How to start Avisynth

[meridklt]

I want to resize a PAL avi to NTSC and have created a txt file with this in it.
AVISource("filename.avi")
LanczosResize(720,480)

I have downloaded and installed Avisynth, but for the life of me I can't see what I do to start Avisynth and run the txt file and complete the task.

I have run the txt file in Windows Media Player, but what do I do from there?

Could someone please help out.

[gadgetguy]

You need to have a encoder (like the free QuEnc). Make sure your text file has the .avs extension. Open the .avs file with the encoder and let it run.

I suggest you read some of the guides on using AviSynth, not to mention the AviSynth documentation.

Also, it takes more than resizing the frame to convert PAL to NTSC. You also have to convert the framerate.

[meridklt]

Thanks gadgetguy.

I have read the Avisynth guides and documentation, but I don't see anywhere a simple guide for a newbee.

I'm doing the DGPulldown for the PAL to NTSC conversion.

[adam]

The script invokes avisynth itself. You just have to load the script (its a text file saved with an .avs ext) into any media encoder or editing software that can accept it, and generally most will. Just try loading it as if you were loading the original .avi file.

What encoder are you trying to use?

[meridklt]

Thanks Adam.

Tried what you said (renamed the txt file to avs affix) and loaded into 'Adobe Premier 6.5' which I created the original DVD with. However, Premier rejected the file.

Was the affix avi or avs?, but I tried both and Premier rejected them

[gadgetguy]

I'm not familiar with Adobe Premier, but it sounds as if it is an editor that is not compatable with AviSynth. You need to get a seperate encoder, a program that compresses the video. As I mentioned, QuEnc is a free MPEG encoder, but there are many others. What is your goal for this video? DVD, web streaming, PC playback? Different encoders are used for different purposes so without knowing the end goal it's hard to advise.

Edit: Oh, and the extension needs to be .avs to invoke AviSynth.

[SLK001]

I don't believe that Premiere will accept a frameserved video - it never has for me. There may be some kind of AVI wrapper that will force it to accept a frameserved file, but for editing, I find that an AVISYNTH script does a superior job.

Are you just loading it to use the built-in MPEG encoder?

[meridklt]

gadgetguy.

The goal is to convert a PAL DVD to NTSC DVD using DGPulldown, which from this info http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=baf497331c3e5044932ab53f299b0025&threadid=88031 will retain much of the quality and with no need to touch the audio.

However, as you can see from my question I'm at the bottom of the leaning curve on this, but before I get to DGPulldown I have to get the frame size down.

I can't post on Doom9 becuase I have a 5 day wait before I can post anything.

[meridklt]

SLL001:

I'm trying to do what you chaps advise to try, hence Premier as I have no other encoder.

gadgetguy:
I tried QuEnc, but it don't like what I'm doing.
AVISourse could not locate a a compressor ?

[gadgetguy]

Then you want to encode to MPEG2, so QuEnc is a good choice for encoder. There are others available such as TMPGEnc, CCE, HC, etc. Some pay, some free.

Once you select and install an encoder, post back and let us know which one you selected. We'll be able to give you more help on configuration settings when we know which one you want to use.

[meridklt]

gadgetguy:

See above your post re QuEnc

[gadgetguy]

QuEnc requires the YUV colorspace so you need to add
ConvertToYV12()
to your script.

[meridklt]

OK did that:
ConvertToYV12()

Still get message AVISourse could not locate a a compressor ?

[gadgetguy]

Copy and paste the text from your .avs file. We'll see if we can see an error.

[meridklt]

AVISource("filename.avi")
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConvertToYV12()

[gadgetguy]

Is your avi file really named "filename"?

[meridklt]

YES - as I'm just testing things first.

[gadgetguy]

What type of avi file is it?

If it's Type1 DV-AVi try DirectShowSource() instead of AviSource()

[adam]

If all you are using avisynth for is to resize than you might as well just do that in Premiere and then export directly to mpeg. I'm not sure what internal resizing routines Premiere uses, I think its bicubic. Lancos is probably a better choice but really there's not going to be a huge difference so you might as well stick with what you know.

[meridklt]

Not sure what you mean by what type.

Premier produces it.

[meridklt]

Adam:
If I use Premier to resize the PAL AVI it tells you the result will not be mpeg2 compliant when you do that part.

[gadgetguy]

As I said, I'm not familiar with Premier, but I suspect what you have is Type1 DV-AVI. My experience is that AviSynth has some issues with the audio of Type1. You can easily convert it to Type2 by opening the avi in VirtualDub (latest version) and then setting the video to "Direct Stream Copy" and resaving the avi. Once it's in Type2 format AviSource() should work fine.

[meridklt]

gadgetguy:
Will give that a try.

[meridklt]

gadgetguy:
Did the VirtualDub and new error is

AVISource couldn't locate a decompressor for fourcc dsvd

[gadgetguy]

Install the Panasonic DV codec

[meridklt]

Will do.

[Sillyname]

What type of avi file is it?

If it's Type1 DV-AVi try DirectShowSource() instead of AviSource()

Oh!

This is what people failed to tell me to substitute in my scripts. I had given up on AVISynth altogether. I was trying to input Type 2 DV videos but kept on getting stonewalled when loading the *.avs. I had the Panasonic DV codec installed and everything.

I'll have to try it again.

[meridklt]

gadgetguy:

All is working fine now.

Many thanks.

[gadgetguy]

Glad I could help.