Convert to an exact file size with Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate

[KT888]

Does anyone know if it's possible to specify the desired output file size on a conversion with Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate. It's an option in other conversion apps I've used such as WinAVI and Freemake Video Converter but I can't find the option to do it in WVCU. Or specify a list of videos should all be converted to 700 MB file size each.

Also does anyone know of other conversion software that lets you convert multiple files simultaneously like WVCU does.

And while I'm at it is there a way to get WVCU to convert only 3 files at a time. If I add 20 files to the list of files to convert it does 8 at a time and even though I have a high end system it still significantly slows my system down which means I can only add 3 or 4 files at a time so I can't leave it unattended with a large que of 40 or more files which is what I would really like to do. Or even just continue working while it works away unattended on a reasonable number of videos simultaneously.

Thanks

[Krispy Kritter]

I've never used, nor seen it recommended. Having said that, I don't see that converting multiple files at a time would be faster another app doing one at a time. VidCoder, for example, will max out the cpu on a single file. I would expect processing one file at a time at 100% cpu to be just as quick (if not quicker) than an app processing multiple files, each of which are sharing cpu cycles. I simply queue up the files to be processed and it will process them all one at a time. If you need to use the computer, queue them up and run it when you are away from the PC.

[KT888]

Thanks for responding Krispy
I've used quite a few different encoding apps and none of them that I've used utilize the full capacity of my processor.
Wondershare maxes out at about 30-35% if I encode one video at a time. Encoding 3 at a time utilizes 100% of my cpu's cycles and optimizes time. It's also incredibly fast at completing it's function. Less than 5 minutes for a 2 hour movie for example.

Freemake Video Converter takes about 17 minutes for the same file, WinAVI takes about 12-15 minutes, Videopad takes a little longer, Avidemux takes quite a bit longer than that even. I've tried some others as well but found them wanting so didn't continue my use of them.
Wondershare is the first one I've come across that can actually encode multiples and optimize a modern cpu's capabilities. Most of them do not utilize the full capacity of the cpu when encoding. WinAVI also uses about 30-35%, Videopad uses 65-70% of the cpu's cycles but takes a long time to complete an encode, Freemake uses 40-55% and takes a long time for a conversion.

So all in all in my experience Wondershare is by far the most efficient and VASTLY faster than anything I've come across taking about a third of the time for a conversion. It generally will convert 3 2 hour videos in around 10-12 minutes so 3-4 minutes per basically. It doesn't let me specify a file size which I can do with WinAVI and AVIdemux but for the few I NEED to do this for I'm just using WinAVI currently. Wondershare is just so much faster and does a vastly superior job of cropping videos and will even handle a list of videos with different resolutions properly. WinAVI uses the resolution of the first file in a que ignoring the actual resolutions of all files after the first one. Same thing with Freemake. Videopad doesn't allow you to que a list of files at all restricting you to one file at a time, same with avidemux.

[redwudz]

I use VidCoder and add 4 DVDs/BD files to the queue to encode one at a time and my 8 core PC always runs at near 100% CPU on all cores during H.264 encodes. I generally set the encode to a constant quality of 18, though you can set output size instead if desired. The problem with that is the quality will vary depending on the characteristics of the individual input video files.

My DVDs backup to MKVs in about 13-15 minutes and that's encoded directly from the DVD in the drive.

[KT888]

I use VidCoder and add 4 DVDs/BD files to the queue to encode one at a time and my 8 core PC always runs at near 100% CPU on all cores during H.264 encodes. I generally set the encode to a constant quality of 18, though you can set output size instead if desired. The problem with that is the quality will vary depending on the characteristics of the individual input video files.

My DVDs backup to MKVs in about 13-15 minutes and that's encoded directly from the DVD in the drive.

Can VidCoder convert mkv and mp4 files to avi or compress an avi file to a smaller filesize? The description just says it converts to mkv or mp4.

[redwudz]

What format/codec of AVI do you want to convert to? AVI is just a container name.
Divx is one common codec referred to as AVI.

H.264, MP4, H.265 are usually called AVC. VidCoder/Handbrake can convert to those codecs.

Quality/speed/size of the output with any encoder depends on the codec and it's settings.

[KT888]

What format/codec of AVI do you want to convert to? AVI is just a container name.
Divx is one common codec referred to as AVI.

H.264, MP4, H.265 are usually called AVC. VidCoder/Handbrake can convert to those codecs.

Quality/speed/size of the output with any encoder depends on the codec and it's settings.

I generally use xvid. Can you tell me if there would be the advantages/disadvantages to using h264 vs xvid in an avi file.
What would be the difference between using xvid and divx?

[ndjamena]

The only reason to use either xvid or divx is because you're stuck with an old device that can only play those types of files.

xvid and divx are both subsets of mpeg4. A full MPEG4 decoder should be able to play them both. a divx player may or may not be able to play xvid and it works the same way the other way around.

[KT888]

The only reason to use either xvid or divx is because you're stuck with an old device that can only play those types of files.

xvid and divx are both subsets of mpeg4. A full MPEG4 decoder should be able to play them both. a divx player may or may not be able to play xvid and it works the same way the other way around.

smile. My system can definitely play anything. The reason I use avi is because my favorite video player is bsplayer because it has excellent keyboard functionality and it basically plays everything including audio formats. The only problem is bsplayer doesn't fast forward or rewind mp4 or mkv very well. I contacted the developer about it years ago but they still haven't fixed it. I would prefer to use either mp4 or mkv because I know they're better but bsplayer really is better than VLC and any other players I've tried. In my experienced opinion. And I've tried a lot of them.

I realize it's only a matter of time before xvid is completely abandoned by the major uploaders and it's going to get harder to find quality xvid uploads as a lot of the major encoders move to strictly mp4 and mkv encodes. Things are already moving in that direction. Hopefully bsplayer will be fixed to face the new reality by then.

[ndjamena]

If the VideoHelp info is correct, bsplayer hasn't been updated in over a year, and the updates it did get were relatively minor.

I know it's hard, but I suggest you move on... Deliberately encoding with inferior codecs into inferior containers just for the benefit of one out of date player would seem to be taking things a tad too far, especially when there are perfectly suitable and free replacements available for download on the internet.

[KT888]

If the VideoHelp info is correct, bsplayer hasn't been updated in over a year, and the updates it did get were relatively minor.

I know it's hard, but I suggest you move on... Deliberately encoding with inferior codecs into inferior containers just for the benefit of one out of date player would seem to be taking things a tad too far, especially when there are perfectly suitable and free replacements available for download on the internet.

Such as what for example. And please don't say vlc player because I really don't like it. Paramount for me is keyboard functionality because I'm a keyboard guy.
As far as encoding with inferior codecs I know with mp4 & mkv you get higher quality in a smaller filesize but when I watch an xvid file I really don't see a difference so don't know why it's "inferior" They look perfect to me and play on all my devices. So I don't really see a compelling reason to change. Besides I've got a massive collection of avis and a player that plays them perfectly so I'm not motivated to change.

[ndjamena]

MPC-HC?

Kodi, if you don't mind full screen.

Potplayer...

Actually, if you follow the link on this thread to VideoHelps bsplayer page there's a section call "Alternative to BSPlayer" that you can look through.

I made the switch from VLC to MPC-HC recently, it took a little adapting and I'm not entirely convinced there's any benefit to doing so... actually, I was just told VLC fixed its playback of iTunes 608 captions, which MPC-HC can't do at all, so I'm thinking of installing it again just to check...

[KT888]

MPC-HC?

Kodi, if you don't mind full screen.

Potplayer...

Actually, if you follow the link on this thread to VideoHelps bsplayer page there's a section call "Alternative to BSPlayer" that you can look through.

I made the switch from VLC to MPC-HC recently, it took a little adapting and I'm not entirely convinced there's any benefit to doing so... actually, I was just told VLC fixed its playback of iTunes 608 captions, which MPC-HC can't do at all, so I'm thinking of installing it again just to check...

I have a hard time taking MPC-HC seriously when it goes on and on about it's Vista support and doesn't talk about anything more recent than that but I'll try it. I've tried Potplayer and I wasn't impressed. Never tried Kodi so I'll give it a try.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[ndjamena]

Don't try Kodi. Or if you do, don't pretend I recommended it.

It's for a specific purpose, but it's a player and I don't know what you want these programs for.

I only have it installed because it hooks into my TV Tuner cards, but through and through it's a HTPC program that wants the screen all to itself.

[KT888]

Don't try Kodi. Or if you do, don't pretend I recommended it.

It's for a specific purpose, but it's a player and I don't know what you want these programs for.

I only have it installed because it hooks into my TV Tuner cards, but through and through it's a HTPC program that wants the screen all to itself.

Does that mean it wants A SCREEN or does it commandeer the entire system like a game. I have 4 LCDs and a TV connected to this system if it only wants one screen that's fine because it can have the TV

[ndjamena]

Well, that's different, if you're willing to give it a screen then...

The great thing about Kodi is the menus and the metadata. I'm not sure how well it works at playing files from explorer though.

If you use Media Center Master or another metadata program to download metadata from TheTVDB and TheMovieDB, or even let Kodi do it itself (if you're willing to put up with the occasional bad match)...

Like I said, I can't know what features you'd like or what you could get used to.

I intend to build a HTPC, and I intend to put Kodi on it, but in that case it will get the entire TV to itself and the "PC" will never be used for anything else.

[Krispy Kritter]

Most media players have keyboard shortcuts.

Video quality is going to be a byproduct of the source material, how it's encoded, and how it's being viewed. I have numerous avi files as well, with my viewing being displayed on a 42" 720P plasma screen, and while the avi files look ok, mkv/mp4 files of similar quality are often much smaller in size. In any event, if what you have is working for you, stick with it. It's just hard in this era of HD material, for many of us to understand how you can't see the difference in file types. You can have high quality avi files, but at a much larger file size. In the end, the codec chosen depends largely on how it's used. For myself, they are all played on a media PC, so it's a quality based decision and not a file size or compatibility choice.

I use MPC-HC myself and have for quite awhile (since I was using XP). As to the "Vista" reference, that's obviously dated, but points to the age of the program ( v1.0.0.0 is from 29 March 2006 ). And while you can't "take it seriously", it's one of the most used and recommended players. But again, this (recommendation) pertains to viewing quality and the configurability of the program.

[ndjamena]

I hate my WDTV with a passion, because it truncates my chapter timings to the nearest second, and THEN seeks to the nearest i-frames... meaning any effort I put into chapter placement is wasted.

I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to replace it with something better, but can't afford it yet.

The idea of sticking to some random free software player that's forcing me to...

I can't finish that thought...

Did someone mention he could afford multiple monitors?

[Vulcan219]

Hello all, I joined the forum to try to find out why WSVCU doesn't convert the files to the size it says it is converting them to, and to see if it is an issue others were having, and it seems that I am not the only one, from what I can see from the thread originator. I do have an answer for how to convert more than one file at a time in WSVCU I use it but sparingly. I will tell how below.

Okay in WSVCU go to the settings icon and click on it, then click on the convert tab on the left side, where you see an option called CPU Core, click on the dropdown menu there and set it to more than one core for multiple conversions at once. I have an 8 core processor, but usually check between 1 to 4 cores. What this does is sets affinity and priority to those cores to WSVCU for use in multiple conversions at one time. I hope this helps anyone else on the multiple conversions at a time. Now I wish I can find an answer as to why when it converts files they are never the size the program says they should be.

Now for the Kodi: Kodi doesn't always take up the entire screen on a Mac or PC. You can go into settings and set it for windowed mode like other programs. Also on some Android TV Boxes you can do this too. But those are usually the higher end and priced boxes. I setup Android TV Boxes for people and have learned a lot about Kodi, I also make some of my own builds for Kodi for the boxes I setup. Because not all builds are equal, as in what works for one Country, and to some extent at times even certain areas of the same Country, may not work for other Countries or areas within the same Country. So I make my builds that work specifically for my Geographical location, and work correctly for the customers that use my Boxes. Now you can also go inside of Kodi too and tweak it to specific needs as well, by making changes to the coding in it too, and you can tweak it so, if you have like 6 monitors in 2 rows of 3, you can spread the Kodi screen output to use all 6 of them as if they were one screen. In my case I have 3 Vizio 32 inch LCD (LED backlit array) TV's that I use. as I write programs, and am a Gamer too, and use each screen for different things, all 3 TV's are 1080p TV's. I built my PC rig myself for gaming, 3D CGI artwork, and game design, and Media and it works great for all of it and more.

Also I am a keyboard person and like keyboard shortcuts myself, also I like certain types of gaming keyboards for their macro functions and overall versatility, cause I write and make my own macro scripts as well to do things that can become tedious, and I use vlc myself and prefer it to other players because of its overall versatility too. You can go into preferences and set it up to work in any way you want for the keyboard and mouse, also you can go into its source and change tweak the coding for more versatility as well. That is why it is nicknamed the Swiss Army Knife of Players, but if you don't know what you are doing when you mess with the coding, you can brick it. Thankfully I have multiple IT Degrees, from Network System management to Database management to Programming.

So, with the WSVCU if you have multiple cores you can convert multiple files with it. But as a rule of thumb, don't use more than half of the cores your system has, because it can cause lag in the system, if you dedicate too many cores for the conversion, than your system can handle easily.

[KT888]

@Vulcan219
WSVCU gives an estimate of the final filesize based on initial reading of the start of the file you're converting. But the complexity and amount of data at each second of the video is rarely consistent. As it does the actual conversion there is more or less data depending on what is happening in the video. So when the conversion is finished it will be smaller or larger depending on the quality and complexity of the original file and the settings you've used to make your converted copy.

It's like when windows is doing a large file transfer or copy it shows an estimate of how much longer it's going to take and it's usually not even close. depending on the number of files and their size. It's just an estimate.

It's unnecessary to change the number of cores WSVCU uses the default is all cores. It also converts as many files as you have in the cue up to 8 so if you add 20 files it'll convert 8 at a time. This is too many for my system so I'm assuming for anyone's system since I have a top end CPU, 32GB of RAM and 4 GPUs in my system and it still lags when doing 8 at a time. A nice option would be if there was a setting where you could specify the number of files from the cue you want to be converted simultaneously 3 or 4 works well. As it is right now I have to add the files after each conversion is finished since adding 20 to the cue causes major lag since it will convert 8 at a time.