DV To DivX

[T-E-M]

Obviously, the quality of DV is incredible, but overwhelmingly large in file size. I use VirtualDub to edit these clips of mine. When I have a final product (DivX file), the video looks mildly blurred. I use a sharpening filter, but that causes chunky pixel regions to appear, for example, on the outer parameters of a black figure if it is surrounded by a lighter background, (me sitting on a snowbank). Get it? Is there a different program I can use to significantly prevent this from happening? I also use a video bitrate of 1536 with my files.

[gopitan]

How do you capture DV ? What compressor do you use for capturing and what compressor after editting ? What are the settings of the compressors (i.e. Divx) ? I would recommend to capture DV with a loss-less compressor (large files!). Open the file in VDub and compress it with DivX Pro. I would use quality based compression. The settings are depending on your wishes

[T-E-M]

I use Ulead VideoStudio 5 to capture video from my Panasonic DVC. I have only once successfully converted it to DivX without losing hardly any of that awesome quality. So I know it can be done and the file size was 10 MB/Min. I use VirtualDub and DivX Pro v5.0.3 codecs. Audio codec is MPEG Layer 3 (MP3). Video bitrate is 1536. Nowadays, my videos are slightly blurred. I try to use filters in VD but that results in chunky pixel areas to appear on the outline of people and objects.
What else can I tell you? I know my request is not hard, i am just either missing something, or using the wrong software.

[fingernailX]

VirtualDub will not open and extract the audio of a type 1 dv avi file which is what I assume you are capturing with VideoStudio. The easiest way (saves converting to Type 2 and doubling disk space req) around that I have found is to open the type 1 avi in Tmpegenc and choose output to file; wave file (sic) and save the audio. Then open your type 1 with VirtualDub; choose wav audio and select your audio file from above. Then use any vdub/divx guide to 2 pass vbr. Enjoy!

[T-E-M]

My problem is not with the audio. I do exactly what you recommended anyway. My only curiosity is, when you mentioned "2 pass vbr", what do you mean by this? Is there a difference in quality with the "2 pass" in the DivX codec configuration compared to a "1/single pass"?
Thanks for your replies!

[gopitan]

I havent tried it but I would use 1-pass Quality VBR with just a few key frames. QVBR is the best but you never know would the size at the end will be. The key frames take a lot of space. I saw Divxs with just 1 key frame.

[T-E-M]

I am not concerned with keyframes or anything like that. Only want to know how I can achieve a non-blurry quality video with 10 MB/Min like I did once before.
DV Type 1 (taken care of)
Video bitrate - 1536
Codec - DivX Pro v5.0.3

[T-E-M]

I tried out Pinnacle Studio 8. It uploaded my DV as Type 2 so I had no problems encoding it with VD The quality appeared the same, only the frame rate looked different. I specified 29.97.

[fingernailX]

Once you have the dv in virtualdub
deinterlace the video ( blend or smart bob)
don't resize; encode it full frame at 1650 to 1750 kbps depending on how many minutes for 1 cd per hour of capture; I use audio 128 kbps lame mp3
2 pass vbr guide:
http://www.divx.com/support/guides/guide.php?gid=6

On replay you'll need lots of cpu power but set the playback quality to max

Very little discernable loss from original DV

[T-E-M]

MANY THANKS TO fingernailX!!! I did exactly what you said and the video is SO crisp and high quality and is even less filesize than 10 MB/Min which is what I originally wanted!!! Thank you so much for suggesting that guide to me!!!

[T-E-M]

I am reformatting and reinstalling everything so until then, I cannot test out that method of conversion. I will let you know how I do.

[T-E-M]

Hey, guys. I'm back. I ran into problems during reformation. Anyway, I'll test out that method tonight and post a reply on here letting the guys know how I made out. If I run into problems or have any futute curiosities, I'll let you know.

[T-E-M]

Hey, fingernailX, I just used that method again, but this time it resulted in the slow playing video with choppy sound again, same as it did with AVICompression Converter v1.1. Are there advanced settings that I am not properly specifying? Please help.