[mythtv-users] Transcode / nuvexport question

[Christopher Meredith]

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:58:53 -0700 (PDT), John Freer <john_freer at yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I have some large 1080i files (PBS, Carrier, 2 hours = 12GB) that I'd
very
> much like to compress down to something smaller.
> 
> I've tried a few different combinations with nuvexport based on looking
at
> some downloaded xvids that look nice to me.  I'm seeing settings like
> 500-750 as the width and a corresponding height for 16:9.  Bitrates for a
> typical download are like 800-1100.
> 
> Now if I use nuvexport to transcode a 1080i TV recording down to
something
> like that (which yields like 700MB/hr), it looks terrible.
> 
> I'm using xvid, 2 pass, deinterlaced.  I've tried bitrates out to 2000,
> but it doesn't really get anywhere near the quality I'm seeing from a
> downloaded copy of Stargate.
> 
> What am I doing wrong?  Can someone give me some good nuvexport
parameters
> to turn a 1080i into 700MB/hr and look as nice as what is commonly
> available via torrent?
> 
> Other script? Other procedure?  Abandon xvid for divx?
> 
> Also -- how to I tell nuvexport to retain the AC3 soundtrack during the
> procedure rather than converting to mp3?
> 
> Thanks for the help.  I'm new to exporting.
> 
> Thanks,
> John.

I am wondering the same thing. A user provided a script he is using here:
http://www.mythtvtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7958&sid=dafd0ab5676e86fc4130955e4c18bbb6

I think it will provide output much, much larger than 700MB though, but you
can tweak it.

I also found this, and am planning to testing it out:
http://www.mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-users/2006-June/138249.html

Finally, I use HandBrake for DVD ripping to x264/ac3 and it does a great
job. I've been playing around with trying to feed it one of these massive
mpeg files. You could give that a shot too.