Two pass encoding w/o hassle?

[pieroxy]

So far, I've always encoded my Video files using VirtualDub, which has always worked fine. I used to frameserve to TMPGEnc to make DVD/SVCD files.

I am now giving a try to DivX and Xvid and find that (same as TMPGEnc) the two-pass encoding can save up to 25% of filesize for the same quality. It is a "must-have" for me.

But two pass encoding with DivX is an incredible pain as you have to first encode for the first pass and then start the process all over again for the second pass. The only phase that is quite long in the process is divided in two parts...

Is there any software that can encode an AVI file (vfapi) into another AVI file and will handle the two-pass process nicely (no user interaction) ?

[Sirber]

You can create 2 job in vdub for that. First one for the first pass, and second one for the second pass. Then you start the first job and vdub will run both.

[DigitAl56K]

Yes, check the "Don't run this job now" box when you save the file. Punch F4 to bring up the jobs window and arrange your job queue.

[pieroxy]

Thanks guys, that does the trick. I was so used to this dialog, I didn't even notice the small checkbox at the bottom :o

One remaining question though: If I decide to encode two movies (so 4 passes overall) I should not run both first pass and then both second pass, right? Bacause when you run a first-pass encoding it does override the previous one?

I should always run both pass from a movie and then both pass from the second one?

Thanks again.

[stephanV]

yup, thats right. (unless you rename the logfile for one of the files)