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(Possibly) Stupid question about compressing AVIs

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  • DJ_Tet
    Junior Member
    Junior Member
    • Mar 2002
    • 3

    (Possibly) Stupid question about compressing AVIs

    Hi all,

    I'm new to this world of video editing and came across this forum. I have been capturing AVI's of webcam broadcasts for awhile and was looking for a way to edit/compress the files.

    The program I used for capturing was Video Conference Recorder Demo 2.0. This involved placing a "window" over the incoming webcam (usually from Yahoo messenger). Now this program in and of itself is pretty buggy and resource heavy, but it does capture the video (no audio). The only way I can get this program to work is to capture UNCOMPRESSED AVI files, and as such these files take up quite a bit of space.

    Due to some searching around, I discovered that the best way to edit these files is using Virtual Dub. It seems to be a great program and I am able to edit these files to my heart's content. I would also like to compress these AVI files so that I can fit more on a CD. I have read that compressing them with Microsoft MPEG-4 codec V 1 or 2, or DivX 5.0 codec is preferred to keep most of the original quality and have the resulting file be a much smaller size.

    According to Virtual Dub, the properties of these videos are as follows.


    Frame Size, fps 185x153, 3.0 fps
    # of frames (time) 4278 (23:46)
    Decompressor Uncompressed RGB 16
    Number of Key Frames 4278


    As I said before, there is no audio on these files and the avi's are uncompressed.

    The problem is, when I compress these AIV's using Virtual Dub, I am left with a much smaller file but the video resembles "scrambled cable". By that I mean that the picture is almost devoid of color and is slanted at an angle to the right. This is when I compress using either V 1 or 2 of Microsoft MPEG-4 Codec. The resulting file is a little over 5000 kb from a 232 meg file.

    I also compressed the file using the DivX 5.0 codec, but when that was played back all I got was a green screen, and the 232 meg file was 202 kb. I doubt there is a compression to that level yet, one can only hope

    Is there a file that I can download to view the compressed file correctly? Is there something I am doing wrong? Please help, I am tired of burning 2-3 movies per CD. There has to be a step I am missing somewhere. All I really want to do is take an uncompressed AVI file and compress it. If someone can recommend a program capable of that I can edit the files using Virtual Dub and then compress with another program. It all seems so simple, and it probably is. Thanks for trying to help a newbie
  • DJ_Tet
    Junior Member
    Junior Member
    • Mar 2002
    • 3

    #2
    If this is the wrong forum for this question please let me know which forum it should be in. Thanks.

    Comment

    • Enchanter
      Old member
      • Feb 2002
      • 5417

      #3
      Is the 232MB file of the uncompressed AVI? Just a thought. 3fps for the video is pretty much like a slideshow.

      I don't see why you can't compress using Virtualdub. Let's pick this one example. How did you go about compressing your video using DivX5? We'll start from there.

      Comment

      • DJ_Tet
        Junior Member
        Junior Member
        • Mar 2002
        • 3

        #4
        Yes, the 232 meg file is the uncompressed AVI, approximately 30 min worth, and you're right, it's like a slide show heh.

        OK, here is the process I went through. First I tried to compress using the Microsoft MPEG-4 codec V1 and 2 (tried both). I load the file into Virtual Dub. Then I click on "Video" and then "Compression". There I choose the codec and hit ok. Then I choose "Save as AVI" and hte process of compression begins. The weird thing is, on the output window, the video looks great, just like the original. But when I view the video it looks like scrambled cable, like I said above.

        When I tried to compress using the DivX5 codec, the process was pretty much the same. I did however have to load DivX5Bundle.exe to have the codecs on my PC. Once I did this, I was able to compress without any errors. But like I said, I am left with a compressed video of nothing but a green screen.

        Both these videos were compressed without errors (Pop up errors in Virtual Dub I mean), and are the same length as the original video.

        Comment

        • Enchanter
          Old member
          • Feb 2002
          • 5417

          #5
          WHat do you actually mean by 'scrambled cable'? Can you post a picture of it here?

          I have heard of people having the same trouble with DivX5, so I suggest that you replace it with 4.12 instead. Otherwise, your compression method looks fine with me. Just make sure that the video tab is set to Full Processing Mode.

          Comment

          • setarip
            Retired
            • Dec 2001
            • 24955

            #6
            "This is when I compress using either V 1 or 2 of Microsoft MPEG-4 Codec."

            Have you tried altering the settings for "Smoothness/Crispness" and "Bitrate"?

            Comment

            • techno
              Digital Video Master
              Digital Video Master
              • Nov 2001
              • 1309

              #7
              when capturing, use these settings if possible:

              no recompression
              CD sound quality wav
              320*240
              25/30fps
              YU12

              the quality is great, then use VD or nandub to compress to DIVX



              Techno

              Comment

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