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vividcon

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 [info]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
  1. Get and install the Panasonic DV codec.
  2. Get an AVI or MPEG source file from somewhere -- you can either rip a DVD or download an AVI.
  3. Open the source file in VirtualDubMod (current version is 1.5.10.1).
  4. Open up Vdub.
  5. Go to Video -> Filters and select "Add..."
  6. 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.
  7. Go to Video -> Compression and select the Panasonic DV codec from the list.
  8. (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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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

  1. Get and install the AMV App. This will install the XviD and MP3 codecs for you along with Virtual Dub Mod.
  2. 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.)
  3. Open up VirtualDubMod.
  4. Open your DV avi file in VDub.
  5. Go to Streams -> Stream list. This will show you the audio stream.
  6. Right-click on the audio stream and select "Full Processing Mode".
  7. Right-click on the audio stream again, and now "Compression" will be an available choice.
  8. 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.
  9. Go to Video->Compression and select XviD MPEG-4 Codec from the list. Hit Configure.
  10. Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 1st pass Click OK.
  11. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file as whateveryouwant_1.avi. Wait until the file has saved. (Will take a while.)
  12. Go to Video->Compression and choose XviD again and hit Configure.
  13. Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 2nd pass.
  14. In the "Target size (kbytes) field, put in the target size. I usually go for 30000. (30 MB) Click OK.
  15. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file with the real final name you want.
  16. When done, trash the whateveryouwant_1.avi file.
  17. You are done!

  18. 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.

Tags:

Posted on Mar. 6th, 2004 at 08:03 pm | | Leave a comment | 30 comments | Add to Memories | Share

Comments


[info]littlesammy

Wonderful! Just what I needed, clean and simple. :) Thank you very much.
Posted on Mar. 6th, 2004 05:04 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]sockkpuppett

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.
Posted on Mar. 6th, 2004 06:14 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]thefannishwaldo

I downloaded the .wmv file (I have the WMP for the Mac) and I got the music, but no images...

Help?

Waldo.
Posted on Mar. 7th, 2004 06:41 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]astolat

Do you have WMP version 9? That might be it...
Posted on Mar. 8th, 2004 06:49 am (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]lea_ysaye

Hi!

Tried it exactly as you said, but I only get sound in the output.

Help?! :(
Posted on Mar. 7th, 2004 07:26 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]astolat

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.
Posted on Mar. 8th, 2004 06:50 am (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]syredronning

Hi. I have the same problem - did you ever find a solution to it?
Posted on Oct. 12th, 2006 10:23 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]permetaform

belated feedback

::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! =)
Posted on Jun. 22nd, 2004 01:50 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]permetaform

Neat! (bookmarking to add to Vidding for Newbies)
Posted on Jul. 19th, 2004 06:36 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]xfunkydoryx

You're instructions for encoding just made my (damn, I'm a sad case). Thank you!
Posted on Jun. 5th, 2005 12:52 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]xfunkydoryx

Uh. "My day" even.
Posted on Jun. 5th, 2005 12:52 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]rossetti

Just found this and it saved my life, in that way where life means desire to vid at all. Thanks for posting!
Posted on Jan. 29th, 2006 09:30 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]deadflowerss

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.
Posted on Feb. 5th, 2006 09:51 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]doublej42

the Panasonic DV codec.

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?
Posted on Feb. 13th, 2006 10:56 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]astolat

Re: the Panasonic DV codec.

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.
Posted on Feb. 13th, 2006 03:38 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

Re: the Panasonic DV codec.

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...

Posted on Feb. 20th, 2006 12:00 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]les342

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!!!!!!
Posted on Jun. 3rd, 2006 02:12 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]keerawa

Thanks so much, Shallot!
This really helped me get a web-publishable version of my first vid ready.
Posted on Jun. 17th, 2006 10:19 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]i_naiad

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.
Posted on Aug. 4th, 2006 12:33 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]jo_lasalle

I'm so glad I came across this; there were almost casualties in Me vs. Premiere before. Thanks very much for posting this!
Posted on Sep. 15th, 2006 11:10 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]syredronning

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 :/
Posted on Oct. 12th, 2006 10:18 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]syredronning

Oh, just saw someone else already asked that. Sorry for bothering you. Will investigate further!
Posted on Oct. 12th, 2006 10:22 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]r_sambora_luvr

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?
Posted on Mar. 6th, 2007 09:19 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]some_stars

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.)
Posted on Jun. 21st, 2007 02:13 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]bitter_crimson

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)
Posted on Jan. 1st, 2008 11:21 am (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]some_stars

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*
Posted on Jan. 1st, 2008 05:08 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]some_stars

....I totally can't read today, hi! *facepalm*
Posted on Jan. 1st, 2008 05:08 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]bitter_crimson

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.
Posted on Jan. 1st, 2008 06:10 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]mresundance

Yes, this was ages ago, but I have been trying, without success, to figure out how to use xvid to encode my vids. This has been a goddess send. Thank you so much!
Posted on Sep. 17th, 2008 09:53 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]china_shop

Oh, awesome! Thanks for this!
Posted on Dec. 19th, 2009 07:30 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply