Converting 1080i .ts to Xvid or WMV-9

Is anyone else converting 1080i HDTV transport files to xvid or wmv-9? I've tried converting to both 1280x720 and anamorphic 960x720 with xvid as well as dabbling with 1920x1080 as well. Typically I do something like this after processing with DVD2AVI HD Code:

what about autogk? ;)

What would be the benefit of using it over my method?

fast and easy use... of course is you don't prefer manual encoding ;)

Well, I compared my xvid to the original .ts and the file seems to show a noticable loss of sharpness. Enough that the Xvid doesn't really look HD, but more like a high quality DVD. I guess I need to see if it's the post processing / deblocking, or the reduction in pixels.

Turning off the post processing in mpeg2dec helped some, but they're still not quite as sharp or detailed, so I'm trying an anamorphic 1080x720 xvid now. *sigh* I probably should have been using the mpeg matrix instead of the H.263 one. *sigh*

If I'm doing a 2 pass rip, what difference does the matrix make?

I tried it, and the results were sharper. I got a slightly lower Q, but there doesn't seem to be any downside to the extra sharpness. I compared the encode to the original with AVIsynth and the Didees one is as sharp as the source, so I'm unsure how WMV9 would be any sharper.

I've also good results with hvs-best and 6of9 for hdtv. Here is a script for CSI Code:

i tried WMV9 on 720p encode and i have to say it plainly sux! the result is very blocky on fast flashing scene (even at high bitarates), it's sharp but with too many artifacts. I'm using Xvid VHQ4+B frames+Qpel and HSV Best matrix @4000kbps, looks very sharp and no artifacts with no post processing (using latest FFDshow). Is GMC usefull for those kind of encode? My AVS script : Code: