Command Examples/Encoding To MPEG (PAL)

Notes

• [...] denote import/processing options.
• if the aspect ratio changes after resizing the video frame, use --export_asr code to notify encoder. Possible aspect ratio codes are: 1=1:1, 2=4:3, 3=16:9, 4=2.21:1.
• muliplex add-on audio track with -s filename. tcmplex supports 1 video and 2 audio tracks.
• enable sox re-sampling filter with -J resample (optional) instead of export modules resampling feature.
• for encoding with mjpeg-tools, the use of mplex is recommended.
• Use tcmplex option -D to adjust a possible AV mismatch.

VCD (352x288)

Video CD's have a restricted format for audio (MP2, 44100 Hz, 224 kBits/s, stereo) and video (MPEG-1, 352x288, 1152 kBits/s CBR) parameter. The preset profiles take care of the VCD2.0 specification.

• bbmpeg port to linux: audio downsampling reported BROKEN! Additionally use -J resample.

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg -F v,1 -E 44100 -b 224 -o test
 tcmplex -o test.mpg -i test.m1v -p test.mpa -m v

Replace -F v,1 by -F v if you prefer resizing handled by transcode. Example: reduce 720x576 to 352x288 with -B 18,23,16.

• mjpeg-tools interface:

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg2enc,mp2enc -F 1 -Z 352x288 -E 44100 -b 224 -o test
 mplex -f 1 -S 680 -o test.mpg test.m1v test.mpa

Replace -Z 352x288 by -B if you prefer the fast resizing mode by transcode. Example: reduce 720x576 to 352x288 with -B 18,23,16.

(S)VCD (480x576)

Super Video CD's have a less restricted format for audio (MP2, 44100 Hz, 32-384 kBits/s, stereo) and video (MPEG-2, 480x576, up to 2600 kBits/s VBR) parameter. The preset profiles take care of the SVCD2.0 specification.

• bbmpeg port to linux: You may try to increase th bitrate for higher quality (X)SVCD. Most consumer DVD/(S)VCD player can cope with that. This is done with a profile file xsvcd.prof, which contains the following entries:

 #(S)VCD profile for improved quality
 fixed_vbv_delay = 1 
 vbv_buffer_size = 230
 cbr = 1
 cbr_bitrate = 4000000.0
 quant_value = 2
 qscale_type = 0
 vbr_mux = 0
 video_buf_size = 230
 use_comp_bitrate = 1

and will bump up the bitrate to 4000 kbps. The additional profile parameter are passed with the file name as a 3rd argument to -F. audio downsampling reported BROKEN! Additionally use -J resample.

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg -F s,3,xsvcd.prof -E 44100 -b 128 -o test
 tcmplex -o test.mpg -i test.m2v -p test.mpa -m s

• mjpeg-tools interface:

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg2enc,mp2enc -F 4 -Z 480x576 -E 44100 -b 128 -o test
 mplex -f 4 -S 680 -o test.mpg test.m2v test.mpa 

Replace -Z 480x576 by transcode's fast resizing option -B for speed improvements. Example: reduce 720x576 to 480x576 with -B 0,15,16.

DVD compliant format

Possible frame parameter combination: 720x576, 704x576, 352x576 and 352x288.

 For a video frame size of 352x288, resizing can be delegated to the export module with "-F d,1", all other values require use of transcode's resize options.

• bbmpeg port to linux:
  • MP2 audio:audio downsampling reported BROKEN! Additionally use "-J resample".

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg -F d -E 44100 -b 224 -o test
 tcmplex -o test.vob -i test.m2v -p test.mpa -m d

• MP3 audio:

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg,raw -F d -m test.mp3
 tcmplex -o test.vob -i test.m2v -p test.mp3 -m d

• AC3 pass-through:

In most cases, you will need to reduce the bitrate for encoding. This is done with a profile file dvd.prof, which contains the following entry:

 #DVD profile with reduced bitrate 
 max_bitrate=4000000.0

and will reduce the bitrate to 4000 kbps. The profile name is passed as a 3rd argument to "-F".

 transcode [...] -V -y mpeg,raw -F d,,dvd.prof -m test.ac3 -A -0x2000
 tcmplex -o test.vob -i test.m2v -p test.ac3 -m d

• PCM audio: (not yet supported by tcmplex)