need a simple way to join AVI files

[nikkoforever]

I have six AVI files that are one gigabyte each that I need to join together. I searched the forums and it seems the program most recommended is VirtualDub. But when I used it, it took an hour to produce a file that was 42 GB. How can six individual files that are one gigabyte each turn into 42 GB when joined together? More importantly, what freeware/shareware program can I use to join these files? They all have the same properties, so I don't need anything complicated. Thanks in advance for your help.

[somebodeez]

You have to make sure both the audio and the video are set to "Direct Stream Copy".

[jimmalenko]

I'd say your virtualdub problem was that you saved it as uncompressed video and/or audio. The way to fix this is to go to Video > Direct Stream Copy. It probably wouldn't hurt to go to Audio > Direct Stream Copy either. Then File > Save as AVI.

[nikkoforever]

I'd say your virtualdub problem was that you saved it as uncompressed video and/or audio. The way to fix this is to go to Video > Direct Stream Copy. It probably wouldn't hurt to go to Audio > Direct Stream Copy either. Then File > Save as AVI.

Did that, thanks. It's processing the job now. It says the total time to save is 45 minutes. Does that sound about right?

[jimmalenko]

I'd say your virtualdub problem was that you saved it as uncompressed video and/or audio. The way to fix this is to go to Video > Direct Stream Copy. It probably wouldn't hurt to go to Audio > Direct Stream Copy either. Then File > Save as AVI.

Did that, thanks. It's processing the job now. It says the total time to save is 45 minutes. Does that sound about right?

I think it depends on the total number of frames, and without seeing what computer you have (please fill in your specs ), it sounds roughly in the ball park for what I would expect.

[nikkoforever]

Ok, it just got done processing the job, but it's still a lot bigger than 6 GB. I selected Direct Stream Copy for both audio and video and the resulting file still ended up being 28 GB. Doesn't that seem a little odd? I don't understand why it has to take so long either. Isn't there a program that will just stitch together the individual clips?

[jimmalenko]

That's a bit strange .......

One AVI Joiner I used to use with great success is Peck's Power Join - apparently this uses virtualdub "remotely". There's also a guide here for virtualdub itself, but it seems that's what you're doing ATM so ???

[bigb_y2g]

I have a program called VOB Merge that I use to merge M2V and AC3 files, but it can also merge AVI, WMV, etc. Just add the files, put them in order, press the merge button and you're done.

[hhhhbk]

where did you get the 6 1GB files from
seems an odd size for avis
what program did this
assuming each 1GB file is 90 minutes long i would estimate joining time to be in the region of 6-10 minutes

perhaps the audio was uncompressed as i would expect uncompressed video to take a bit longer than that

although to gain 20 gig of audio even if files were 10 hours in total
20x1024x1024/10/60/60 to give an answer in kbytes/s
x8 = 4000kb/s
insane 31x the quality of mp3

so is likely you are still saving as uncompressed avi
i guess 45 minute write time for 26gb when reading from the same disc is about right

put the files through avicodec to determine that they are indeed avis and what codecs are used
also stick through the large file
will let you know size of video size of audio how many audio streams too