hi i intend to get m-filter(darim)can this filter improve mpeg1 encoding quality?? thanks

-- ravi (raviuma@vpost.com.sg), March 21, 2000

Answers

Darim MPEGator SUBSTATIALLY increases the quality. It is the equivalent of capturing to VCD compliant MPEG file, then running that through Panasonic MPEG Encoder with the filteration effects turned on.

I highly reccomend the MPEGator (I hear they can be bought for around 400 bux as upposed to the list of $700 on Darim's Site) from a certain web site (someone posted the url in here a while back, i dont remember the url). I have an Adaptec Videoh! and without the MPEGator, capturing at VCD compliant video was just horrendous. Now I can actually watch what I capture and I dont have to wait forever for Panasonic Encoder to re-encode my video (an hour of MPEG took roughly 12 hours to re-encode to VCD compliant MPEG on my 400mhz celeron).

-- MrVCD (mrvcd@juno.com), March 22, 2000.

Thanks for the info Mr VCD......I have been going back and forth with the idea of laying out the $400-$700 bucks for one of the m-filters. I am using the Broadway 4.0 and it would have to make a substantial amount of improvement for me to justify buying one. I read on the web site that it's ideal use is for direct mpg capture but that it improves avi files as well which would be my application. Does anyone have any hands on experience with the m-filter?

-- Al McCraw (amccraw@ix.netcom.com), March 22, 2000.

Mr. VCD,

Do you mean the M-Filter or the MPEGator has made a substantial increase in quality? I'm looking at getting an M-FILTER myself, I just want to make sure I'm reading your suggestion correctly.

-- M2K (m2krosters@hotmail.com), March 22, 2000.

I don't actually use M-filter. But based on what I read and a sample video I saw on the web, M-filter is especially useful for old video with noise and sync problem. The built-in timebase corrector and low- pass filter together help to produce more stable picture with less blockiness.

-- Daniel Lee (siangneng@hotmail.com), March 23, 2000.

I just started making video CD's using the Darin MPEGator and M- filter card. The M-filter card makes a hugh difference in the final quality. You should get one.

-- Doug Harding (dharding@mdcc.edu), March 27, 2000.

To MK2,

I was pretty clear when I said the M-filter, not MPEGator made a substantial difference in quality.

I have had hands on experience with M-Filter. I used to have an Adaptec Videoh! parralel port encoder and it was useless without the M-filter. Now I have a Broadway and M-filter makes it even better.

I HIGHLY reccomend the M-filter since it can be used with MPEG, AVI, or in my Brother's case (who does Linear Editing with 2 SVHS VCR's) regular Video sources. So not only is it useful, it is versitile and no matter what Darim says, it can be used for anything other than just MPEG.

-- MrVCD (mrvcd@juno.com), April 09, 2000.