Gordian Knot > Is there a file size limit?

[Conspicuous57]

Hi again,

I have a problem with the oputput file size of my encodes. I am using gordian knot rip pack 0.35.0 and Keopi XviD-1.0.3-20122004

At my last job; i have the movie TLOTR1. I have tried to encode as 3 cds 2100Mb and the job was successfull with 1320 Kbps.

But i dont like the quality. And tried to encode with the file size 2800Mb (4CDs). And got a file like 1974Mb (2gb). I wonder is there a file size limit for avi files. If so how do i disable that limit.

Forgotten to say; "My HDD file sistem is NTSF."

[Brother John]

Most likely the phenomenon you're experiencing is simple saturation. Above a certain point the codec won't spend any more bits because the minimum compression is already reached. To fix it, increase resolution, decrease B-frame number/ratio/offset, use a more detailled matrix; just to name the most effective things.

[Conspicuous57]

Thanks Brother John. I am using 704x304 and dont wanna use any resolution except that. Isn't there any probable solution?

[CWR03]

Make sure under the two Xvid options buttons that you've set Profile @ Level to unrestricted for each pass.

[Conspicuous57]

When i select Unrestricted instead of L5 at each pass, will i be able to get the file size i have detirmined?

[Brother John]

Most likely you need to change some additional settings (see above). Your file is over 800 MB too small. A simple level switch won't make the file that much larger.

But CWR03 is right, unrestricted profile is a good idea, especially with such high bitrates. However, you might lose standalone compatibility.

[Conspicuous57]

should i do the comp test as unrestricted


Edit: Tried to use Unrestricted both on comp test and encode. But it finished it with 2400 Mb. I couldn't get the filesize I want (2800) again.

[Brother John]

All three LOTR are long and quite demanding, but 4 CDs is a hell of a lot of space for your resolution. So, same thing again:
– higher res
– sharper resizing
– larger/more audio tracks
– lower b-frame settings
– more detailled matrix
– lower VHQ
– min quant 1, if you really want to waste bits senselessly.

All that is only useful if you can still distinguish the encoded quality from the original. If not, keep the smaller file. You might be able to make it even bigger, but it won't get better.

To really push it try single pass, fixed quant 2, b-frames 1/1/0, Heini MR matrix, VHQ 1. If that doesn't give you excellent quality and a pretty large filesize, something is seriously wrong.

[Conspicuous57]

All three LOTR are long and quite demanding, but 4 CDs is a hell of a lot of space for your resolution. So, same thing again:
– higher res
– sharper resizing
– larger/more audio tracks
– lower b-frame settings
– more detailled matrix
– lower VHQ
– min quant 1, if you really want to waste bits senselessly.

All that is only useful if you can still distinguish the encoded quality from the original. If not, keep the smaller file. You might be able to make it even bigger, but it won't get better.

To really push it try single pass, fixed quant 2, b-frames 1/1/0, Heini MR matrix, VHQ 1. If that doesn't give you excellent quality and a pretty large filesize, something is seriously wrong.

How do i change and fix these settings. You did probably written each of these expressions down shortly ?

fixed quant 2: ?
b-frames 1/1/0: ?
Heini MR matrix: ?
VHQ 1:?


Can u describe them? Because i have always used 2-pass with standart settings.

[Brother John]

Start with your normal GK procedure until you reach the final encoding setup window:

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/457/gknotdf4.th.png (http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/457/gknotdf4.png)

Here you choose "Single Pass" and configure Xvid with the "First pass" button. Then dig through the config and you'll find the settings I mentioned. What you probably need to know:
In Xvid's main dialog chose "Encoding type" "Single pass" and chose "target quantizer" 2 below. If that button reads "target bitrate" click on it to change to quantizer mode.
B-Frame numbers stand for max/ratio/offset.
You can find the Heini MR matrix in the attatchment of this post (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=854722#post854722). To load it in the "Profile" dialog choose "Quant type" "MPEG-custom" > Edit Matrix > Load Matrix
Keep in mind that single pass doesn't respect the target file size calculated by GK. The file will just become as large as it needs to be with those settings. It's probably a good idea to do a compcheck with those settings first and see what percentage you get. Of course you can also do a standard twopass encoding with the same settings (except fixed quant 2).