Re-encode of xvid GMC to xvid or divx (for the DF8900P)

[findog]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering what is the best way to make some xvids using GMC playable on the DF8900P?

So far I've tried VirtualDubMod, and re-encoded to a single pass divx, but I lost heaps of quality. I'm pretty lost on how to get the best out of this software, and don't know much at all about configuring the codecs well.

Is there a way to re-encode without a significant quality drop for a similarly sized file?



Heres the info on the xvid I'm trying to fix up:

Packed bitstream: No
QPel: No
GMC: Yes (3 warp points)
Interlaced: No
Aspect ratio: Square pixels
Quant type: H.263

I-VOPs: 655 (1.95%)
P-VOPs: 10215 (30.43%)
B-VOPs: 20651 (61.53%)
S-VOPs: 2043 (6.09%)
N-VOPs: 0 (0.00%)

Max consecutive B-VOPs: 2
1 consec: 18.18%
2 consec: 81.82%

Warp points used:
2: 22.08%
3: 77.92%

[jokiin]

3 warp point GMC is not supported, have you used mpeg4modifier on your files before?

[findog]

jok11n I was hoping to be able to reencode the 3 warp point GMC file to another xvid with GMC disabled. I don't think mpeg4modifier is able to do this?

[bac]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering what is the best way to make some xvids using GMC playable on the DF8900P?

So far I've tried VirtualDubMod, and re-encoded to a single pass divx, but I lost heaps of quality. I'm pretty lost on how to get the best out of this software, and don't know much at all about configuring the codecs well.

Is there a way to re-encode without a significant quality drop for a similarly sized file?

I don't think there's a solution that you will be happy with in terms of quality while still keeping the file roughly the same size.

Best results I've had with re-encoding stuff is to use DVD spec MPEG2 for recompression and burn the result to a rewritable disc.

[bluestar67]

you can use virtualdub to encode to 2 pass. It is great quality, depending how to set it!. or use Dr. Divx is ok also

[findog]

I've had a few attempts at this and I'm not having much luck. I'm not fussed about the file size, I just want to convert the file to any playable format for the DF8900P while maintaining decent quality. I also want normal video files rather than a burnable ISO, as I want to put multiple on a DVD-R.

I just tried converting using AdvancedXVideoConverter to get an MPEG2, the file size roughly doubled, and the quality went totally out the window. It also seemed to force a 4:3 ratio on the output file even after specifying the correct resolution (640x360). This prog seems to have very minimal settings to work with.

What program should I be using, and how should I configure it. I found this site (http://www.videohelp.com/convert) (http://www.videohelp.com/convert) but there are so many possible tools I'd rather not install them all and try em all out... if there's a current fave that will give good results I'd rather shortcut.

[bac]

What program should I be using, and how should I configure it. I found this site (http://www.videohelp.com/convert) (http://www.videohelp.com/convert) but there are so many possible tools I'd rather not install them all and try em all out... if there's a current fave that will give good results I'd rather shortcut.

TMPGENC will enable you to do everything you want and produce quite good results. Unfortunately it's not free, but I believe it's still available as a shareware download.

[celtic_druid]

Well if you want a free MPEG2 encoder you have HCEnc, QuEnc (and other libavcodec based encoders) and AVIDemux (MPEG2Enc and libavcodec).

[bwg]

findog:

as bluestar said, you can set 2 pass encoding in virtualdub, which I have done quite a bit in the past with good results. Try the guides at http://www.doom9.org/. You may have to do a bit of digging to find the guide for video compression in Virtualdub. Basically, it involves configuring both passes in the xvid codec settings and running in batch mode.

What I do now is use AutoGK (http://www.autogk.me.uk/), which which makes things very simple and gives similar results to the manual process in Virtualdub.

Unfortunately, a re-encode is always going to lose something in the translation, but if the original avi is decent quality and you are not watching the re-encode on a digital 42" TV, I don't notice the difference :)

[alazok]

I use Dr divx and I always get good results.

Make sure you select make 1 file around the same size of the original avi and then encode. Don't select the other option of make a 'high' quality video. It never comes out as good.

I find there is no quality loss in any of the re encodings I have done.

[bluestar67]

the only disadvantage using this is you will LOSE AC3 encoding.. Dr. Divx.. canNOT transcode AC3 to AC3 (Xvid to Divx). Virtual will keep your AC3

[alazok]

I don't really know what AC3 is in the audio. It still sounds ok on my cheapie TV set.
What differences would I hear with this option?

[bac]

I don't really know what AC3 is in the audio. It still sounds ok on my cheapie TV set.
What differences would I hear with this option?

Not much on a cheapie TV set :dD Maybe something on a home theatre hi-fi setup...

[humpda]

Hi
This is on a similar vein I guess (Though I am probably wrong) I have tried to convert files from QPEL so they will play on an LG Player I have...I have used both DrDIVX and AutoGK....the file quality has come out really well, but I seem to have a problem with the audio synching. Is this just unavoidable and I need to do a resynch with each file, or is there some settings that I am not using??? Cheers

[davidf]

Hi
This is on a similar vein I guess (Though I am probably wrong) I have tried to convert files from QPEL so they will play on an LG Player I have...I have used both DrDIVX and AutoGK....the file quality has come out really well, but I seem to have a problem with the audio synching. Is this just unavoidable and I need to do a resynch with each file, or is there some settings that I am not using??? Cheers

Make sure you have the a/v interleave set to 1 frame this may sort out the problem, if not avimuxgui is good at resolving sync issues it seems to handle vbr audio better than any other tool I have used.

[humpda]

Ok...now I feel dumb...AV interleave....I could not find either of these settings in Dr Divx or AutoGK :(

[davidf]

Ok...now I feel dumb...AV interleave....I could not find either of these settings in Dr Divx or AutoGK :(

Don't feel dumb, these options probably aren't available, autogk and DR DIVX control the process which is one reason they are a waste of space.

Rule one: the user should control the software not the other way around.

My suggestion is throw both these programs away and have some fun playing around with other programs, have a look at avi-mux, virtual-dub, avisynth, vob-edit, ifo-edit, nandub etc.. and you will find out there is a lot more that can be done with mpeg4 than dr Divx or AutoGK will allow you to do.

Its simple automaton processes are fine until you need more, and it is always something important that defines the 'more', my personal preference is to understand what it is that I am playing with rather than suddenly get caught short when I don't have the time to deal with a problem.

MPeg4 avi is here to stay and anyone who has more than a passing interest in this technology needs to get passed the poor and limited software options that products like Dr Divx offer.

[Orfax]

Don't feel dumb, these options probably aren't available, autogk and DR DIVX control the process which is one reason they are a waste of space.Each to their own. There is nothing wrong with "simple" software as long as you are aware of what is provided, and what the limitations are.

[alazok]

I agree with Orfax.
Using simple software is absolutely fine for re encoding movies that don't need any extra modifications or enhancements.
If you get dvd quality stuff that just needs to be converted from Xvid to DivX then these simple programs don't lose any of the quality of the original - just gets the job done quickly with minimum of effort.
Many times after watching the movie I wonder why I even bothered! Why can't they make good movies like they used to with good stories and good acting????

[davidf]

I agree with Orfax.
Using simple software is absolutely fine for re encoding movies that don't need any extra modifications or enhancements.


Wrong...

Re-encoding is only part of the process, forums globally have millions of issues with 'simple' reencoding of video. The biggest problem i see is usually lack of understanding of the process, the second is the actual software that is being used and that is usually the auto-moron software.

Like I said its only when you have a problem that the limitations of products such as dr-divx become obvious.

Now that hardware players have become more popular the need to re-encode and understand the process is even more important than it was several months ago.