Lossless Frame-by-Frame Cutting with VirtualDub2

[Jay123210599]

When cutting frame-by-frame using VirtualDub2, if you export the video with the same video codec and settings as the input, will the result be lossless? How do you use it to split videos into multiple smaller parts? How do I make sure it keeps all audio and subtitle tracks with it?

Also, does vdub2 and mpv both use ffmpeg? If so, if you use the latter to cut videos, will it only cut at keyframes?

[poisondeathray]

When cutting frame-by-frame using VirtualDub2, if you export the video with the same video codec and settings as the input, will the result be lossless?

Usually not - if you use the same video codec and re-compress it will be lossy; the exception is unless the input video used lossless compression or uncompressed in the first place .

To bypass re-compression, you would use video=>direct stream copy. But it's limited to certain file types such as AVI on keyframes when using the AVI input file driver in vdub2. Most of the other input drivers will dececompress the video, so if you "stream copy", you will get uncompressed video and massive filesizes . So you usually wouldn't be able to stream copy a MKV or MP4 - a better tool for that task would be avidemux - and yes you are limited to cuts at keyframes

How do you use it to split videos into multiple smaller parts?

In vdub2 you can "edit" by mark a selection using the home and end keys for marking in /out (or the 2 bottom lower right buttons in the bottom GUI) and saving the segment. If you stream copy on edited keyframe boundaries for a supported filetype it should be a perfect split . You can also re-encode using that selection by specifying a codec. Vdub can smart render mpeg4-asp (divx / xvid)

How do I make sure it keeps all audio and subtitle tracks with it?

If you have a MKV, you can't. Wrong tool. Use mkvmerge and splitting there. Yes on keyframes

Also, does vdub2 and mpv both use ffmpeg?

They use some shared libraries that ffmpeg also uses, such as decoders from libavcodec.

If so, if you use the latter to cut videos, will it only cut at keyframes?

Yes keyframes only when "cutting" with stream copying (not re-compressing or re-encoding) - this is universal for every tool - because it's a property of the video stream itself. You don't have to ask that question anymore because you know the answer

Even smart rendering software need to re-encode at least some frames if the cut is not on keyframes.

But if not stream copying (ie. if you are re-encoding), then you can cut anywhere

[Cornucopia]

This is, what, the 4th thread that he has asked basically the same question?

@pdr, you have more patience than me.


Scott

[dellsam34]

As long as you are using the same parameters and a lossless compressor, even in full processing mode, it will preserve the original quality.

[Jay123210599]

Does TMPGEnc MPEG Smart Renderer 6 save all audio and subtitle tracks when cutting? Is it the same as the experimental smart cut for LosslessCut, but better?

[usually_quiet]

Does TMPGEnc MPEG Smart Renderer 6 save all audio and subtitle tracks when cutting? Is it the same as the experimental smart cut for LosslessCut, but better?

TMPGEnc MPEG Smart Renderer 6 can only edit and export some kinds of audio. I have never seen a consumer editor that can import and export every kind of audio used on DVD and Blu-ray, for example, DTS and Dolby Atmos.

Supported Audio Input Formats:
MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (.mp2)
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III (.mp3)
Dolby Digital (.ac3) *8
Dolby Digital Plus (.ec3 (E-AC-3))*20
Linear PCM (.wav) * uncompressed, or with the appropriate Codec correctly installed. Extensible format supported
Advanced Audio Coding (.aac) *19
High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding (HE-AAC) (.aac)
FLAC (.flac, .fla)
ADPCM (.wav)
Ogg (Vorbis format .oga, .ogg / Theora format .ogv, .ogx)
Opus (.opus, .webm, .caf, .mkv)
ALAC (.mka, .wkv, .mov, .mkv, .m4a, .caf)

Supported Audio Output Formats:
MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (.mp2)
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III (.mp3)
Dolby Digital (.ac3) *8
Linear PCM (.wav uncompressed up to 64 bit float 192 kHz, changes according to the output target)
MPEG-2 Advanced Audio Coding Main/LC (.aac up to 96 kHz)
MPEG-4 Advanced Audio Coding Main/LC (.aac up to 96 kHz)
FLAC (.flac, .fla up to 24 bit 192 kHz)
ALAC (up tp 32bit 96kHz)
Vorbis (.oga, .ogg) *21
Opus (.opus, .webm, .caf) *21

TMPGEnc MPEG Smart Renderer 6 does not import or export subtitles. I have never used a video editor that could do that. A few editors that are designed to edit recorded TV shows can edit EIA-608 closed captions, which are stored in the video's GOP user data, along with the video. The last time I tried TMPGEnc MPEG Smart Renderer 6 on a video with EIA-608 closed captions it removed them, as do most editors.