Newbie question - wrapping x264 in Avi?

[alexb75]

I got a newbie question... so apoloigies in advance.

I've been very impressed with X264 encoding of MPEG2, and like to transfter a few DVDs to MPEG4.

Now, I like to play those on a Toshiba XDE-600, which play DivX, Xvid mpeg4, but I dont beleive plays MKV.

So, is there anyway to wrap a X264 in AVI? and playing it in my player?

If not, how do I get close to X264 quality with encoding in ASP (DivX, Xvid, Nero, etc)? I haven't encoded in a few years so a bit rusty on the latest encoders quality, etc...

Thanks

[Dark Shikari]

I don't know any device that will play H.264 in AVI, as it's basically nonstandard. MP4, MKV, and TS are the most common containers supported.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

If you want to give it a try anyway, "raw" H.264 streams can be muxed into AVI container with the 'avc2avi.exe' tool:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/avc2avi

However I think the problem with your player is not only that it doesn't support MKV files. The more important problem probably is that it can't decode H.264 streams ;)
Hardware players that support H.264 generally support one of the containers that are commonly used with H.264, such as MP4, MKV or M2TS...

[alexb75]

Ok, thanks. So, basically my player can't decode H.264 and that's the end of it.

So, I guess I am left with ASP. Now, being away from video for a few years... is any ASP encoder as good as AVS? and what's the best encoder going around these days (quality-wise, not performance)?

I've used both DivX and Xvid with virtualdub before (in 2006 or so), but haven't really been uptodate on latest and greatest in the last 4 years.

Thanks

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Ok, thanks. So, basically my player can't decode H.264 and that's the end of it.

With that player probably yes. Time for less antiquated hardware ;)

So, I guess I am left with ASP. Now, being away from video for a few years... is any ASP encoder as good as AVC? and what's the best encoder going around these days (quality-wise, not performance)?

There is no best by definition. Best is what works best for you. Please respect forum rule #12.

And nope, with an ASP encoder you will never get the same compression efficiency (i.e. quality per bitrate) that a good AVC encoder, such as x264, can achieve.

However this doesn't necessarily mean that you can't achieve the same overall quality:

If you only spent enough bitrate (and don't have a fixed size limitation), ASP can look as good as AVC. The file will only be significant bigger for the same quality.

I've used both DivX and Xvid with virtualdub before (in 2006 or so), but haven't really been uptodate on latest and greatest in the last 4 years.

These are the same candidates one would use to encode ASP nowadays. There wasn't not much progress in the ASP area lately...

(Xvid development is basically dead. And it seems DivX Inc. is concentrating on H.264 now, aka "DivX Plus HD")

[alexb75]

Thanks, so between Xvid dead, and DivX focused on H264... which is best as of today? Again, to get the best quality at the same bit-rate. I dont care about speed. In 2006-2007, Xvid had a lead on DivX.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Thanks, so between Xvid dead, and DivX focused on H264... which is best as of today? Again, to get the best quality at the same bit-rate. I dont care about speed. In 2006-2007, Xvid had a lead on DivX.

There is only one way to decided which encoder works best for your eyes: Try both of them and decide yourself ;)

And if you visually compare encodes, please make sure that both files have the identical size (i.e. identical average bitrate)!

Anyway, here is an encoder comparison that might be worth a look:
http://mirror05.x264.nl/Dark/website/compare.html

[alexb75]

There is only one way to decided which encoder works best for your eyes: Try both of them and decide yourself ;)

And if you visually compare encodes, please make sure that both files have the identical size (i.e. identical average bitrate)!

Anyway, here is an encoder comparison that might be worth a look:
http://mirror05.x264.nl/Dark/website/compare.html

Thanks for the link. WOW, there's a HUGE difference... what is VP7 though?

[Dark Shikari]

Thanks for the link. WOW, there's a HUGE difference... what is VP7 though?Keep in mind that comparison is extremely old and x264 is quite a bit better now. VP7 is a proprietary H.264 derivative/ripoff developed by On2.

[alexb75]

Ok, now I feel like an idiot...

I am trying to find a guide for ripping DVDs, but most guides are just specific for one tool or another, and original Doom9 guide is not available no more.

I got a few DVDs SAVED to my HDD, in MPEG2 format, with all the various files. Some are just one ISO file, some have the Audio/Video folders with IFO, and VOB files.

DVD Decrypter doesnt open HDD files... so how do I do this?


Decrypt DVD files
Convert videos to XVid MPEG4 at highest quality
Convert AC3 Audio to mp3 (or maybe even keep it the same)


Is there a simple tool to do this all? Just to give me control to specify source, and what encoding settings I need and just leave it?

Thanks

[zmaster]

alexb75,
You watched those sections of the forum?..

http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=9
http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=78 http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=33 http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=69 http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=52
http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=11

[alexb75]

Hi Zmaster,

Yes, but again, they are mostly guides for one tool or another, but not a comprehensive guide... let me know this, what's the tool to take my VOB files and convert to AVI with XVid? I got Virtual Dub, but it doesn't import VOB files. Those VOB files are already on my HDD.

Thanks

[The Scientist]

OK, assuming you have your VOB file/s on your hard drive and you want to make an AVI, you could use AutoGK, which has been around a while and has obtained quite a decent bit of respect from many users. You could try avi.NET (my program) which was developed especially for people with standalone players, or maybe try Staxrip/MeGUI, I think they still do AVI, not sure, ripBOT is a lovely little program, but not sure of it's AVI support. Try a few, see what works for you and feels good.

[alexb75]

OK, assuming you have your VOB file/s on your hard drive and you want to make an AVI, you could use AutoGK, which has been around a while and has obtained quite a decent bit of respect from many users. You could try avi.NET (my program) which was developed especially for people with standalone players, or maybe try Staxrip/MeGUI, I think they still do AVI, not sure, ripBOT is a lovely little program, but not sure of it's AVI support. Try a few, see what works for you and feels good.

Ok, thanks, I will give it a try and let you guys know.

Cheers!

[MatLz]

I got Virtual Dub, but it doesn't import VOB files.Virtualdub has a mpeg2 import plugin since 2 years.(maybe more)

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Virtualdub has a mpeg2 import plugin since 2 years.(maybe more)

And it is available here:
http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/MPEG2/index.html

For use with VirtualDub 1.8.1+