I am in the process of getting the video plug in. I about to get the mixer so I haven't been able to test out mp4 compatibility & quality yet.
The only way I have been able to test is through my existing set up with vdj.
I am experimenting with different settings and software.

I have procoder 3 & TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress.

In procoder there is a H.264 setting I have modified for the screen resolution and high quality audio. You can batch encode entire folders in procoder as well. The only thing I saw that was a downer was a quirk with the naming of the encoded files.
I usually name my video files with the source of where I got it in parenthesis " ( ) ".

Example:
kingston, sean - take you there (p.o.).mpg

Well when it encodes the video it names it like this:
kingston, sean - take you there (p.o.mp4

Very weird... But other than that it does high quality work and batch.



TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress is cheaper and has very good results as well.
But ... it doesn't have a "H.264" setting... just mp4 video settings. It has one for "mpeg-4 avc format" & "iso mpeg-4 format"
I have no idea the difference between the two. The "avc" one has more options but I am not sure which one would be the better of the two and if there is a compatibility issue with Serato Video on this.

I already batch encoded the majority of my library... unfortunately I can't remember which settings I used on which program :-(
I am hoping there will be no problems and I when I do get the video plug-in & mixer I will test out differences.

I am prepared to batch encode my entire (4,000+) video library ... sigh... again... if I have to.

anyone here use a pc to encode to mp4 format and if so.. what programs and optimum settings do you use that work with serato video?

avc is h.264

you can use movie batch info to tell what codec was used on the video, you can download it from this site.

Just found out this:
Advanced Video Coding (AVC), is also known as H.264

so when using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress and the AVC format it will be higher quality!

good to know.

funny... posted this the same time as d-twizzle

where?

oh, it's called movie info batch, i'm a little dyslexic
www.scratchlive.net

cool thanks!!!

AL I am not to familiar with the program you are using but...Make sure you Deinterlace and change your Keyframes to somewhere between 15-25. I personally set mine at 22.

I converted my entire library without doing so and had to redo everything! I began batch encoding without actually having the mixer and video plugin. Without testing the files its hard to see what works the best on your machine. Once I brought the mixer to the club and tested I realized right away that I had to reconvert. Don't make the same mistake. It takes a long time!

al, i'm using MediaCoder. It has mad options!!!

you can save all your settings as a profile and batch convert. it also supports monitoring folders for conversion. multi-machine transcoding over the network is coming in the next release.

the settings i'm using are:
audio: Nero Encoder @ 48Khz with a target bitrate of 160 *this is aac
video: 2-Pass, 2500Kbps, H.264, Mp4
picture: 720x480 @ 29.97

keyframes set @ 20 and everything else is default

thanks for the responses..

the one's I have already encoded have all been deinterlaced. The problem with deinterlacing is sometimes it isn't necessary and could make your video not as sharp. So I am experimenting on that too.

I'm having good results with ffmpeg you need to know your command line but it works well for me.

hmmm..
well after testing... I like the quality of procoder...

I ordered the mixer!!! el yay!! It will be here in a few days... and I bought the video plug in via download... so when I get it all set up I will be able to test out quality with VSL...

the only way I am testing now is with virtual dj.

Does MediaCoder give you deinterlacing options?

hell yeah

linear blend
linear interpolating
cubic interpolating
median deinterlacing
5-tap lowpass filter
YADIF Mode 0
YADIF Mode 1
YADIF Mode 2
YADIF Mode 3

dunno what the difference between modes are, but like i said this thing has got every option imaginable.

hmmmm .. i may give it a shot ... Do you have the manufacturers url?

and did i say it's free?

mediacoder.sourceforge.net

Very Nice!