[MEncoder-users] interlaced/non-interlaced

[Rolf Ernst]

  Ok. Not sure what happened, but now it works also for me with the latest
> SVN build of ffmpeg *sigh*. Will have to find some more time trying to
> translate all remaining parameters from mencoder to ffmpeg. I seem to be
> missing some encoding parameters in ffmpeg, but that would be strange because
> i thought that mencoder was just relying on the ffmpeg libraries anyhow.
>
> As far as yadif is concerned, i am still confused as to the benefit
> of deinterlacing during encoding as opposed to when displaying the media.
>

Mencoder has a sweet set of additional filters and IMHO far more 
advanced input processing (i.e. to actually read a dvd instead of VOBs, 
etc.) I know opinions differ here.

The reason why deinterlacing at encoding time is advantageous is that 
the codec has a much easier time compressing deinterlaced than 
interlaced material. At the same bitrate you are likely to have poorer 
results during interlaced encoding. (x264 has made great strides in this 
area but there is no magic bullet).

Let's face it - you are going to lose resolution before or after no 
matter what. You might as well do so upfront to get better compression 
results than to lose the advantage of progressive encoding.

/re