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Feedback Wanted: for my ANH dvd test clip

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I’m working on a transfer of the french coffret trilogie -> http://japanld.free.fr/laserdisc
I’m making a pretty much direct transfer (no temporal smoothing, sharpening etc).
I only resize to make it anamorphic and the contrast is upped by 6%.

Now, I made a testclip (2 rar files, 200 mb each) and I would appreciate it if a few people could download it and watch it at their kickass systems.
I would like to know what you think of the aspect ratio, color, brightness etc.
And also the audio, can you hear a difference between the PCM and DD 2.0?

Here are the links:
Part 1
Part 2

Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
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Specifications

LaserDiscs:
French Coffret Trilogie (PAL, English audio, french subtitles in black bars)

Capture equipment:
Pioneer DVL-919E
Canopus ADVC-55

Final output:
2x dvd-r/movie (yes, that means switching discs, for the real laserdisc feeling )

Audio:
DD 2.0 448 Kbps, or
PCM Stereo 1536 Kbps

Video:
PAL, as high as possible bitrate, at least 10 pass encoding
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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Downloading the clips now, only another 3+ hours to go... (free hosting but at a download speed cost)

If you're encoding a 1 hour 56 min film across 2 SL DVDs you won't need to do multipass encoding just 1 pass constant bitrate, because of DVD maximum bitrate limitations you won't fill the entire two discs;

1h 56m video with 1536kbps audio, video encode bitrate is a fixed 8227kbps
1h 56m video with 448kbps audio, video encode bitrate is a fixed 9341kbps

the video+audio will end up being 8,327mb (8.13gb)
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Cool, I'm downloading it!
I'm french and have always liked the french voices (I prefer english version, but...).

Merci, et que la Force soit avec toi!
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The video's maximum brightness level is about 2/3 of the maximum available, colour also needs to be boosted slightly, otherwise the video looks ok.

The sample DVD was encoded weirdly, it played ok on WinDVD but the anamorphic bit wasn't set right so everything looked stretched, when I played it through my hardware DVD decoder the video stuttered, so I put SmartRipper on it and extracted the two audio tracks + the video, the stuttering on the tv out of my hardware DVD decoder appears to be because of the weird DVD encode, in the filename of the m2v it says "([0xE0]_Video_NTSC_720x480)" even though it's encoded to PAL format.

I re-authored the 3 files into a new anamorphic test DVD and it played fine on my hardware DVD player and WinDVD.

The audio has been time compressed as with the PAL VHS Moth3r used but the dynamic range has been compressed, I loaded up the extracted PCM into CoolEdit to compare with my definitive collection audio and the explosions just don't have that 'punch' of DC LD audio, most notably during the opening laserblast shots and when the stormtroopers blow the door open.
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Thank you for the feedback Citizen.
The video's maximum brightness level is about 2/3 of the maximum available, colour also needs to be boosted slightly, otherwise the video looks ok.
brightness 2/3 of maximum, is that good or bad? Yes the color is a bit washed out as it is on the LD, haven't done anything about that yet.
I'll experiment on boosting it.
The sample DVD was encoded weirdly, it played ok on WinDVD but the anamorphic bit wasn't set right so everything looked stretched, when I played it through my hardware DVD decoder the video stuttered, so I put SmartRipper on it and extracted the two audio tracks + the video, the stuttering on the tv out of my hardware DVD decoder appears to be because of the weird DVD encode, in the filename of the m2v it says "([0xE0]_Video_NTSC_720x480)" even though it's encoded to PAL format.
Hmmm that's strange. I forgot to set it as 16x9 so the dvd player thinks it's 4x3. Weird about the "([0xE0]_Video_NTSC_720x480)" and stuttering, I didn't set "output topfield first and offsetline (both "0") in CCE, but it plays fine on my dvd player. In CCE I can't mark the source as PAL can I?
The audio has been time compressed as with the PAL VHS Moth3r used but the dynamic range has been compressed, I loaded up the extracted PCM into CoolEdit to compare with my definitive collection audio and the explosions just don't have that 'punch' of DC LD audio, most notably during the opening laserblast shots and when the stormtroopers blow the door open.

I haven't done anything with the audio yet. But can you hear a difference between the AC3 and the PCM audio?
If you're encoding a 1 hour 56 min film across 2 SL DVDs you won't need to do multipass encoding just 1 pass constant bitrate

I'm putting face 1 and 2 on one disc and face 3 and 4 on the other. That means disc one is slightly over an hour. (maybe I should put it on a DL disc ) So for ANH I can use the maximum bitrate aivalable, with Jedi it's different. But I always do multipass also on CBR.

Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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Originally posted by: Kaal-Jhyy
Cool, I'm downloading it!
I'm french and have always liked the french voices (I prefer english version, but...).
Sorry, but this is the french version with english audio (and voices).
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
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Originally posted by: Arnie.d
In CCE I can't mark the source as PAL can I?
No, PAL/NTSC is set in the DVD authoring program which shouldn't accept mpeg footage that isn't PAL resolution/framerate or NTSC resolution/framerate.
I haven't done anything with the audio yet. But can you hear a difference between the AC3 and the PCM audio?

I haven't been able to give it a full test (too early in the morning to turn the volume up) but so far I haven't noticed any difference.
But I always do multipass also on CBR.

That doesn't make sense, how can you gain extra detail if the bitrate is the same on each pass?
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That doesn't make sense, how can you gain extra detail if the bitrate is the same on each pass?

In CBR encoding more passes will result in a more constant and stabler bit allocation for GOPs. Also the bit allocation for each picture in a GOP will be modified to achieve higher image quality. (CCE User Guide page 35: Multipass CBR)
Everyone who I discuss this with doesn't believe me but maybe in this thread it can be cleared once and for all. Multipass CBR gives a better image quality then single pass CBR. A balance has to be found for the bit allocation between simple and complicated parts in a single frame. But this is the same in VBR, not only is the ammount of bits available per frame optimized but also the bit allocation per frame.
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
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YOu're spot on Arnie.d, This one always gets me into arguments at parties (as to why I discuss multipass cbr at parties is another discussion altogether), but yes, multipass CBR does give a better result, even if at first thought it sounds insane.
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Arnie, I've not been able to download your test files yet, but I have a couple of questions:

1. Is the audio a direct digital extraction of the PCM track off the laserdisc?

2. How are you intending to deal with the missing screen wipe at the end of side 1 of ANH?

BTW, "top field first" should be checked when encoding with CCE 2.70.xx.xx.

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1. Is the audio a direct digital extraction of the PCM track off the laserdisc?

2. How are you intending to deal with the missing screen wipe at the end of side 1 of ANH?

BTW, "top field first" should be checked when encoding with CCE 2.70.xx.xx.

1. I don't have the hardware to extract the actual digital track. I wanted to use a Creative Soundblaster Audigy 4 Pro but it wasn't enough. Some sort of signal convertor was needed so I gave that up.

2. Don't know yet. In your transfer it seems there a still image. Was it like that on the laserdisc? On my set the wipe is missing but instead of a still image there's normal video.

If I select "top field first" the video stutters heavily on my tv set.

Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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LOOKING GOOD!

I don't know about capturing myself (other then basic stuff) but it's looking very good - KEEP IT UP!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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I've tried many different filters and settings to try to sharpen the image and denoise it. It's very difficult if not impossible to sharpen the video without introducing some kind of other problem. When sharpening one area an other area gets grainy. When removing noise, detail is lost elsewhere and so on. I think the only way is to apply different filter sets to each individual scene or part of a scene (which is ofcourse very time consuming). So right now I think I'll just leave the sharpness and noise as is and just try to get the brightness and contrast right.
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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Originally posted by: Arnie.d
If I select "top field first" the video stutters heavily on my tv set.
What version of CCE are you using? I believe the correct settings are as follows:
2.50 you must uncheck "top field first",
2.67 you must set "offset line" to zero,
2.70 you must check "top field first" and set offset line to 0.

Finally downloaded part of your test clip; it looks very good - if you boost the contrast by around 45%.

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I use 2.70. If I select "top field first" and set offset line to 0 the output video doesn't play right (on tv that is, with powerdvd it always plays right no matter what settings I use).
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Hmmm, maybe I'm wrong about then.

Or maybe it's because the output from the Canopus, being a DV capture device, is bottom-field-first interlaced?

Anyway, try encoding with "top field first" checked, offset line set to 0, but this time make sure that "progressive frame" is checked.

(Just noticed that my disc is encoded as bff, but no-one has mentioned any problems. Probably it doesn't matter for progressive video).

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Originally posted by: Moth3r
Hmmm, maybe I'm wrong about then.

Or maybe it's because the output from the Canopus, being a DV capture device, is bottom-field-first interlaced?

Anyway, try encoding with "top field first" checked, offset line set to 0, but this time make sure that "progressive frame" is checked.

I assumed it was bff.
But why should I check "progressive frame"? My avi is interlaced.
Did you deinterlace the video for your transfer?

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No IVTC is required for film-sourced PAL video - the 50 fields per second when captured make up 25 progressive frames per second.

So yes, the "progressive frame" box in CCE's Picture Quality dialogue should be checked.

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Originally posted by: Moth3r
No IVTC is required for film-sourced PAL video - the 50 fields per second when captured make up 25 progressive frames per second.

So yes, the "progressive frame" box in CCE's Picture Quality dialogue should be checked.

Sorry but I don't agree. In the CCE manual it says: "select when footage is progressive". My footage is not progressive it is interlaced. The manual also says: "if you apply this option to interlaced source, it may cause a decline in quality" (page 78: 5.3.11 progressive frame).
The video has 50 fields which make 25 frames but it remains interlaced. Only when I deinterlace I get 25 progressive frames. But I don't deinterlace.

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Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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I know exactly where you're coming from, because I thought the same when I first started my transfer. See posts dated November 26 here.

Your footage is not interlaced!

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Basically when they put the film on the PAL LD the capture process turned progressive 25fps into interlaced 25fps for storing onthe LD and displaying on a tv, but when you capture it the interlacing is 'undone' and the progressive 25fps material is restored automatically.

There's no need for any post processing on the PAL SW LDs with regards to interlacing. Encode your DVD as progressive.
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Then why is it that when I deinterlace in virtualdub the fields are blended together making a blurred progressive frame if the video is already progressive?
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Originally posted by: eDroj
PAL is progressive already the only thing you have to do is deinterlace it, if you want to but you dont have to.

This is not true. If PAL is progressive already why can it be deinterlaced? Deinterlacing means making it progressive. PAL can be interlaced or progressive. I have lots of PAL interlaced dvds. Almost every camcorder films interlaced.

Or I really don't get it anymore
PAL is ALWAYS progressive? Well that means I can apply every filter in virtualdub without prolem then. Makes things a lot easier!
But really, I still can't believe it.

Is there a program that can test if an avi is interlaced or progressive?
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.