How to edit DV-avi files without transcoding

[ackboo]

Hello,

I am in the process of digitizing some old home videos. I used a Digital8 camcorder to convert Video8 tapes to dv-avi. So the capture part is done.
Now I'd like to lightly edit the files and obtain one large dv-avi files without transcoding. I tried virtualdub, kdenlive, openshot, avidemux... they all transcode one way or another or fail to open the files.

I found avcutty which does everything i need but it is nagware and unsigned binaries. I mainly run linux, so far i haven't found a way to manipulate dv-avi without transcoding using open source software. Also it is my first time editing videos, so i do not know the proper process.

Ideally I would like to generate an edited dv-avi file and make a mp4 and a video dvd out of the same file.

I was also thinking of encoding everything in mpeg4, edit that and make a dvd without transcoding using a dvd authoring software if that is possible.

Any help welcome.

[Baldrick]

dv-avi shouldn't cause that much problem. Can you post the full details from one dv-avi? Use mediainfo or mediainfoxp.

[Cornucopia]

Do NOT go to mp4 prior to editing.

Go BACK to Vdub, AVIDemux, etc., and set them up correctly.

For example: Vdub
DL & Install Cedocida codec.
Open clip in Vdub.
Set Video stream rendering type to "Direct Stream Copy" (do the same for Audio)
Make your edits, Save/Render your AVI.

If for some reason it won't open in Vdub, such as you have a Type1 DV-AVI file, convert Type1->Type2*. Then try it again.

Only after you have your finished, edited DV-AVI master should you encode to mp4. For that, I'd use MeGUI. It's possible to do this direct from Vdub, though you'd have to set it up to use ffmpeg external encoding.

Scott

*Using Ulead DV Type1 to Type2 converter, or similar.

[smrpix]

And if you need to do something more complicated than simple cuts -- say re-arranging your clips -- every NLE in the world can handle DV losslessly. Vegas Movie Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements, Pinnacle Studio, Lightworks...

[ackboo]

Thanks for your answers,

the files are dv-avi type2, according to avprobe :
bitrate: 30385 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Video: dvvideo, yuv420p, 720x576 [PAR 16:15 DAR 4:3], 25 tbn, 25 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: pcm_s16le, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 1536 kb/s

avidemux can't handle the audio for some reason.

I'll try to install the codecs for virtualdub, if I manage to edit that i was thinking of using handbrake on linux to create the mp4, the denoise filter seems quite effective.

I also considered adobe premiere but since I won't be using it after I'm done with this project I don't see me paying for that software. I'd prefer an open source solution or if there is none, a windows freeware.

[smrpix]

With DV, even Windows Movie Maker, which no one particularly likes, can do lossless editing. After editing and outputting to a DV.avi file you can use handbrake to encode to mp4.

[ackboo]

I tried moviemaker 2012 but I didn't see an option to output dv without transcoding. Guess I missed it.

[smrpix]

I tried moviemaker 2012 but I didn't see an option to output dv without transcoding. Guess I missed it.

Looks like that option disappeared with version 11. Ah progress...

[ackboo]

virtualdub seems to work in direct stream copy, however when I installed the cedocida codec I got a warning saying that the file was unsigned.

I struggled with kdenlive's interface, I guess I'll stay with virtualdub for now.

Do I need to pay attention to keyframes while cutting?

[manono]

Do I need to pay attention to keyframes while cutting?

No, because every frame is a keyframe. That's one reason DV AVI is good for editing losslessly.

[ackboo]

I am finally able to make some progress, virtualdub with the dv codec works fine. Despite the warning during the install the cedocida codec appears in video/compression... and I can easily delete or save segments of the original video without transcoding.

If anyone knows of a linux equivalent to virtualdub I'd like to hear about that.

[poisondeathray]

The closest thing on linux would be avidemux, but you said it "couldn't handle the audio" - what does that really mean ? Try downloading another version of avidemux. But unlike vdub, avidemux won't rely on , and cannot access system installed codecs like cedocida

[ackboo]

I tried avidemux 2.6 64bits on windows, it opens the file but when I try to save it, even with the "copy" parameter there is no audio. In VLC it says "undf codec unsupported" or if I try to encode the audio there is simply no sound.
In linux I get a warning about a missing codec when I open the file and no usable audio whatever I do.

[Baldrick]

If you reconvert the audio in avidemux? Still no audio?

[newpball]

Hello,

I am in the process of digitizing some old home videos. I used a Digital8 camcorder to convert Video8 tapes to dv-avi. So the capture part is done.
Now I'd like to lightly edit the files and obtain one large dv-avi files without transcoding. I tried virtualdub, kdenlive, openshot, avidemux... they all transcode one way or another or fail to open the files.

I found avcutty which does everything i need but it is nagware and unsigned binaries. I mainly run linux, so far i haven't found a way to manipulate dv-avi without transcoding using open source software. Also it is my first time editing videos, so i do not know the proper process.

Ideally I would like to generate an edited dv-avi file and make a mp4 and a video dvd out of the same file.

I was also thinking of encoding everything in mpeg4, edit that and make a dvd without transcoding using a dvd authoring software if that is possible.

Any help welcome.

So basically you want to go from

Video 8 -> DV -> MPEG-4 -> MPEG-2

You don't think that is a bad idea?
A "photocopy" of a "photocopy" of a "photocopy" seldom gives a nice picture.

From the DV edits you should directly make the various delivery formats.

[ackboo]

If you reconvert the audio in avidemux? Still no audio?

yes, if I open a dv file in avidemux, select h264/aac, encode, open the resulting file in vlc, I get "undf unsupported codec" and hence no audio.

[ackboo]

From the DV edits you should directly make the various delivery formats.

Yes this is what I'm currently doing thanks to virtualdub and the cedocida codec. I'm new here, I had some trouble finding the right software and process. NLE editors are a bit too obscure to me right now. Especially kdenlive.

[ackboo]

The edit part is done, thanks everyone.

follow up here
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/370064-Preserving-anamorphic-aspect-ratio-while-cropping