Divx multipass encoding

[silverwolf0]

I cannot for the life of me find a simple guide on how to do multipass encoding for divx. in virtualdub They say do the first pass, and then do the nth passes afterwards. Am I basically overwriting my previous file over and over again? And where is this log file I keep hearing about? Actually I don't really want to know the specifics, I just want to know how to do multipass with Divx for dummies and would really appreciate it.

[neomaine]

silverwolf0,

If you want simple, do it with a single pass quality based setting. Yes, the final size is unknown but the quality is always consistent. Use a setting of 2 for nearly identical quality.

[guns1inger]

The first pass of a two pass encode is an analysis pass. The encoder scans your video and allocates data. It will create a small avi file, but this is essentially just a place holder. The results of the analysis goes into the stats file. The second pass uses the analysis results from the first pass, and refines them as it encodes the video. The AVI file created in this pass will be your final video.

If you are doing a multi-pass encode, the first pass will be using the Multi-pass, 1st pass option. Once that is complete, you change this to Multi-pass, Nth pass and encode again. For what ever reason, multi-pass Divx encoding just isn't as simple and linear as multi-pass Mpeg-2 encoding, although I cannot see a reason for it not to be.

[hech54]

That's why I use AviDemux for all of my Xvid encodes. I've never done a whole movie(just short 5 minute clips) but two pass-final size is a lifesaver for me.

[jagabo]

The location of the stats file is specified by pressing the Advanced button at the bottom of the Divx configuration dialog -- the "Temporary Files Folder" option.

[jagabo]

For what ever reason, multi-pass Divx encoding just isn't as simple and linear as multi-pass Mpeg-2 encoding, although I cannot see a reason for it not to be.

It's because VirtualDub doesn't directly support multipass encoding. It has nothing to do with Divx. Since VirtualDub can encode with any installed VFW codec it is impractical to implement automatic multipass encoding. The program would have to know how to directly adjust the codec settings for each codec. Codecs, including their configuration dialogs, are just a black box to VirtualDub. VFW has no facility for multipass encoding.

[silverwolf0]

So how would you do it with virtualdub since it doesn't support it natively?
Or should I say screw it and use avidemux?
I've dealt with different kinds of encoders and the only one I can use without it crapping on me is virtualdub so I am a bit wary of everything else.

[jagabo]

In VirtualDub you just do it as two encodings. Set the codec to multipass first pass, encode, then set the codec to multipass n'th pass and encoded again. You can use the job control function to run the two encodings back to back.

[pooryorick]

I've written down the recipe that I use to do dual-pass encoding with x264 in VirtualDub. My scenario is slightly more complicated, because it also includes a dual-pass filter (Deshaker):

https://www.pooryorick.com/secure/wiki/Pub/StabilizeVideoWithVirtualDubDeshakerMultipassCompression

[Squash]

silverwolf0,
The DivX people have written a simple guide for this. Look on page 8, "Your First Multipass":
http://download.divx.com/guides/QuickStart-EN.pdf