Multimedia The Guide to using DivX with Virtual Dub

The Guide to using DivX with Virutal Dub

I'll be preparing a Guide to teach you, and you too, how to compress movies with the DivX, the version i'm using here will be 5.0.5 to day of releasing this TUT it's the latest

 

First

First of all we need to have the programs^_^
http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/stable/

the virtual Dub in these page way better than the original, and handles VOB files, the ones in the DVD movies
,but you need too rip them first...
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/smartripper.cfm
there's a DVD ripping program EZ and really small 700-Kbs
HTTP://www.divx.com
ofcourse.. the DIVX program, hehe get the pro version, the one with ads, or the normal one.. whatever fits youre liking i use the ad-infested PRO version


if you want some plugins... there 2 plugins I recommend
1- Chroma Noise Reduction - http://freevcr.ifrance.com/freevcr/virtualdub/cnr-en.html
2 - MSharpen - http://shelob.mordor.net/dgraft/msharpen/msharpen-vdub.html

All of these programs are free AND AWESOME

 

OK now that you have everything.. and installed them...
the plugins go unzipped in the plugins folder inside the Virtual Dub folder.

Open up the virtual dub, and open a AVI,MPG or VOB file...

 

now we select the file.. here i'm gonna use an already ripped movie for example...

 

now let's imagine these programs needs some work... example, some VHS Type noise...
we go to VIDEO, then FILTERS

 

were going great up to now ...
ok when you press filters is going to open a window.... now we onna press the ADD button

 

now we select the Chroma Noise reduction filter...
the defaults settings are most of the time sufuccient, don't use these if you're using a DVD-rip... you'll only worsen quality or waste CPU Time...or... deminish the filter strenght which I did , now that we setted up the filter to our own liking.. press OK

 

here's a pic of the filter like I have it setted up

 

ok, now if you want to put more filters, it's up to you, the MSharpen filter is for making sharper/bolder the edges in anime characters, the filter was built for that sole porpuse, so it must work...

Now if the movie is in letterbox/Widescreen format, we need to crop the black border to conserve MBs in the final compress, i'll talk about his soon, and the virtual dub will work fastest cause it doesn't need to process as much.

 

when you press the CROPPING button I showed in the last pic, it will show you this screen... in this screen you tell Virtual dub show much to crop and from where.. up down, left or right
then press OK

 

ok done with the filters...
ok now to select the compression format
select.. VIDEO then... COMPRESSION

 

now we select the compression format...
we're gonna use the DIVX codec in this example

 

OK this is the big moment... working with the DIVX codec...
it's easy to do a multi-pass enconding.. i prefer only encoding using only 2 or 3 passes.. MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER...
I have some divx bitrates in my mind already setted out..
320*240 @30fps = 250-300kbps
512*384 @30fps = 380-420kbps
720*356 @30fps = 850-1000kbps
usually i set it to 0.1 to -0.1 motion bar

 

ok, now let's temporarily disable audio

 

now... were gonna save the first pass, note this AVI where saving AIN'T gonna work, so don't panic

first FILE, SAVE AVI click... type the name i usually type in 1 then save

 

so here's a pic of how the save as window looks like so you don't get lost.. hehe

i'll explain in the end the *don't run these job now, .....* button

 

OK after the 1pass finishes.. we'll go back to VIDEO > COMPRESSION and click

 

we select again the divx codec...

 

now we set the variable bit rate mode to... the "Multipass, Nth pass", then in the motion field almost in the bottom set the constant quality, again i use this between 0.1 and -0.1 depending how much action the movie has...

I hope you set this divx windows as I did... making the DIVX to make the *.log file and the MV file...
we press OK