size. What should I use?

[pawel]

depends what you have as source

[Rock10]

It's a vhs transfer.

[pawel]

If you want safe on space and retain quality then you should use H264 (x264) instead MPEG2. It compress at least twice better than MPEG2. Video of standard resolution encoded in H264 cannot be used for a DVD but is accepted by Blu-ray. You would need to encode to 720×480 59.94i or 720×576 50i. There is even better HEVC but it's simply an overkill for a VHS source, and it takes too looooong to encode.

[Rock10]

I need it for a dvd.

[pawel]

So, you have no choice as DVD uses only MPEG2.

[Rock10]

Originally Posted by pawel

So, you have no choice as DVD uses only MPEG2.

There is MPEG1 in Ulead, but I'm using MPEG2.

[pawel]

MPEG1 is accepted by VCD only, thus it cannot be used for DVD. VCD comes from Stone Age era ;-)

[Rock10]

It might just be the dvd program has 2 dvd sizes. The smaller one is MPEG1. There is also a bar to slide for speed vs quality. You can burn wmv to dvd also

[co9ol]

If you're going to have to re-encode again while authorizing the DVD might as well go huge. However, if you won't have to re-encode the video before burning the DVD go the biggest you can go before hitting 4 GB. Most programs have a "estimated file size" when selecting the bit-rate, use that.

This is assuming that you only want to fit one video file on the DVD...

P.S. Stick to MPEG2 for DVDs

[pawel]

Originally Posted by Rock10

It might just be the dvd program has 2 dvd sizes. The smaller one is MPEG1. There is also a bar to slide for speed vs quality. You can burn wmv to dvd also

2 DVD sizes means that you may produce single layer DVD (approx. 80 min. very good quality) or dual layer DVD (approx. 180 min.). Here you have a calculator to estimate how much you may fit into each type of disc vs. compression quality.

Repeat: MPEG1 is not allowed in the DVD standard. If you capture your VHS to MPEG1, the video will be once again lossy re-encoded when authored to DVD. The effect will be just terrible.