any way to use XVID files with DivX authoring?

[bigMach™]

I have some xvid video files that I want to use with tmpgencs DivX authoring feature, but when I add the files, it says it will do a full recompress, so I'm guessing it will convert the files to divx home theatre profile at the same time.
Is there any way to change the xvid files so that tmpgenc see's them as divx files with the home theatre profile set?


thanks.

[guns1inger]

You can try changing the FourCC to DV50 or Divx, however the files will still have to be repacked into the .divx container and still have to meet whatever Divx require for compliance.

From the comments I have seen here and elsewhere, Divx Author re-encodes everything fed to it.

You could try this : http://labs.divx.com/MenuRaider and see how you fair. You will still have to change the FourCC first.

[jagabo]

Use Avi FourCC Code Changer to change the fourcc. The Divx "fourcc description code" should be "divx" and the "fourcc used codec" should be "DX50". Type them in, don't use the pulldowns.

If you compare .DIVX and .AVI files with only video and audio you will see that the only differences are the size of padding chunks. So converting a simple .AVI to .DIVX should be as simple as renaming the file. I suppose it's possible that some poorly written applications would rely on the size of the padding chunks.

[bigMach™]

I did some tests with changing fourCC before I started this thread, but before I continue, I'd just point out that im capped to 64/64kbps, so I'll just explain further before I click those links, as even google takes a while to load

Dont know if that divx author link is the same program I'm using, which is dvd author 3 with divx authoring.
When I add a divx file to it, it shows an SR logo, meaning smart rendering, but when I add an xvid file, it shows a FR logo (full recompress).
So I used nic's fourCC changer that comes with xvid (same as the Avi FourCC Code Changer?) and manually put in dx50 as it wasn't there (divx in the code box was there, but in caps, make a difference?). Opened it DVDA3, but it still says FR.
So I got a small clip, encoded one with xvid and changed the inbuilt options to use dx50 as fourCC, with the home profile, and encoded another clip with divx using the home theater profile. Again, DVDA says SR for the divx clip and FR for the xvid clip.
Another thing I noticed is, any file that needs FR, DVDA sets the options automatically to "home theater" and 640x480.
But if the divx clip imported is a different resolution to those settings, it still uses SR, just as long as the clip was encoded with the home theater profile set. But if I encode a clip to divx with all the right settings, but choose "none" for the profile, and import it into DVDA, it still allows SR, but when you go to author it, it gives a warning that it wont be compatible with hardware players.

So the important thing seems to be the fourcc obviously, but especially the home theater profile within the divx options.

so I'm not sure what all that means, and if there's a way to change the xvid settings to make it seem like a real divx file :P

[guns1inger]

The link I posted above is to an online authoring tool. I don't know exactly how bandwidth intensive it might be.

[jagabo]

The fourcc code can be case sensitive. Some program are, some aren't. To be sure look in one of your Divx files and use exactly the same case.

I took a close look at the video chunks within Divx and Xvid files (using VirtualDub's hex editor). It looks like each keyframe includes a descriptor of the encoder that was used. This is where GSpot's User/Meta data fields comes from. I wonder if the authoring software uses this.

[bigMach™]

the online tool looks interesting, but it wont load at all, will have to wait a week to try it.

I took a close look at the video chunks within Divx and Xvid files (using VirtualDub's hex editor). It looks like each keyframe includes a descriptor of the encoder that was used. This is where GSpot's User/Meta data fields comes from. I wonder if the authoring software uses this.

so there's no way to change it then?

[jagabo]

I took a close look at the video chunks within Divx and Xvid files (using VirtualDub's hex editor). It looks like each keyframe includes a descriptor of the encoder that was used. This is where GSpot's User/Meta data fields comes from. I wonder if the authoring software uses this.

so there's no way to change it then?

It's possible in theory. I don't know of any program that will do it though.

[bigMach™]

The fourcc code can be case sensitive. Some program are, some aren't. To be sure look in one of your Divx files and use exactly the same case.

just got around to check the divx files, and I copied it exactly the same in fourCC changer, to DX50 and Divx 5 (it was DIVX before), and now DVDA accepts the xvid file, including the resolution and frame rate, and allows smart render, which is much better, but still has "none" as profile, and warns when exporting that "home theater profile" must be set to workk in hardware players. But if I set it in DVDA (that is, just change the profile in the vid settings), it then switches to Full recompress, just for the profile change.

I checked the vid properties of the xvid with changed fourCC, and the divx clip with "HT profile", and the only differences it shows are these:

XVID:
Format profile : Streaming Video@L1 (divx clip doesn't have this line)
Writing library : XviD0046
Writing library : XviD 1.1.2 (UTC 2006-11-01)
Writing library/Name : XviD
Writing library/Version : 1.1.2
Writing library/Date : UTC 2006-11-01

DivX:
Inform : 1129 Kbps, 528*304 (16/9), at 25.000 fps, MPEG-4 Visual (DivX 5) (Packet Bitstream) (BVOP) (xvid doesnt have this line)
Writing library : DivX503b2676p
Writing library : DivX 2676
Writing library/Name : DivX
Writing library/Version : 2676



so the only thing now is really the profile setting that's the problem.

[jagabo]

just got around to check the divx files, and I copied it exactly the same in fourCC changer, to DX50 and Divx 5 (it was DIVX before), and now DVDA accepts the xvid file, including the resolution and frame rate, and allows smart render, which is much better, but still has "none" as profile, and warns when exporting that "home theater profile" must be set to workk in hardware players.

Why do you care if it warns? As long as it doesn't re-encode.

[bigMach™]

because I am actually going to burn to dvd and give to friends who have divx dvd players, and I'm not sure if that warning is just a strict DVDA thing, or it really does matter if the home theater profile is set, as I don't have a divx player myself to test if the warning means anything

just another thing, I have a lot of clips I want to do this with, does it matter at all, say with how editing software for example, see these clips if the fourCC is always changed?

thanks again.

[jagabo]

The profile isn't a problem unless there other settings were used that exceed the limits of the players/profile. Things to watch out for are high bitrates (over 3000 kbps or so), large frame sizes (over 720x480 29.97 fps, or 720x576 25 fps), multiple B-frames with packed bitstream, GMC, and QPEL.

GSpot and MPEG4Modifer can report on all these issues.

Oh, I would recommend 128 kbps or higher audio rates (some players choke below 96 kbps) and CBR audio is safer than VBR.

Changing the fourcc shouldn't matter for most software. There are a few minor differences between Xvid and Divx. Xvid uses 3 warp point GMC, whereas Divx uses 1 warp point GMC. I don't know of any set-top players that support 3 warp point GMC. There may be minor differences in legal frame sizes, Mod2 vs Mod4. If your videos are Mod4 or more you shouldn't have any problems.

[bigMach™]

Is there anything other than divXmediaBuilder(not to keen on that web one either) for making divx menus?