Alternatives to GK?

[valnar]

I've been using Gordian Knot for years and only recently re-visited this forum to see what is happening lately. I've found StaxRip and avi.NET.

No offense to the authors, but what am I missing? I downloaded both apps and don't see how they offer even half of the same features as Gordian Knot. If like the ability to see what I'm cropping and adjust the file size, or bitrate size to get the quality I want. Those don't seem to be as easy, or possible, with the aforementioned programs.

However, I also noticed that Gordian Knot hasn't been updated in eons. Will it ever be? Is it a dead project? Can I use the latest Xvid 1.1 or DivX 6.x with it?

Robert

[ricardo.santos]

If like the ability to see what I'm cropping and adjust the file size, or bitrate size to get the quality I want. Those don't seem to be as easy, or possible, with the aforementioned programs.



you can do all that with StaxRip, StaxRip is highly customizable!!

Avi.net is a "one click tool" like Autogk and Divxconverter.

Those don't seem to be as easy

That varies from user to user i for instance find StaxRip Gui much much better than GordianKnot one.

[stax76]

If like the ability to see what I'm cropping and adjust the file size, or bitrate size to get the quality I want. Those don't seem to be as easy, or possible, with the aforementioned programs.

What's the problem with this features in StaxRip? :)

[boombastic]

you can also use ARCalculator, you can find it in the xvid sub-forum,it's also high customizable and offer you many advanced options like AVS optimizer.

[stax76]

I've been using Gordian Knot for years and only recently re-visited this forum to see what is happening lately. I've found StaxRip and avi.NET.

No offense to the authors, but what am I missing? I downloaded both apps and don't see how they offer even half of the same features as Gordian Knot. If like the ability to see what I'm cropping and adjust the file size, or bitrate size to get the quality I want. Those don't seem to be as easy, or possible, with the aforementioned programs.


It's probably just me but feature wise I believe StaxRip can easily compete with GordianKnot. A feature not visible don't necessarily has to mean it's not there but it can also mean it's fully automated and works under the hood or it can be added via script or command line. Some screenshots showing most of StaxRip's features: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/screenshots/screenshots.htm

[ukb008]

First time I've heard of this StaxRip. The name's certainly catchy. No reason on earth why we can't give it a try.

The venerable GK is the respected senior encoder with a LOT of features, and requires uncommon knowledge; it lets the user decide on almost every aspect. AGK is a popular one, again with a number of features, but requires common knowledge and won't let the user decide many things. They, therefore, are on two ends of a spectrum.

Now where does StaxRip belong? I the middle? Where?

Regards.

[stax76]

The venerable GK is the respected senior encoder with a LOT of features, and requires uncommon knowledge; it lets the user decide on almost every aspect. AGK is a popular one, again with a number of features, but requires common knowledge and won't let the user decide many things. They, therefore, are on two ends of a spectrum.

Now where does StaxRip belong? I the middle? Where?


The goal is to cover a much broader spectrum and cover it equally. For a single developer it's a huge task because not every of the utilized tools provides a rich interface so atm. I'm focused at novice users and users that want to encode quick and painless. I don't see however too much limitations regards advanced features compared to GK and if there were I would certainly try to fix it.

A lot people wrote they were at first skeptical which is natural as learning a different tool requires a mental switch and of course a lot effort but once that steps were taken they've never looked back. The majority of users see no need to make such a switch at all or to take the effort learning something different because the old tools work and they are skeptical another tool would do so as well. Even if they are looking for a different tool they do so for tools that look and behave the same or similar like the tools the've used previously. StaxRip mostly tries to go his own ways, some more successful like the 'External Application' dialog and some less succesful like the old x264 dialog which I've replaced with a more conventional and intiutiv dialog.

Unfortunately there aren't too many guides which a lot users need which is a area that needs work. Lately StaxRip became more popular mainly because I post new versions in a couple of boards almost every second day which is a good thing because the more people knew it the more people help me to take it to the next level.