DVD::rip -- Quality Matrix

Initial rev: November 26, 2005

I needed info on what settings to choose for DVD::rip as quickly as possible. Goals for ripped video are:

1) Play them on a MythTV box on a standard (NO HDTV) NTSC 4:3 television.

2) Ability to import them into "consumer" grade video editing software such as Adobe Premier Elements. Might try to use Cinelerra too.

3) As close to DVD quality as possible.

4) Under 2 gigs hardrive space per hour of video. (This is what the default MythTV configuration produces)

This is just based on my own trial and error. I do not claim to be an export on all the details of each setting. There are millions of other combinations of settings/codecs, and you are welcome to try them yourself. I followed the path of settings that seemed to lead me towards "quality convergence" as quickly as possible.

As always, YMMV.

 

For this first set of tests, I used "Clip and Zoom" setting of:

Autoadjust, Medium Frame Size, Fast Resize

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
xvid Deinterlacing NO 2 164154760
 4:44 578009.72
 0.0347
 POOR
Keyframe 50 Sound does not match
Video Kbit/s 4165 Motion is choppy, gets "lined"
bpp 0.60 when people move fast
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core Yes 2

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
xvid2 Deinterlacing       CODEC NOT INSTALLED
Keyframe    
Video Kbit/s    
bpp    
Audio   Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core   1

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
xvid3 Deinterlacing       CODEC NOT INSTALLED
Keyframe    
Video Kbit/s    
bpp    
Audio   Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core   1

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
xvid4 Deinterlacing NO 3 131027060
 no data POOR
Keyframe 50 Sound does not match
Video Kbit/s 4165 Motion is choppy, gets "lined"
bpp 0.60 when people move fast
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core Yes 3

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 4 128627274 3:43 576803.92
 0.0346
 POOR
  Deinterlacing NO
Motion is choppy, gets "lined"
Keyframe 50  
Video Kbit/s 4165  
bpp 0.60  
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core Yes         3

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
fame Deinterlacing       CAUSED SEGFAULT!
Keyframe    
Video Kbit/s    
bpp    
Audio   Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core   1

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
af6 Deinterlacing       CAUSED SEGFAULT!
Keyframe    
Video Kbit/s    
bpp    
Audio   Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
PSU core   1

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 5 308928256 no data     GARBAGE
  Deinterlacing NO  
That's all my notes say, sorry
Keyframe 50  
Video Kbit/s 6941  
bpp 1.0  
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core Yes         2

 

For the remainder of these tests, I changed "Clip and Zoom" setting of:

Autoadjust, Large Frame Size, Fast Resize

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 6 161249646 no data Okay, slightly below good.
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame
Motion is _good_
Keyframe 50 Sound doesn't line up.
Video Kbit/s 3470 Video appears to speed up
bpp 0.50 and slow down.
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core No 6

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg2 6 - Do over 142384414 no data Sounds didn't line up
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame
Caused winAmp to lockup
Keyframe 50 mplayer (MythTV) could not
Video Kbit/s 3470 Play this!
bpp 0.50  
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core No 1

 

Codec Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
xvid4 Codec:   3 - Do over 161184872 3:47 710065.52
 0.0426
 Sounds didn't line up
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Video with motion is _better_
Keyframe 50 Video appears to speed up
Video Kbit/s 3470 and slow down.
bpp 0.50
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core Yes 6

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 6 - Do over 132200814 5:28 403051.26
 0.0242
 Video is much better
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Some slight jpeg artifacts, but much smoother.
Keyframe 50 Looks "Not Bad on TV"
Video Kbit/s 2765 Sound does not line up.
bpp 0.40
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core No 7

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
MPEG Codec: VCD 7 71844136 6:52 174378.97
 0.0105
 Lots of mpeg pixelation
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Rather pixleated on TV.
Keyframe 50 Sound is a little fuzzy
Video Kbit/s 1152 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
bpp 0.57 (max) 5

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
MPEG Codec: SVCD 8 109355820 5:23 338562.91
 0.0203
 Lots of mpeg pixelation
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Winamp just shows green screen.
Keyframe 50 Sound sucked, color is washed.
Video Kbit/s 1152 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
bpp 0.57 (max) 4

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 9 139334608 6:26 360970.49
 0.0217
 Video is much better
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Very minor video pixelation.
Keyframe 50 "Better then VHS, not as good as DVD"
Video Kbit/s 2429 Motion seamed smooth and at a
bpp 0.35 Constant pace
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core No 7.5

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 10 139334608 3:45 490396.81
 0.0294
 "Best Yet"
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Almost no pixelation
Keyframe 50 "Looks like DVD"
Video Kbit/s 3470 Motion seamed smooth and at a
bpp 0.50 Constant pace
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core No 8

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 11 139334608 1:03 606453.84
 0.0364
 fine.
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

There is some pixelation.
Keyframe 50 Incomplete test. Source DVD
Video Kbit/s 4419 was poor quality (Credits)
bpp 0.60
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core Yes ?

 

Container Settings   Chapter final File Size Video Play Time Bits/Second Gigs/Hour Results / Comments
ffmpeg Codec: mpeg4 5 -- Do over 141828222 5:34 424635.40
 0.0255
 Great!
  Deinterlacing Zoom to full frame

Very little to no noticeable pixelation.
Keyframe 50 "Looks like DVD"
Video Kbit/s 2946 Motion seemed smooth and
bpp 0.40 at constant pace. Good Sound Sync.
Audio AC3 Overall rating (10 best, 1 worst)
  PSU core Yes 9

Conclusions:

Yes, there are many more tests that could be done! If you would like to add your data to this list, send them to me: ryan(at)the-summit(dot)net