Encoding DV to avi

[Freeloader]

Hi, i am editing video with AVID Xpress pro and Adobe premiere.
I would like to export the project to a high quality AVI file.
I have read in this forum and in others too, i have the DR. Divx and the Divx Pro 5.2.1 encoders. When i am exporting using the Divx PRO as my codec the file has a poor quality relatively speaking and the size is also big.
But if i save the project back to my dv camcorder and then making the movie via DR. DIVX the quality is much better and the size is smaller (high quality divx 1400 bitrate 720*528) 11MB per minute.
How come the same preferences makes 2 different files?
What encoders do i need to make the best quality file from my dv cam?
what programs do i need? i want the file to be compressed but still not bigger than 12MB for minute??


thanx!

[The Geek]

DV is already AVI ;)

What encoders do i need to make the best quality file from my dv cam?

The the unaltered DV AVI has the highest quality possible. You can't make it any better.
So, in order to make the best quality file, you don't need any encoders. Just capture the DV AVI via firewire, and you're done.

i want the file to be compressed but still not bigger than 12MB for minute??

That would be extremely compressed for interlaced material. You can't compress it that much while maintaining the high quality of the original.

Why do you want 12 MB per minute to be the limit ? Is it because you wanna fit 1 hour on a CD ?

If that is your goal, forget it. 1 hour of high quality interlaced material on a CD don't mix. Make a DVD out of it. Really.

The Geek

[Freeloader]

No, my goal is not to fit a 1 hour on a cd.
It's just that all DVD rips are about 8-12 MB for minute and their quality is very very good - now this is my goal.
I wan't to upload my sequences to my futuristic web site and i wan't to find the perfect balance between size and quality.

But what is still don't understand is how the same codecs using different softwares to encode make 2 different files?

[jggimi]

Your first post in this thread is confusing to me.

Dr. DivX is a DivX 5 encoder. But your described "DivX 5.2.1 Pro Encoder" doesn't exist, at least, not by that name. DivX 5.2.1 Pro is a CODEC, not an encoder. An Encoder (such as Dr. DivX) uses the CODEC to compress video, in a similar way that a software video player uses the CODEC to decompress video. CODEC is an acronym that means, "COmpressor / DECompressor," and is usually written lower case ... as codec.


You've described poor results when you encode outside of Dr. DivX, but we do not know what encoder you are using, and we do not know what your codec settings are. I assume you're encoding inside one of your editors, such as Adobe, and have forgotten to set codec parameters. This would be a mistake.

But, with the information provided so far, it is impossible to discern what your process was, or what you produced. I recommend the DivX User Guide; it is available in 4 different languages at http://www.divx.com/divx/divxpro/guides/. It shows encoding using the free Virtual Dub encoder. You can use Vdub as shown, or you can select the codec and adjust settings in another encoder.

I'm also confused by your 720x528 resolution choice, because DV is 720x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL, and that is with non-square pixels. Typically one resizes to square pixels when going to .avi files for PC playback, and uses 640x480 or 768x576 depending on NTSC or PAL source.

[nicco]

When i am exporting using the Divx PRO as my codec the file has a poor quality
maybe you meant encoding in divx from Premiere.
It's truth, don't encode (export) divx directly from premiere, the quality is very poor.
The best choiche is to export the movie from Premiere in a lossless way (Huffyuv codec, or frameserving), then encode the movie in divx with Vdub or, if you prefer, Dr.Divx.

Take care of what jggimi told you, don't confuse the codec with the encoder, take a look around in FAQs, Guides and around the forum, there is a lot you can find about!

[Freeloader]

I menat i was encoding with adobe/avid with the same codecs that DR. Divx uses (divx pro 5.2.1) and i have not forgotten to set the codec parameters, i used the same ones in dr divx and in avid.
About the resolution, i'm using the pal system and the original captured files are in 720*576, i am guessing dr. divx had chaned then into 720*528.

[jggimi]

What DivX encoding parameters are you using? Are you using a DivX Certified Profile? If so, which profile?
Single pass or multipass encoding?
If quality based, what fixed Quantizer?
If bitrate based, what bitrate?
Is Bi-directional encoding set? If so, single consecutive or multiple consecutive encoding?
Are you using Quarter Pixel (QPel)?
Are you using Generalized Motion Control (GMC)?
Are you using PsychoVisual Enhancement? If so, Fast or Slow?
What Quantization matrix are you using? H.263 or MPEG? If you are unable to answer these questions, it is because you have not yet read the DivX Guide I pointed you to earlier. I strongly urge you to do so.

[jggimi]

You might consider following bb's DV to DivX Guide (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32197). Its a sticky thread, right above this one. In concert with the DivX Guide, it should get you where you want to go.

[nicco]

I menat i was encoding with adobe/avid with the same codecs that DR. Divx uses (divx pro 5.2.1)

this is my answer:
It's truth, don't encode (export) divx directly from premiere, the quality is very poor.
The best choiche is to export the movie from Premiere in a lossless way (Huffyuv codec, or frameserving), then encode the movie in divx with Vdub or, if you prefer, Dr.Divx.

I use Premiere too and I can confirm you that exporting to divx from Pre. is a bad idea....:p

[Freeloader]

I have used a DivX Certified Profile, the home theater one.
But never mind as nicco said, the adobe encoder does notdo his job well so i will do a you all said with virtual dub.
One last question, which codecs do you recommend me to use
1. For video (XVID, DIVX)
2. For Audio (LAME MP3, Radium)

I want my movies to be in a good qualiyu (no like dvd but still good)and to weigh not more than 12MB per minute.

Thankx you all, i am reading the guides you have recommended

[nicco]

the choice of the code is subjective, try them and make your own choice!!

;)

[bb]

For 1. I recommend XviD, but for ease of use and standalone compatibility DivX is great, too.

For 2. you should definitely prefer Lame MP3 over Radium.

bb

[Freeloader]

Lets say im choosing to use Xvid,
Which is the latest one/best one yet?
and what are the recommended parameters?

[bb]

Well, get the most current release version. As a starting point, you should keep the default values. There's an XviD forum here where you can collect all information about the codec you can imagine.

There are many parameters to play with, but the most important ones are bitrate and resolution.

bb

[smok3]

i do most of my online wips with xvid in 512x384 resolution (bitrate varies between 1000-2500 kbps, depending on the video material), which requires deinterlacing and i use lame mp3 with different settings, depending on the quality of the original source audio. (i use vdub, vdubmod, lame and xvid)