Large AVI files

[pranksterdude540]

How do you convert large AVI in order to get them smaller. All of my AVI movie files are about 700MB and i can get them down to 65MB, but then they go very fast and lack sound. How do you use all the controls like bit rate and setting the size and such, cause ive been trying to use those, but, again, it screws the movie up.

[PiggyWiggy]

Lowering the size of an .avi file will most definitely screw up the quality, no way to go around that.. You can try to convert it with the h.264 codec (in ffmpegx) which should give better quality with lower files sizes.. Experiment a bit with the video bitrate (lower it in the video tab) and with the resolution (like changing the width to 320). That should all lower the file size but all besides the different codec will also decrease the quality...

[guns1inger]

What resolution ?
What runtime ?

[pranksterdude540]

Yea i know the quality will be decreased, but thats okay cause i'm only playing them on my ipod. the problem with mine is that theyre going 5x as fast as they should and the audio doesn't work when i try to convert them. how do you know a good bit rate to set the video to and how do you convert audio correctly?

[PiggyWiggy]

Ffmpegx has presets for iPod vid converting! Just use the standard settings and all should be fine...

In case you don't know how to use the presets:
You should be in the first tab (Summary). Just drop the file where it says to drop it.. Wait for ffmpegX to get info on the file and then on the right click on the arrow where it says 'To'. Select the iPod h.264 preset and press Encode... It should be that simple...

Not sure what to do when dealing with 16:9 files, but you should be able to simply adjust the resulution...

If you have been doing this by the way, then I don't really know what is causing you're trouble.. Paste the info window text here... If it's going too fast (the video faster then the audio) it's probably caused by a wrong framerate.

[rumplestiltskin]

I use the following for AVI>H264:

iPod H264 setting (of course).

width x height no larger than 76,800 (320x240, for example) but, if the ratio supports it, you may go wider than 320. Stick with multiples of 16 in both directions.

If you're watching the vid on your iPod only, ffmpeg's bitrate recommendation is ok (use the "Best button). I watch them on my TV through the AV cable so I prefer around 550 kb.

Framerate: 29.97 (for NTSC)

Audio: at least 96kbps, more if you're finicky, 160kb max.

Options: Constant bitrate, i4x4 analysis, Decode with Quicktime (if you're able to watch the original AVI in QT Player; otherwise leave it unchecked).

Qmin: 3, Qmax: 30, Max GOP size: 30, ME Function: multi-hexagon.

Of all these settings, the "Q" numbers define the "best" and "worst" quality you want. The lower these numbers, the larger the file will be (MB).

The size of the frame (width x height) also has a great deal to do with quality which is why I recommend going to the trouble to calculate the max size you can use (within the 76,800 pixel limit).

Let us know your results.

[pranksterdude540]

i did all that, but i got no video or sound at all
if it helps, the best bitrate was set for 250ish, and when i did the ajust size, it went from 700 to 256 mb, but when the file finished encoding the size of the file was only 56 mb

[rumplestiltskin]

Is your QuickTime up to date? This might be important but ffmpegX uses much of its own codecs.

Try MPEG Streamclip and see if that can do something for you.

[pranksterdude540]

i have quicktime 7.0.4, the lastest installment. are there any codecs i should get that might help?

[rumplestiltskin]

If your QT is up to date, then MPEG Streamclip is what I would try. If the AVI plays in QT Player properly, then MPEG Streamclip will do the conversion to MPEG4 (or whatever).

[pranksterdude540]

the .avi doesnt play in QT, i can only play it using the VLC player... i have a mac

[pranksterdude540]

MPEG streamclip did not work it just showed a black screen with no sound

[rumplestiltskin]

What is the exact format of the AVI? Check it with ffmpegX and advise.

[pranksterdude540]

how do i check it

[rumplestiltskin]

Drop it into ffmpegX and then click the "Info" button at the top right.

Also (in MPEG Streamclip) do a "Show Info" and provide that data, as well. All of this may be helpful.