Compressing DV - DivX files

[Zune]

I've been using GordianKnot for quite a while to make copies of my DVDs. I've recently started using a miniDV camcorder to make videos, & have been using VirtualDubMod to compress the files using DivX 5.05 with very good results.

How would I compress the original DV AVI into a file of desired size using DivX (ie. if I want to take say a 4Gb file & compress it to a 400Mb DivX AVI)? The FAQ in this forum says to use GordianKnot to calculate the desired bitrate, & then do a 2-pass compression. I tried opening my AVI file in GordianKnot, but then I wasn't sure how to go about it (ie. how to calculate the appropriate bitrate & resolution to achieve the desired file size).

I have some short medical instructional videos (ie. 30mins each) that I'd like to compress to about 225Mb each, that way I could put 3 of them onto one CD. Thanks for any help.

P.S. -- I've combed through the other forums looking for an answer to this question...I apologize if there's an answer buried in there somewhere that I overlooked.

Alain A. Proulx, MD
London ON Canada

[fyo]

With xvid, you just select 2pass - 1st pass for the first run, adding this to VirtualDub's job queue. Then select 2pass - 2nd pass (int) and type the desired file size (remembering that only *video* data is counted here). Add that to the queue and start the jobs.

Since I haven't done a multi-pass divx5.05 encode yet, basically anyone in this forum should be able to better answer your question... however, it *looks like* divx uses the same basic method as xvid, you just enter the average bit rate instead. You can convert between average bit rate and desired (video) file size quite easily:

(length of movie) * (bit rate) = (file size)

Do take note of your units. Bit rate in divx is given in kbps (kilo-bits-per-second), so you would need to divide the bit rate by 8*1024=8192 to get a file size in megabytes (providing you enter the length of the movie in seconds).

All this without using Gnot, which I'm not very familiar with either...

Hope it helps a bit,

-fyo

[SeeMoreDigital]

Why not have a go with Dr DivX: -

http://www.divx.com/divx/drdivx/

It might be...... just what the doctor ordered!

[stax76]

or try DVX (of course only if you don't mind to istall M$ .NET :devil: ), the latest build can be found in the DVX forum. The presets are made for DVD source's but it can be customized to handle any type of source, it can demux your AVI automatically and has a comfortable cutter and other things important for captures

[dede95064]

what i usually do is write an avisynth script that opens your video file. since you have gknot installed, open your file through avisynth by writing this simple open command:

avisource("C:\Documents and Settings\Desktop\name of movie.AVI")

write that (in the appropriate location of the file of course) in notepad and save it as name of movie.avs. open this script up in gknot. then go about using gknot like you normally would.

as for audio, you'll need to extract it by using another application, say vdub, vegas video, adobe premiere, etc. if you need more specific help, just pm me and i can give you a more thorough explanation.

[SeeMoreDigital]

I still can't help feeling that Dr DivX will be the easiest to use. As (if I remember rightly) you can control the DV camera through it!

Anyway, each to there own!

Makes you wonder what Zune went for?

Come on. Put us out of our missery!

[Zune]

Hey there guys!
Thanks for all your help. In the end, I decided to use XviD as my encoder option rather than DivX...it was the easiest way to go with the software I was already using (ie. fewest calculations). I have actually used Dr. DivX with good results in the past, but I was testing the trial version & my 15-day grace period ran out. I was a little reluctant to shell out $50 for a piece of software that is still in its 'bug-laden' infancy (especially given the number of complaints I've read about it on other forums). As for DVX, I'd never even heard of it before. I tried finding more info on it, but I found it difficult to get any opinions from other users...I also don't have MS.net installed, & wanted to research that a little as well. Thanks for all your help, & I'd still appreciate any advice you may have on DVX (or MS.net for that matter)

A.A. Proulx, MD
London ON Canada

[jernst]

Originally posted by Zune
I'd still appreciate any advice you may have on DVX (or MS.net for that matter)

You should have a look at the DVX board on http://planetdvb.net/dvx.

I personnaly love this tool (that's why I'm trying to contribute to it) and I already compressed DV content from my JVC camcorder to DivX (but DVX can do XviD as well) without any problem.