Need help to re-encode WMV to AVI with Gordian Knot

[mlarry01]

Folks,

I am at my wits end. I have been ALL over the net, having browsed, printed, and been through at least 100 different articles and threads. I have installed EVERY program and plug-in it seems, and I STILL do not have a clue of what I am truly doing.

I know most of the regulars here are very knowledgeable and somewhat hard core. You know most of what there is to know about Vdub, Avisynth, codecs, filters, bitrates, etc.

What I am looking for is quite simple and I am HOPING some of you techies can point me to one or 2 definitive texts (or guides) that will accomplish what I'd like to do, and this is very simple.

I would only like to take the slew of WMV (asf) format stream rip vids I have gathered over the years, and convert them to avi format with as best a quality as possible, with as little manipulating as possible.

I would think that with the slew of semi-automated, and automated tools, and with the wide variety of filters out there, that someone is doing what I'd like to do.

I HAVE tried converting my WMV's with my legit copy of divx author (V 1.5) but I've had average to middling results at best.

Could someone PLEASE help me make sense of this. I am basically looking for a guide (I've been through the entire Capture guide and have had semi-lousy results), or a few texts, that walk you through the standard best programs and filters to maximize results.

I know this is utopic, but I would hope that someone has been doing this and can help me. Thanks in advance.

Signed, "desperate to get clean avi's"

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Perhaps you should search the 'Net again - by doing a Googlesearch for "WMV to AVI" - which would yield the following PRIMARY link:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22wmv+to+Avi%22

[neuron2]

I am basically looking for a guide...that walk you through the standard best programs and filters Please read and follow the forum rules, especially rule 12.

[mlarry01]

I hear you loud and clear neuron2, BUT I don't think my intent was to piss anyone off or violate the spirit of the forum rules. Au contraire, I value the opinion of the more senior knowledgeable folks here (the slew of posts makes your knowledge base quite obvious).

So I was hoping someone would just give me a push in the right general direction. Any assistance there would be appreciated. That's all. No comments here, no whining, just picking the collective brain after going around in cricles for too long.

As for Setarip_old, been there, done that. If you've tried going down those links (try it a couple of hours) you'll see it leads you nowhere fast if you are an encoding novice.

So again, I kindly and humbly (as a newbie that HAS put in many days of effort to date on my project) ask for any hints and documentation that may specifically address what I am trying to do (which is convert stream rip wmv files to avi).

I will accept the wrath of all if this is totally unacceptable posting in this forum. But I am making a tremendous effort to bone up on this and perhaps become a contributing member to this forum at some point.

Thanks for any help here...

[neuron2]

First, what are these WMVs and where did you get them?

Your question is too general: "I'm clueless, tell me what to do." We don't work that way here. Pick a recommended tool and try to use it. If you run into an issue, then post about it and we will try to help you to overcome it.

Your general direction for WMV to AVI could be:

Avisynth DirectShowSource() filter to decode WMV
VirtualDub to encode AVI

Finally, edit your signature as it violates rule 15.

[mlarry01]

Mea Culpa amigos. Thanks for setting me straight.

I'll re-phrase and send this thread in a more specific direction. I'll be as explicit as I can.

As I mentioned earlier, I've used and familiarized myself with a slew of tools to date. VDub, MeGUI, AVSP, and Gordian Knot are those I've used the most.

For a novice with little time or knowledge, GK is the BEST IMHO. I can ask about specific Filters to provide me better results in a separate thread.

I am trying to convert WMV (asf) video files to AVI format in as clean a way as possible (actually hoping to make them better if possible also).

These files are stream rips from various net sites (some probably PPV, most are site content files), and all are between 500 and 700 K bitrate files. MOST are WMV-encoded (windows media encoder).

What I would like to know is:

1) if there is a relatively painless way to demux audio and create GIndex-like "d2v" project files from the original WMV files. Then I could import the d2v into GK and play around with it to my heart's content.

I've been all over the net and forums and I do not think this is possible.

2) If not, how can I manipulate the original WMV to be able to leverage Gordian Knot and re-encode with GK (it really is a dummy-proof program)? GK only takes AVS, AVI and D2V file formats.

3) OR - How can I extract the audio in AC3 format from the WMV? I'm thinking perhaps I could extract the audio, tweak the original WMV in VDUB and save the AVS (crop with basic filters), and then try to re-join these with Megui?

I'd like to avoid VDUB directly as I've had almost all my previous re-codes in VDUB have the audio out-of-synch.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me here.

[neuron2]

These files are stream rips from various net sites (some probably PPV, most are site content files), and all are between 500 and 700 K bitrate files. MOST are WMV-encoded (windows media encoder). Sorry, we can't help you with these files. Please read forum rule 6 and the announcement in the Newbies forum.

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