You are right about the additional frame rate choices only showing up under
certain conditions. The available rates change with the selected output file
format. For WMV, MPG1, MPG2 the choices are 23.976, 29.97, 25 and 30 while
for DVD compliant VOB there are only 2 choices, 25 and 29.97. With Super
build .23, if you choose AVI, SWF, MP4 or MOV formats as the output type the
choices of framerate expands to 14 presets ranging from 5.994 up to 60,
plus 3 more user customizable presets when "More" is selected. Sample screen
cap (without the More checkbox) is here:
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPERsnap5.html
Similarly there are changes to the options depending on the encoder selected
or the output CODECs you choose, ie. AC3 adds 6 channel sound.
Regarding irksome things, my number 1 would be the lack of detailed help. No
I take that back, No.1 would be this latest version's habit of opening on my
2nd display by default.
As far as;
Variable bit rate files... some savings in file size but my personal pet
peeve as they are a non-standard PITA to deal with after-the-fact. Not much
sympathy here but I agree if you like to use them you should be able to.
What I found is this; Converting a WMV file to AVI and selecting MEncoder
(Divx5, MP3) and Hi Quality option the AVI file came out @ 20MB size.
Switching to ffmpeg with the same settings I got a 30MB file and a variable
bitrate audio warning from VirtualDub. Changing only the encoder option to
Top Quality (available with ffmpeg but not MEncoder) the file size dropped
to 10MB, also producing a VBR warning in VirtuaDub. Unfortunately the video
quality, not good in the original to start with, suffered quite a bit in the
10MB size.
The processor load being so low can only be a good thing. SUPER is just a
GUI front end for a number of open-source decoders, encoders (some of them
also used by RAD Tools if I'm not mistaken)
and CODECs that it comes bundled with.
The location of your encoded files is set via the right-click menu option
"Output file saving management". You can save the output file into any
folder and change spaces in the name to underscores but regretably you can't
(AFAIK) change the file name at this stage. What SUPER does to differentiate
the new file from the original is append the old file extension into the new
filename. xxxxx.yyy becomes xxxx.yyy.zzz
As a self-contained video converson solution with a short learning curve I
still find it usefull, whatever its quirks.
