Virtual Dub Error Message

[BonnieW88]

I can't open an AVI in Virtual Dub....get a message "couldn't locate decompressor format for dvsd" "requires a VFW compatible codec to decompress video"

I capture using WinDV which gives me a batch of AVI files to be joined together. I want to edit out commercials and save as MPEG. Until recently Arcsoft Showbiz worked great, but now the MPEG freezes on one frame while continuing to play the audio. I thought I'd try VirtualDub but I can't get started. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[secretagent]

would you believe that you need a Vfw compatable codec?

[BonnieW88]

I was hoping someone could tell me what that means and where I might find one. I've tied other codecs mentioned on this site and they don't work. I see no mention of VFW.

[bugster]

I can't open an AVI in Virtual Dub....get a message "couldn't locate decompressor format for dvsd" "requires a VFW compatible codec to decompress video"

Try the Panasonic DV codec. Should be in the tools section.

[BonnieW88]

Thanks, Bugster. I can now edit my AVI files...quick and easy. Unfortunately, the quality of the saved file is pretty poor -

I'm watching the saved edited AVI and there are tiny black dots floating around the screen....like a swarm of gnats. What can I do to get a cleaner picture?

[bugster]

Thanks, Bugster. I can now edit my AVI files...quick and easy. Unfortunately, the quality of the saved file is pretty poor -

I'm watching the saved edited AVI and there are tiny black dots floating around the screen....like a swarm of gnats. What can I do to get a cleaner picture?

Thats wierd, are they in the source? Are you saving the virtuladub edits using direct stream copy or encoding to another format?

[BonnieW88]

I saved using Direct Stream. When I encoded with TMPGEnc, the saved MPG doesn't have the 'dots'...the picture quality isn't as clear as my original AVI but it's okay.

I was using ShowBiz which is a great program with great results....until recently. Easy AVI editing and joining with very good quality video. Lately however my saved MPG either freezes on one frame and/or loses blocks of audio. Too unreliable. I can't figure out why so I'm switching to Virtual Dub/TMPGEnc. Quality isn't as good but it does the trick.

Thanks again for responding.

[bugster]

The quality of mpeg encoding from Tmpgenc should be pretty much as good as you can get with anything else. It may be slow though, you just have to be patient. What settings are you using?

[BonnieW88]

I'm learning. The first time, I didn't check settings.. I just converted my AVI...it wasn't very sharp. My second attempt with Virtual Dub gave me the same spotty result but when I converted with TMPGEnc I input some settings I found on someone's guide, changed from non-interlace to interlace and selected top field and full screen, and the picture quality was much better.

I just made a template using the suggestions on a different guide and made changes to GOP and Quantize. I haven't tried them out yet, but I see now how a simple change in settings can effect the outcome. I'll experiment a bit. I have a good feeling about TMPGEnc. And as long as my finished MPG is decent, I'll be very happy using Virtual Dub to edit and join.

[bugster]

If your source material is DV avi (which your other posts suggest) the you should use bottom field first and yes, do encode interlaced.

[BonnieW88]

Sometimes I save directly from television to PC...sometimes I save from the VCR. Is there a difference?

[bugster]

Sometimes I save directly from television to PC...sometimes I save from the VCR. Is there a difference?

If you are using a capture device that connects to your PC via firewire and produces avi files that are about 13Gbytes per hour of video, it is DV format. DV is bottom field first, always.

If you have other ways of capturing the avi, field order may be different.

[BonnieW88]

Thanks for the explanation. I use Canopus ADVC 100 to capture. I'll be changing my setting back to 'bottom.' It's not easy figuring this stuff out by myself. I appreciate your taking time to help me.