AutoGK works how?

[brucevangeorge]

I'm trying to convert some FamilyGuy episodes. Archiving on a few discs to play on my Philips DVP642.

I extracted to VOBs off the DVD and now I'm trying to convert them.

I was just using AutoGK with Xvid. However, I read on the internet that DivX 6 does a better job with cartoons if you set the right settings. is there any way to adjust encoder settings in AutoGK? Or do I have to use GKnot?

Also, how does AutoGK configure the encoder? Is it based on speed, quality? What are the configurations automatically set?

[manono]

Hello and welcome to the forum,

About all I can suggest is to encode one episode using XviD and the same episode using DivX and decide for yourself which looks better. Using the Target Percentage 1-pass method will get you results more quickly, but since these are only 25 minute episodes, neither way will take very long. I'm not sure I buy the notion that if you know the right settings, DivX does a better job.

Just about everything is automatically set in AutoGK. About all you can do is choose 1 or 2-pass, and if 2-pass, the file size, and the kind of audio you'd like, within limits. Again, if you don't like the results, teach yourself to do it using GKnot or manually. But I'll warn you that you'll have to know alot about configuring the codec and about AviSynth to do a better job.

[brucevangeorge]

Again, if you don't like the results, teach yourself to do it using GKnot or manually.

The results are good, but I was wondering if it can be better. Manual is not a problem, but I don't wish to waste time if AutoGK can do it properly. That's why I would like to know what settings it uses and see if they can be improved/customized.

If its the best it can get out of the respective codec(s), auto it is.


But I'll warn you that you'll have to know alot about configuring the codec and about AviSynth to do a better job.

Codec is no problem.

Why is Avisynth needed? For filters and such? Would Virtualdub be a good alternative?

[manono]

AviSynth is used by both AutoGK and GKnot (and all competent encoding hobbiests doing it manually) to frameserve the video into the encoder (VDubMod in this case). Using AviSynth is faster and better than other methods, and allows you to filter the source video in any one of a number of ways. It's not difficult to figure the XviD or DivX settings used with a combination of GSpot, MPEG4Modifier, and/or AVInaptic (thanks BigDid).

Would Virtualdub be a good alternative?

Since VDub doesn't support Vob input, not only would it not be a good alternative, but it's an impossible one.

[brucevangeorge]

Since VDub doesn't support Vob input, not only would it not be a good alternative, but it's an impossible one.

What about Virtualdub mods? Like the MPEG2 one?

[manono]

Sure, you could use them. You're planning on opening the Vobs directly in one of them? If so, then to crop, resize, and do any other filtering, you'll have to use Full Processing, and take a huge encoding speed hit, and produce a lower quality video. You'll be better off using AutoGK or GKnot.

http://avisynth.org/index.php?page=Section+1%3A+About+AviSynth#q1.12
VirtualDub (and variants) run in RGB mode when you use Normal Recompress or Full Processing Mode (in the Video dropdown menu). All of VirtualDub's internal functions and filters run in RGB colorspace only. However, Fast Recompress doesn't decode the video to RGB, and instead just passes whatever your source is into the compressor you've selected - thus if your source is a YUV type then it passes the video data as YUV into the video compressor.
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For example, using Fast Recompress in VirtualDub (or any of its variants) is not only the fastest way to transcode video but also the least costly in terms of colorspace conversions. The drawback is you cannot you any of VirtualDub's filters in Fast Recompress mode - VirtualDub never even touches the incoming video stream... which is why you should use AviSynth for any video processing work.

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/guides/avtechbeta/colorspace.html

[brucevangeorge]

huge encoding speed hit, and produce a lower quality video.

Why is that? Something wrong with the software? Or is it because of the color conversions?

[brucevangeorge]

After using AutoGK for a bit, I have noticed that it sends script to a version of Virtualdub... for encoding.

I'm using the latest one. 2.40.

How does virtualdub have an encoding and quality hit in full processing compared to AutoGK when AutoGK uses vritualdubmod as part of its whole system?

[manono]

It makes no difference whether you use VDub or VDubMod. The difference is in whether you use Full Processing or Fast Recompress. My previous post, together with the information in the supplied links, answered the questions in your last two posts.