AVI.net a confusing problem : using DivX instead of XVID

[Alterego]

Dear all,

I have just downloaded the Avi.net and Pgc.net, for ripping and converting my DVD VOB files, as recommended by most of you on this forum. They seem like pretty straight forward applications with neat interfaces.

But I see a strange problem with my converted AVI files which is that although I have selected XVID 1.1.2/3 as my conversion codec in the Avi.net main screen (radio button), the encoded files are somehow always converted using DIVX 5 codec which compartively produces bad results even on higher bit rate settings. XVID is my prefferd codec of choice, but why is AVI.net selecting DIVX automatically.

I have XVID 1.1.3 (Koepi) installed on my PC. I have DIVX Codec and Player installed (To check my converted files with XSUB subtitles , compatible with PS3 streaming, apparently only Divx Player shows XSUB in the movies on a PC playback). I also have ffdShow installed for H.264/AVC decoding. But ffdShow is disabled for XVID handling, and thus all AVI files with XVID codec are decoded by original XVID decoder.

Can their be a problem with codec merits, but I guess the merits affect the selection of codec during playback.

Please advise, otherwise suggest of any other program for VOB --> XVID conversion for PS3 playback.

Best Regards,
AlterEgo.

[Baldrick]

You could try AutoGK.

[jagabo]

I don't know anything about Avi.net but here's some general information about the Divx and Xvid codecs that might help:

The Xvid encoder has the option of setting the fourcc to DIVX, DX50 or XVID. So even if the fourcc is DX50 it could be that Xvid did the compression. ffdshow has several fourcc options too.

Divx and Xvid (and ffdshow) can be set up to decode each others fourcc. It sometimes hard to figure out who is doing the decoding.

There are two basic video systems in Windows: VFW and DirectShow. Most media players use DirectShow. Many editing programs use VFW. ffdshow for example has two setup sections do deal with this:

Start -> All Programs -> ffdshow -> VFW Configuration
Start -> All Programs -> ffdshow -> Video Decoder Configuration (DirectShow)

Be sure the VFW/DirectShow options are set correctly for the programs using them.

Many media players can also use their own internal decoders to play Divx and Xvid videos. VLC and KMPlayer for example. Some players can show you what filters (including codecs) they are using to play a video. KMPlayer, MPC, MPlayer2, for example.

Both the Divx and Xvid have deblocking and other filtering options that effect playback quality.

In my experience, Divx and Xvid quality is pretty close when using similar settings. Big differences in quality indicate very different settings were used to compress, or are being used to decompress.

[mgh]

Avi.Net uses the divx fourcc even for xvid encodes and uses xvid settings compatible with divx ht profile so that the avis generated will play in all divx capable players. If you let it encode at kbps values it suggests, the quality is quite good. If you select one cd or two cd modes, the quality may not be that good as it does not use settings that slow down encoding either in divx or xvid .

[Krispy Kritter]

I had better results using AutoGK.

[tzx]

I have come up with same thing and found the answer in developer's site, under "problems" section:
http://www.clonead.co.uk/

It was mentioned as: "When you make an XviD AVI and some third party program or utility tells you its really a DivX file, don't panic, the program is lying, the file *is* an XviD. All the program is doing is checking the 4CC of the file and reporting DivX, even for an XviD. When avi.NET muxes (combines the audio and video) at the end of a conversion, it uses DivX Networks DivXMux program. It is this program that is writing the DX50 4CC into the header making other programs report them as DivX, even when they are not. The latest GSpot v2.60 RC reports DX50 in an XviD made using avi.NET but does, correctly, also report XviD v1.1.2. So reat assured, if you make an XviD AVI with avi.NET, then it's an XviD."

So, I have checked my files, with G-Spot. The file is indeed an XviD, but only the signature is DivX.
Video Codec Type.......: DX50
Video Codec Name......: XviD 1.1.2 Final