Standard 2-Pass vs. FFDshow version

[Onniguru]

The 'official' XviD version only creates a stats file during the first pass, then uses that stats file in generating the second pass. Not so for the FFDshow version...it creates a working video file on the first pass, and creates its second pass file from this somehow...not too sure how the FFDshow version works, TBH.

So my questions are:
1) how the FFDshow version really works.
2) What is the quality of the first pass file in an FFDshow XviD two-pass process...can it be used for a "low-loss" pass in cases where maintaining video quality isn't that important (ie: the source sucks anyways)?

[niko]

Offical also creates video but you need to configure it to not discard it. Press more next to Encoding type (when it is set as First pass).

[Onniguru]

Didn't know that, thanks

[lamer_de]

for 2) The first pass is a constant quant 2 encode, iirc.

CU,
lamer_de