Final Steps for .avi File

[CamperBlaster]

Ok, this is my first attempt at creating an .avi from a dvd movie. I'm using GK 0.27. I used DVDDecrypter successfully and then used DVD2AVI with out any problems. I open the .d2v file and it shows up fine. Here's where I run into problems. I click "Save & Encode". I've tried to use from 1% to 15% for the Compressibility Check and I always come up with about 30% next to the load button in GK. Why is this?

The second problem is the sound. I'm assuming I just use Audio 1 for a standard movie, but I have three .ac3 files available. I've tried selecting each of them before creating an .avi but the sound never seems to work. The final .avi looks ok, but the sound isn't synched and all the frames don't seem to be there.

Is there any hope for me?

Thanks.

[manono]

Hi and welcome to the forums-

I always come up with about 30% next to the load button in GK. Why is this?

Because the movie doesn't compress well for the resolution, file size, resizer, etc. that you chose.

So, you can use an extra CD, lower the resolution, use lower quality audio, start putting on filters, etc.

but the sound isn't synched

Could be one of several reasons-slow computer, poor interleave settings (check the AC3 Q&A in the Audio Forum), or maybe you have a multi angle movie and you didn't choose an angle when you decrypted in the first place. But it sounds like the interleave settings are at fault. Try and mux it yourself in Nandub with 96/96 ms. for the settings (or one of the other recommended ones in the Q&A).

[CamperBlaster]

Thanks for the response. I guess I'm just not understanding it. I went step-by-step through the guide again and it isn't clear what to do when the compressibility test is not satifactory. Also, the three .ac3 files have unusual names, like RatRace AC3 T01 3_2ch 448bps DELAY 4ms.ac3, so I'm not sure which one to select. Finally, the guide suggests using BeSweet. Why not chose Just Mux to create the .avi?

If there are any other guides or help I'd appreciate it.

[jggimi]

Your 3 sound tracks are described by their filenames. It can be confusing, but you can learn to read them.

Using your example (RatRace AC3 T01 3_2ch 448bps DELAY 4ms.ac3)

AC3 = Dolby Digital
T01 = Sound track #1. This DVD has 3 sound tracks.
3_2ch = DD 5.1ch = 3 front, 2 rear channels, the ".1" LFE channel assumed.
448kbps = 448 kilobits per second bitrate
DELAY 4ms = 4 millisecond delay (used by Gknot when muxing sound and video)
.ac3 = Dolby Digital

The guide shows a conversion of Dolby Digital (.ac3) to variable bitrate .mp3. "Just mux" is what you choose if you want to retain Dolby Digital sound, or the sound is in another acceptable format.

Why do people convert to MP3? 1) They may not have a PC with Dolby Digital compliant soundcards. 2) They may want to reduce the size of the sound track, while retaining acceptable sound quality.

For example, I don't have a DD compliant sound card at home. But if I transcode a Dolby Digital 5.1ch soundtrack into MP3 stereo at home, I can easily reduce the size of the soundtrack by more than 70%, and still retain Dolby Surround information in the analog stereo signal. (I do have a surround sound system, just not on a PC.)

For example, the 2001 movie, Rat Race, is 112 minutes, according to www.imdb.com. Track 1 (448kbps) is therefore approximately 359 Megabytes. Converting that to 128kbps MP3 stereo with Dolby Surround will make a sound track around 103 Megabytes, saving approximately 256 Megabytes. That's a significant chunk of space on a single 700 MB CD-R encoding: Audio Video Overhead Total
AC3 359MB 333MB 8MB 700MB <-Audio bigger than video
MP3 103MB 587MB 10MB 700MB <-Video bitrate almost doubled This is probably why your compressibility test gave you poor results. For this reason, most people who retain Dolby Digital sound -- especially the relatively high bitrates used in DD 5.1ch -- opt for more than 1-CD encodings. According to imdb, the other two tracks are a 2.0 English (for headphones, or perhaps a commentary track) and a 2.0 French. Select the different audio tracks in your DVD player, and you'll discover what they are.

My strongest recommendation to new GKnot users is to follow the guide step-by-step for your first few encodings, even if you don't intend to keep the final results (MP3 sound, for example). It takes a few tries, and is easier when you can follow the process closely. Once you get familiar with the process, going your own way becomes much easier. Everyone goes through this learning curve. I know I did.

[CamperBlaster]

Thanks for all the info, I'll keep at it!