[MPlayer-users] terrible terrible quality for 3 pass divx's...what gives?

[christopher j bottaro]

hey,
i'm learning how to do 3 pass dvd to divx.  i've been testing it on chapter 1 
of the matrix.  i've played the resulting divx after the second and third 
pass to find that the quality is TERRIBLE both times.

here is roughtly how i'm doing it, any help would be >greatly< appreciated.  
note how i'm using the vbitrate recommended from the previous passes to 
determine the vbitrates of the current passes?  am i doing that correctly?

first pass:
mencoder -dvd 1 -chapter 1-1 -ovc frameno -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3 -o 
frameno.avi
output:
<snip>
Recommended video bitrate for 700MB CD: 28325
<snip>


second pass:
mencoder -dvd 1 -chapter 1-1 -aspect 16:9 -ovc lavc -lavcopts 
vcodec=mpeg4:vhq:vpass=1:vbitrate=28325 -oac copy -vop eq -o matrix_test.avi
output:
<snip>
Video stream:  250.140 kbit/s  (31267 bps)  size: 6450694 bytes  206.307 secs  
4946 frames
<snip>
am i suppose to use the 250.140 kbit/s in the vbitrate option in the next 
pass?

third pass:
mencoder -dvd 1 -chapter 1-1 -aspect 16:9 -ovc lavc -lavcopts 
vcodec=mpeg4:vhq:vpass=1:vbitrate=250140 -oac copy -vop eq -o matrix_test.avi

done.  and the resulting quality is terrible...why?  thanks for the help,
christopher

P.S.  i get this error when i do the 2nd and 3rd pass:  Sorry, selected 
video_out device is incompatible with this codec.
VDecoder init failed :(.  could that have anything to do with it?