WMV to Avi(xvid,mp3) using VirtualDub - huge destination file

[chm]

Hi!
I need to recompress a lot of wmv files to avi(xvid, mp3) with some editing (cropping). I tried avidemux2 and VDub but with both of them I have problems. Avidemux opens wmv files by default but result sometimes has broken audio. I installed wmv-plugin for VirtualDub as well as enabled windows media video in ffdshow but when I try to compress anytning expected file size is about 47G (source in wmv is less then 500mb). Also speed of such encoding is too slow (about 28fps). I tried VirtualDub Directshow Plugin, Windows Media Video 9 VCM codec, switch decoder for wmv to libavcodec in ffdshow but always I get the same result (huge destination file). Could anyone tell me how to fix this problem?
Tnx.

[Baldrick]

I guess you have selected xvid under Video->Compression in Virtualdub? And configured a bitrate or constant quality setting.

[chm]

I guess you have selected xvid under Video->Compression in Virtualdub? And configured a bitrate or constant quality setting.

Yes, I selected xvid in compression (bitrate 1426).

[Calidore]

Couple ideas that came to mind:

1) Virtualdub saves audio and video uncompressed by default. You said you have Xvid set for video, but if audio compression hasn't been set (and you haven't left it on Direct Stream Copy), that might be a contributor.

2) Save a bit, then stop the save and check the destination file a) visually to make sure the visuals aren't garbled somehow (static doesn't compress well) and 2) with Mediainfo/GSpot/whatever to get the actual stats as opposed to what you think should be happening.

Best,

Calidore

[chm]

I installed new version of avidemux2 (2.5.2 -> 2.5.3) and now it works fine but I still prefer VDub.

I checked destination file encoded with VDub and it was uncompressed (both video and audio). Than I uninstalled Windows Media Video 9 VCM and DirectShow plugin and set Windows Media decoders to wmv9 in ffdshow. Now recompression in VDub works correctly (destination file is ok) but if I try to crop in VDub I get an error message (without cropping if works): Cannot start video compression: An unknown error occured (may be corrupted data). (Error code - 100).

Exact list of my actions:
1. File->Open video file (source wmv);
2. Video->Compression->Xvid->Target bitrate: 1426->OK
3. Audio->Full processing mode
4. Audio->Compression->Lame mp3->48000 hz, 192 kbps CBR, Stereo
5. Video->Filters->Add->brightness/contrast (I select this filter only to enable cropping and do not change any values)
6. Then I select added filter and press Cropping button
7. File->Save as avi - now I get the error message.

If i miss 6 (cropping) then compression works.

[neomaine]

Its been a while but I think you want the null transform filter for cropping. Never used the one in brightness/contract...which doesn't seem to make sense.

[DarrellS]

I can't reproduce your problem on my machine.

Maybe a mediainfo text file of the WMV you're trying to convert.

My setup...

Virtualdub 1.9.9
WMV plugin
ffdshow w/wmv1.wmv2, wmv3 set to WMV9 and VC-1 set to libavcodec.
DivX 3.11 audio codec to decompress wma1 and wma2 audio.

Virtualdub does not support WMA Pro 5.1 audio and I usually get errors near the end of the file from most wm audio so it is easier just to save the audio and convert it to MP3 with an audio editing program (some audio editing programs can open the WMV/ASF file directly) and then reinserting the audio into the video in VDub.

Although you can crop from any filter, it's better to use the Null Transform filter first to crop and other filters afterwards.


After cropping, make sure to use the resize filter to make the file a resolution that the codec can handle. A multiple of 16 is a good choice.

Using the wrong resolution could cause the error that you're getting.

[Calidore]

If the cropping is the showstopper, then I'd agree with DarrellS that you're probably cropping to an illegal resolution. Unless you need the video to be a specific resolution, though, you don't need to go to the trouble of resizing after cropping; just crop so that the height and width are each divisible by 4. Check the new resolution in the filter box after setting the cropping borders and add or subtract a pixel or two or three as needed. Are you just removing black borders from the video?

Best,

Calidore

[chm]

The problem is solved. Resolution wasn't multiple of 4.
Thanks.

Are you just removing black borders from the video?

No, there aren't black borders.

[Calidore]

Glad it worked!

Since you're doing a lot of files, don't forget to save these settings so you can stop and start easily without having to recreate the configuration every time.

Also, to speed up the conversions, you may want to use VirtualDub's batch job queue. If you have a multi-core processor, you can run several Virtualdubs at once pulling from a shared queue.

If you're not familiar with either of these features, I or someone will be happy to step you through them.

Best,

Calidore