Video Files

[LPHYbrid76]

I have captured video from my TV Capture card that I want to make as small as possible...I captured at DVD resolution, so the rendered files are around 1.8 GB large....how would be the best way to convert them to a DIVX file so they are way smaller so my buddies can download them from my FTP? Thanks for any help guys

[jimmalenko]

What format is the file in ? AVI or MPEG ?

Generally speaking, I have found VirtualDub to be the best way to DivX a movie.

[bottle-necked]

The easiest and best way I can think of is to download the trial version of Dr Divx from divx.com. You can simply enter the file size you desire for the finished DivX file and the program will setup most all the other setting for you. Very easy and does a good job. Also resizes the video so the bitrate/size matches to ensure good quality.

Any other divx conversion I know of is manual.

Good luck.

[teegee420]

The easiest and best way I can think of is to download the trial version of Dr Divx from divx.com.

I agree that it's the easiest, but far from the best. That honor goes to Virtualdub. That's just me though.

[LPHYbrid76]

Anyone know about TMPG? SOmeone I know reccommended that..

The files are MPEG

[teegee420]

If you want to convert your captured file to a smaller mpeg, then by all means use TMPGEnc. It also allows you to output to avi, but it's not exactly the most feature-rich option to do so. You really have several options to consider for compressing your file. Why don't you specify how long your movie is and aproximately how small you want your destination file to be? That way someone can suggest a format that will suit your needs best.

[LPHYbrid76]

OK...its usually hour long TV shows, (West Wing, Practice, CSI, etc) captured at DVD Resolution (720x480). Once commercials are edited out and the whole show is rendered, the size is about 1.4 GB. Ideally, I wanna shrink em to around 500-600 MB in MPEG-4 format. This is cause my friends wanna download the clips and make their own VCDs, SVCDs, etc out of em...If you need anymore info, plz let me know

[teegee420]

That helps a lot. Your desired size range of 500-600mb is extremely liberal by mpeg-4 standards. Assuming you have a good source file you can make one fine looking avi. By the way, I do the exact same thing that you're wanting to do. Most of my shows I'll convert to an mpeg-2 file that ends up being around 795mb for a one hour program(minus commercials). However for a couple of my favorites I like to convert to Divx. Here's a screen cap of one of my favorites "Tru Calling":


God, I love Eliza Dushku! I have been converting all of this particular show's episodes to Divx for the purpose of fitting two episodes onto one 80 minute CD so each episode is always just under 350mb. Because of this conservative file size I have been using a resolution of 400x300. If I wanted a larger file(like what you suggested) I would probably make them 640x480 because the extra bitrate could be better used on a larger frame size. Admitedly, my encodes like the one pictured don't look as nice as I would like but the problem is that my analog cable doesn't provide me with the best picture. I don't mind if my encoded Divx files don't look perfect because the source didn't to begin with.

You know, one option you might want to consider is VCD, which is mpeg-1. They require a lot less work than Divx and a 40-45 minute file will end up being around 420mb. The only question is whether you would like the results. I'm not sure what your tollerance is but you wouldn't get the same quality as a Divx file of the same size.

But I digress. I really think you should look into DrDivx. At least until you become more comfortable with a dedicated program like Virtualdub. I think you will end up with a great looking Divx file if you specify a 500mb file size. Anyhow, good luck with your encodes. If you should get stuck along the way, this is the forum to come to.

[LPHYbrid76]

Well, I am 100% new to all of this. I do know that my source files are very good...they should be since I am capturing them at such high resolution (their size once rendered minus the commercials is huge) Its just gonna take awhile to do them all..I got a total of about 150 GB worth of shows right now (was getting all the past West Wing Episodes on Bravo and they were on all week), so I am now just starting to render them...as I type, one is being rendered right now (using Pinnacle Studio 8 for editing and rendering)...I just wish I had a faster PC to get em done faster. I am gonna try to get an extra 512 RAM so I have 1 GB and that should help a little....

Well, thanks for the help..this is all a learning process for me right now. DrDivx sounds like a good idea, but being a poor student, I dunno if spending any more money is an option. I read how to do it with Virtualdub and it sounds a little complicated so I may refrain right now. I just need to shrink em down before I run out of space on my hard drives.

I figure around 500-600 MB size is a good compromise. I wanna burn them on VCDs myself, kinda like starting my own private library.

Well, I will look into the Virtualdub some more and let you know how it goes...so thanks again for the help. As soon as I learn how to take a snapshot of one of my captures, I will send an image so U can see

[LPHYbrid76]

ok..Now I am annoyed..that clips I have been rendering have periodic sections where it gets really blurry, almost digitized looking..I checked the original clips and they are not there. I tried using Pinnacle, and there are no blurry spots, but then there is no audio...

I used the Dazzle DVC 150 and their Moviestar program to capture. Dazzle was recently purchased by Pinnacle and I got a supercheap upgrade to Studio 8 and new drivers. Someone told me that Moviestar and Dazzle was propriatary and that explains the audio problem with Pinnacle. I dunno what the hell to do...I can't try and recapture all these shows again...it's be too painful and too time consuming...any hints?

[teegee420]

ok..Now I am annoyed..that clips I have been rendering have periodic sections where it gets really blurry, almost digitized looking..I checked the original clips and they are not there. I tried using Pinnacle, and there are no blurry spots, but then there is no audio...

What format are the original clips in and what settings are you rendering them to?

[LPHYbrid76]

I believe MPEG-2, trying to render them to SVCD

[teegee420]

Are the blurred sections you refer to occuring at the points where commercials were cut out? I know this doesn't solver your problem directly but I think you're better off using a dedicated mpeg-2 encoder such as TMPGEnc.

[LPHYbrid76]

No..the blurred sections are random...could be either at the beginning of that clip, or the middle, or towards the end...no ryhme or reason.

[teegee420]

You're using Pinnacle to re-encode, right? I can pretty much guarantee you will create a better SVCD with TMPGEnc.