Shortening a Captured File

[solarblast]

I captured a 35 minute DVD and let it roll on for 70 minutes. It ended up 18G. There must be some tool to shorten it, so that it doesn't waste space.

[DarrellS]

Virtualdub

[daamon]

I captured a 35 minute DVD and let it roll on for 70 minutes. It ended up 18G. There must be some tool to shorten it, so that it doesn't waste space.

What format did you capture to? And if the answer is AVI, what codec was used? Use GSpot to tell you the asnwer to either question.

[solarblast]

Yes, AVI, and I would guess a default codec. I think it'll take me less time to just put in the DVD again, and set a timer for about 35 minutes. Then I can stop it at the point I want. By the time I get a program of the net, understand it, and install it, and snip off the end, it'll take me more than 35 minutes

[thecoalman]

You don't have to "capture" a DVD, it's already digital. Capturing should only be used for converting analog video like VHS, HI-8 etc. Instead you can just rip the video from the disc. Takes a few minutes dependant on your drive speed and it's exact copy of what's on the disc so there is 0 loss in quality.

For starters Vob2mpg will work on unprotected DVD's . There's a lot of other tools for doing this, which one really depends on what you have and where you want to go with it. Provide some more details and you'll get some better suggestions.

[solarblast]

How do I get rid of Virtualdub? I downloaded it a few months ago, and passed on it. Somehow it (the executable) ended up in /Documents and Settings/Administrator/Desktop. Also when I did a search of my download folder, I found I had placed it in a folder called DVD_Tools. Search for Virtualdub in DVD_Tools shows it found Virtualdub with chm, exe, vdi and other suffixes. That's a little odd, since all I have there is the zip file. I guess search rips through zip files to find entries. Weird.

Since I unzipped in /tmp/dvd_tools, I guess I can just delete all the files there and delete the exe file in /doc&settings? No uninstall program for it I guess.

One more. I thought I'd execute Virtualdub on an avi file that I pulled off my camcorder. Vdub protested with a msg about "Couldn't locat decompressor for format 'dvsd'. Vdub requires a video for Window(VFS) ..." What's that about.

[daamon]

How do I get rid of Virtualdub?

Since I unzipped in /tmp/dvd_tools, I guess I can just delete all the files there and delete the exe file in /doc&settings? No uninstall program for it I guess.

Correct. Just delete all the VirtualDub files.

That's a little odd, since all I have there is the zip file. I guess search rips through zip files to find entries. Weird.

Win XP Pro has a built in zip / unzip function which also allows you to view zip files as you do normal folders. That's probably what you're seeing.

One more. I thought I'd execute Virtualdub on an avi file that I pulled off my camcorder. Vdub protested with a msg about "Couldn't locat decompressor for format 'dvsd'. Vdub requires a video for Window(VFS) ..." What's that about.

Your camcorder uses the DV codec to (very mildly) compress the video onto the tape in a digital format. When you put this onto the PC, you get an AVI file using that DV codec - commonly referred to as DV AVI. The error message means you do not have any DV codec on your PC.

Download and install the free Panasonic DV Codec and all will be solved.

[gadgetguy]

Download and install the free Panasonic DV Codec and all will be solved.

Or you can "Use internal decoders for motion JPEG and DV" option in the Extended Options of the Open Video File dialog box.

[solarblast]

Good. It's working now with the codec from Panasonic.