Nandub .stats file reader/analyzer ?

[JamesTKirby]

Hello,

I use Nandub and often like to do rips onto 2 CDs.

I would like to cut the movie in an appropriate place, so that both parts are compressed about the same amount.

Consider a movie where there is very little action/movement in the first half, and a whole lot of explosions/high-speed driving and other action in the latter. In this case, it is more than likely that the latter part (if the movie is cut in half in the middle time-wise) is much more compressed (more compression->less detail, you get the point).

I am asking now, is there a utility that can read the Nandub .stats files? The optimum would be if you could set a cut-point at some point and the .stats file reader could tell you how much the halves take up when encoded at 6000 kbps (that's what the 1st pass does, if I have understood right). This way you could cut the movie so that it is compressed equally, both halves.

Hope I made myself clear... now does such a tool exist ? Or anything similar ?

Thanks in advance,

JTK

[Acaila]

I could be misunderstanding you, but why go through all that trouble? For the second pass just use a bitrate that will result in 1400MB or 1600MB (depending on what size 2 CD's is for you) and cut the file in half after encoding. Both sides will be compressed optimally and it's a lot easier.

[JamesTKirby]

Acaila:

Good point, that's what not I want though - I do not want to cut the movie in the middle of a scene. That's why I'm seeking a good util - to optimize the compression equally in both halves, using a cut-point I can choose myself.

Thanks for the input though :)

JTK

[manono]

Hi-

In GKnot you can enter the stats file and split it. Then when split you can test the 2 halves for comparable quality (I think). And you'd probably have to repeat the process several times to get it right. Sounds like more trouble than it's worth to me. This is from the GKnot Help Tab:

splitting and merging stats-files (suggested by mythrandir):
e.g. for encoding the first pass with more than one cpu or to fit more than one anime-episode on one
cd...you can calculate
parts separately, then merge 'em, or the other way 'round.
press 'copy curve' to later split the curve without changing (calculating) it.
press 'append' to append a stats-file to the one(s) already loaded.
press 'Sel.Section' (in the selection field) to select the parts you loaded one after the other.
press 'save selected' to save the selected part only. the bitrate in the filename will fit the
selection):
I've done the calculate parts separately and merge 'em part (although it's been awhile). I've never done the other way 'round part. I think what I'd do instead is make the .avi for 1380MB or so. Then you'll have a couple of minutes leeway in deciding where to split. But I know of no utility designed for what you want to do.

[JamesTKirby]

Ok thanks for the input guys.

I tried GKnot once (with the guide) and found it way confusing. I think I'm sticking with Nandub, I'm so familiar with it.

Guess I'll be using the good old guessing method for cutting my movies in half. Worked so-so thus far, but sometimes the halves get compressed like 15% and 27% ... quite a difference there. Luckily we have the crosspoint value to fiddle with ;)

JTK