VirtualDubMod ignoring my target size on XVID files

[tat2jr]

I've got some hour long DV avi files that I've successfully changed into 1,525,760KB (1/3 of a dvd) sized xvid files. I've done many of these. I do these for backups that are reasonable sized. Now all of a sudden virtualdub is ignoring my target size, and it's driving me nuts.

I load the file. Compress the audio with lame to 192. No video filters. Then set 2 pass encode. Have done this successfully many many times! They usually are around 3550kbps, and 3 of them fit onto a dvd. but now it ignores my target size, and gspot says they are around 5550kbps. The files end up being around 2,400,00KB. UGH!

Anyone got ANY ideas what could be causing this? Thanks in advance.

[manono]

You can lose file size predictability if you install a newer XviD over an older one without first uninstalling the older one. Have you upgraded your XviD codec recently? In any event I would recommend uninstalling your XviD via Add/Remove Programs and then reinstalling it again.

And you're sure you're not converting the audio to LPCM WAV audio accidently, aren't you? GSpot can tell you that as well.

[jagabo]

One thing to note about VirtualDubMod vs the regular version of VirtualDub:

If you reopen the source video VirtualDubMod sets the audio back to Direct Stream Copy. The regular VirtualDub leaves the audio settings (conversion and compression) as you last set them.

There are some internal settings in Xvid that can prevent the codec from achieving the desired bitrate. Make sure the Min/Max Quantizers aren't too restricted.

[tat2jr]

manono - I could have upgraded since the problem started. Can't remember. audio was set right. I uninstalled 1.1.2 and restarted. Then upgraded to the 1.1.3. Running Vdub now. Hopefully that was the problem.

jagabo - Testing with manono's suggestion first. If it's still screwed up I'll read up on the min/max quantizers thing.

Will report back.......

[jagabo]

I uninstalled 1.1.2 and restarted. Then upgraded to the 1.1.3.

Also try hitting the "Load Defaults" button at the bottom of the main Xvid config dialog. That resets everything to default settings. Then set up as you need.

[Relayerman]

AutoGK had the same problem when it was upgraded to the newest Xvid codec and the author backed the Xvid codec back down to version 1.2.0 I think to achieve the right size. It used VirtualdubMod as well. So it may well be just the Xvid codec as was stated earlier.

Relayerman

[jagabo]

Obviously, it's the codec. The program calling it (VirtualDub, AutoGK, whatever) has nothing to do with the compression.

[tat2jr]

manono - Didn't work! UGH.

Jagabo - I tried changing the min quantizer to 2 like I saw on a setup site, but that made the file too small. I just want it to work like it use to. Any tips or URLs on quantizer settings you can point me to?

Relayerman - I'll google around and see what versions were causing the problem, and what he went back to.

This is driving me crazy. I want it the size I'm typing in (and it use to work). I'm transfering a couple of the files to 2 other computers right now to try them out on different machines. See if they will do the right file size.

Anyone else got any clues?

[manono]

Well, darn. Did you hit "Load Defaults" as jagabo suggested? The default quant range is 1-31. But you don't really need to use 1 as it just bloats the file size. It's only there for people that try and make their AVIs too big for the other settings. If you got undersized with the minimum quant set for 2, I'd say you should lower the file size you want, or raise the resolution.

Or let AutoGK do the work for you.

[tat2jr]

manono - since it was a new install it was already defaulted. I have used AutoGK for changing files I want for PC/stand alone viewing, but what I'm doing here is trying to have the least amount of processing done to the file. No resolution change. Just change the audio to CBR 192, and use NO video filters - as close to the MiniDV file as possible.

I've done it in just vdubmod in the past (many times - 3 files to a DVD), and then needed something off one of the backed up videos. I then just took the file and ran it back through Virtualdubmod and changed it to SonyDV file then was able to edit "as usual" in premiere or whatever.

[jagabo]

Jagabo - I tried changing the min quantizer to 2 like I saw on a setup site, but that made the file too small.

That's backwards. The higher the quantizer the more the frames are compressed. The only reason to use 2 (rather than 1) for the min quantizers is if you have a player that has problems with high bitrates.

[meldavid]

If I could ask a question here instead of starting another thread:

How do I configure AutoGK to disable Degrain? I've decided I don't like the softening of the image it produces.

And how do I pick my desired average bitrate instead of specified filesize or quality?

Thanks.

[manono]

Hi-

How do I configure AutoGK to disable Degrain?

You don't. It's RemoveGrain, it's the lightest setting of that filter and works similarly to Undot, and it doesn't soften the image.

Actually, there are a couple of AutoGK add-ons that allow you to adjust the .avs, AGKPal and AutoGK Tweaker. But any softening of the picture you see isn't coming from RemoveGrain. Much greater effects on the picture would come from a lowering of the resolution, the bitrate used, the quantisation matrix used, and/or just the very act of reencoding into another lossy format.

And how do I pick my desired average bitrate instead of specified filesize or quality

You don't. Since filesize is directly correlated to bitrate, they're more-or-less the same thing. One determines the other.

[tat2jr]

UPDATE - Well, I got one of my computers (the Vista machine if you can believe it) to encode the file size I put into xvid. I copied the exact same settings and versions on the other 2 computers, but they are still making them too big. So weird. It makes me feel like it's another program that's installed on the other 2 computers that isn't on the vista machine that is causing the problem. The XP machines use to do it just fine. At least I've got one machine that will still do it correctly.

[jagabo]

You could try deleting Xvid's registry entries. I used to do that when I had a similar problem. They're in \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GNU\Xvid. Delete them when Xvid isn't running. The next time Xvid starts it will recreate them with default values.

[tat2jr]

jagabo - ok, I'll try that, and report back later. Thanks for the continued help.

This is what I did last night - I'm using 1.1.2 since that's what the vista machine had on it and it worked. On my 3rd computer I did a complete uninstall, checked vdubmod, and there was no xvid option. I then restarted, reinstalled it, but when I check vdub again it shows 2 xvid FOURCC options - "yv 12" and "xvid". I tried both and neither did the right size. On the other 2 computers I don't get the 2 xvid options. I've got some serious gremlins running around on my computers.

[manono]

You have them both, eh? Then that may be the problem. First, uninstall XviD. Then track down and delete both the xvid.ax and xvid.dll files. Then reboot and reinstall XviD.

[Placio74]

You have them both, eh? Then that may be the problem. First, uninstall XviD. Then track down and delete both the xvid.ax and xvid.dll files. Then reboot and reinstall XviD.

I'm think it's not neccessary.
It's added by some apps (it's just setting in registry - decoding YV12 by Xvid)

BTW
DivX (latest?) default added decoder for YV12.
Latest VirtualDub have internal decoder for YV12.

[manono]

OK, point taken. But the problem could still be the existence of both XviD.dll and XviD.ax on the computer. I've seen output size problems solved by removing both of them (if they both exist) and then starting over again. Or perhaps you know of another way to solve his very real problem?

[spiritgumm]

Has there been a fix for this issue? I'm starting to have target problems with Virtualdubmod - I'm running an Avisynth script in it, compressing ac3 audio to mp3, and mpeg to xvid.
I deleted and unpacked another copy of Vdubmod. Uninstalled-booted-reinstalled Xvid. I always get the two Fourcc options in Vdubmod when Xvid is installed ("yv 12" and "xvid") - wasn't a problem before.
Would a complicated script be part of the problem, even if you're doing two-pass?
Would using regular Virtualdub work better? If so, how would I run a script two-pass - I dont see the same "Save as" option under FILE. Is that what "Queue Batch Operation" does (and use "Save as AVI")?

I'm trying Avidemux and proxy but an older version stalls, and newest version crashes (I've never used aviproxy with a script before, so I havent troubleshooted the process).

Is there another program that will accept an avisynth script for xvid conversion?

[Henderson]

Yes, I know I'm posting to a very old thread, but it might help someone else with this problem. I've had this exact issue where VirtualDub ignored the bitrate settings and I'd end up with huge files for at least a year now, but really wanted to get Xvid straightened out on VirtualDub and came across this thread.

And what worked perfectly was deleting the registry entries for Xvid as jagabo posted above. I deleted the entire Xvid folder in that location, started up VirtualDub and Xvid now works perfectly and the final file is the correct bitrate that I specified in the settings. I've upgraded Xvid in the past by installing on top of existing versions, so that probably was the cause of the problem. But I didn't have to uninstall it and do a clean re-install, just the registry fix was enough to solve the problem.

From jagabo's post above: You could try deleting Xvid's registry entries. I used to do that when I had a similar problem. They're in \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GNU\Xvid. Delete them when Xvid isn't running. The next time Xvid starts it will recreate them with default values.

Thank god for Google and forums having old content still available! And of course to jagabo for the tip.