Shrink AVI file size but still be able to edit..

[djlerman]

I have done some searching but there is so much on this site it is hard to narrow it down..

Basically I want to compress an AVI file to a standard size but keep it in a format that can be edited.

- Want to make backups of all of my DV tapes. Would like to have it one (DV Tape) for one (DVD disc). I can loose some quality but the data file needs to still be editable. I started with DIVX and MPEG2 before I knew any better, wasted a dozen or so discs and all of that time.

- I have a bunch of video clips that I want to make a standard size. Some will be decent quality some better quality but all would be a standard size.

Thanks,
~D

[guns1inger]

mpeg2 is editable with videoredo or womble. Some re-encoding will occur at the cut points and if you make any changes such overlays, effects etc.

However the best way to backup your DV tapes is to DV tape. No quality loss, no HDD space wasted, and a lot more resilient than DVDs

[redwudz]

I'd agree DV format is one of the best for editing of most common AVI type formats. Xvid, for example, has a keyframe every 300 frames by default. Not easy for frame accurate editing. DV has every frame as a keyframe. Great for editing.

You will find the same problem with most highly compressed formats, even MPEG to some extent. If you compress it too much, it will be harder to edit.

There are some possible alternatives. You may be able to use Divx or Xvid and the newer versions of VirtualDub. It will just re-encode the transitions of the edits, saving some time. Worth a try if you really don't have the space available for DV on your hard drives or media. Not really recommended, but if you want high compression, it's one possible alternative. But I would use a fairly high bitrate for Divx/Xvid, maybe around 1500kbps or so. Just a suggestion.

[Cornucopia]

You could encode to I-frame-Only AVC (h.264). This would be more compressed than DV, but still editable.

But boy! would you be in for a wait...
The encoding times would be horrendous.
(Plus the codec isn't as readily available as something like DV, and you'd have to have a really good computer to play it smoothly).

Stick with DV as-is.

Scott

[djlerman]

It would need to editable in Premire or ULEAD.

I know there is something that can be done to the video I just don't know what... I have brought in the same tape with one program and the file size was 14 gigs and then with another program and the file size was 6 gigs and both of the files were editable and both were AVI.

I don't care about the time. Almost any amount of time the computer working to bring the file size down would be worth it.

There is quite a price differnce between a DVD disc and DV tape so one (DV tape) for one (DV tape) isn't possible.

I had a camara break and sent it in to be repaired, turnes out the heads were out of alignment, so when they sent it back all of the tapes I recorded with it went bad. So the sooner I can get it off tape the better I would feel.

Thanks,
~D

[guns1inger]

You are mistaken (like it or not). DV is 13 GB per hour. That's it. 6 GB is about half an hour. Anything that compresses that much will either effect quality or editability or both. That is just how it is.

If you want to edit in Premiere with the least hassle, DV is the best option. Everything else requires a lot more space. I assume Ulead will be similar, although I have not used their products in a long time.

Mpeg2 is viable if you use specialist editors such as videoredo or Womble, however you will also have to accept either limiting some of what you do or risking further quality loss.

You may not like it, but that is pretty much it for your options. Yse, you can squeeze the crap out it with Divx or Xvid, but the quality is a lot lower, it will degrade very quickly with further re-encodes, and the tools available are a lot less developed and featured.