FASTEST WAY: Divx 1024x576 to Divx "Home Theater"?

[GrayStrickland]

I have some European tv shows that a UK friend sent me on disc. Unlike what he's sent me before (which always plays perfectly in my US market Philips 5982), this wouldn't play, because the resolution was too high (1024x576). My 5982 will only read up to 720x576 (see this thread).

So... I need to rejigger these files to a resolution which will play on my 5982. I don't need to change anything else about the file. What's the fastest way?

I tried letting Divx 6 churn on converting these to the "home theater" profile, but after running for ten hours, it's only done four 30 minute files. Is there a faster way??

[redwudz]

If you are converting to Divx in a different framesize, you have to re-encode with the Divx codec. What CPU usage are you showing in Task Manager? It should be close to 100%. If so, that's as fast as it gets apparently with your setup and settings. What framesize are you converting to?

Are your making any other changes in the file besides the framesize conversion? I normally use VirtualDub for this, but it will still be using the same Divx codec. Are you cropping or resizing? Which resize filter, if that's what you are doing? Or if you are cropping, you should be able to use the 'null transform' filter in VD, then the 'cropping' settings will be available. Cropping would be much faster than resizing, but you will lose part of the picture.

[jagabo]

Divx Converter is pretty slow.

Use AviSynth to resize, VirtualDub to compress with the Divx codec set to single pass constant quality, quantizer = 3, Encoding mode "Balanced".

A little slower will be to use VirtualDub for everything.

[manono]

I second what jagabo said, and if you're not at ease using AviSynth yourself, then let AutoGK do the job for you. Open the AVI, run a 1-pass Target Quality encode with it set for, maybe, 65%, and go into the Advanced Settings and set the width for, maybe, 640. AutoGK will do the rest using AviSynth and VDubMod. This (and his) way doesn't give you specific final size, though. It'll give you whatever's necessary to achieve the quality you specified. If you need it for a set size (1 CD, for example), then you'll have to run the 2 full passes for a specific size.

Oh, and when setting up AutoGK for the first time, be sure and set it for the ESS chipset option.

And the best way to speed up your encodes would be to get a faster computer, if possible.

[guns1inger]

Fast is relative, and by yesterday's standards your is not a fast machine. If you want a serious speed boost for encoding it is time to upgrade the hardware. I can convert 8 x 45 minute episodes from mpeg to Xvid with 2 pass encoding using AutoGK in well under 4 hours and still be able to browse and email without problems. And mine is far from the fastest box on the block now. All it takes is hardware.

[GrayStrickland]

If you are converting to Divx in a different framesize, you have to re-encode with the Divx codec. What CPU usage are you showing in Task Manager? It should be close to 100%. If so, that's as fast as it gets apparently with your setup and settings. What framesize are you converting to?

Are your making any other changes in the file besides the framesize conversion? I normally use VirtualDub for this, but it will still be using the same Divx codec. Are you cropping or resizing? Which resize filter, if that's what you are doing? Or if you are cropping, you should be able to use the 'null transform' filter in VD, then the 'cropping' settings will be available. Cropping would be much faster than resizing, but you will lose part of the picture.

I am not -- at least not intentionally -- changing framesize, color depth, bitrate, audio codec, video codec or sexual orientation. All I did, was open "Divx Converter" (ver. 6) and then drag the 1024x576 divx files and drop them on the "divx converter" doodad thingy with the "home theater" profile selected.

[redwudz]

AutoGK would be the easy method to try. It takes care of most of the more complex settings. And it should be faster than Divx Converter. If you plan on doing this more often, I would look into the tips the other posters discussed. They do this a lot more often than me.

Most encoders should be running your CPU at close to 100% for the best speed and efficiency. You might want to check that. A newer four core CPU, running at 2GHz + and 100% CPU on all four cores will be very fast.

[jagabo]

Divx Converter's Home Theater template will reduce the frame size automatically but you have no control over it.

I made a 5 minute 1024x576 Divx AVI file and converted as follows:

1) Divx Converter: 720x406: 252 seconds.
2) AviSynth + VirtualDub 704x400: 160 seconds.
3) VirtualDub 704x400: 239 seconds.
4) AviDemux 704x400 (Xvid): 255 seconds.

#1-3 used the Divx codec. Avi Demux doesn't support Divx so #4 used Xvid with similar settings. #2-4 used single pass, constant quality, quantizer=3.

This is on a Core2Duo system that's much faster than your computer. So the absolute values won't compare to your system. But the relative values should be similar.