Convert AVI to Something Smaller

[Maynard123]

I just finished about 20 short films, averaging about 6 or 7 minutes each. A 7 minute AVI file takes up about 18 GB of storage. I need to get these files off my hard disk, but I don't like the idea of chopping up these big files into smaller files to in order to spread each file across 4 or 5 DVDs.

Is there a way of compressing these 18 GB files into another format that would still allow me to go back and edit them and not lose too much quality?

Thanks.

[FOO]

Try the Picvideo Mjpeg codec

[videocheez]

I was in the same situation and started copnverting these to *.wmv files using Windows Movie Maker 2 or Adobe Premier Pro. You can up the bitrate from the level that I used and get pretty good quality. My intent was for making video that could stream over a standard DSL line so I chose a bitrate of approxmitaely 340kbs and i was getting a 100:1 file size compression. Yopu could choose a 10:1 compression and get pretty good quality thats not as good as DV but acceptable.

Goodluck,

VC

[ZippyP.]

Load it in Virtualdub, video>full processing mode, video>compression>pick a codec (foo suggested one)>configure, audio>direct stream copy or full processing then pick an audio compression too. Save avi.

[ultimate_noob]

I tried to do ur steps zippyP... But then the video will be jumpy..
Basically, all i used was the DivX codec..

[pdragonfly]

"Load it in Virtualdub, video>full processing mode, video>compression>pick a codec (foo suggested one)>configure, audio>direct stream copy or full processing then pick an audio compression too. Save avi"


Zippy, once I pick a codec (Picvideo) how do I configure it? I can't seem to find a good walkthru for this. I want to compress this so that I can video stream it. Thanks.

[ZippyP.]

Zippy, once I pick a codec (Picvideo) how do I configure it? I can't seem to find a good walkthru for this. I want to compress this so that I can video stream it. Thanks.

I've never used picvideo, maybe Foo can help.

Here's a vdub video compression guide.

[FOO]

You just download and install the PicVideo codec.

Then when you go to save a video in Vdub it will show up in the
compression list and when you pick that , you get an option to configure.
The onlly choice IMO is compression level 18,19,or 20.
I use 19.

They want money for it (not much) but the demo works and just has
a watermark.

[pdragonfly]

Thanks I'll try that. I don't mind buying it if it works.

Now if I can only get it to play on a MAC I'd be a happy dragonfly.