Guide to use customized TMPGEnc template with DVD2SVCD like, relying, setting, support

andy

Guide to fully automated CQ_VBR KVCD with DVD2SVCD

(for Advanced users)

Some of you here are using KVCD templates (with DVD2SVCD (D2S) to automate their VCD encoding while they sleep  .
Problem is that D2S 1.0.9 Build 3 does not support CQ_VBR mode, nor setting of VBV buffer size (coming up soon), which are part of KVCD template.

I like to sleep at night, so I've searched a way to trick D2S so that I can use *any* TMPGEnc configuration for
encoding... And I've found it, relying on good old MSDOS batch file!

Here is how to procede for a PAL KVCDPlus encoding on 1 disc.

* Preparation Step 1

Create a special project (.tpr) in TMPGEnc :
-File/new project
-load KVCD-CQ-352x288-(PAL)-PLUS.mcf
-set video only
-set video source to (D2S output folder)\AviSynth_Script_file.avs
-set output filename to (D2S output folder)\Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_PAL.mpv (source is PAL)
-File/save project to quot;KVCD_D2S.tprquot; somewhere on your HD* Preparation Step 2

Create the following batch file and name it quot;swap.batquot;

:loop
if exist TMPGEnc_Project_file.tpr goto swp
goto loop
:swp
del TMPGEnc_Project_file.tpr
ren KVCD_D2S.tpr TMPGEnc_Project_file.tpr* Launching an encoding session

Set D2S as usual.
Copy quot;swap.batquot; and quot;KVCD_D2S.tprquot; in your D2S output folder.
Run quot;swap.batquot;.
Start encoding.
Go to bed

If everything goes well, you should have a fully KVCD compliant mpg at the end.* Additional notes

-My config is P4 1.6 with WIN98SE. I cannot test under other config.

-I did one encoding so far, all Windows not minimized, all resident progs deactivated (however, this may not be required).

-You may have to tune this method to your specific needs. I would recommend to do some testing on your config,
to understand how D2S works (eg. I assume that for NTSC, D2S outputs a quot;Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_NTSC.mpvquot;),
and to check that timing is ok. Timing may be critical : this trick may not work if D2S loads TMPGEnc project file too
quickly, before it is swapped. It works on my machine, I sincerely hope it will work for you too.
Again, test on a tiny movie before.

-don't forget to change BBMpeg setting to VBR in D2S (I sometimes do)

PS : possibility to choose a TMPGEnc .tpr and overide D2S parameters would be a nice feature for a futur release  .
PS2 : joining and encoding DVD with multiple ifos would make me the happiest man on hearth (very usefull for sitcoms!)
PS3 : hey DVD2SVCD, forgive me about these 2 previous PSs; I just loooooove your software  

Cheers.

Doesn't that loop eat up all your CPU?

Yes it does! CPU usage is 100% when loop is running (I just love M$  )
However the trick works on my machine (and loop stops when encoding begins).

Thank you very much, this is rather handy