Extremely Detailed GordianKnot 0.27 Guide

[lordtear]

Lately, I've been letting my friends and family borrow my DivX movies. I give them a disc with the codec on it and the DivX itself. I have over 200 movies encoded now. I understand, to a certain point, all the inner-workings of GordianKnot and all the supporting programs that are used to create my DivX's (Smartripper, DVD Decryptor, Vdub, Nandub, etc.). My friends and family are amazed at the quality, compression and expanding future of DivX. I am slowly showing them how to encode their own movies using the GordianKnot package. However, the process is getting a little tidious and time consuming. These people aren't extremely computer literate and require detailed instruction. The instructions that come with GordianKnot are very good for those with moderate computer knowledge. The (few) online guides that I have reviewed don't exactly cater to those lacking in PC experience either.

Don't get me wrong, I like helping my friends and family (or just about anybody) learn how to encode DivX. I just can't help everybody. I know there are some out there in similar situations... or just starting out with GordianKnot and want a little more detail to help them on their way to encoding.

Here is the query (Hopefully, with Wef's blessing):

I'm thinking on starting an EXTREMELY detailed, step-by-step instruction guide on using GordianKnot from start to finish. This guide will consist of pictures for every step as well as "simpleton" instructions for the not-so-PC-literate. It will span from ripping the DVD to Burning the finished DivX to a CD/DVD-ROM.

I won't even start THIS guide without Wef's express permission to do so. Hopefully, Wef will read this post and give me a yae or nae! The thing is, I'm not an EXPERT on GKnot. I don't consider myself a NOVICE, but definitely not an EXPERT either. I'll need a little help along the way with the more advanced features. I'll refer to posts made in this forum on things such as editing avs scripts and EVERYTHING ABOUT SUBTITLES (since i have never created a DivX with subtitles... yet!). I will not use other people's info without their permission. All help will be acknowledged fully in the resulting guide (nobody will be considered author of the guide -- it will be a colaberation). Also, the completed guide will be free and available for anybody. It will be available in HTML, Word (.doc), Acrobat and *maybe* Flash!

This guide will be difficult to complete, but I think it will be a rewarding experience. Again, I will NOT begin THIS guide without Wef's permission to do so. Thanks, in advance, to anybody that will help in this endeavor. Thanks, especially, to Wef for even considering it.

I don't really want to call it a "Dummy's" or "Complete Idiot's" Guide to GordianKnot, but I do want to make it that simple for everybody. My GordianKnot experience has been nothing but pleasurable, even with the FEW problems i have had when using it (of my own momentary stupidity, I might add). I would just like everybody's experience to be as enjoyable and simple as mine has been.

Thanks!!

lordtear

[jggimi]

Well, I for one wish you good luck. I don't want this reply to seem negative -- I think your efforts are admirable. Part of the reason that Gknot can be intimidating for new users is that it has a great deal of process flexibility. With that flexibility comes complexity of use.

I doubt you'll be able to cover as many bases as Doom9 did in his guide, and may want to restrict your audience to perhaps a single procedure.

For example: you're in the USA... are all your friends and family in NTSC regions?

Even restricting your document to NTSC discs would still be complicated. There are so many different types of NTSC DVDs produced.

To keep it "bullet-proof" you'll probably want to restrict your procedures to Telecined content only ... and to keep the process consistant, you'll probably have to recommend IVTC (Telecide/Decimate) rather than Force FILM, due to the numerous commercial film transfers where the MPEG-2 flags do not allow for Force FILM.

Even if you were to do that, you will still have a friend or relative who IVTC's content that was never Telecined, and wonders why their .avi looks jerky after removing 20% of the content.

I hope this didn't sound too negative, and I wish you luck. You might be better off with DVD2SVCD; they can play-back their movies on their set-top DVD players (or most of their players, anyway), and it does have a "one-button" encoding option.

[lordtear]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, jggimi. ;) (just kidding) I actually appreciate the input. I am a man who likes total honesty - be it harsh sounding or sweet sounding. I do agree completely that Doom's guide is awesome --- on lots of levels. It does cover pretty much the jist of just about everything. The guide I was planning is more or less a book. I thought it might be around 400-500 pages ( 8.5 x 11 Word & Acrobat Document size)

This would be a large download for most people (especially on dial-up). I think about 25MB to 35MB. That, in itself, is a deterrent from starting the thing. However, I still think that it would be good for just about everybody.

The guide would cover making a divx in different ways... PAL & NTSC, Simple to Advanced Issues and do all of it in "Lamens" terms. Basically, it was just my thought that the guide would be a culmination of Wef's basic GordianKnot guide, Doom9's DivX3,4, & 5 guides + GordianKnot, Advanced Issues and Answers such as the ones posted on the forums and almost anything else that ANYBODY will offer covering GordianKnot and it's Co-programs. I even thought it would be nice to show how to burn the DivX to disc with the most popular Burning appz.

This is why I didn't want to go at it totally alone and unarmed. I've seen some very intelligent threads on this site, as well as other sites (dvd.box.sk, etc.), dealing with GordianKnot issue's (be them great or small). I figured that not everybody wants to be online all the time. This would also help that issue.

The guide would have a small DivX dictionary, explaining such things as what NTSC & PAL stands for and what exactly that means to all of us in terms of DivX conversion. Things like Telecide... why some movies require IVTC and some don't. How to tell which do and don't. I planned on covering a lot of bases. The guide would also be able to be split into sections or "chapters" for easy download of what the user is interested in doing. Also, the guide would be updated when new issue's are presented or when GKnot is updated.

Maybe it is a "quest for the holy grail" and might not even get off the ground. I may just end up writing a small, simple GKnot guide for the locals --- just like you said. But I still think it would be awesome to have this guide. I guess I kinda wish that I would have had it when I started with GordianKnot at the beginning of last year... Of course, I wish that Doom's guides would have fully been where they are now when I started --- so maybe I'm going for overkill!!

Who knows? Maybe Doom, Wef and a lot of advanced users will all jump on board to pitch in. Maybe I'm just dreaming for the perfect manual. Maybe I should shut up now.

Thanks all...


lordtear

[nFury8]

@lordtear
Maybe I'm just dreaming for the perfect manual. Maybe I should shut up now.
You may think you're dreaming, but I think that dream should do full justice to this amazing app.
I have to say that it is indeed a herculean task, and probably never take off the ground.
But still I really respect your stated intent for the 'One Knot To Rule Them All'
And if you're Frodo, you may find your Fellowship one day.:)

I salute you
Best of luck.

[ReTroAcTive]

his name is TheWEF.

[wingphil]

it's either intelaced or its not. and its always 25 fps. even if its made from ntsc source, you can let the makers worry about the telecining.

now you wish you lived in europe.;)

[hakko504]

Unfortunately that's not true wingphil: I've encountered films that has beed 'telecined' from 24 to 25, i.e. had extra fields added in order to keep correct play speed. And I've encounted other films that look interlaced, but in fact only has fields shifted one step from one frame to the next. So to say it's easier because it's PAL is not true.

[jeremymacmull]

send TheWEF a private message asking him to read the thread he might be busy and not see it as for what otherwise i think thats a brilliant idea

Will u post it on the web when finished in word format or HTML

or ask doom9 to host it which he might if its good

JEREMY

[DoC hEx]

Here’s a guide I wrote for a couple of my friends, don’t know how much use it will be for you guys, it v0.26. It covers all the basic in detail, lots of screen shots.

http://indigo.ie/~wilsonj/divx_ripping.pdf

dOchEx

[binky the stunt cat]

hehehe
seems to be the mark of the non-novice GK user, writing their own guide :p
i got tired of having to take people through the process, step by step, so i wrote this lil thing:
http://www.binky.orcon.net.nz/Media%20Guides/binkys_dvd_guide.htm (note:no keygen any more)
a few edits later and its mostly fool proof..
also works well for recompressing SVCD into smaller files (net connections here in new zealad are SLOW, most are 128K so file size is important).
It also contains a smal section on using Ogg audio.

If this helps in any way feel free to use it.

[manono]

Aww binky-

You've got a link for the Key Gen in there. You'll have to either remove the link to the Key Gen, or remove the link to the Guide. Sorry man, but dems the Rulez (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm). Too bad, too. A nice, well done guide you have there.

[JazzMC]

Actually, there IS an ultimate GKnot guide out there . Detailed as anything, combines both newbie and expert lore, and has pics on everything .

On top, it is in a handy pdf format .

Only downside is that it's in German .

But it is the best one you will ever find on the net, that I assure you . There may be one or two sentences that I would put in additionally, but generally, it's as good as they come .

I can't find the link right now, but I'll look it up later today and post it . Maybe some of you know German and can comment on it .

Cheers ,

Jan .

PS : If I knew how to translate that thing to English, I would, but I have no pdf editing software . Maybe if one of you knows something nice and small ...

[hakko504]

I've used Win2PDF (http://download.com.com/3000-2079-10105018.html?tag=lst-0-3) as printer driver when I want to create PDF's quickly. Works really good. No options available in the unregistered version, and an extra page with text 'Created by win2pdf'. Much better than the watermarks most other PDF-printers uses. PDF995 (http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10142784.html?tag=lst-0-1) is also a solution recommended at download.com but that is adware. PDFedit995 (http://download.com.com/3000-2064-10142785.html?tag=lst-0-14) by the same company is a way of editing PDF documents. It does require the PDF995 printer though. Same deal there, adware.

[JazzMC]

Here is the link now :

http://www.ralf-schloeffel.com/download/sicherheitskopie/index.htm

It is the upper link, the zip file .

The guide was written by Elestrodix (I do not think I should put his real name here, if you are interested, there is his email address at the bottom of the guide) .
I am in no way the author of any of it (though I did make some suggestions, one or 2 of which he put in) !!

As I said : it is the best I have knowledge of, and I know many guides .

I will try to get a look at those programs mentioned in the other reply, if they are easy to use I will probably get to translating the guide in my semestre breaks ( though heaven knows I have enough other things to do :-) .

Send you comments (if you can read it) .

Cheers ,

Jan .

PS : No, his name is NOT Ralf Schloeffel . Would be rather dumb of me
not to say his name when it is written there, wouldn't it ?

[binky the stunt cat]

Originally posted by manono
Aww binky-

You've got a link for the Key Gen in there. You'll have to either remove the link to the Key Gen, or remove the link to the Guide. Sorry man, but dems the Rulez (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm). Too bad, too. A nice, well done guide you have there.
that'll teach me to return to a forum after a year or so and not refresh my memory....
*waves his fingers and *poof* link go bye bye
i realy need to redo the files section there anyways....
so other than that lil fobar, are there any suggestions on improoving my technique (since thats pretty much step for step my well worn out method, and after being shown the error of my ways with Flask, i now know i can do better..)

[Scandinavian]

I just read the German Gknot guide mentioned above at http://www.ralf-schloeffel.com.

I think there are some really helpful hints. I find the official Doom9 guide more straightforward for the first rip. However once you have done a few encodes but feel still as a newbie then this German guide fills the gap between your first rips and the "high-art encoding" discussed in the forums.

This guide tells you more than the official Doom9 guide when it comes to subtiteles, advanced audio coding settings, filter settings, comp checks and general background.

What I would like to have is a general introduction in not just ticking boxes but actually how to use the "editor-functions" of Gknot.

On the negative side I find it a bit displaced to discuss special problems of individual movies like "Planet of the Apes" in such detail.

Anyhow, if somebody would translate this into English (after having asked the author of course) I think it would help many slightly advanced newbies like me. (Especially in PAL-Europe.)

Scandinavian

[lordtear]

Since first posting this thread, i've gotten many great replies to it. Some directly on this thread, some to my email. It really makes me feel that i'm part of a "family" and "community" just from the reaction and help!! I also hope that in the long run, this thread can be a source of links to the best guides on earth for all of those out there trying to find there way. I am just simply amazed at everybody's thoroughness and sense of giving.

All the sources and links have given me a great start to the guide I was going to compose for myself and family. When I get a good amount of my own version completed, I will find a place that will host it for me and place the link in this forum (beit in this EXACT thread or another if this one happens to be closed for some reason). That way everybody and anybody will be able to review it and give comments or add to it in any way that they seem fit.

Thanks again for all the great responses and help!!

lordtear

P.S. Personal note to JazzMC -- I figured you'd be on this one sooner or later. Thanks for the link to the German guide. My sister lived in Germany for 4 years of her life and does a pretty good job translating most German. I'll see if she will help me out in that department. And thanks for being my own personal Dr.Divx on the .box network!!

[JazzMC]

I KNEW that I knew that name from somewhere .

Though I did not make the connection right away .

You were the guy that discussed 5.03 with me :-)

Send my regards to your sister (just tell her that an online German loon says hello ;-), and good luck with that guide !

Cheers ,

Jan .

[binky the stunt cat]

Since posting that guide link here, i've received a few emails asking questions, offering tips, and just general thanks.
Thanks for the feedback guys! :D