how to edit dvd video without loss in quality ?

[phpmysql348]

xcuse my english

wich is the best way (and professional way) to:
- edit a DVD (from a dvd camcorder to be more specific) - by editing i mean, cutting, adding transitions to audio and video tracks, and adding titles.
- encode the edited DVD video in DivX with maximum quality
- encode the edited DVD audio in MP3 with maximum quality
- and most important, how to do all this without any loss of video and audio quality, or at least with the most minimal loss of quality (of the original dvd source)

***i've tried using adobe premiere pro cs3 for editing, but premiere is using adobe media encoder to encode what i've edited, and when i encode in H.264 or other formats, the result is a video with poor quality.

****How can I edit the dvd and ENCODE at MAXIMUM quality possible ?

[jman98]

xcuse my english

wich is the best way (and professional way) to:
- edit a DVD (from a dvd camcorder to be more specific) - by editing i mean, cutting, adding transitions to audio and video tracks, and adding titles.

I don't do transitions. Perhaps someone with experience with Vegas or some similar tool can help.

- encode the edited DVD video in DivX with maximum quality

Don't change the resolution and use a bit rate at least equal to half of the maximum bit rate of the original source DVD. Some Divx/Xvid encoders let you encode for certain quality settings as long as you understand that they can't guarantee the file size. Since file size is more important to me than this, I don't use this setting, but it would be a better, if more complicated answer than my simple rule of half the bit rate. You would just simply set your Divx/Xvid encoder to use the maximum quality possible. Note that some encoders may force you resize the video downward. Avoid if possible, but if you must do this, set it for a value as close to your original resolution as possible.

- encode the edited DVD audio in MP3 with maximum quality

Use a bit rate of 320 Kbps CBR (constant bit rate), which is the highest bit rate that MP3 supports.

[guns1inger]

I would edit the source in Womble, and output as an mpg file with AC3 audio. Womble has basic transitions and a NLE interface.

I would then use AutoGK to convert the file to Divx/Xvid. You will have to do some manual tweaking of the parameters, but the results should be ok.

You also have to remember that if yu want this file to play back on Divx certified players, you may have to compromise on the bitrates and/or cut the file up in order to meet it's requirements.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Edit in DV-AVI and use AutoGK to convert.

[mahlerfan]

I agree—edit in DV AVI. The quality will be so much better.

[guns1inger]

DV AVI requires a complete re-encode of the entire video, and will cause a drop in quality due to colorspace compression. Editing in native mpeg is a far better option.

[mahlerfan]

But editing in MPEG is not necessarily frame-accurate. But, if that is not a concern, then yes, it would work.

[guns1inger]

Womble is frame accurate, as is VideoRedo

[mahlerfan]

That sounds like that would work. I was thinking of using a regular non-linear editor (like Premiere), but if that's not needed, then sure!

[guns1inger]

If you need to use Premiere, get the mainconcept plugin that allows for native mpeg editing. It ain't cheap though.

[The_Doman]

Womble is frame accurate, as is VideoRedo

Don't forget the great TMPGEnc MPEG Editor ofcourse!
It also has frame accurate MPEG editing and a much better timeline view then womble/videoredo.

[guns1inger]

The screenshots make it look like a simple assemble editor like VideoRedo. Does it allow you to edit clips form multiple source together into a single clip, and drag and drop different segments around the timeline ?

[The_Doman]

The screenshots make it look like a simple assemble editor like VideoRedo.

Ofcourse that is what it is, a simple MPEG editor.

Does it allow you to edit clips form multiple source together into a single clip,

Yes, it uses a list of clips which will be merged to a single output file.

and drag and drop different segments around the timeline ?

No, that is not possible.
But you can copy/arrange clips in the cliplist, every clip has it's own timeline.

[guns1inger]

That's where Womble has the edge when you are compiling a single clip from multiple sources (e.g. DVD camera discs). It has a more traditional NLE timeline where you can add clips, trim, re-arrange etc, all with frame accuracy and GOP level re-encoding when necessary (which all frame accurate mpeg have to do anyway)

[phpmysql348]

i didn't knew about womble, it appears that, instead of re-encoding all the edited dvd, it re-encodes just the short footage where for example u've added a transition, and same thing for ac3 audio. This is great, it directly copies the stream and you can encode it with AutoGK as if you would directly encode the non-edited dvd.

[darkflux]

Womble can make avi files, too. plus, it only re-encodes when it has to. if you keep the audio source as ac3, for instance, it won't re-encode it, just cut it or move it as needed.
other than not reencoding though, i prefer TMPGEnc, simply because of it's arguably better video editing for fixing visually messed up video streams, coloring issues, etc. and anyways, you can't do multiple streams in Womble any more than with TMPGEnc, it's all in the same timeline with either prog, just arrange them how you want like The_Doman said.