Need help converting DV .avi file to XVID using Gordian Knot

[BrianK]

I am trying to use Gordian Knot to convert my videos from my digital camcorder to Xvid, but I am having a lot of problems.

First of all, I can't figure out where to even load the .avi file into GK. It looks like it is only set up to use VOB files. Is this correct? How do I set it up to use my .avi file? I have tried looking at the guides, but they are all talking about ripping DVDs and converting them. I am trying to convert my DV files, not DVDs.

I have tried AutoGK, but the file sized are always way undersized and they look bad. I know there is something I am doing wrong there as well, but I can't figure it out either! I can use Virtualdub, but I would like to get one of these other tools to work also if I could.

I appreciate all info.

[manono]

Hi-

Using GKnot, you open your files (D2V made from Vobs, or an AVI) in the lower left of the main screen, where it says "Open". Is that what you've been trying already? I've never tried a DV AVI, so I don't know for sure if GKnot accepts them as input. Maybe someone else knows.

As for AutoGK, it accepts them OK, but the quality is bad and they're undersized? Do you have a log for one of the failed encodes?

[BrianK]

I tried opening the .avi file in GKnot, but when I do, it asks me to save and encode immediately, without letting me specify any of the other parameters.

In AutoGK, I just tried another file. it was a 13GB DV file, and I tried compressing it to XVID at 550 MB. After AutoGK finished processing, it was 295MB.

Here is my log file. Sorry for the long post:

[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] AutoGK 2.26
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] OS: WinXP (5.1.2600).2
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Job started.
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Input file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\Memorial Day 2005.avi
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Input codec: dvsd
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Source duration: 1h 1mn 45s 34ms
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Output file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\Memorial Day 2005_agk.avi
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Output codec: XviD
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Audio 1: 1536 Kbps PCM 2ch
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Subtitles: none
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Format: .AVI
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Target size: 552Mb
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Custom resolution settings: fixed width of 720 pixels
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Custom audio settings: VBR MP3 with average bitrate: 128Kbps
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Standalone support enabled: MTK/Sigma
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Started encoding.
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Source resolution: 720x480
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Source fps: 29.971
[1/10/2006 11:43:33 PM] Analyzing source.
[1/11/2006 12:49:58 AM] Source has percentage of interlacing in motion areas: 81.00
[1/11/2006 12:49:58 AM] Source is considered to be interlaced.
[1/11/2006 12:49:58 AM] Output will contain 111044 frames
[1/11/2006 12:49:58 AM] Demuxing audio.
[1/11/2006 12:56:16 AM] Normalizing audio.
[1/11/2006 12:56:46 AM] Encoding audio.
[1/11/2006 1:03:53 AM] Audio1 size: 54,939,096 bytes (52.39 Mb)
[1/11/2006 1:03:53 AM] Overhead: 4,441,728 bytes (4.24 Mb)
[1/11/2006 1:03:53 AM] Video size: 519,433,128 bytes (495.37 Mb)
[1/11/2006 1:03:53 AM] Running compressibility test.
[1/11/2006 1:03:53 AM] Writing the following script to C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\agk_tmp\Memorial Day 2005_agk_comptest.avs
================================================== =========
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\DGMPGDec\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\autocrop.dl l")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\RemoveGrain SSE3.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\kerneldeint .dll")

movie = DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\Memorial Day 2005.avi",29.971).KillAudio()
movie = isRGB(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,true) : movie
movie = isYUY2(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,true) : movie
cropclip = autocrop(movie,mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4, samples=10,aspect=0,threshold=0,samplestartframe=0 ,leftadd=0,rightadd=0,topadd=0,bottomadd=0)
fixed_aspect = 0.909
c_width = width(cropclip)
c_height = round(height(cropclip) / fixed_aspect)
input_par = float(c_width)/float(c_height)
input_par = (input_par > 1.4) || (input_par < 1.25) ? input_par : (4.0/3.0)
out_width = 720
out_height = round(float(out_width) / input_par)
hmod = out_height - (floor(out_height / 16 ) * 16)
out_height = (hmod > 4) ? (out_height + (16 - hmod)) : (out_height - hmod)
new_aspect = (float(out_width) / float(out_height)) / fixed_aspect
KernelDeInt(movie,order=0,sharp=true)
autocrop(mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4,samples=10, aspect=new_aspect,threshold=0,samplestartframe=0,l eftadd=0,rightadd=0,topadd=0,bottomadd=0)
LanczosResize(out_width,out_height)
RemoveGrain(mode=2)
SelectRangeEvery(300,15)
================================================== =========
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Duration was: 6 minutes 15 seconds
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Speed was: 14.79 fps.
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Compressibility percentage is: 8.57
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Using softer resizer.
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Chosen resolution is: 720x544 ( AR: 1.32 )
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Predicted comptest value is: 8.89%
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Running first pass.
[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Writing the following script to C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\agk_tmp\Memorial Day 2005_agk_movie.avs
================================================== =========
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\DGMPGDec\DGDecode.d ll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\autocrop.dl l")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\RemoveGrain SSE3.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\AutoGK\filters\kerneldeint .dll")

movie = DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxxx\My Documents\My Videos\Memorial Day 2005\Memorial Day 2005.avi",29.971).KillAudio()
movie = isRGB(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,true) : movie
movie = isYUY2(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,true) : movie
cropclip = autocrop(movie,mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4, samples=10,aspect=0,threshold=0,samplestartframe=0 ,leftadd=0,rightadd=0,topadd=0,bottomadd=0)
fixed_aspect = 0.909
c_width = width(cropclip)
c_height = round(height(cropclip) / fixed_aspect)
input_par = float(c_width)/float(c_height)
input_par = (input_par > 1.4) || (input_par < 1.25) ? input_par : (4.0/3.0)
out_width = 720
out_height = round(float(out_width) / input_par)
hmod = out_height - (floor(out_height / 16 ) * 16)
out_height = (hmod > 4) ? (out_height + (16 - hmod)) : (out_height - hmod)
new_aspect = (float(out_width) / float(out_height)) / fixed_aspect
KernelDeInt(movie,order=0,sharp=true)
autocrop(mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4,samples=10, aspect=new_aspect,threshold=0,samplestartframe=0,l eftadd=0,rightadd=0,topadd=0,bottomadd=0)
BicubicResize(out_width,out_height,0,0.5)
RemoveGrain(mode=2)
================================================== =========
[1/11/2006 1:58:16 AM] Duration was: 48 minutes 7 seconds
[1/11/2006 1:58:16 AM] Speed was: 38.45 fps.
[1/11/2006 1:58:16 AM] Expected quality of first pass size: 9.19%
[1/11/2006 1:58:16 AM] Running second pass.
[1/11/2006 3:14:12 AM] Duration was: 1 hour, 15 minutes 56 seconds
[1/11/2006 3:14:12 AM] Speed was: 24.37 fps.
[1/11/2006 3:14:12 AM] Job finished. Total time: 3 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds

[manono]

Hi-

Several things stand out.

1. The most common reason for XviD undersizing is installing a new version of XviD on top of an older version without uninstalling that older version first. If you already had an XviD on your computer before installing AutoGK and didn't get rid of it in advance, or perhaps upgraded your XviD version after installing AutoGK, then most likely that's the reason for the undersize. You have the latest AutoGK with the newest XviD, so I don't guess the second reason applies. I suggest uninstalling XviD completely and then either reinstalling XviD, or reinstalling AutoGK. Probably a fresh install of AutoGK after having uninstalled XviD would be better.

2. You're being completely unrealistic in your request. You set a fixed width of 720 for a 62 minute video, you want a 550 MB filesize, and your source is interlaced fullscreen. Of course the result will be bad. Even if it made it the size you wanted the result would be bad. The evidence is this:

1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Predicted comptest value is: 8.89%

You want something on the order of 65-70% or so. That's more than 7 times your present file size request at that resolution. So, after solving the undersize problem, I'd suggest setting it to Auto and letting AutoGK choose the resolution. I'd also suggest increasing the file size considerably. Evidently your video doesn't compress well. Handheld camera maybe (get a tripod)? Lots of movement? And the interlacing doesn't help either. It'll be deinterlaced, but it'll still be hard to compress.

If uninstalling and reinstalling XviD doesn't solve the undersize problem, come back and we'll try something else.

Your GKnot problem is something new to me. You hit "Open" and open the AVI and immediately it takes you to the Save And Encode screen? Doesn't make sense. What happens if you then hit "Cancel"? Does it then leave you with the video picture for you to scroll around in and look at what you opened? And can you then do things like go to the Resolution Tab to crop and resize before going back to Save And Encode? That's a strange one, all right. A lot of peculiar GKnot problems have been solved by uninstalling and reinstalling GKnot.

[BrianK]

Thanks for the info. I'll try uninstalling Xvid and reinstalling Autogk.

I am trying to keep a compressed version of all my home movies on my hard drive, without having to keep the whole 13 GB file on there. I thought xvid or divx would be a good option, and I was trying to keep the filesize reasonable because I have probably over 100 different tapes to transfer. Also, I am thinking about buying an mpeg-4 capable DVD player and wanted to be able to play the movies on that also. Do you have any suggestions on the bitrate or filesize I should use? I was trying to have the bitrate be about 1200, with the resolution of 720*480 so it would be fullscreen on my TV. Is this wrong?

Thanks in advance.

[manono]

Hi-

Do you have any suggestions on the bitrate or filesize I should use? I was trying to have the bitrate be about 1200, with the resolution of 720*480 so it would be fullscreen on my TV.

Well, suggesting bitrate/filesize (and resolution) in advance is difficult if not impossible. Your different videos will compress differently. Say that you set the camera on a table, or had it on a tripod, and took some footage of people talking in the living room. Compare that to running around outside on a bright day filming a soccer game. The first will compress much better than will the second, so you'll use a much lower bitrate (or filesize in AutoGK) for the same resolution and quality. Compressing home video footage is quite difficult when compared to compressing a movie on DVD. Your footage is probably real grainy. That grain is hard to compress. If you just hold the camera to your eye and walk around filming, then all that moving and shaking (even if it has an image stabilizer) also makes it real hard to compress.

If you want to get an idea of the kinds of file sizes you might expect with decent quality, then take a typical but short video and run some experiments in AutoGK. Rather than run the 2-pass for a fixed file size, use the 1-pass Target Quality. Experiment with different percentages from the default 75% down to maybe 50%. If your footage is grainy, since grain hides a lot of problems, then 50% could very well look decent. Also experiment with different horizontal widths, from 720, 640, down to 512. It'll only run 1 pass, so you'll get results much more quickly. The first thing you'll notice with 720 and 75% is the huge file size you'll get. I would suggest that a 512 (or even lower, if it looks OK to you) width at 50% might give you decent results at much smaller file sizes. Once you find a combination you like, you can run them all with the same settings. The file sizes (which directly correlate with the bitrate if the lengths are the same) will vary depending on the length of the various videos and their compressibility, but they'll all have the same quality.

I was trying to have the bitrate be about 1200, with the resolution of 720*480 so it would be fullscreen on my TV.

I'm assuming these things are 4:3, while after being encoded to AVI they'll be 1:1, so they get resized:

[1/11/2006 1:10:08 AM] Chosen resolution is: 720x544 ( AR: 1.32 )

So your 720x480 source got resized to 720x544. But even if you choose a 512 width, coming out at 512x384, they'll still play fullscreen on your TV set. I'm afraid that a 1200 bitrate is a no-go, certainly at 720x544, and maybe at lower resolutions also. To get the final bitrates, since you can only set a filesize in AutoGK if running the 2-pass, and you can't even set that when doing a Target Quality percentage, open the final AVI in GSpot.

Although it will take some time to find some settings you like, and give you reasonable filesizes, it'll pay off handsomely in the end, as then you'll be able to encode all of your videos with only one pass each, saving you a ton of time overall. And since you'll be keeping them on the hard drive, you don't care about having fixed filesizes for burning to CD or DVDR. I hope you get the XviD undersize problem sorted out.