What's the best way to convert DV Video to DivX?

[tonyp2]

It seems my DLNA compliant plasma TV will accept DivX encoded AVIs from WMP12 but not Mianconcept DV Video AVIs (which is the bulk of my content). How do I convert without losing any quality?

[guns1inger]

You want to be careful about how you encode it, and just picking any old encoder will most likely give you very poor results.

DV poses a number of issues when converting to Divx.

DV is interlaced. Most Divx video is not, and although Divx does support interlaced encoding, not all players handle it well. However deinterlacing comes with a quality hit if not done well. Doing well generally requires avisynth and some very slow plugins. There are a number of very long and technical posts on how best to de-interlace, with what plugins, and how to tune them.

DV is often handheld. This is a simple observation based on the fact that most DV is taken by untrained consumers on the fly. Handheld means lots of motion, which means high bitrates. However many Divx enabled devices impose bitrate limits which may mean you can't go high enough to keep the quality. Combine this with deinterlacing handheld footage, and your quality may be noticeably different.

DV cameras usually perform poorly in low light. And low light doesn't mean dark, just not bright. This produces noise, noise means bitrate. You can denoise, but be careful as this can reduce detail and give a softer image.

I would look at Xvid4PSP 5.0.36, as it offers a range of deinterlacing methods and secondary filters, but doesn't require that you know avisynth to get started. I don't believe Divx is the best option for your footage, but this will give you a decent shot.

You might also look at what other formats are supported by your TV, as there may be something more appropriate.

[tonyp2]

Thanks to you both. In this case the DV Video is from home VHS captured through my Canopus ADVC110. The display device will be as indicated a plasma TV over Ethernet from WMP12. What does that suggest for how the content should be converted?

[guns1inger]

Again, you need to read the TV manual to find out what video it supports.

Personally, I would probably encode to mpeg-2 at moderate to high DVD bitrates (7000 - 9000 kbps) and leave it interlaced.

[tonyp2]

The display supports DivX AVIs, of course, and

• Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9): MP@ML
• Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9) Advanced Profile (VC-1): AP@L1, MP@ML
• MPEG-2 PS: MP@ML
• MPEG-2 TS: MP@ML
• MPEG-1
• MPEG-4 Part2 (SP/ASP): SP@L3, ASP@L5

• MPEG-4 Part10 (H.264/AVC): Main Profile 3.0

It will support progressive scan.

[guns1inger]

from that list, H264 is the best bang for buck (highest quality/lowest file size) along with VC-1. H264 is better supported by encoder. I would use Xvid4PSP 5.0.36 (as suggested earlier) but you may have to tweak the presets to get the right profile etc set.

After that, mpeg-2 PS (Program Stream), which will give your image the best chance, but require much higher bitrates.

[tonyp2]

Thanks guns. I'll dl Xvid4PSP and give it a try, but I also have a copy of Fast Video Converter which I could use for MPEG. Any idea of whether this is a decent program? I just got it a little while ago.

I checked out the site while downloading. I notice it has a bunch of codecs which I assume it will install. I already have Shark007's full codec set installed (including the x64 components) for Win7 x64. Will I be able to install Xvid4PSP without it stepping on my installed codecs?

[guns1inger]

Xvid4PSP doesn't install any codecs. Personally, I never install codec packs, and I always recommend against installing them on any system

[tonyp2]

Hmm, site was a little confusing I guess.

Any reason not to go with the 6.xxx version over 5.0.36?

[guns1inger]

Version drops all the presets and much of the filtering. If you click on the Xvid4PSP in my post, you will go to the Tools page. There you will find a link to older versions, and can download the one you need.