Re-encoding edited AVI's

[DaMo]

Hi

I need some advice.

I currently capture using DivX Fast Motion with a bitrate of 6000 and crispness at 75% and as soon as I finish the capture I edit the file to remove any clutter (i.e: commercials, etc) and I usually re-encode the file at the same bitrate and crispness.

What I need to know is if I re-encode at the same rate, will it degrade the quality of the final output file?

[cmacleo]

Any reencoding using a lossy codec (mpeg, divx for example) will result in a slight quality loss. I seldom can see any real difference after a single re-encode (at similar settings). You can see quality loss if you re-encode several times.

For maximum quaility you can try a lossless codec like huffyuv (free) or picvideos lossless jpg codec (commercial). Please note that these do not compress much (eg about 3.5 Gb for 30 minutes at quarter frame 352x288 for huffyuv). You can then edit and then compress using Divx or, in my case, to VCD MPEG1

[BigBadBob]

if you are reencoding to the same bitrate and everything. ( the files sizes are the about the same for a minute of video as the original ) and you are using Virtualdub. try a direct stream copy. its much faster and just as good quality as the original.

Bob

[DaMo]

if you are reencoding to the same bitrate and everything. ( the files sizes are the about the same for a minute of video as the original ) and you are using Virtualdub. try a direct stream copy. its much faster and just as good quality as the original.

Bob

I've just read the info on here about frameserving and as it seems to be a good way of doing it. I'm going to stick with that.

Also, when I'd done it as a direct stream copy I always had to begin on a keyframe and as such this was not the best method for me since I'd need to edit the file and then re-save it but thanks anyway for that info.

[BigBadBob]

well some people like it and some don't. I have used it myself, but that was for cutting a DIVX movie to fit it on to cd.

later.
Bob