DivX vs. XviD

[Spiderm@n]

Sorry for my question and if it has been asked and answered before, but I couldn't find anything.
The question is, which of the two codecs is better, why, what exactly is the difference, the difference in decoding times, encoding times, file size, quality etc.

P.S. Sorry for my bad English .

[mats.hogberg]

None.
The difference is XviD is free, DivX is a proprietary format.

/Mats

[Marvingj]

DivX 3.x
Advantages :
Good compression, even though less advanced compression features are used
Better compatibility
Disadvantages :
DivX 3.x not entirely legal (hacked codec)
Outdated - does not have advanced compression features of DivX 5.x
Hard to control final file size

DivX 5.x
Advantages :
Great for controlling final file size (eg. for fitting onto one 700 MB CD)
More advanced compression features (eg. DivX Pro : multi-pass, bi-directional enc, GMC, Qpel), which may give better compression
Completely legal solution
Disadvantages :
DivX Pro not 100% free (free ad supported version or purchase required)

XviD 1.x
Advantages :
Great for controlling final file size (eg. for fitting onto one 700 MB CD)
More advanced compression features (eg. 2-pass, bi-directional enc, GMC, Qpel), which may give better compression
Completely legal and open source solution
Disadvantages :
Less common than DivX
XviD slightly harder (less consumer friendly) to configure than DivX

[jagabo]

XviD 1.x...Completely legal

Tthis is not exactly true. Xvid likely infringes on several patents. This is why the xvid.org only supplies the source code for "educational purposes." You have to get executables elsewhere.

For the OP:

Xvid and Divx are two implementations of the MPEG 4 part 2 (ASP) specification. As has been noted, Divx is a commercial product, Xvid is a "free" open source product.

In my opinion, when similarly configured, Xvid delivers slightly better quality (for a given file size) but takes longer to compress. Xvid is also more configuration options so it can be better tailored to specific purposes.

There are no set-top Divx/DVD players that support Xvid's optional 3 warp point GMC.

[Ansuer]

In my opinion, when similarly configured, Xvid delivers slightly better quality (for a given file size) but takes longer to compress. Xvid is also more configuration options so it can be better tailored to specific purposes.

Completely agree. I have about 2 terrabye worth of videos (DVD's, TIVO HD's, etc...) converted to xvid. Though I've since moved on to x264 I would still say XviD gives the best quality when properly configured.

Of course, it took me many hours of watching conversions until the settings just right.

[drstew]

Can you recommend the settings and tool(s) you use?

[ntscuser]

Sorry for my question and if it has been asked and answered before, but I couldn't find anything.
The question is, which of the two codecs is better, why, what exactly is the difference, the difference in decoding times, encoding times, file size, quality etc.

For what it's worth, there are fewer compatibility issues with DivX on my standalone player than with XviD's but I'm not sure of the reason?

[Ansuer]

Can you recommend the settings and tool(s) you use?

Here is an example of how I encode DVD's to XviD

I primarily use DGIndex to index the video and split the file.

Then use AVISynth to cleanup and filter the index file like this:

LoadPlugin("\Convert\Scripts\AVISynth\DGDecode.dll ")
LoadPlugin("\Convert\Scripts\AVISynth\Decomb.dll")
LoadPlugin("\Convert\Scripts\AVISynth\degrainmedia n.dll")
LoadPlugin("\Convert\Scripts\AVISynth\MSharpen.dll ")
V=mpeg2source("INPUTFILE")
AssumeTFF(V)
V=Telecide(V,guide=1,gthresh=5,post=0,vthresh=20,d thresh=5,blend=false)
V=LanczosResize(V,1024,576,4)
V=DeGrainMedian(V,limitY=4,limitUV=5,mode=0)
V=MSharpen(V, threshold=15, strength=100, highq=true, mask=false, debug=false)
ConvertToRGB32 (V,"PC.709", interlaced=false)


Open the avs file with virtualdub and use these XviD settings:

Profile Level: unrestricted
- Quantization Type: H.263
- B-VOPs
- Max consecutive BVOPs: 2
- Quantizer Radio: 1.50
- Quantizer offset: 1.00
- Packed bitstream
- everything else defaults for profile level

Encoding Type: single pass (this one's up to you, I use the defaults)

quantizer: 3.00

Zone Options (for the entire video)
- Weight: 1.00
- Begin with keyframe
- Chroma optimizer enabled
- BVOP sensitivity: 5

Quality preset (user defined)
- Motion
- Motion search precision: 5
- VHQ mode: 1
- Use VHQ for bframes
- Use chroma motion
- Frame drop ratio: 0
- Maximum I-frame interval: 300
- Quantizer restrictions
- All min's set to 2
- all max's set to 20
- Trellis quantization

Other options
- FourCC Mode: XVID


Finally:
Use the built-in temporal smoother filter in virtualdub set to 2
Also use the DotCrawl Comb filter from Scott Elliot with no temporal filtering and max spacial filtering

Mux it all back together with virtualdubmod

That's it!

[jagabo]

I usually use similar Xvid settings. But I set the I-frame interval to 100 for better seeking during playback.

Target Quantizer mode is a constant quality mode. You set the quality you want and the file comes out to whatever size is needed to achieve that quality. Setting the quantizer to 3 is a good compromise between size and quality -- better quality than most stuff you might download from the internet. Smaller values give better quality but larger files. Higher values give less quality and smaller files. You can enter non-integer values. There's no point in going below 2, the files will get very large and there will be no perceptable increase in quality. The Min/Max quantizers don't matter in Target Quantizer mode. If you want much smaller files you will get better results with 2-pass VBR compression.

If you need better standalone compatability set Max consecutive BVOPs to 1. For even more compatability, turn off packed bitstream.

[ATLien]

There are no set-top Divx/DVD players that support Xvid's optional 3 warp point GMC.

There is now. lol

[jagabo]

There are no set-top Divx/DVD players that support Xvid's optional 3 warp point GMC.

There is now. lol

Maybe you could list the ones you know.

[FulciLives]

Some programs that make DivX / XviD encoding easy:

1.) XVID4PSP
2.) autoGK
3.) avi.NET

Please note that this list is in no order per se and I have used all three successfully. All three are made in such a way as to a.) make the process easy and b.) make a DivX / XviD that is compatible with stand alone hardware like the DVD players that can play DivX and XviD.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[DarrellS]

I used DivX 3.11 for a long time until users here convinced me to use the XviD codec since it had better compression.

Since the DivX 6.8 codec was released, that's primarily what I use since the compression is comparible to XviD but the encode speeds are much faster. I usually encode in Home Theater mode with a constant quantizer of 2 or if I'm encoding HD DivX then I'll use either 720HD profile or 1080HD profile with quantizer of 2.

I still use the XviD codec for resolutions that the DivX codec refuses to encode.

[ATLien]

There are no set-top Divx/DVD players that support Xvid's optional 3 warp point GMC.

There is now. lol

Maybe you could list the ones you know.

I have no problems with the Phillips DVP5992. Plays everything I throw at it...er...except .mkv's. But hell all I wanted was something I could play Xvid & Divx file with doing any re-coding. I can get 6-7 movies on a disc with no problem.
I use the PS3 for those other files, i.e. .mkv's

[jagabo]

The Philips DVP-5992 does not play Xvid's 3 warp point GMC well. Try this:
xvidgmc.avi

[PuzZLeR]

Think of it this way.

MPEG-4 ASP is orange juice, while other video formats MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, WMV, etc are other types of juice.

DivX and Xvid are brands of orange juice. Both are made from different entities so they can't be exactly the same thing, but both have more similarities than differences since they're based on the same "fruit".

The biggest difference is that one is sold (DivX) and the other is given away free (Xvid), so there will be culture differences.

But which is better in quality? This is all taste. Everyone will have an opinion on this, but most won't find any major advantage to either.

The best thing is to taste each and determine for yourself which is "better".

[guns1inger]

/* wait quietly for post that begins

"I tried to play orange juice in my Philips player, and now it won't play any discs at all. . . . . . "

end wait */

[ATLien]

The Philips DVP-5992 does not play Xvid's 3 warp point GMC well. Try this:
xvidgmc.avi

Plays great in my player.
Mind you I burned it on a disc as a data file, so I can place more movies on a single disc.

[jagabo]

The Philips DVP-5992 does not play Xvid's 3 warp point GMC well. Try this:
xvidgmc.avi

Plays great in my player.
Mind you I burned it on a disc as a data file, so I can place more movies on a single disc.

On mine it starts to play they displays an error message "Video GMC not supported". It continues to play but it's very jerky and only plays for about 8 seconds of the 13 second running time. It's the same from USB and DVD. I'm pretty sure it did the same with the original firmware.

[RabidDog]

xvidgmc.avi .... This wont even play properly on the WD HD TV.

Divx is given away too...just not the best version.

[gll99]

On mine it starts to play they displays an error message "Video GMC not supported". It continues to play but it's very jerky and only plays for about 8 seconds of the 13 second running time.

I'm getting the same exact message and symptoms on my unit using a usb stick. I have upgraded the firmware to one of vb6rocod's. I think it's DVP5990_37_vb6_v2_3_2 which I plan to update again soon to his latest.

I'm not surprised at the result since this was clearly spelled out by Philips.

btw) If this video plays without flaw on some Philips dvp5990/92 units it would be interesting to see what date the player was made and what firmware version is being used.


To the OP:
If your question was raised in the context of compatibility with stand alone Divx players. The Divx players only guarantee to support their codec because there are features of the xvid codec as seen in the GMC discussion which they do not support and may not plan on doing. The future divx players look like they are heading in the direction of the newer divx 7 and support for the mkv container.

[nwo]

XviD 1.x...Completely legal

Tthis is not exactly true. Xvid likely infringes on several patents. This is why the xvid.org only supplies the source code for "educational purposes."

So what your saying is that DivXNetworks is infringes on it own patents.

[jagabo]

XviD 1.x...Completely legal

Tthis is not exactly true. Xvid likely infringes on several patents. This is why the xvid.org only supplies the source code for "educational purposes."

So what your saying is that DivXNetworks is infringes on it own patents.

MPEG LA member patents. Divx is a licensee, presumably.

[t0nee1]

guns1inger wrote,

I tried to play orange juice in my Philips player, and now it won't play any discs at all...

Damn! too late..I thought freshly squeezed OJ would make a difference..