Video Encoding Problems

[djplunk2008]

Hey Guys Is there a way to take a video file that was encoded with the Xvid MP4 Codec and remove the blockiness of the video. I tlooks terrible. I am trying to convert tp MPG2, maybe that will work. Any suggestions?

[redwudz]

Maybe VirtualDub and a deblocking filter. But if the damage has already been done to the quality by a poor Xvid encode, you are not likely to get it back.

Here's one site for MSU's smart deblocking filter: http://www.softhypermarket.com/Video-MSU-Deblocking-VirtualDub-plugin-download_43910.html

If you can't find it there, do a Google search. It's on quite a few sites. BTW, it's a free filter.

[Baldrick]

COnverting to another video format wont help.

Try msu smart blocky filter, http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:isXL865iY2sJ:www.compression.ru/video/deblocking/...ient=firefox-a (site temporarily down ) together with VirtualdubMOD.

[djplunk2008]

About how would I go about trying this....I am not familiar with VirtualDub.....is there a step by step tutorial on using this blocky filter with Virtual Dub? Can you make me one? Anything would be appreciated

[redwudz]

I use VirtualDub Mod most often, as it can accept MPEG and other types of video. If you are not familiar with VirtualDub or it's variants, then you should learn it. It's a sort of 'Swiss Army Knife' for AVI type videos. It has hundreds of freeware filters available.

Just drop the unzipped .vdf filters in the VD 'Plugins' folder and they will be available. As Baldrick mentioned, MSU's site is down at present, and there may be a guide there. Just experiment with the video after you load it. VD has a preview, so you can see how it will look.

If you have the Xvid codec installed, VD can save out the file in the same format or use a format with less compression if you are going to encode it the MPEG anyway.

For VD guides, just follow the links to the VirtualDub tool pages and the guides are at the bottom of each page.

[djplunk2008]

I used the DeBlocking tool on VDub, but the file that was being exported was going from 174mb to a whopping 79GB's. This is ridiculous. I clicked on save as avi, am I doing something wrong? Please Help.

[redwudz]

You probably chose (Or didn't choose) 'Uncompressed RGB', which will give you an enormous file and is the default for VD. Just select a codec that gives a low compression, like HuffyUV. It will still be a large file, though. If you want it the same format, use the Xvid codec and save with full processing. But realize that every re-encode will reduce quality. A low compression codec will preserve more quality.

What I do is frameserve the filtered/modified video only output directly from VD Mod to TMPGEnc encoder. That saves generating a edited file and saves drive space and time. It also eliminates one more encode. For a Xvid, I also save out the audio as a WAV with VD Mod, then use ffmpeggui to convert the audio to AC3. That saves space for a higher video encode rate. The AC3 audio is added back in during the authoring.

[djplunk2008]

I know this might sound strenuous but....
If you can, can one of you give me a step-by-step set of instructions to use this, I know what all of the file formats you tell me, but the rest of it goes over my head.

I would greatly appreciated. I saw what what of the video file that would fit on my HD and it looked good. Please help me fix this.

[jagabo]

VirtualDubMod:

File -> Open Video File
Video -> Filters...
--> Add -> MSU Deblocking filter
--> Add -> Resize filter -- set parameters for DVD
File -> Start Frameserver
--> Name the outputs
-->(leave Frameserver dialog open)

MPEG Encoder:
Open .VDR file from VirtualDubMod and encode

Note: before you can use frameserving you must run the AuxSetup.exe program in the VirtualDubMod folder once after installation.

[djplunk2008]

Well this did not work for me. I started the framserver, but the window pops up and nothing happens it just sits there. It does not analyze anything. what am I supposed to do from there?

[Pinstripes23]

did you import the .vdr file into an encoder? It's supposed to sit there and act as the frameserver. You will see frames being served once you start encoding.

[djplunk2008]

I opened up the framserver, minimized it, opened the .vdr file, I recieved an error then nothing else happenes.

[Pinstripes23]

You need a separate encoder to import the .vdr file into, like TMPGenc, CCE, etc to convert to mpeg2 file. I don't know if some other freeware mpeg2 encoders like quenc, hcenc accepts the .vdr file, since I don't really use them. Maybe someone who uses them can give you an answer.

[djplunk2008]

So open the .vdr file in mpg encoder, encode into mpeg2 and then bring the mpeg2 file into VDub? So while I am converting it the framserver will run in VirtualDub even though I am converting with a seperate program?

[jagabo]

Frameserving is the process of sending video frames from one program to another without saving them to a file in between. Think of it as a pipeline between VirtualDubMod and the MPEG encoder.

You open your source file in VirtualDubMod, add filters, start frame serving and leave it running.

Then open the .VDR file with your MPEG2 encoder just as if you were opening a video file. Encode the video as you normally would. When you are done encoding you can stop VirtualDubMod's frame server and exit VirtualDubMod.

You're finished.

[redwudz]

You're almost there.

Start VD Mod and open the original file. Then in 'Video>Filters' add your filters. Click OK.
In 'File', 'Start frame server'. Name the .vdr file and pay attention to where it is saved. If you have your frameserver set right, it should say 'Frameclients Installed: AVIFile only (Or similar) near the bottom edge. Don't close or change this window. If it doesn't say that, you need to install the Aux handler. You may want to uninstall it when you have finished the TMPGEnc encode.

Open TMPGEnc encoder and select 'New Project'. For your video source, click 'Browse', then in that window, change the 'File of type:' to 'All Files(*)' and you should be able to see and select your frameserve file. It will be the same name as you entered in the frameserver before.

You should see the first frame of your video in TMPGEnc's window. You can use the TMPGEnc Wizard also, the setup is about the same. Then just hit 'Start' and encode. Frameserving eliminates a in-between edited file and saves time and hard drive space. Your video will be filtered on the fly and transmitted directly to your encoder. It's really easy and fast once you get it all set up.

EDIT: jagabo gave you the short version, but either way, it works well.

[djplunk2008]

So let me make sure I got this right, I open the video file, add filters, start frameserving, save vdr file, open tmpgenc, begin encoding with tmpgenc, frameserver should begin counting frames and tmpgenc should be encoding the filtered video, I tried this and I dont think it is working. What is this Aux Handler and how do I install it?

[Pinstripes23]

go to where you installed virtualdubmod and click on auxsetup.exe. The setup will popup then click on install handler.

[jagabo]

AuxSetup is in the folder where you installed VirtaulDubMod. Usually:

c:\program files\virtualdubmod\AuxSetup.exe.