Can anyone recommend a good AVI editor?

[DarrellS]

I usually use Avidemux also if Virtualdub will not join identical files. Sometimes you can take the files and select framerate in Virtualdub and add a bunch of zeros behind the framerate (30.0000000000) and it should make them both the same after direct stream copying.

It can be a hassle and sometimes doesn't work so Avidemux is the easier route.

If you want rolling credits, you could use Windows Movie Maker to create the credits and then convert the WMV to AVI and join.

[djdust]

ok, I'm trying AviDemux..

I open up 'file 01.avi' and it tells me "Index is not up to date" and recommends I let it do a "Tool > Rebuild". I let it do that and the file comes up on screen. I now choose the "append file" option and add on 'file 02.avi' - again, it does a "Tool > Rebuild"... The file now shows up at the end which is correct, however when I play the newly-added on section, it has sound repeated from the beginning of the first file. It's supposed to be silent. Then I save the file out as a new .AVI file and it tells me I may need Smart Copy so asks if I wish to enable it. Whether I enable it or not, the result is the same. A new file that seems to have no audio track and is completely silent.

Any suggestions?

[Gavino]

Did you consider my advice to use Avisynth? You could have been finished days ago this way.

Example (outline) script:

AviSource("myvid.avi")
Trim(0, 264) + Trim(500, 800) + ...  # select frames to keep
vid = last # save result for use later

BlankClip(vid, 300) # 300 frames blank for titles
Subtitle("My title")
Subtitle("more titles", y=30)
...
credits = last

vid+credits # join sections
FadeIO(50) # add fade-in/out

Load into VirtualDub and save as AVI. Done.

[djdust]

I wouldn't even know how to begin using it!

[Gavino]

It's not as difficult as you might think, especially for simple tasks, though obviously it helps to be familiar with basic programming concepts.

You just save your script as a text file. You can use the basic Notepad if you like, but there is also the excellent AvsP editor which is basically a GUI to Avisynth.

Many video tools (eg VirtualDub) and players (eg WMP, MPC) will accept the script as if it was another video file, so you just load the script and save the result to a real AVI.

There is extensive documentation installed with Avisynth and online at http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page.

[djdust]

cheers mate, I'll certainly take a look. It does seem a little complex though...

[djdust]

ok, am having a play with the basic tutorials.... Have created a script called "test.avs" which has the following in it:

UnalignedSplice(AVISource("c:\001.avi"), \
AVISource("c:\teaser.avi"))

Dead simple! Am playing the file with Media Player and the result is exactly what I want. How do I "load" it into VirtualDub though so I can "output" this result?

[Gavino]

Dead simple! Am playing the file with Media Player and the result is exactly what I want. How do I "load" it into VirtualDub though so I can "output" this result?

Just "Open video file" in the normal way.
As you say, dead simple!

[djdust]

Dead simple! Am playing the file with Media Player and the result is exactly what I want. How do I "load" it into VirtualDub though so I can "output" this result?

Just "Open video file" in the normal way.
As you say, dead simple!

aaaaargh, another obstacle!! Ok, the "test.avs" file is opening up in Virtual Dub and all looks fine. I'm trying to save the output using the "Direct Steam"on both Audio and Video and it's now attempting to create a file that's 3gigabytes in size!?

[Gavino]

Yes, the downside of using Avisynth is that effectively you cannot use Direct Stream Copy, as it delivers uncompressed video to VirtualDub. Basically, VirtualDub sees the input as an uncompressed video so that is what Direct Stream copy will give you. Same goes for audio.

Bottom line is, when using Avisynth you need to re-encode the output.

[djdust]

Darn, it's not really what I'm looking for then. I want the source files to be as untampered-with as possible so don't want to have to re-encode the whole thing, just to stick two files together that are *supposed* to be encoded identically anyway...

[djdust]

..then again, I'm giving it another go (am having to disable Smart Rendering though) and, to be honest, I can't really tell much difference!! I'm thinking this may be a good enough solution for now...

[Gavino]

Unfortunately, that's about the only thing that can't be done with Avisynth.
Sorry if I misled you.

Well, at least you've dipped your toe in the water (wasn't so difficult after all, was it?).
And now you have one more tool in your kit to consider for the next job.

[posted before seeing your latest post.]

[djdust]

no probs at all Gav, this is still very early days for me but this is all invaluable stuff. Thanks!!

To go back to earlier post #32, has anyone got any idea why AviDemux isn't playing ball with me when trying to combine the two files?

[jagabo]

To go back to earlier post #32, has anyone got any idea why AviDemux isn't playing ball with me when trying to combine the two files?

Do both files have the same audio type with the same parameters?

[djdust]

To go back to earlier post #32, has anyone got any idea why AviDemux isn't playing ball with me when trying to combine the two files?

Do both files have the same audio type with the same parameters?

as far as I'm aware, yes - see post #29 on the previous page for screen grabs of both files

[DarrellS]

You wouldn't have to join anything if you made two bitmap images (an intro and a small credit) and used the overlay filter in blend mode with the curve editor.

Make one instance of the overlay filter with the intro bitmap and use the curve editor to end it where you want. By using a curve instead of just a straight vertical line, you'll get a fade at the end of the intro.

Use Smart Render and save a new file.

Open the new file and make another instance of the overlay filter using the credit bitmap. This time use a straight vertical line to where you want the credit to start.

Use Smart Render and save the new file.

Open the new file and use the Fill filter in blend mode with the curve editor to make a fade between the end of your movie and the start of the credit.

Use Smart Render and save the finished file file.


An option for joining the files that you already have in Virtualdub is to change the framerate of one to match the other. If one is 29.9700 then change the other to 29.970000000000. With all the zeros on the end, it should guarantee that both files have the same framerate.

If you want rolling credits at the end, you could use Windows Movie Maker to create the rolling credit and then convert to AVI using the same codec as your movie and using the framerate trick above to make it match your movie so that it will join in Virtualdub.

Curves...

[DarrellS]

If audio is keeping files from joining then save the files without audio, join the audio files with and audio editor and then add the audio to the joined AVIs.

[djdust]

If audio is keeping files from joining then save the files without audio, join the audio files with and audio editor and then add the audio to the joined AVIs.

tried that. have got two silent video files now. Still getting this error when trying to append: