FLV to XVID AVI

[lololo2]

Hi. In my country new tv show has started on internet television, i wanted to download it and convert but i have a little problems. Since today i was using format factory but i now see that its pretty lame program. The tv show downloaded format is digital flv which play faster, and have changed aspect ratio, so i want to: Change video fps to 25, change aspect ratio to 16:9, convert video from flv (which unpacked is .264) to xvid avi and convert aac audio to mp3.

Source FLV

File size: 236 MiB
Nominal bit rate: 1 100 Kbps
Duration: 25mn 39s 800ms (after changing fps to 25)
Codec: AVC
Codec ID : h264
Width: 960 pixels
Height: 540 pixels

I want as i mentioned convert it to XVID AVI, with file size about 330 MB max and same resolution but changed aspect ratio to 16:9. I dont have any problem with audio convert. So any ideas how to convert with same quality ? Thanks

[Baldrick]

xmedia recode, xvid4psp, tencoder, avidemux

But 960x540 is 16:9...so you don't have to change anything.

[lololo2]

thanks but, how to convert without loosing quality ?

[Baldrick]

You will lose quality. Byt try use constant quality encoding mode. You can't set any exact file size then though. Or just set the bitrate/output file size to 330MB.

If you have no idea what i'm talking about try find a avi xvid preset and load in those applications and try convert.

[lololo2]

i know what you are talking about, trying to use virtualdubmod to do the job. I just asked if theres not some value of kbps which i have to use to have same quality as x264, but as i see it isnt, thanks anyway

[yoda313]

Just out of curiosity why do you need xvid? If its for a device that can't read h264 I can understand but if its just because you have a device that can't read flv files you can remux to a mp4 file that it will read.

You can use winff to remux to mp4. Use the passthru preset setting for mp4 and you'll get a new mp4 file without reencoding (just a new package).

However if you are looking to save space and need a different codec than yes reencoding will be necessary. But you don't have to limit it to xvid. You can reencode to a smaller file size using h264 if you wish. If you don't like format factory (which is really an ok program I do use it myself) you can use either handbrake or ripbot264 (handbrake is a bit more user friendly in that it has a more "standard" gui than ripbot).

[jagabo]

And if you're going to play it in a Divx/DVD player you'll need to reduce the frame size to 720x404 or thereabouts.

[lololo2]

Yes, i want to convert it to xvid because its wide used here. I want a file size exactly 300 MB, including audio. I tryed flv extract and that gave me .264 file and .aac off the flv file, and then usedavc2avi to mux .264 to avi without reencoding. But i want to convert it to xvid avi, and audio to mp3, but i dont know what settings should i use. So: aac to mp3 problem: aac is variable bitrate, how many bitrate should i use when converting it to cbr mp3 ? And h264 avi to xvid avi: Which program is better ? xvid4psp or virtualdub ? I want a maximum quality what i can get off that 300 MB. I tryed this settings in virtualdub: 2 pass compresion - Full compressing mode with: chroma motion yes, 4MV yes, moton precision 6, vhQ mode 4, quantitazition min 1, max 31, trelis: yes. Is it good settings ? Or i should use other, or even xvid4psp rather than virtualdubmod ? Im nearly completed it, but still think that quality is somehow not that good. Final bitrates is about 1400.

[jagabo]

Your Xvid settings are ok as far as they go. Also use 1 or 2 b frames, enable Adaptive Quantization. 1400 kbps isn't a lot for a 960x540 frame. It doesn't matter which program you use, they'll all be using the Xvid codec. So the Xvid settings are what matters.

[Budman1]

Just wanted to add to the great replies so far. I like Virtualdub because it seems to vary its sample rate as it converts and makes the ones I convert seem a little better than many other converters. I know most of us here, including myself, like the free software and most are good quality utilities created by talented programmers and developers but... I would like to mention one of my favorites that I use when I need something converted that does not work with the others. I use AVS4YOU video converter because it had a lifetime registration fee that also allows downloading ALL their 18 different products for Audio/video/DVD/document convertion forever. To do what you wish also lets you choose bitrate for most codecs and configure for XVID (if the codec is on your PC). Aspect ration is also included and if you choose edit, you can clean up, sharpen, brighten, etc.



As you can see this one converter even makes DVD's with menus or converts the IFO from a ripped DVD into video formats.
Anyway, if all else fails, you may want to check it out. With HD videos I usually just crank up the fully adjustable bit rate if thats an option for the codec I'm using near the original settings shown on left and quality usually remains the same. OH, and if I have a problem, the techs actually answer back (1-2 days ) or even send me corrected file to fix a problem.
Well thats my pitch for the day. Give the trial version a shot if all else fails.
Thanks
Budman1

[lololo2]

Ok, im finally found the best settings for source video. Now its converted to 300 mb xvid avi, quality nearly same as source and audio mp3 128kbps. Just last question. Will it make any difference in quality, if i use mpeg4 sp or asp ? I now use xvid home. Which one is the best ? (XVID)

[jagabo]

Those presets limit the encoder features to comply with the playback limits of different devices. Use the highest preset you're playback device supports. For PC only playback you can use Unrestricted.

[Budman1]

Well, best way to tell is to encode a very short video and see which you like, looks, size,brightness, etc. according to wiki:

Simple Profile (SP)
Simple Profile is mostly aimed for use in situations where low bit rate and low resolution are mandated by other conditions of the applications, like network bandwidth, device size etc. Examples are mobile phones, some low end video conferencing systems, electronic surveillance systems etc.
[edit] Advanced Simple Profile (ASP)


Advanced Simple Profile 's notable technical features relative to the Simple Profile, which is roughly similar to H.263, include:

• Support for "MPEG"-style quantization
• Support for interlaced video
• Support for B pictures (a.k.a. B-frames)
• Quarter Pixel motion compensation (Qpel)
• Global motion compensation (GMC)

Personally, I've never been thrilled with mp4 (ouch... ouch... don't beat me... LOL) that is why I downloaded XVID codec and have been happy with the size and crispness of it. Also XVID used to cause many people problems only because they did not have the codec, but that usually isn't a probelm now with Windows 7. Although, to be honest, I haven't used mpeg4 in a while so not sure if it is better but as it said above, it's roughly H263 and H264 has improved on that.

Try the short encode method and see which you like and if you go with mpeg4 I'd say use the ASP since it supports Quarter Pixel and GMC. Full descriptiuon can be found here.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_2
Thanks
Budman1

[jagabo]

Don't use Quarter Pixel or GMC. You'll regret it if you ever get a standalone media player to hook up to your TV. Or a portable player.

[lololo2]

Guys, i found another problem which i didnt noticed. Video is converted good, but audio is out of sync, why ? Conversion i used: FLV (which played faster) extracted with flvextract - got .264 and aac file. With avc2avi i muxed .264 to avi with fps changed to 25, and aac file converted in format factory to CBR 128kbps, 48000 khz. With virtualdubmod avi converted to xvid avi, 1500 kbps. And after adding mp3 to it, direct stream copy in virtualdubmod audio is not synced..

[jagabo]

Not synced in what way?

[lololo2]

at start its ok, but after some time its not synced, audio play sooner

[lololo2]

I now discovered that converted mp3 has lenght: 25m 36s 168ms, althrought source aac has 25m 35s 800ms (same as video) could this be a reason ?

[jagabo]

at start its ok, but after some time its not synced, audio play sooner

I now discovered that converted mp3 has lenght: 25m 36s 168ms, althrought source aac has 25m 35s 800ms (same as video) could this be a reason ?

That's a symptom. You need to find the cause. Sometimes there's a gap between the start of the video and the start of the audio. That is, they don't have to start at the same time. Not maintaining that gap will lead to the audio and video being out of sync by the same amount all the way through. That doesn't seem to be the case here since you say they start out ok but drift out of sync as the video progresses.

What is the frame rate of your source? And the file you made? Are they the same? Are both constant frame rate?

[Budman1]

This fix assumes you have Virtualdub installed and working. It is very handy tool especially if you also have AVISynth and FFMPEG installed. They all work together for many purposes and other utilities. Since Virtualdub saves only as AVI, if you want a format such as FLV, you will have to use one of the MANY converters available. (An alternative is using AVIDEMUX which has variable frame rate to adjust to audio but is more trial and error.)

I have had the same results before and the sync will be off in one of 2 ways. About the same all throughout the movie or gets progressivly worse (or better) as the video plays along.


If it is off by the same amount throughout the video, do the following:

1. Open your video file in VirtualDub by dragging and dropping the file on the program.
2. Click on Audio -> Interleaving or press (Ctrl + I) on your keyboard.
3. Now in Audio skew correction text box type a value in millisecond (1000 ms = 1 second) following the instructions: Use positive values if audio is playing too early or negative values if the opposite is true.

4. Click Ok and don't forget to Click Video -> Direct stream copy and Audio -> Direct stream copy because we do not want re-encoding here.
5. Click File -> Save as AVI or press F7 on your keyboard and save the file.
If it is progressive (gets worse) as the video goes along, do the following:
1. Use FLVextract for FLV videos only of course) to extract separate audio and video. You will probably notice that the time length
is now different for audio and video.
2. Run virtualdub and drag and drop the extracted video onto Virtualdub.
3. Select the audio tab and choose 'audio from other file..' and find the audio you extracted and select it.
4. Select direct stream copy for video since it should already be compressed when you extracted, or I chose the codec
I preferred and it still worked. Do the same for audio.
5. Select the video tab and click frame rate and click 'Change so video and audio durations match'

Save as AVI.
Thanks
Budman1

[DrDeceit]

Format Factory is very very good if you know how to set the parameters...

Anywho... converting H264 to Xvid, you're going to want to use TWICE the bitrate, so ending up with a 330MB file thats good quality with Xvid seems impossible

Remember, H264 is the most advanced format there is, except for H265 (which is still under development)

Task -> Option -> Xvid

FourCC: XVID
Profile: unrestricted
Motion search algorithm: wide
Sets maximum interval between key frames: 250
Max B Frames: 4
Enable Global Motion Compensation: CHECKED
Cartoon method: unchecked
Use Multi-Threads: CHECKED


Output Setting

Video Stream
Video Encode: Xvid
Video Size: Default
Bitrate: 1400
FPS: 25 fps
Aspect Ratio: Fully Expand
Encode 2 Pass: Yes

[lololo2]

Source - VBR 128kbps - converted 128kbps CBR. I dont think they are same. I tryed chaning delay to +360 ms (25m 35s 800ms source - converted 26m 36s 163ms - difference is 360ms) And the audio fit perfectly now !

[Budman1]

lololo2
Yes when you check the source file (audio and video) products like mediainfo show approximately the same length. Once they are separated they usually are not. Good diagnosis and fix.
Budman1