Compressing DV video

[Duncan1382]

Let me first just say thank you in advance. :P

I'm not a computer newb, but when it comes to video editing there are so many options and different tools out there and most people just say its preference/guess and check on which one works for you.

Anyway, I have a canon ZR700 that records widescreen DV video.

What I want to do is compress the freaking huge DV video into XVid or DivX so I can send it to my grandparents. The problem is that whenever I try to do that, it always ends up crappy (blocky and pixelated). I know I'm doing SOMETHING wrong because those DVDrips you can get off of torrent trackers are not crappy quality and they all use Xvid/DivX

What are the best settings to convert the video to DivX?

I've currently been using VDub. The output video always turns out 4:3 which may be the source of my problems.


Also, it possibly could be the deinterlace filter because I have been using it to deinterlace the video

What would you guys suggest in converting uncompressed widescreen DV video to DivX/Xvid?

Thank you everyone,
Duncan

p.s.: I underlined the important parts for you so you don't have to read the whole thread.

[thecoalman]

so I can send it to my grandparents.

Do they have a Divx DVD player or the Divx codec installed on their computer?

Use WMM to create a WMV instead, lots of presets and they don't have to install anything to play it. WMV is comaprable to Divx.

[Duncan1382]

so I can send it to my grandparents.

Do they have a Divx DVD player or the Divx codec installed on their computer?

Use WMM to create a WMV instead, lots of presets and they don't have to install anything to play it. WMV is comaprable to Divx.

I got them all set up (codecs, players, ect) last time I went.

Also, I thought WMV was a very bulky format?

[thecoalman]

No it's only as bulky as you want it to be and as I mentioned its comaparable to Divx. The file size of a video is dependant on the bitrate which is probably why your Divx files look bad. The higher the bitrate you use the better the file is going to look but it will also produce a larger file. Note that at some point the bitrate will reach a point where making it any higher only produces a larger file.

[Duncan1382]

No it's only as bulky as you want it to be and as I mentioned its comaparable to Divx. The file size of a video is dependant on the bitrate which is probably why your Divx files look bad. The higher the bitrate you use the better the file is going to look but it will also produce a larger file. Note that at some point the bitrate will reach a point where making it any higher only produces a larger file.

Okay. I get you. What would be a good bitrate so that it would be decent quality but not huge file size? Basically what I'm asking is if it's possible to get pretty decent quality video compressed to ~400MB/hr like they do with pirated movies.

Would it help if I uploaded some of the uncompressed AVI?


Thank you so much,
Duncan

[Duncan1382]

EDIT:Whoops. Double post.

[aedipuss]

no don't up any dv. we all have some

your miniDV when transferred to the computer is 13GB an hour off the tape. if you are going to send it to them on disc why not send dvdrs. easy to make - compatible on any player. plenty of free encoders or all in one programs if you prefer. a one hour tape will convert easily to one dvdr with little change in quality. 2 hours is possible without much change. if you must use divx/xvid/wmv pick one and experiment until you come up with the combination of bitrate/quality/size that pleases yourself, there is no one preset that fits all.

[Duncan1382]

I wasn't planning on mailing it to them, but I may end up doing that. Anyway, why is it that when I hook the camera directly tot he TV, it looks great, but when I capture it to the computer, it looks really fuzzy?

[aedipuss]

depends on what you are playing it back with on the computer i guess. miniDV is interlaced and if not played back properly on a computer screen will look "fuzzy". but if it was captured with winDV in type 2 avi and a good encoder is used dvd-mpg or divx will come out looking fine on any screen.

[Duncan1382]

depends on what you are playing it back with on the computer i guess. miniDV is interlaced and if not played back properly on a computer screen will look "fuzzy". but if it was captured with winDV in type 2 avi and a good encoder is used dvd-mpg or divx will come out looking fine on any screen.

Okay, so let me make sure I got this correct.

1. Capture the video to DV-AVI type 2 with winDV
2. Import the AVI into virtual dub
3. Goto video --> compression... and set it to "DivX"
4. Under DivX options set the bitrate to ~800 (got the number from a tips site)
5. Goto Audio --> Full Process Mode
6. Goto Audio --> Compression...
7. Choose 128kb/s (also from the tips site)
8. File --> Save as AVI

Should I deinterlace?

[navi310]

2. Import the AVI into virtual dub

at this step I would use AutoGK. Set 'fixed width=512; audio 128CBR MP3' in Advansed options & file size 700MB & you don't need to do anything else - the result will be perfect.
AutoGK will do de-interlacing & everything else itself.

[Duncan1382]

2. Import the AVI into virtual dub

at this step I would use AutoGK. Set 'fixed width=512; audio 128CBR MP3' in Advansed options & file size 700MB & you don't need to do anything else - the result will be perfect.
AutoGK will do de-interlacing & everything else itself.

Thank you. I'll try that.

And will that handle the widescreen automatically?

[navi310]

And will that handle the widescreen automatically?

Yes, it does everything automatically - determines if it's PAL or NTSC, Interlaced or Progressive, Normal or Widescreen, applies filters if needed etc.

[edDV]

I understand you want a small file but understand the compromise.

1. Deinterlace will cause major quality reduction for any moving video. Hand held camcorder video is almost always constantly in motion so expect major blurry motion. Tripod video will do much better. Divx/xvid/wmv will struggle with this blurry video for compression further reducing quality. One alternative to reduce blur is to field decimate to 29.97 frame rate and encode that. This will keep the image half vertical resolution clear but introduces jerky motion @ 29.97 fps. Try both ways for your source.

2. Virtualdub will typically clip the top 8% of consumer DV camcorder whites to around 92%. In other words the bright areas just show as max white.

DV to DVDR can be done in high quality but requires snail mail or huge file transfers. My bias is to DVDR and snailmail because the typical person on the other end really wants to view it on a TV, not a computer. For those that do want to view it on computer, the DVDR works for them as well.

[Duncan1382]

Okay. I get it now.... I should convert it to DVD.