"Stand Alone" Encoder

[bobmaster]

Hello

I have been looking around on the net for a "stand alone" video encoder. What I mean by "stand alone" is the ability to encode video without installing codes separately.

This is similar to the VLC Media Player. (www.videolan.org), you can download it as a zip and use It to play videos without installing any codec’s. I was just wondering if there is an encoder of this type.

Thanks

[Tommy B.]

VLC provides it's own codec to decode the content.

I don't think there is a "standalone" encoder, since this would mean to implement a codec into a program which might be buggy and without the possibility to update the codec yourself except to wait for a new version of the software.

What I want to say: Use VirtualDub or something of this kind to capture and use the codecs. This will guarante that you will be up2date and give your encodes more... uhm... compatibility (and less problems anyway).

[UMP]

The software you're looking for is : ffmpeg

[ppera2]

@bobmaster:

You didn't specify which codec you want, prefer.
For example there is a lot of programs which can 'standalone' encode Mpeg1 and Mpeg2 output.

[bobmaster]

Hi

Thank you all for your replies.

In answer to ppera2’s question. I would prefer a mpeg4 based codec – divx, xvid, wmv ect… But I am open to suggestions. I know TMPGEnc for encoding mpeg1 and mpeg2.

In reply to Tommy B. If there is a program that could use the codec files (divx.dll, xvid.dll ect..) without installing the codec. Then updating isn’t really a problem, and even if this is not possible updating is not a bid issue for me. Maybe there is a way to “trick” VirtualDub into using codec’s that are not installed?

In the mean time ill try UMP’s suggestion and see how far I get with “ffmpeg”.

The reason for needing a “stand alone” encoder is so that I can encode on a non-administrator account. My university has a room of around eighty 2.4Ghz P4 machines that lay unused most of the time. I feel like it is a bit of a waste, and I cannot install software to encode with.

Thanks

[Tommy B.]

Hmmm... well, use a MPEG1 or MPEG2 capture tool. You can convert it to DivX/XviD/WMV afterwards.

[bobmaster]

Thanks UMP, ffmpeg seems to be working well.

I was just interested what is "mpeg4" in ffmpeg - what codec is it based on? DIVX, XVID? and how dose the quality compare. Also is it possible to "plug in" extra codecs?

Thanks.