Can I cut an AVI file in half?

[jbrett14]

After capturing an AVI file from a VHS tape, I was not able to stop the capture until 3 hrs. later. I now have about 1 1/2 hrs. of blank captured footage that I would like to cut and delete to minimize disk space. Is there a simple way to do this with free software? I tried using VirtualDub but it will not even open the file saying something about format not recognized. The file is good (viewable in mediaplayer) so I don't know why VirtualDub won't open it, but I need to cut this video without re-capturing again. Is there a way?

[mastersmurfie]

Maybe TMPGEnc?

How did you capture it? Wierd that VirtualDub won't open an AVI file...??

[stk]

try with the virtualdubmod
you can find it in the tools section


after you edit your video, try frameserving it to your mpg encoding program..

(if you want to keep the quality & compresion then just use "direct stream copy" for audio & video)


hope this works


cheers

-StK

[jbrett14]

I captured the AVI video using Roxio's DVD builder, but this program has no way of modifying the original captured video. This is the message that pops up when trying to open it in VirtualDub: "Couldn't locate decompressor for format 'dvsd'. VirtualDub requires a VFW compatable Codec to decompress video." Any ideas would be greatly appreciated???

[stk]

dvsd is the FourCC code for Microsoft Directshow DV

what version of DirectX do you have?

[stk]

try downloading this codec

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2194-10238365.html


hope this works

[jbrett14]

DirectX version 9.0
I really appreciate the effort in helping me. I have already tried downloading this Codec with still no luck. I also tried a test: I tried opening all of the video that I have captured from DVD Builder using VirtualDub and it has the same error every time. After I close the error window, the program appears to be normal without any other issues. Maybe I'm installing these codecs wrong. What is the correct procedure?

[stk]

download gspot from the tools section to verify if you had the codec installed in your system

are u using the regular virtualdub or the virtualdubmod?
what version of mediaplayer you have?
try intalling version 9 (it comes with a few codecs, maybe one of them could work)

[jbrett14]

I have tried using both VirtualDub & VirtualDubMod.
I already have Media Player 9.
I found a website that I am sure you guys already know about (I am new to this): It is moviecodec.com. I discovered there that I need the dvsd Codec from a company called MainConcept, but they want $50 for it, so I will just learn from my mistake and re-capture this video and be sure to Stop capture when it is over, instead of walking away for 3 hours. I didn't realize that there were that many Codecs out there.
Side question: As I mentioned before, I am using Roxio's DVD Builder which I have had excellent results from it's capturing, editing, and burning. The only thing it does not do for me is modify the original AVI file. Besides this, how would VirtualDub be better for me than DVD Builder?

[kitty]

Well if Roxio tried to capture in this codec it should have installed it - you might check with their tech support (I think they have support forums also, they used to). I weaned myself off Roxio long ago when I was a wee scrappy kitten.

[bugster]

Install the panasonic DV codec. Find it in the tools section. Then virtualdub should be able to open the avi.

If this doesn't work you need to convert the video from DV type 1 to DV type 2. There is a converter (from canopus I think) also in the tools section.

Another alternative, if you intend to encode this to mpeg with TmpGenc by anychance, just use the source range function to tell it where to stop.

[jbrett14]

Bugster, thank you for the fix. That codec did the trick. I have been trying in the Roxio support site as well but with no answer. I really appreciate your post.

Kitty, I get the impression from your post that your opinion of the Roxio DVD Builder program is that it's inferior. If so, could you please share your full reasoning for this. I am new to this stuff, and would love to hear your statements. After using other popular programs, I have yet to use anything that is better than this program for what I am doing (simple DVD creation from old family videos). This program has produced better-than-original VHS results for me by using it's simple De-noiser filter. Cutting & assembling the final video are a breeze. Sure it does not have all the filters & heavy duty editing tools, but would that be necessary for what I am doing? Could I actually get better results using your recommended programs for capturing, minor editing, & burning? To be honest, even though I have downloaded all the top rated programs from this website, I have yet to really use them, simply because I was very happy with the results of DVD Builder (compared to Pinnacle, etc.)