Help with file compression (avi)

[Hazarrd 1]

I've searched and found a few posts on this, but none that give me a complete answer.

I've taken video from VHS and encoded it onto my computer in high quality digital video format (file extension is avi). These file sizes are huge, which is what I want, but I want to compress these file sizes down so that I can share them as well. Like I said, I want the huge file sizes as well to keep archived on CD, but I can't figure out what I should use (software or file type) to drastically reduce these filze sizes. I've used Vegas Video to try and render various file sizes but they come out "choppyish." Every few seconds there is a slight chop/break which is noticeable. I know this is due to the drecease in quality (less frames per second) but I'm sure that you guys have a way around this or have a specific app/file type you use.

Suggestions please? Thanks.

.-.

[quade 4]

Consider, http://www.discreet.com/products/cleaner/

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ChangoLanzao 0]

I use VirtualDub, which is free, with the DivX codec, also free. The quality is pretty good.

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[br0k3n 0]

VirtualDub is deffinetly the way to go...

Download the Divx codec, http://www.divix.com if you can get hold of it, try to find a copy of Divx-pro, although its not free. which means spending money, although i have heard of people p2p'ing it... personally I wouldnt know.

Then download a program called Virtual Dub http://www.virtualdub.org/index

You will also need to download and install the a MP3 encoder, for virtual-dub, and the best one is the Fraunhofer IIS Mp3Enc http://www.dbpoweramp.com/...-central-franmp3.htm

Ok once you have downloaded and installed Virtual Dub, Divx and MP3 Enc, your ready to go.

I would suggest that you read up on Virtual Dub, also…

Once your ready to go,
1. drag and drop the uncompressed .AVI file into Vdub.
2. select Audio
3. select Full Processing Mode
4. Select Audio / Compression
5. In the compression window select MP3 then select what compression you want
6. select Video/Full processing mode
7. select video/filters

If you intend to play the finished file on a pc then you will need to De-Interlace it.

8. In the video/filters menu select “add” and then De-interlace, then in the box that appears select “blend both fields”
9. select video/compression
10. select the divx codec and click configure, under the general parameters tab should be “enable resize” click it as the size of the video you have will be 720 x 576, so you will want to bring that down, say to 320 x 240, or what ever you want.
11. on the “divx codec” tab select the encoding bitrate that you want, the lower the bitrate the more the compression.
12 select file/save as .avi and that’s it.

I know this seems a little complicated, but once you have used V-dub a couple of times you will have the hang of it, and the results will be a lot better as you have more control.
Also play around with the Video/Audio/compression settings to see what gives you the bet results; I found that it took a few attempts to get the file size/quality that I wanted.
I just compressed a 4GB .AVI, with Vdub got it down to 116MB whilst still maintaining fairly good quality at 600x400 picture size…

Hope this helps

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--+ There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't.. --+

[bob.dino 1]

The DivX and XVid codecs work well, and you can configure them to squash the file size right down without losing too much quality.

edit: yeah, just do what Oli said!

[WeakMindedFool 0]

Gordian Knot is the ONLY way to go. Give me an email and I'll send it to you (It's free ware so go find it if you like...Look @ videohelp.com in the tools sec). It uses v.dub to convert to xvid but automates.
Peace!

Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves.
-Eric Hoffer -
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