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Cinema Craft Encoder |
CINEMA CRAFT Encoder SP3 (CCE-SP3) is a MPEG2 software encoder that enables you to create the ultimate level of picture quality at high speed. There is a growing need for much higher picture quality in DVD production industry. In addition to CCE-SP2, CCE-SP3 includes "CINEMA CRAFT Xtream" (CCX) encode engine that is highly rated by many compressionists around the world and has been utilised to create a considerable number of DVD titles.
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Payware ($1000)  Win  Released: |
7.8/10
25 votes Guides |
Read 25 comments 11011 views this month 8077375 total views |
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Latest version: SP3 1.3.0.3 (January 27, 2012) Developer's site: Visit developer's site Sponsored software: Supported operating systems: Windows
Sections/Browse similar tools: Video Encoders (MPG/DVD) |
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User options: Email me when it has been updated Report this tool (dead link/new version) Version history:
CINEMA CRAFT Encoder SP3 1.3.0.3 View full changelog [Fix] The frame rate written in DPX header was not properly read. This problem has been fixed. [Change] Changed so that frame numbers displayed on the chapter list remain unchanged even when frame conversion will be made.
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Can't comment on the quality of the results, because it refused to open my source files, with the obscure message "acmStreamOpen() returned error 512, wave format = 85". I have ACM codecs for the audio format used in the files, and I reinstalled them just to be sure. User interface is a little confusing at first, but looks like it will contain most features. However the lack of ability to open files that I have perfectly adequate codecs for is a killer for me. Glad I didn't spend 1150 on buying it.
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I made two backup copies of West Side Story (Japan R2 DTS). West Side Story is a hard title to backup due to dance sequences with red chiffon skirts and fast motion. For one backup I used DVDRebuilder + CCE in 2-pass mode. For the other I used DVDShrink with deep analysis plus smoothest motion setting. Everything else was set the same, menu plus DTS plus DD5.1 soundtracks. CCE took exactly twice as long as Shrink and produced results which were only half as good. Okay I could have improved the picture quality from CCE by using extra passes but that would have taken even longer than the four and a half hours it already took. This is not an encoder I would use for backups unless there was no other option.
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i used to use TMPGEnc Plus to do all my Xvid to DVD encoding, as i found it to be very easy to use. but thanks to videohelp's user guides (DJRumpy's to be specific), i was able to learn how to use CCE, and using the guide, it was quite easy. i do find that CCE adds a little bit of edge artifacts, but changing the quantization scale may help. it is also a lot faster than TMPGEnc, so it is now my encoder of choice (and i've tried quite a few others, including HC, QuEnc and of course TMPGEnc). i also use CCE with DVD-RB Pro for movies that require high/very high compression.
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Same quality comparing with TMPGEnc but much faster, so go for it! Regards.
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Of all the investments I have made in video software, CCE Basic is the best $58 I have spent. No hassle, reliable, fast and best of all great results!
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Simple, fast, stable and excellent results! A must have for converting DV avi to mpeg compliant files.
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The last comment said to set the Quantization Characteristics to 70-100 to preserve detail. This is wrong. This is taking out detail and giving it to the "flat part" areas. Another downside to setting it so high, is that it will give you "mosquito noise". You want to set it no more than 24, and the default of 16 is actually perfect in most cases. The closer to 0 the better.
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Exactly that link below in encoder test when viewed on high contrast monitors will show that CCE is just better if not the best amongst the encoders. Tmpgenc did amazingly well also but this is not about other encoders. According to the Cinemacraft CCE Basic and CCE SP use the same engine being that SP does however run faster (tested on trial version myself). Still however the quality is just about the same up to 2-pass encoding on CCE Basic. I gave it a nine in ease of use simply because there is something that they have to set at default setting; Offset Line needs to be set at 0!!!. Every encoder should take the plain picture and encode it as IS, not remove top scanline and flip the field order (like CCE Basic default). Quality even On VCDs is absolutely amazing. Quantize I usually set at about 70 - 100 to preserve sharpness. Colors are vibrant (not so pinkish and flat as in TMPGEnc which is my next choice b.t.w.). Value for money speaks for itself and although UI is very ugh, weird but not ugly it's just what it needs. Simple - few really need to have knobs and checkboxes and that's it. Everything you need is in 3 screens and that's it. Great Encoder, never regretted 58$ I spent.
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All you guys who keep on quoting CCE as costing $2000, give it a rest. The CCE app applicable to most ppl here is CCE basic and costs $58. The $2000 version is meant for professional studios who earn a living from their work. It has already been seen on the Doom9 forums that a lot of users testing CCE SP against TMPGENC and Procoder were using ripped versions the results of which could not be relied on. For $58 CCE Basic is the best value for money encoder on the market. The UI is not fancy but I buy software for functionality and results not sexy menus, and you can't argue with the results, easily as good as TMPGENC(which is also v.good) and with some DVD's better although the opposite can also be the case. So for anyone who wants a great encoder CCE Basic paired with DVD-RB is a hard combination to beat.
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CCE is NOT slow. I just benchmarked several encoders, CCE, TMPGENC, Mainconept, Canopus Encoder. CCE was one of the fastest encoders. Not only was it fast, but it keeps good crisp detail. The only problem is lack of detailed settings. When you run the program, one window opens up where you drag your file onto. It looks cheesy, compared to other encoder interfaces. The UI needs major work! Other than that, it still performs great and gives great encodes! Go here and look at the quality against other encoders. http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopi ... der%20test
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Most overrated video tool ever. I used it with DvdRebuilder and the quality was tiny tiny bit better than DvdShrink and it took forever. Let's see: free and quick or expensive as hell and slow? I'll pass on CCE.
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Just got the new release (Cinema Craft Encoder Basic 2.70.01.04) which fixed previous problem in 2.70.01.02. Works great again. Fast...........
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CCE SP 2.7 SUCKS. This is some kind of joke when this high dollar trialware is limited to AVI, introduces noise even when dithering is disabled, has the WORST UI, adds 'pops' to it's audio, (and I have more gripes) when TMPGenc is $1000s less, offers more control over a project and will take any format I feed it and never choke. The CCE user guide even tells you to encode a portion of your project to see if you have the field order right when TMPGenc will determine the field order before you can proceed. So CCE is faster...so what? I'll stick with TMPGenc and more control and more reliable results.
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CCE is simply the best after 1500 movies. If you have used any amount of other encoders across so many movies, you will see the difference, one of the best test is Saving Pirvate Ryan.
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The Basic version of CCE has very few features and is no competition for TMPGEnc Plus and MainConcept Encoder. The SP version has the worst interface I have ever seen and dont do a better job than the other encoders I mentioned,unless you do several passes in VBR mode.It also costs $2000. This is a total con.You need to be very wealthy to pay such a huge amount of money for a average/poor product.
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faster than TMPGEnc and the quality is on par so its the obvious choice between the 2. I like the overall feel of TMPGEnc, but i really dont like how slow TMPGEnc is. Only negative to CCE is it doesnt support anything other than AVI/Divx/Xvid or quicktime files.
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CCE Basic is simple, fast and produces good results. You can encode any portion of the avi file very quickly. When used with DVD authoring software, such as Ulead Video Studio 8, which does NOT re-encode mpeg compliant video it makes the overall process of going from avi to dvd considerably faster. wwjd
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2.7 change log and read me from 2.7.01 (some minor issues corrected from 2.7.00 1. Automatic resolution conversion in DVD/SVCD/VCD mode When DVD/SVCD/VCD is selected in encoding mode, frame rate and frame size are automatically converted to fit to the target standard. If you do not want to change them, please choose MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 mode. 2. Addition of DVD mode "DVD Video compliant" option in 2.67 was removedCand DVD mode was added to encoding modes. If you use "DVD Video compliant" option in 2.67 templates or ecl files, some parameters are automatically changed in 2.69. Please read readme.txt carefully in advance. 3. Addition of 1st pass of VBR mode It is provided to create a video information file for multipass VBR. This mode allows you to specify minimum and average and maximum bitrates. 4. Change of the name of "Bias" It was newly named "V/C". (VBR/CBR: setting for fluctuation of the bit allocation) And it became available outside the VBR bit allocation window. 5. Number of encoding passes You can specify up to 99. 6. Chapter list Chapter list window was added, and you can save/load a chapter list to/from file on the window. (You can also set a chapter on File setting window. However, you cannot save/load a chapter list to/from file on File setting window.) 7. Addition of "Encode the last frame as an I frame" option 8. Adaptive quantization matrices switching for multipass VBR Quantization matrices are adjusted automatically when multipass VBR. (You can disable the operation.) 9. Field order An option of outputting buttom field first stream was provided. 10. Offset line "Upper field first" option of 2.66 is equal to the combination of 2.70 settings "Output top field first stream" and "Offset line" 1. 11. Addition of blanking functionality 12. Addition of 3:2 pulldown functionality 13. Addition of functionalities on inverse 3:2 pulldown setting "Auto 2-pass detection" and "Threshould setting" are added. The currently referred field is combined to the previous and next fields and the combination pictures are displayed on the two viewer windows. 14. Change of Dithered quantization Y and C parameters should be set for dithered quantization. 15. Addition of functionalities on Quality setting "High boost filter", "Auto block scan oeder"C"Fades on a static scene", "Black screen" and "Monochrome" 16. Action when finished encoding You can set "Shut down the system" or "Play sound" as action when finished. 17. Log output Log output setting has added in the "Outputs" of "Options" menu. 18. Save/load template to/from file 19. Reuse of the last modified parameter setting
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The best darn mpeg encoder I have ever experienced. Nothing beats the 3pass VBR mpeg2. The highest Quality mpeg is produced. And all DVD authoring programs welcome it's .mpv files
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I've read that so many people liked CCE, so I downloaded the trial version to test it out. The source video was from my Camcorder (shot in Frame Mode), and was encoded as Progresive. I did exhaustive comparison Test with CCE vs Main Concept. The video was frameserved to both encoders from Premiere Timeline. Similar settings were used on both encoders, except only 1 pass for Main Concept. One pass on CCE is fast, but the quality sucks. To get quality equel to Main Concept (1-pass), you need at least 3- pass on CCE. It ends up taking about 3 times as long to encode the same clip. I encoded @ 4-pass with CCE and it produce a nice video. It was a little sharper than Main Concept, mostly because Main Concept softens the video a little (even when you disable the noise filters), it also took 5 times as long to encode it. On the PC, it looked like CCE was the winner in the quality test. There was some noticable noise in the CCE video that wasn't in the original source, but overall it looked pretty good. I decided to burn both encoded versions do a DVD for evaluation on TV. The TV test resulted in Main Concept being the clear winner. The main Concept video was more pleasent to watch. CCE produced noticable noise and the colors weren't quite right, especially skin tones. In conclusion, I'd say CCE makes great video if you want to watch it on a PC, though it's pretty slow compared to Main Concept. If you want to watch it on TV, then Main Concept is the clear winner in my opinion.
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I recently bought both TMPGEnc Plus and CCE Basic, but I've been using TMPGEnc for a long time. After buying CCE I decided to test it on a source that I'd already previously encoded with TMPGEnc beta 12j. First impression was bad: even for "basic" software this is one crummy user interface! Then I accidentally selected the wrong source file to encode (source not designed for DVD) - my mistake, but my complaint is that CCE went ahead and encoded it to DVD specs anyway, producing a nonsense output without any kind of a warning message. However, then I got it going on the source file I had intended to use. First thing I noticed was that the ETA for completion was 10 hrs or so, compared to about 18 for TMPGEnc on the same file. So, later that evening I checked the result... Sure enough it had finished on time, but given the crappy experience earlier I wasn't expecting much... boy was I wrong! Stunning quality. I don't think you could tell that I had re-encoded an already MPEGed source file. Quality was much better than TMPGEnc, which produced visible artifacts when encoding the same file to the same target bitrate (both CBR). So, CCE works much faster, producing excellent results... in which case I can live with the crummy UI!
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I'm not one to go out and buy an MPEG encoder when something like TMPGEnc is free. That aside, I was working on VHS to DVD conversion when I realized that the 64 tapes or so I was trying to do would take an extraordinary amount of time and processing power to complete if I used TMPGEnc. I looked around and found CCE to be one of the most highly regarded MPEG encoders around. What thrilled me to no end was that I could encode at less than half the time with CCE (2 pass VBR). I shoveled out $60 for it and have never looked back. There's no way I would spend $1500 for what I'm trying to do, but the basic version does offer all the usability I need for the mere $60 it costs. The quality is exceptional. Though not entirely true, those watching my converted VHS tapes told me the DVD video quality was better than the tapes, a reaction I was really hoping for. You've obviously considered using CCE if you're reading this, so do yourself a favor, and stop searching for something better.
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If you don't want to learn or use Avisynth to frameserve mpg files to CCE, then use dvd2avi (one step, very fast to split mpg into audio/video streams to get .mpa (audio) and .d2v (video). Then just use VFAPI Converter program to convert .d2v video file to .avi then load .avi directly into CCE! Much easier than using Avisynth and creating a script,etc. Once CCE encodes video, then load streams into authoring program or multiplex them into an mpg file using tmpgenc "mpeg tools" simple multiplex. Easy and fast! CCE is outstanding, but so is Mainconcept's Mpeg Encoder and it is just as fast and handles mpg files natively! Switched to MC and never looked back...
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The Basic version was tested in Win2K Pro and Win XP. This is the rocket racer of all encoders. Want to do 2-pass VBR DVD 2-hour file in 3 hours ----- then this the tool. Just a few drawbacks in my 2 month usage. Will only accept frameserved files with *.AVS extension and of course, *.AVI files directly. Has had issues with previously captured interlaced MPEG2 files that I frameserve with AVISynth. The playback is jerky, even if I encode with with Zigzag or progressive. Had issue with frameserved 352x480 video. It encoded it as 720x480 and squashed the video a small box with large black borders (ggggrrrhhhh). Would like to see a resolution setting added to the Basic version. Although, I understand that this can be achieved with DVD2SVCD. Very good tool overall. And BTW,.......VERY VERY good quality video files (I thought that might be important to include ;-)
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The best quality encoder you can get for under $2000, period. And it's only $60! Handles interlaced source video much better than tmpgenc. And it's light years faster than tmpgenc. I've purchased both, btw. It doesnt have a zillion knobs and switches like tmpgenc does, but that's not the point. If you want the best quality DV->DVD conversion possible, this is it. User interface is relatively straightforward, if somewhat plain. Does the job though.
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