astolat: More fun with VirtualDub and encoding vid files

astolat (

astolat) wrote,
@ 2004-03-06 20:03:00

Entry tags:

vidding tech

More fun with VirtualDub and encoding vid files
While making the DivX file for Duende, I finally figured out how to really get the file size down (the trick is to compress the audio to MP-3 instead of leaving it in WAV format), and as I was about to gloat about this to melina123, it occurred to me that maybe some of the rest of you would be interested in how Virtual Dub can be used both for this, and for getting clips out of a DivX or similar type file that can be used in Premiere or a similar editing package.

So, here's how it works (this is for Windows only, sorry).

ETA 2/28/2007
To change instructions to use the AMV App instead of downloading codecs separately.

ETA 7/15/2006
Changes:
- VirtualDubMod *can* do audio processing, it's just done via the Streams->Stream list menu. So I have updated these instructions to use VirtualDubMod instead of VirtualDub.

1. Using VirtualDub to get clips out of a downloaded or ripped file that can be used in Premiere

Get and install the Panasonic DV codec.
Get an AVI or MPEG source file from somewhere -- you can either rip a DVD or download an AVI.
Open the source file in VirtualDubMod (current version is 1.5.10.1).
Open up Vdub.
Go to Video -> Filters and select "Add..."
Add a "resize" filter and select "Configure". Resize into 720x480 size. If the file has a wonky aspect ratio, you can use the preview and combine the 'resize frame and letterbox image' in combination with the image resize to get the video to look right. The important thing is that you end up with a frame of 720x480.
Go to Video -> Compression and select the Panasonic DV codec from the list.
(Optional, saves disk space) Go to Streams -> Stream list. This will show you the audio. Select the audio stream and then click the "Disable" button in the lower right hand corner. This will give you only the video instead of the audio.
You can either convert the entire source file (will be gigantic; M&C converted was about 46 GB -- yes, that's *gigs*, not megabytes) or set start and end points for the clip you want.
To actually get the clip, go to File -> Save As AVI. You can also batch up a bunch of clips to run them overnight.

These clips will now work just fine and be frame-accurate in Premiere.

2. Using VirtualDub to encode a vid for online distribution

Get and install the AMV App. This will install the XviD and MP3 codecs for you along with Virtual Dub Mod.
Export your movie from Premiere or whatever editing program you use, into a DV AVI. This will be very large. (e.g., it was 660 MB for Duende, which is under 3 minutes.)
Open up VirtualDubMod.
Open your DV avi file in VDub.
Go to Streams -> Stream list. This will show you the audio stream.
Right-click on the audio stream and select "Full Processing Mode".
Right-click on the audio stream again, and now "Compression" will be an available choice.
Select Compression and select MPEG Layer-3 from the list on the left, and then "192 kBits/s, 24,000 Hz, Stereo" from the list on the right.
Go to Video->Compression and select XviD MPEG-4 Codec from the list. Hit Configure.
Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 1st pass Click OK.
Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file as whateveryouwant_1.avi. Wait until the file has saved. (Will take a while.)
Go to Video->Compression and choose XviD again and hit Configure.
Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 2nd pass.
In the "Target size (kbytes) field, put in the target size. I usually go for 30000. (30 MB) Click OK.
Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file with the real final name you want.
When done, trash the whateveryouwant_1.avi file.
You are done!
Old DivX instructions preserved for legacy use:
1. Go to Video->Compression and choose DivX 5.1 from the list. Hit Configure.
2. Under "Variable bitrate mode" pick Multipass, 1st pass (VERY IMPORTANT!).
3. Under "Encoding bitrate" enter 768 kbps. Click OK.
4. Now go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file as whateveryouwant_1.avi. Wait until the file has saved.
5. Next, go to Video->Compression and again select Divx 5.1, and hit Configure.
6. Under "Variable bitrate mode" pick Multiplass, nth pass. Leave bitrate at 768 kbps. Click OK.
7. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file with the real final name you want.
8. When done, trash the whateveryouwant_1.avi file.

Voila -- you will now have a high-quality XviD file. The second pass thing is critical for getting the quality up, and the audio compression step is critical for getting the size down. If you don't do that, more than half your file will be uncompressed WAV audio.

(Post a new comment)

	littlesammy 2004-03-06 05:04 pm UTC (link)
	Wonderful! Just what I needed, clean and simple. :) Thank you very much. (Reply to this)

	sockkpuppett 2004-03-06 06:14 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had a Panasonic DV codec already, but it wasn't that one. That was why I couldn't do anything with Kill Bill. Go figger. I now will have to either redownload KB or else save these instructions for something else, but I'm so glad you posted them. Thank you again. (Reply to this)

	frahulettaes 2004-03-06 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	oh, Shalott, oh, oh, oh. I loved Duende when I saw it at E. And now I've gotten to see it again, it's so very lovely. All my friends think so too. fra (Reply to this)

	thefannishwaldo 2004-03-07 06:41 am UTC (link)
	I downloaded the .wmv file (I have the WMP for the Mac) and I got the music, but no images... Help? Waldo. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	astolat 2004-03-08 06:49 am UTC (link)
	Do you have WMP version 9? That might be it... (Reply to this)(Parent)

	lea_ysaye 2004-03-07 07:26 am UTC (link)
	Hi! Tried it exactly as you said, but I only get sound in the output. Help?! :( (Reply to this)(Thread)

	astolat 2004-03-08 06:50 am UTC (link)
	Sorry, but it's always worked fine for me so I have no idea what the trouble might be. You could try googling for help; there are a lot of forums for discussion of divx encoding. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	syredronning 2006-10-12 10:23 pm UTC (link)
	Hi. I have the same problem - did you ever find a solution to it? (Reply to this)(Parent)

belated feedback

permetaform
2004-06-22 01:50 am UTC (link)

::pouts at you:: dangit, your vid is not in your vid-memories!

anywho, here are general thoughts and feedback for your Blew 'Em Away vid:

first of all, I only watched a couple of episodes of Highlander, so I only recognize Duncan, but this was fun! The bit where he jumped on the car (love the timing on that!) and punches the bear! ::giggles:: Also love the "color change at "business suit" and how it's like "voi-LA!" And the first "Blow them away" has marvelous timing! With the "three whole lanes" part! ::bounces:: LOVE the timing at "I got to get to where I'm going quick" and second "Blow them away" too.

Also? ::MUCH DYING AT "honk my horn":: DYING I SAY! And I don't know *why* the motocycle line is so funny, maybe the ambiant laughter?? Maybe the way he got on it? dunno, but it is.

The kiss at "Knocked him over"! ::glee::

The "Here Fifi" part!! ::giggles::

Overall, some very very funny/amusing clip choices to the lyrics and lovely timing of movement, the bounce-sweep kinda rhythm that you set with the clips that matches the strumming of the guitar; it somehow made everything light and bouncy and pulled me along despite my not knowing the source too well. Thank you for making this! =)

(Reply to this)

	permetaform 2004-07-19 06:36 pm UTC (link)
	Neat! (bookmarking to add to Vidding for Newbies) (Reply to this)

	xfunkydoryx 2005-06-05 12:52 pm UTC (link)
	You're instructions for encoding just made my (damn, I'm a sad case). Thank you! (Reply to this)(Thread)

	xfunkydoryx 2005-06-05 12:52 pm UTC (link)
	Uh. "My day" even. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	rossetti 2006-01-29 09:30 pm UTC (link)
	Just found this and it saved my life, in that way where life means desire to vid at all. Thanks for posting! (Reply to this)

	deadflowerss 2006-02-05 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Hi. Your post has been invaluable to be,without it I would never have got the hang of premiere or been able to export my vid. I have referred back to it on many occasions,and it has been the best source of information,in what is a very confusing subject. Thank you. (Reply to this)

	the Panasonic DV codec. doublej42 2006-02-13 10:56 am UTC (link)
	Ok I'm new to this and I'm just currious what the the Panasonic DV codec is for, just happens to be good quality? right now I'm useing raw frames also I found that virtual dub when ripping from dvd especially woudl loose audio tracking. have you found or fixed this? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: the Panasonic DV codec. astolat 2006-02-13 03:38 pm UTC (link)
	No, I basically don't use audio, so it's not an issue for me. The PDV codec does some compression, so I suspect it will produce smaller clips than raw, and it's a native format for Premiere, so no rendering required if you choose project settings that match the frame rate/resolution. But any frame-accurate codec will work reliably. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: the Panasonic DV codec. (Anonymous) 2006-02-20 12:00 pm UTC (link)
	So is this method only for ripping from a DVD disc to an avi, or can I convert the VOB files I already have on my HD to avi as well? I use Premier and it's a wonderful program, but finding a format it will actually read is a task and a half... (Reply to this)(Parent)

	les342 2006-06-03 02:12 pm UTC (link)
	This is great! I've been wanting to do a Pirates of the Caribbean vid, but I've had trouble getting a copy of the movie to use. The first three times I downloaded it, there were Asian subtitles and the last time I downloaded it, the picture quality was just shit. I knew there was a way to convert files, but could never get it to work until now. Thank you!!!!!! (Reply to this)

	keerawa 2006-06-17 10:19 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks so much, Shallot! This really helped me get a web-publishable version of my first vid ready. (Reply to this)

	i_naiad 2006-08-04 12:33 pm UTC (link)
	First, thank you so much for putting this together. It's incredibly helpful. Second, I tried to follow the link to the mp3 codec, but it just takes me to an index for a video editing forum. I tried searching for the cdec there, but had no luck. Do you have any suggestions for where I might be able to find the codec or a way to work around not having it? Thanks again. (Reply to this)

	k_julia 2006-09-15 11:10 am UTC (link)
	I'm so glad I came across this; there were almost casualties in Me vs. Premiere before. Thanks very much for posting this! (Reply to this)

syredronning
2006-10-12 10:18 pm UTC (link)

I know this is quite an old posting, but I found it very helpful - unfortunately, whenever I try to set to Multipass in 2.11., the result is that my compressed video shows no video, only audio! (My husband tried the same on his computer, same problem.) We have DivX6. I'd be extremely happy if you had any solution to this problem. I spend a frelling 4 hours now on trying to output my vid in a sensible format/size :/

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	syredronning 2006-10-12 10:22 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, just saw someone else already asked that. Sorry for bothering you. Will investigate further! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	r_sambora_luvr 2007-03-06 09:19 pm UTC (link)
	just a quick question i fallowed the steps above i have a few AVIs on my computer i wanted to get clips from when i try to open them in the mod it don't work it says that no decompression located???? any ideas as to what i could use to open them and take clips from them? (Reply to this)

	lcsbanana 2007-06-21 02:13 am UTC (link)
	oh my GOD, thank you for this--it has made everything SO MUCH BETTER. :D (do you know any reason why vdub might be not allowing me to encode with mpeg layer-3 any higher than 56 kb/s? the source is a .wav made from a 192 kb/s mp3, so I am confused.) (Reply to this)(Thread)

	bitter_crimson 2008-01-01 11:21 am UTC (link)
	I realize this is an old thread, but I was browsing through vid meta because I am having the same problem. Did you ever figure out how to fix that? (I just ended up encoding with Lame MP3, which is what I've done in the past, but since another person was once having the same issue as me, I am curious.) Edited at 2008-01-01 11:51 am UTC (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lcsbanana 2008-01-01 05:08 pm UTC (link)
	no, sorry! I ended up downloading another mp3 encoder thingie though, and it seems to work fine. I think it's included in the AMVApp? "Lame MP3"...I haven't noticed any bad results, anyhow. g (Reply to this)(Parent)

	lcsbanana 2008-01-01 05:08 pm UTC (link)
	....I totally can't read today, hi! facepalm (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	bitter_crimson 2008-01-01 06:10 pm UTC (link)
	That's okay, you might've missed me saying that the first time, 'cause I edited the entry. ;) Thanks for letting me know! And yeah, I've never noticed any problems with quality using Lame MP3 either, at least as far as I can tell. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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