====== Encoding animation with Xvid ======

This is a guide to configuring the options in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xvid|Xvid]] (version 1.xx) codec for encoding. Specifically these settings are optimized for encoding animation, such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon_animation|cartoons]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime|anime]].

These encoding options should be available in any operating system where the Xvid encoder is installed.

The **bold** options are the specific changes that are recommended. The //italics// are the comments on the options.

**MAIN:**
  * Encoding Type: **Two Pass**
  * Target size (MBytes): **???** //(Whatever size of video you want)//
  * Quantizer: ?.? //(Useful only for single pass quantizer based)//
    * [ ] Interlaced //(Only useful if you need to Deinterlace - generally do not use; filters are better for deinterlacing)//
    * [ ] Cartoon mode //(Only for very flat color cartoons, generally do NOT use)//
    * [**X**] Turbo Mode //(Increases Speed in 2nd pass 2pass mode)//
    * [ ] Greyscale
    * [**X**] Chroma Optimizer 
    * [ ] Packed bitstream 

**MOTION ESTIMATION:**
  * Motion Search Precision: **"6 - Ultra High"**
  * VHQ Mode: **"4 - Wide search"**
    * [**X**] Chroma Motion
    * [**X**] 4MV 
    * [**X**] HQ AC
    * I-frame interval - Min: **1**  Max: **300** 
    * **CONFIGURATION NOTE**(nbsp)(ndash) Numbers for framerate
      * [[general:Glossary#NTSC|NTSC]] (American & Japanese) = 300
      * [[general:Glossary#PAL|PAL]] (European) or FILM (some DVDs) = 240
      * [[general:Glossary#HDTV|HDTV]] = 1200
    * Advanced Simple Profile
      * Numberof B-frames: **3** //(Use three as the number minimum, greatly improves video quality)//
      * [ ] Qpel //(Stands for quarter pixel)//
      * [**X**] GMC //(If you plan to only playback on PC use it, if you want to be compatible with standalone dvd player don't)//
      * [**X**] BVHQ //(Produces nicer looking B-frames)//

**QUANTIZATION:**
  * [**X**] H.263 //(Better for cartoons & anime)//
  * [ ] MPEG //(Generally better for live action)//
  * [**X**] Trellis quantization
  * Quanitization restrictions
    * I-frame quantizer Min : **2** //(or at 1 for full CD, requires experimentation)//
    * I-frame quantizer Max : **31**
    * P-frame quantizer Min : **2** //(or at 1 for full CD, requires experimentation)//
    * P-frame quantizer Max : **31**
    * B-frame quantizer Min : **2** //(or at 1 for full CD, requires experimentation)//
    * B-frame quantizer Max : **31**

**SECOND PASS:**
  * Two pass tuning
    * I-frame Boost (%): **10**
    * I-frame closer than... (frames): **1**
    * ... are reduced by (%): **20**
    * Max overflow improvement (%): **5** **(default)**
    * Max overflow degradation (%): **5** **(default)**
  * Curve compression
    * High bitrate scenes (%): 0
    * Low bitrate scenes improvement (%): 0
    * Overflow control strength (%): 5  //(20 is good for full movies(nbsp)(ndash) requires more testing)//