Converting mpeg1 to avi

[cghu007]

Hi,

I've sorted thru the threads in various forums but found nothing specific to my problem. I converted my .dat file (from my VCD) to mpeg1 using Isobuster. Now I want to convert it to .avi.

All I can find are tools that convert mpeg2 to .avi or .avi to mpeg1/2.

Could you please tell me a simple tool that can convert mpeg1 to .avi, with not much fuss and produce good quality? Preferably with a bit of tutorial on how to do it since I'm very new to all this.

For your info, I need the .avi files for my subtitling project.

Thank you in advance.

[Forum Troll]

Virtualdubmod.

Open mpeg. FILE -> SAVE AS AVI.

Viola.

[Baldrick]

or
dr.divx
virtualdub
divx converter
autogk (latest beta supports mpeg1)
tmpgenc xpress

[cghu007]

Thank you very much! I'll try them one by one until I find one that fits.

[cghu007]

Hi Forum Troll,

I've tried Virtualdubmod you suggested and it's so simple and easily understandable. I like it, but the file I converted went from 750MB (mpeg1) to around 33GB (avi). I thought .avi files are supposed to be smaller? All I did was open the mpeg1 file and save it as avi...just as you said.

If it's supposed to be that way, then I guess I'll just have to find a tool to compress it. But I want to add subtitles to it, so will the compressed situation present any problem?

Thank you in advance

[Baldrick]

you must select a compression, in virtualdubmod under video->compression. use for example divx,xvid.

[Nelson37]

Saying "AVI file" is like saying "truck". Are we talking Tonka, Toyota, or 18-wheeler?

You could use Divx, Xvid, Mpeg4, etc., etc. Be aware there are significant playback requirements for most of these which are not built-in to most operating systems, also significant CPU requirements.

If you intend to re-convert to MPG1 or 2, I would highly recommend a lossless codec such as Huffy, otherwise you will experience even more quality loss than you will already see.

[celtic_druid]

Also keep in mind that the VCD would be 4:3, so you either need to resize or set the AR the same as the source.

Also the audio will be a big factor since VDubMod can't do mp2 in avi it decode it to PCM.

[cghu007]

Thanks!!! Okay, I'll burn my midnight oil tonight. By the way, I'm sorry for asking this but what is AR? Actually this is my first video project so there are a lot of terms I'm still trying to swallow

to resize or set the AR the same as the source

Also, how do I use Huffy with VdubMod?

a lossless codec such as Huffy

Thanks in advance

[celtic_druid]

AR = Aspect Ratio.
For huffyuv, either install huffyuv or use ffdshow.

[cghu007]

you must select a compression, in virtualdubmod under video->compression. use for example divx,xvid.

I've downloaded DivX 6.0 codec but when I select it I cannot modify the quality percentage (it's locked at 100%). I previewed the output and the projected file size is still 33GB. Did I do something wrong?

Thanks.

[celtic_druid]

That slider is for old codecs like cinepak. You need to press configure and then setup the codec.

[cghu007]

Hi,

TQ. OMG, I'm so embarassed not to know that. I'm new to digital editing, you see so I know next to nothing compared to other people in this forum. I found this fro this forum (but for some reason, after I registered it doesn't allow me to post or reply to any of the topics...weird):

- Did you ever think of reducing the BITRATE ? Because if not, it doesn´t matter how large/small/whatever the video is - the result will ALWAYS be the same.

- in the divx config screen, push the 'settings' button (i believe it is called that, its in the top right corner anyway, maybe its called profiles) in the next screen disable profiiles. next + next and now you should be able to select 1 pass quality based mode.

My Q:

1. How to reduce the bitrate? When I select DivX 6.0 Codec and open configure screen, I can only find the bitrate calculator. How to use that to change the bitrate. My current bitrate = 1-pass (780kb/s).

2. I can't find any setting or profile button in the top right corner. Is this only available for the previous version of DivX?

3. If I decrease the quality percentage, will the file size be decreased? If so, how do I do that without the slider?

Thanks.