Edit AVI in Womble's MVW

[Etherel15]

As the title states, I'm having trouble using .avi files in the Womble Mpeg Video Wizard (MVW) program. I can load the file into the project bin, but when I try to play it I only get a black screen. As far as I know, the video wasn't encoded using any strange codecs, and it plays just fine in windows media player (I'm running Vista Home Premium). MVW help section tells me

"In order to import an AVI file, the editor will need the help of an installed video/audio codec. Currently, the editor only recognizes VFW (Video For Window) drivers."

I've tried a few codec packs, such as the AVI-codec pack 2.2 from downloads.com , and still no luck. Womble wont help me find or even define the kind of outside software I need. I really really hope one of you out there knows enough about this video editing tool to tell me what I need, and how to make it work.

Thanks in advance!

[guns1inger]

Codec packs aren't the best idea, but that horse has bolted.

Start by using g-spot to identify what the avi has been encoded with. Post a screenshot here and someone will tell you which VFW codec you need.

[Etherel15]

ok, heres the screenshot. I looked up the codec name and found what I think was the source, they make a program called Camtasia, that captures video of your computer. Don't know if that helps.

this worried me because I planned to use a fire-wire 8mm tape deck to transfer tapes to my computer, and I wanted to save them as avi files and then edit them with womble's MVR and export it as mpeg2 for DVD authoring. Will I have to worry about needing a different codec for that? My world came crashing down this afternoon when I came across this problem.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[guns1inger]

Womble is really designed to edit mpeg video. While it can do avi files, it can only edit them if an older style video for windows (vfw) codec is available. It appears that the Techsmith codec that Camtasia uses is a directshow codec, which Womble cannot use. If that is the case (and I cannot confirm it, however g-spot says you have Techsmith installed and Womble won't play ball) then you will have to use a different editor.

[Etherel15]

thanks for the headsup. I got a followup question thats in a totally different field, hopefully you can hit a homerun again

I was planning on using the MVW to encode my edited avi files to mpeg2, because I could manually choose the bitrate, or VBR range. Since I may be forced to encode the mpeg using a different program, if i want to re-encode it using MVW to a lower bitrate (for example, 8000 to 5000), besides the obvious drop in quality from 8k to 5k bitrate, will there be any other significant quality loss from re-encoding?

Example: I play a 5000 bitrate non-protected dvd and capture it to the computer as an avi file. I edit it then I encode it mpeg2 at an 8000 bitrate, then re-encode it back down to 5000 bitrate. How much difference in quality will there be from the original to the final version? I know there will be at least SOME quality loss, but how much?

Thanks if you can answer this toughie!

[jman98]

Etherel15 - What you are suggesting is an unnecessarily convoluted way of doing what you want. This is akin to living in Dallas and flying to San Francisco in order to get to New York rather than flying directly to New York. A much better approach with less quality loss would be:

1) Rip the DVD.
2) Edit is as MPEG-2, which is what you'll get from the rip.
3) Re-encode ONLY if you must to shrink the size.

Their is no need at all to do what you propose which involves completely unnecessary encodes and a conversion to AVI to boot.
As to how much quality loss there will be, you'd be best off to try it and see what you think, but my suggestions are better and quicker than what you propose to do.

[guns1inger]

Any encoding with a lossy codec, such as mpeg-2, will incur some quality loss. This loss compounds with each re-encode. Therefore it is always best to encode to the final target bitrate where possible.

In the case of your process, why capture a DVD to avi, edit it, encode it, then re-encode it ? Womble is a dedicated mpeg editor - one of the best IMO.

If you already have a DVD, your process should be

1. Rip the DVD to your HDD - DVDFab HD Decrypter if it is copy protected, otherwise DVD Decrypter will do.

2. Edit the video in womble from the DVD source. No conversion is necessary. If you prefer to work from an mpg file, use VOB2MPG to extract it from the DVD VOB files, then edit the mpg file in Womble.

3. Write the new file from Womble without re-encoding.

4. Author the disc (if you have Womble Mpeg DVD Wizard you can do this in step 3)

5. If the DVD structure is too big to fit on a single layer disc, use DVD Shrink with Deep Analysis and AEC to reduce the size, or if ti is over by a large amount, use DVD Rebuilder with HCEnc.

This will give you the highest possible quality. No need to convert to avi or encode to mpeg multiple times.