Is it possible to improve video quality while encoding?

I have a cheapo HD camcorder that gives me MOI and TOD files. When I copy videos from the camcorder I use Handbrake to encode them into MP4. Upon playback of the TOD or MP4 file you can see what looks like interlacing artefacts. That is when ever there is fast motion you can see lines of previous frames mixed with lines of the current frame.

Is there a way to improve the video quality while encoding? What applications allow you to do this? I am using Fedora 11.

Answer

From what you said:

When I copy videos from the camcorder I use Handbrake to encode them into MP4. Upon playback of the TOD or MP4 file you can see what looks like interlacing artefacts.

I take from this that your "cheapo" camera records interlaced. There are two quick solutions for this:

1. Encode the video files as interlaced (less preferred if your target is a progressive screen)


2. Deinterlace the source (preferred for progressive screens - e.g. modern TVs, computer monitors)

For a quick guide to deinterlacing with Handbrake, check out this guide. An alternative to deinterlacing would be decombing, which is discussed in depth here.