How to speed up video conversion

[csc12345678]

Hi !
I convert DVD to upload to YouTube. I find the conversion slow. Need your advice. Thanks in advance.
Here's how I do it:

1. I copy the whole DVD files into my harddisk.
2. I use Format Factory to "DVD to Video File" to convert to FLV using the same Video Size, Bitrate, FPS. I normally convert to another harddisk so that there is no contention.
3. I upload the FLV.

Questions:

1. Is FLV the best format to upload ? Or should I use MP4, AVI DivX or AVI Xvid ? My object is to upload quickly. I can compromise on quality but not too bad quality. Sorry for my layman terminology
2. Is it possible to exploit any of my video card or PVR card in the conversion ? Can I make use of the hardware ? I have a Radeon HD 5770 video card and a Happague card

I'm also thinking of setting up a dedicated netbook to do video conversion and uploading. If that feasible ? The reason is that I don't want to keep my PC running 24x7. But i don't know if netbook would do the job.

I apologise for my questions not being very clear. I hope somebody can guide me.. may be if you know what I'm doing, able to ask me some more specific questions. Thanks very very much...

[Baldrick]

You can upload DVD vob/mpgs directly. Use vob2mpg to get a single mpg for each dvd track/title. If you have a slow internet connection it till take some time to upload full movies(several GBs) though...

[csc12345678]

I've used vob2mpg before. But I think that version converts the DVD into 1 big mpg and I have to split it. I didn't know that now it's able to split by titles. That's good. Would that make it faster ? I didn't really make a measurement but I suspect copy the files from the DVD to harddisk is faster ... cause running Format Factory directly from the DVD is slower.

I also don't want to directly upload from DVD cause it will hold up my DVD rom and I cannot use it for other purpose. So I prefer to copy to harddisk first.

[Baldrick]

How long are your clips? You can use dvd shrink in the reauthoring mode to cut out video clips/titles and then upload the vob directly.

If they are too big it's probably faster to reconvert first.

[jagabo]

Use an x264 GUI front end in CRF mode and the Ultrafast preset.

[csc12345678]

Typically 4GB+. is my current option to copy the files to HDD and then use Format Factory a good one ? Or should I switch software ?

How long are your clips? You can use dvd shrink in the reauthoring mode to cut out video clips/titles and then upload the vob directly.

If they are too big it's probably faster to reconvert first.

[Baldrick]

You can try Vidcoder and use the h264 ULTRAFAST option as jagabo mention.

Copy the VIDEO_TS folder from the DVD to your HDD
In Vidcoder open the video_ts folder.
Under Settings->Video->h264 Basic settings change the Preset to h264 ultra fast.
Adjust the Constant quality setting if you want smaller file size(increase it).
Start encode to make a mp4 from your DVD.

For me it takes about 7 minutes to convert a 90 minutes movie.

[hech54]

Typically 4GB+. is my current option to copy the files to HDD and then use Format Factory a good one ? Or should I switch software ?

How long are your clips? You can use dvd shrink in the reauthoring mode to cut out video clips/titles and then upload the vob directly.

If they are too big it's probably faster to reconvert first.

4gb?
So you are uploading the entire DVD to YouTube?

[csc12345678]

Any comments about using Netbook for the conversion and uploading of YouTube ? Feasible ?

[poisondeathray]

yes, using a netbook is possible, just very slow compared to a modern desktop . It might be 5-10x slower for example, using the same settings

[RabidDog]

Your upload time will simply be a function of your filesize versus your upload speed.
So a 500mb file will upload twice as quickly(in half the time) as 1000mb file, obvious really.
So you want th best quality in the smallest file size you can get.
Sadly that means using a high degree of compression with a modern codec (not mpeg1 or mpeg2) x264 is one of the best at the moment.
Then you must balance encoding time versus filesize. To get the maximum efficiency requires a LOT of processing eg 7% reduction (filesize) over std profile might require double the processing time.
smallest filesize vs uploading time vs encoding time vs best quality.
I7 3850K o/c 5.2ghz using x264 FTQ

Not to mention that its unusual to upload complete DVD's.

[csc12345678]

I don't understand the statement "I7 3850K o/c 5.2ghz using x264 FTQ". Can elaborate ?

Your upload time will simply be a function of your filesize versus your upload speed.
So a 500mb file will upload twice as quickly(in half the time) as 1000mb file, obvious really.
So you want th best quality in the smallest file size you can get.
Sadly that means using a high degree of compression with a modern codec (not mpeg1 or mpeg2) x264 is one of the best at the moment.
Then you must balance encoding time versus filesize. To get the maximum efficiency requires a LOT of processing eg 7% reduction (filesize) over std profile might require double the processing time.
smallest filesize vs uploading time vs encoding time vs best quality.
I7 3850K o/c 5.2ghz using x264 FTQ

Not to mention that its unusual to upload complete DVD's.

[csc12345678]

I'm using VidCoder for a while to convert.

Previously, each 2 hour video is about 600-700MB. Somehow, the next DVD, the size went up to 1.6-1.7GB. Any idea what went wrong ? Thanks.

[Baldrick]

What encoding settings are you using? Constant Quality? With what value?

But you can change to "Target size" under Settings->Video and choose 700MB for example.

[csc12345678]

Thanks very much.

What encoding settings are you using? Constant Quality? With what value?

But you can change to "Target size" under Settings->Video and choose 700MB for example.

[gonwk]

Use an x264 GUI front end in CRF mode and the Ultrafast preset.

Hi Jagabo ...

Q1: What CRF for a DVD-5 to a 700MB AVI and for a 1.4GB AVI?

Q2: BTW, what size AVI would YOU suggest for a Good Quality DVD-5 (the Main file) to AVI?
I realize Good would be subjective on the viewer eyes!

Thanks!

G!

[jagabo]

Q1: What CRF for a DVD-5 to a 700MB AVI and for a 1.4GB AVI?

CRF encoding is for when you don't need a specific file size. With constant quality encoding (CRF or CQ in x264) you specify what quality you want, the file turns out whatever size is required to deliver that quality. With bitrate based encoding you specify what size file you want (indirectly via bitrate, file size = bitrate * running time) but you don't know what the quality will be.

Q2: BTW, what size AVI would YOU suggest for a Good Quality DVD-5 (the Main file) to AVI?

Every video is different so there's no single size that's optimal for every movie. I use CRF 18 and let the file turn out whatever size is necessary for that quality. Usually somewhere between 600 and 2000 MB including the original AC3 audio track, sometimes two (eg, commentary track).

[gonwk]

Hi Jagabo,

Thanks for your reply as usual & the Clarification ... Very Helpful!

G!

[csc12345678]

This is great sharing... thanks !

I'm now able to get it to about 600-700 MB. The video looks ok. But I found the voice to be squeaky for both the small and large files.

I learnt to use Format Factory to display the information about the media... can help advise what I need to tweak to get rid of the squeaky sound ? Thanks again... very much

Audio
ID : 2
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Codec ID : 69
Duration : 1h 55mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 144 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 170 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 119 MiB (19%)

[gonwk]

Hi csc12345678,

How did you get Variale mode in Format Factory? I thought the Audio & Vidoe Bit rate were from a Fixed pull-down menu?

G!

[csc12345678]

Encoded using VidCoder. I only use Format Factory to display the attributes.