Version Tested: 1.26
Type: Software encoder, bundled with basic Firewire card
MPEG Standards: MPEG 1, MPEG 2, VCD, SVCD, DVD
Bit Rate Control Modes: CBR
Bit Rates: 0.25-9 Mbit/s (peak of 3 Mbit/s in MPEG-1 mode)
GOP Formats: IPB-frame
MPEG Audio Modes: Partial MPEG-1 layer 2 support (no 32 KHz mode,
simple mono and stereo encoding only)
Frame Sizes: MPEG-2 mode: 352x240, 480x480, 640x480, 720x480;
MPEG-1 mode: 160x112, 320x240, 352x240
Multi-threaded Encoding? No
Scene Change Detection? No
Encoding Rate: 5.9 fps on a 1.2 GHz Athlon
Web Page: Pinnacle Systems
Availability: Everywhere
Price: US$80
NOTE: This product has since been replaced by later versions of the Studio software and better capture cards than the one I reviewed here. (The review is contemporaneous with Studio 7.) I don't know how much the MPEG encoder has changed since the version I reveiewed was released.
Studio DV is the name of the basic Firewire card in this kit, as well as the basic NLE package that comes with it. For the purposes of this test, I'm only interested in the Studio DV package's MPEG encoder component.
This package makes you use a video editor package as the capture and encode application, rather than offering a dedicated capture application. Studio is one of the best examples of "easy to use software" that I've ever experienced. It is simply that: easy to use by anyone, not just cretins. Nevertheless, the NLE interface means you have to import a file and add it to the timeline to encode it — this is more clumsy than the plain standalone encoders' "open file and encode" modus operandi.
The MPEG encoding interface gives you just enough options to be useful, leaving out all the confusing options that other encoders in this roundup present. The software only has CBR mode, a few basic frame size and audio sample rate choices, and an easy bit rate slider that stops at each quarter Mbit/s. By contrast, the ATI All-in-Wonder has an infinitely adjustable bitrate slider, so if you want, say, 3.5 Mbit/s, you have to get close and then hit the arrow keys a hundred and five times to get the bit rate exactly right. Studio DV also lets you type in your bit rate if you want something a little atypical.
Frame 0, Frame 1, Bitrate and Quantization Data.
These aren't the best frames in the roundup. In fact, only the low-end hardware encoders are worse. The Studio DV made the frames quite fuzzy, with a significant amount of blockiness and artifacts. It's easily the worst software encoder reviewed.
At the same time, it's hard to ding this encoder too badly. Yes, there are better software encoders, but the other commercial software encoders only start at around the price of the Studio DV. If you need video editing capabilities, it's easy to talk yourself into giving up some video quality to save the cost of purchasing a separate video editing package.
If you need a Firewire card and an NLE package, and want to play with MPEG a bit on the side, this is an excellent package.
If instead, you want to do MPEG first and foremost, or you already have one or both of the first two pieces, this package is less compelling. If you have both a capture card and an NLE package already and you're happy with both, putting your money toward the Vitec MPEG Maker standalone encoder would be a smarter move. Or, you could go cheap and use TMPGEnc. If you had a capture card but no MPEG encoder, you might be able to talk yourself into the software only Studio package.
Usability: 9
Functionality: 0
Quality: 4
Core Value: 9
Bundle value: 10
Overall: 6.9
| Updated Mon Sep 22 2008 12:15 MDT | Go back to MPEG Encoder Reviews | Go to my home page |
