To adit a avi file

[mark845]

Hi

I have a avi file that is about 120mb in size and about 4mins long, what i need to do is to cut in some places and then add a title to the beginning and then convert it down to a smaller size?

can some tell me what will be the best easy tools to do this with please?

[Cornucopia]

Why does it need to be smaller? What is your definition of easy?

Give us more info...

(Most video editors can easily do what you're saying, though not all can without major recompression).

Scott

[KBeee]

VirtualDub

[mark845]

well i thought that 120mb is abig for 4min long avi, and its being along time since i have doen this so im looking for a program that has a easy gui to follow

[Cornucopia]

Depends on the AVI...

A DV-compressed AVI would be 25Mbps, so would be ~750MB. (based on 4min.)
An Xvid-compressed AVI could be 4Mbps, and so be ~120MB.
It could also be compressed to 900kbps, and so be ~26.3MB. Difference here would be quality loss--although to some 900kbps is still passable.

For AVI editing with easy interface, I'd probably suggest Ulead MF.

Scott

[mark845]

Thanks for the info.

i used VirtualDub to cut it with but after cutting it i could only save as a uncompresed avi and i ended up with a divx cut how i want it but the file is now over 4gb which is WAY to big lol.

How to cut with out ending up with such a big stupid file?

[thefiddler]

What do you want to do with the end result? This is what should deterimine how you encode the file?

If you want to put it on DVD, you need to encode to MPG2. If you just want a little file to play off your HDD put it back to DivX or try the new h.264 (which offers the best quality/compression ratio).

And you're right, 120mb can be large for 4 minutes. But what's the resolution. That has a lot to do with it as well.

VirtualDub should be able to compress it as something other than uncompressed avi. You just need to set your output settings (& have the right codec installed).

[mark845]

the file will be getting uploaded into forums for people. so i do need as samll as possiable

File info is 704x576,25.000fps, (4000ps)

bitrate 4394 Kps

[manono]

How to cut with out ending up with such a big stupid file?

Set the Video for Direct Stream Copy before saving.

[mark845]

Thanks for the help guys, its done now just aprt from the text i want to add to the satrt off the avi.

What will be the best way to do that? i just need to add a few lines off text to the start off the avi?

Thanks

[mark845]

can anyone help?

[Cornucopia]

Since you went through that whole business trying "Direct Stream Copy", it's a shame you mention this now, because adding text onto the original footage REQUIRES the app to re-render and re-encode (at least that portion of) that material.

An alternative would be to create 2 new pieces of video (with the same codec, framerate, resolution, bitrate, etc.--don't forget to match the audio as well) of black/whatever and add the text to it. Render & encode. Now you have your "intro" and "outro" pieces.

You can add them to the main movie 2 different ways:

1. Use an app to "Join" the pieces (using direct stream copy, since you aren't changing anything besides In-Out points at GOP boundaries) Intro+Main+Outro=NewMain. Use NewMain as your movie and author...

2. Author 3 pieces--The Intro, which when ending will automatically go to the Main movie, which when eding will automatically go to the Outro...

Scott

[mark845]

But cant just add the text over the top off the start off the avi file?

if so what tool would let me do this?

[Cornucopia]

If you're talking text as in "subtitles", you would use the subtitle function (either in a DVD authoring app if going to DVD, or in an AVI subtitle app and AVI sub muxing app if going to AVI).

Otherwise, you "text" is being incorporated as a graphic picture which is incorporated into the main movie (ingrained), and so MUST be re-rendered/re-encoded.

Those are the only 2 ways to do it. You choose...

Scott

[manono]

He could create subs to be used for text, cut a piece from the beginning of the video, reencode just that piece with the subs burned in, and then rejoin that piece to the main body of the video when done. That way (unless he screws up) the audio will remain unchanged. However, based on what he's said so far, I think this project is beyond him at this point.

if so what tool would let me do this?

A subtitle creation app, such as SubStation Alpha, Subtitle Creator, or some such, and VDubMod.