Encoding as Divx or Xvid with Gordian Knot

[Cunhambebe]

I've downloaded and installed both Gordian Knot and its codec pack. I'd like to convert some of my files rendered with Lightwave and Vegas (MPEG2) as Divx or Xvid to share them with other users at Lightwave3DGroup. Everything seems to work OK, but the final result is frustrating since the final converted file is encoded "in jumps"....for instance, from frame 1 to 20 then from 60 to 80, then from 120 to 130 and so on. I've also noticed that at the end of the covnertion, there are always 3 video files with different sizes. "?"
What am I doing wrong? Am I missing something? Thanks in advance.

[Cunhambebe]

"?"
No one? ...it's a...amazing

[manono]

Hi-

Check the .avs file. Is there a line at the bottom that has the SelectRangeEvery command? If so, you encoded using your compression test .avs. And if so, delete that line and do it over again.

Don't know about the 3 files, but GKnot first encodes the video (maybe 2 of them are the first and second passes) before muxing in the audio. So, if there is audio for your video, the final and largest one is what you want. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out which is which.

[Cunhambebe]

Hi manono...Finally a living soul! lol Thanks for your help.
About this
...file is encoded "in jumps"....for instance, from frame 1 to 20 then from 60 to 80, then from 120 to 130 and so on.
- I found out what was happening. On "Save .avs" screen, on "Use Compressibility Check"I was leaving the value "Use 5%" checked. The problem was almost fixed, but the final file is still unacceptable - bad quality and totally out of sync.

Do you realy get good results with GK? You know, the problem really seems to be with the generated .avs file. Don't know why but about 6 moths ago when I tried to convert from DVD2AVI with DVD2AVI (same name), everytime I triedd to save my project as .avs and frameserve with VFAPICodec, I got the same error. Bad files, encoded in "kicks", totally out of sync. I remember to save the files directly with DVD2AVI (what others told me not to do so), but this way the whole thing worked OK. Thanks again for the input - I'll check it out.....[/quote]

[manono]

Hi-

On "Save .avs" screen, on "Use Compressibility Check"I was leaving the value "Use 5%" checked.

Which is what I speculated was going on.

Do you realy get good results with GK?

I used to, and plenty of people still do. I encode manually these days. Since you set it up for the compression test, did you actually run the compress test and get your results? What percentage did it give you? Maybe you're just trying for too high of a resolution, or too small of a file size, given the compressibility of your source.

It might be a good idea to post the full .avs (leaving off the lines that begin with "#", since they don't do anything). Also, the log might be useful. And some information about the source (link to the DVD).

Also, since you're having trouble, you might try and get a few encodes under your belt using the much easier to use AutoGK, before graduating to the more complex GKnot.

[Cunhambebe]

Thanks again to take time to reply.

I encode manually these days.

- What do you exactly mean? You know, I've got good results with Divx, Xvid and VirtualDub-MPEG2 - which seems very simple, applying a couple of filters. If I convert my MPEG2s with GK, you think I'll possibly get more quality????

I used to, and plenty of people still do.

Are you trying to say GK is outdated???

Since you set it up for the compression test, did you actually run the compress test and get your results?
- The result? You mean what I see on the screen of that WMP 98 Style? I just see those kicks....ex: at 5%, the beginning, middle and "la fin - the end" LOL

What percentage did it give you?
- It gave me nothing, no percentage at all.

Maybe you're just trying for too high of a resolution, or too small of a file size, given the compressibility of your source.
- The original file is an MPEG2 (I am following the guide MPEG2 to AVI).
- Original MPEG2 resolution is 720x486 NTSC. The resolution I've tried for the converted file is 640x480 (guide is a bit confusing about resizing)...

It might be a good idea to post the full .avs (leaving off the lines that begin with "#", since they don't do anything).
- You've got me here boy....that sounds as Greek to me. Is the full "avs" the project file? Is that what you mean? Please remember that the application that saved my project **.avs was reading my MPEG2 with errors (since it was MPEG2 NTSC 29,97 and the application was showing another value...23.something). Don't know why.....The problem seems to be here - with the **.avs file, despite the fact when I open the project <open> the whole movie is there, bright and clear!
Also, the log might be useful. And some information about the source (link to the DVD).
- No DVDs here. The source is an MPEG2 file encoded with Vegas' MainConcept Compressor (built-in version).

Also, since you're having trouble, you might try and get a few encodes under your belt using the much easier to use AutoGK, before graduating to the more complex GKnot.
- I have installed GK Codec Pack. Besides, I do have Divx and Xvid around here...so, you're talking about more codecs???

Now, I'd like to ask you just on emore question (at least this time - lol)
- Do you think I'll get better results when converting with GK than with VirtualDub-MPEG2 using both Divx-Xvid (for both DVDs - demuxed VOBs and MPEG2s encoded with MainConcept, TMPGEnc, Canopus Procoder, etc.)?

Thanks in advance!

[manono]

Hi-

I don't know what VDub-MPEG2 is. I assume it allows you to open the .mpgs directly and encode from them. However, if it requires that you use Full Processing Mode, then it will be slower and give lower quality than frame serving through an AviSynth script file (an .avs, as generated by GKnot or AutoGK).

Are you trying to say GK is outdated???

Not at all. I just prefer to do everything myself. Thousands of people use GKnot and AutoGK successfully every day.

- The result?

The only reason to create an .avs with "Use Compressibility Check' is so you can run the compress test and get the percentage back in order to find out whether or not you'll get good results before actually running the 2 full passes. If you didn't do that, or have no idea what I'm talking about, then it's time you read a good guide. There are several listed here:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92089

This site also has a number of such guides, but I'm more familiar with the Doom9 ones. A number of other things you wrote also leads me to believe that you may be better off using AutoGK, at least for the time being. It's similar to, but easier to use than, GKnot. It's not a codec, but a full fledged program. If you installed GKnot, you already have all the codecs you'll need. The guides to which I just pointed you to can get you going.

- Do you think I'll get better results when converting with GK than with VirtualDub-MPEG2

GKnot is a front end for a number of other applications and programs, including VDubMod. But as I mentioned before, if VDub-MPEG2 requires the use of Full Processing Mode (as does using a VFAPI), then the encoding will be much faster, and the results better when frameserving with an AviSynth script file (.avs).

[Cunhambebe]

Thanks again manono for being so generous answering my questions. Despite the fact I've been studying this "video thing" for more than a year, I see my knowledge is very little. Sorry for some foolish newbie questions. You know, everything we do for the first time does not show a great result. Only time and hard work can help with the state-of-the-art performance.

Compressing as MPEG2 or decrypting and re-authoring DVDs seems very easy compared to this world of conversions (despite the fact MPEG2 is the DVD "must", I know you can also use these tools such as AviSynth to get better MPEG2s).

As you may be aware of, I intend to convert my own MPEG2 files as Divx or Xvid to share them with other users on the web or anywhere else where compression is required. Although my knowledge is little I feel it's time to start both with VirtualD (which is a lot easier) and GK. Later, who knows, I may learn how to frameserve with AviSynth and maybe find some free time to learn how to write scripts.

When you remark that you'd rather do things yourself (instead using GK or AGK), I assume you write your own scripts, and this is something definitely thousands of light-years from where I am (and probably most users are) at this very moment.

After all these problems with conversions, I uninstalled GK. I'm going to install it all over again and check up the tutorials above. If you let me do so, I'd like to PM you as soon as I need some help. Thanks in advance,
Best regards,
Mark Anthony

[Cunhambebe]

In spite of the fact this thread is about GK, I've made some tests converting MPEG2 to Xvid with VirtualDub. Here's what I've found.

1. Usually set VirtualDub as Fast recompress; if you've captured video from your cam and want to convert as Xivd, check Full processing mode.

2.You can use the default settings for Xvid (Simple @ L0) or you can try (AS @ L5) - single pass or 2 passes. If you prefer this last choice (AS @ L5), press button <more>; on the open Profile Guide, Do Not Check <Quarter Pixel> and <B-VOPs> - leave them unchecked. Most players such as WMP and Divx seems not to be compatible with these options (for instance: colors are distorted when the file is played by WMP; Divx Player on full screen, play them in kicks). - Please someone corrects me if I'm wrong.

3.You can add some VD filters such as the following:
On VirtualDub bar, select <video>,<filters>. Choose these ones:
-Resize: do it at 640x480, so if someone one day decides to go once more from Xvid to DVD, it can be easily re-resized;
-Deinterlace (mode: blend - the best one)
- you can try also null transform (what's it for??? lolll)

4. If you're encoding audio along with the Xvid file, go to <Audio>, <Full Processing Mode>, <Source Audio>, <Compression - Choose MP3 and set it at 128 kBits/s>. Otherwise if you're going to mux audio later, choose this time: <Audio>, <Full Processing Mode>, <No Audio>.

5. Convert you MPEG2 (needs VirtualDubMPEG2 or VirtualDubMod - this versin seems no to have audio options) or AVI (regular VirtualDub) choosing single or 2 passes.

6. For the ones muxing audio, this can be done later adding AC-3;
7. Muxing subs with the video file (soft subs): I'm about to find out a way to do that

[Abond]

nulltransform = cropping. If the source video have black bars at sides you don't want to filter and encode them,right?
VirtualDubMod - streams - stream list - audio track is listed there - right click on it - options are accesible.

[Cunhambebe]

Hmmm so I won't need it - I guess. Thanks for your help.
I never though it would be so difficult. Encoding using Xvid or Divx seems difficult. Now I know that using Xvid you get better results, but it is diffilt to configure everything. Let's see it:
I've noticed that by checking Quartel Pixel and B-VOPs, picture quality is much better, even though there are distortions on the colors as you play the file with the WMP and the most important, video file is played out of sync - happens with WMP and Divx Player. Since I'm a little curious, I was just wondering if this effect is caused by the decoder that here seems to be Divx. Do you have any idea on how I can change Divx decoder for Xvid's? Following one of these guides...
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92089
..I see they recommend you install and frameserve with AviSynth. What a mess! How can I get that quality checking both Quarter Pixel and B-VOPs wihtout those kicks on video (out od sync.)
Thanks in advance

[Cunhambebe]

Thanks Abond, for making this very clear to me!

VirtualDubMod - streams - stream list - audio track is listed there - right click on it - options are accesible.

[Cunhambebe]

All right, let's finish this...
Those kicks on the video, or better yet, jigs, are caused by the decoder. Install and select ffdshow. It's makes everyhting much better.

About Xvid options for convertions:
Q-Pixel and B-VOPS: when you convert, just uncheck Q-Pixel; this option needs fast processors for watching the video; make sure not to select GMC (global motion compensation). this way your file will be more compatible everywhere. B-VOPs can be left checked if you want - no problem here.