Need alternative to DIVX recommendations

[magwell]

I'm trying to convert some Real Media files to AVI using EO Video. However, there is a known compatibility issue between Divx (5.02 + 5.03) and EO Video which I read about on the divx.com forum.

Anyhow, I've tried a few alternatives, namely Cinepack by Radius and Microsoft Mpeg-4 V3, but both yielded very poor results. I realize that I can't expect miracles from .RM files due to their poor source quality, but could somebody recommend a codec which would at least give me something approaching DIVX quality, or at least better than Cinepack and Microsoft?

Tx.

[magwell]

I forgot to mention in my previous post that xvid doesn't work with EO Video either. It always aborts with the error message: cannot find Real engine.

[puertorican138]

You could try the XviD codec.

[PlaiBoi]

Are the files of crappy quality already? If so, then converting to divx wont increase your quality, just decrease it. crap in = crap out. But, you could try converting them to raw avi, then encoding that to divx. Or if going to raw avi wont work, try encoding with tmpgenc or some other mpeg encoder to a very high bitrate mpeg2 which then you can convert to divx.

[magwell]

PlaiBoi

They're decent enough quality for .RM files, but I guess that isn't saying much. I don't want to increase the quality. I know that's impossible. I'm just trying to get the best AVI conversion possible, then encode to VCD with Tmpgenc.

I did try converting a few minutes to raw avi, but the file sizes were enormous: 350MB/minute! I have about 80 minutes worth of video to convert. My HD isn't large enough to hold all that data.

[PlaiBoi]

cant you just convert the rm file straight to mpeg using EO Video, instead of going straight to divx then vcd. Youll keep your more quality, than if compressing to divx, then back to vcd.

[magwell]

The guides here recommended going to avi first, then encoding with tmpgenc for best quality. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to try a straight mpeg conversion.

Tx for the feedback, plaiboi.