Any good "PC-VCR" programs that don't use mpeg compression?

[Earwax]

I've been using winDVR to capture video into mpeg format for sometime now. The problem is, once I capture, I reencode to divx format. I don't like mpeg codecs very much, so I typically capture at very high bitrates to avoid introducing artifacts into the capture video. I could really use a pc capture program that will perform as well as windvr, but use a different (better) video codec.

Size is not so much an issue, I could live with a 30 minute capture being as large as a gigabyte. I've tried using virtualdub, but it's just impossible to handle compressing to divx in realtime. Are there any other programs available that can pull off a good software capture?

 

[Chu]

>>

I've been using winDVR to capture video into mpeg format for sometime now. The problem is, once I capture, I reencode to divx format. I don't like mpeg codecs very much, so I typically capture at very high bitrates to avoid introducing artifacts into the capture video. I could really use a pc capture program that will perform as well as windvr, but use a different (better) video codec.

Size is not so much an issue, I could live with a 30 minute capture being as large as a gigabyte. I've tried using virtualdub, but it's just impossible to handle compressing to divx in realtime. Are there any other programs available that can pull off a good software capture?

<<

First, a little note. If you haven't tried Divx 4.12 yet, it might solve your problems. While the debate about Divx 4.x vs. 3.11a quality (and morality) goes on, noone can deny that Divx 4.12 encodes signafanctly faster then any of the other variations of Divx out there, including 4.11.

Now that I've said that, you can't have it all. I am assuming that you can't afford to spend any money on this problem, because the hardware needed to encode divx in realtime @ 6000 kb/s is pretty cheap these days. That being said, your essentially living in a world of 3 codecs unless you want to shell out some cash. Divx 3/4, Mpeg1/2, and HuffYUV. I assume you've played around with the first two, and have pretty much found what works. If you haven't tried the last, it's a free lossless video codec. If size truly isn't an option, it's probably your best choice if your i/o subsystem can handle it. It uses 400K-500K a *FRAME*.

-Chu

 

[Chu]

You know . . . after rereading that, I think I might have misinterpreted your problem.

>>I don't like mpeg codecs very much,

I was wondering if you can elaborate on this . . . MPEG-2 really seems to be the hands down best choice for what your doing if your system can't handle realtime divx. Is there something in the encoding process that's bugging you? If it has something to do with VFPAI, there are alternatives to that which avoid the horrible slowdown you get from going from YUV2 -> RGB -> YUV2.

-Chu

 

[imgod2u]

VirtualDub's capture is pretty decent in quality. Although with my P3-866, I can't encode DiVX (4.12) in realtime. Rather, I have a good storage subsystem (lotsa RAM and a SCSI HD setup) so I capture using the HuffYUV lossless compression (although I doubt it really is completely lossless). Then re-encode into DiVX. For the codec to capture into, it depends on what your computer's strong point is. If you have a slow storage subsystem and a low amount of RAM but a very fast processor (AthlonXP, any grade or a P4 1.8GHz+), then capturing directly to DiVX (VirtualDub only does avi and codecs of avi, not mpeg) would do fine. Keep in mind though, when capturing and encoding directly into a high compression, even the slightest hickup in your computer could cause a loss of frame (with the HuffYUV, I've managed to capture an hour of video without loosing a single frame at 640x240, but I guess that can be attributed to my SCSI setup).

 

[Earwax]

I just don't like the mpeg1/2 codecs. Divx seems to be a much more efficient codec, which I guess is why it won't encode in realtime. It's not like my system is slow either; I have an Athlon XP1800+ along with an msi k7n420. It can almost get away with encoding to divx in realtime, but it falls just short. I've noticed that when I encode into divx it can do so at a resolution of 640x480 at about 23-25fps, which is just shy of what I would need to do in realtime.

I've settled on using mpeg2 with a very high bitrate for the time being, and converting the captured video into avi format. However, I can't find a program that will allow me to rip the audio from the mpeg file. MPEG2AVI works very nicely as far as the videostream is concerned, but it won't rip the audio. I've tried flask, but it's been a nightmare, it always seems to mess up the timescale of the video.

Anyone know of any mpeg audiostream ripping programs?

 

[Ciber]

errrrrrr wrong program.......

 

[Ciber]

use this baby......

you owe me 1 billion DOLLARS..........hahaha, yeah it's early and im still kinda crazy

 

[Chu]

>> However, I can't find a program that will allow me to rip the audio from the mpeg file

Can you describe your encoding process? You really shoud be doing a 30->25 fps pulldown (inverse telecine), and the most popular program that does this (TMPGenc) has it's audio ripping features clearly labeled.

-Chu

 

[Earwax]

The whole process is

 

[Earwax]

dammit. sorry for multiple post

Anyway, the whole process is sort of ridiculous. All I want to do is capture various shows on my tuner card and encode them into divx. However, winDVR is the only reliable capturing program that I have, and it will only capture in set resolutions using mpeg1 and 2. So first I have to capture my video in windvr, I then use dvd2avi to rip the mpeg files to avi and I use tmpgenc to rip the audio to .wav format. After all that I encode the wav files into vbr mp3, use two passes with divx 4.12 in vdubmp3, and create the final file. It's a real pain and there has to be a better way.

I'm actually considering installing windows 98SE on this machine so I can use my old DC-10 card which uses mjpeg compression. But I think I'd rather spend 80 or 100 dollars on a different capture card than have to run old versions of windows. I'm also having severe ghosting problems in winDVR when I try to capture above 320x240. I think winDVR is using some sort of deinterlace filter which can't be turned off that is causing the ghosting.

Thanks for any help/suggestions.