Creating a DIVX codec...

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kcbass

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2001
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Ok...I'm sure most of us know how to watch a divx codec file, but i've recently been wanting to record some television shows to my computer without consuming an inordinate amount of space and have decided to use the DIVX route. I have an ATI all in wonder radeon 32Mb DDR RAM with the ATI Multimedia Center and DIVX codec 5.1. How do I actually record using the divx codec? The recordings my Multimedia center software support are MPEG 1, MPEG 2, and AVI, but from what I've read DIVX uses MPEG 4. Do I need special software to record to DIVX? If not, can someone lead me through it?

Let me know
 
S

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
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Depending on wihich version of MMC and board drivers you have this may or may not work for you.

Open the TV, click on settings, go to the tab with the capture settings on it. On 7.X version of the MMC, there's a button under the list of available capture settings for "Custom." Click on custom, select "AVI" and follow the prompts for a screen or two, there will be a pull-down list / scroll down list of available codecs; Divx should be on it. Just select that codec, adjust any settings, and save it. Make sure it's selected as your default capture pre-set.

I'm not at my ATI machine, so I'm doing this from memory....I might be off a little, but this should get you into a recognizable neighborhood.

BTW: You could also use VirtualDub.

Good Luck

Scott
 
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NicColt

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2000
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>but from what I've read DIVX uses MPEG 4.

it's a hacked version of MPEG4 v3. Microsofts windows media video is now MPEG4 v8 which is much better but it's a closed coded.

The best I found was MPEG1 at 1.14M/sec which will give you 650Megs for 1 hour which can fit on a cdrw. Using divx will have a way more heavy load on the cpu and you can have frame drops. The other advantage of MPEG1 is that it can be viewed full screen on basically any computer without any video hardware acceleration.
 
rbV5

rbV5

Lifer
Dec 10, 2000
12,632
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Do I need special software to record to DIVX?
Click to expand...
Some, Here's my method for Divx on the fly via ATI's MMC:
First download mpeg4def, it allows you to set the bitrate of mpeg-4 codecs for use with MMC, which doesn't allow you to configure the codecs from within the application.

Also, you'll need the divx codec installed, I still use the low motion 3.11a codec, fastest encoder/best IQ IMHO, you can use what you want.

I use mpeg4def and set keyframe every 1 sec, smoothness/crispness to 75, and data rate to 6000Kb/sec and click apply. Those codec setting will now be used when you pick your codec from the drop down list (editing an AVI preset in MMC). Set the resolution to 320X240 (this way you only cap 1 field per frame, avoiding interlacing artifacts completely) and go.

This gives me around 20 MB/min for "on the fly" divx encodings with MMC 7.6, you can cut that in half by compressing the audio in virtualdub(I can run you through this if you need help also). You shouldn't have any problems dropping frames with your rig at those settings, my old duron 900 rig handled it just fine.

I wont use that method for my best encodings, but if I'm capping on the fly, thats how I do it. Good luck, LMK if you need a hand setting it up.
 
D

dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
0
Hi,

I managed to download VirtualDub and played around with it. I know how to cut and save but do not know how to combine 2 or more Avi/mpg files. I noticed Append AVI segment is grey out. I downloaded Virdubapp14C patch but can't run it. It gives me error on both W2K and Win XP.

Some help would be appreciated on the following using Virtual Dub:
1. After I cut some scenes, when I save, how do I save using the save configuration (codecs) as it was. Reason being, when I save using other Codecs, the file get much bigger than it was. This kinda defeat my purpose.

2. Is there a easy way to combine multiple avis/mpgs files together? I can't get virtualdub to do it. Is there a way? How about other freewares that could easily do this?

TIA
 
H

Haden

Senior member
Nov 21, 2001
578
0
0
dayg,
check the Video->Direct stream copy option. As for merging files, you can open avi and then do File->Append AVI segment, this will do the work.

P.S.
I'm actually using Nandub.
 
K

kcbass

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2001
1,378
0
71
Haden,

I want to explore all my options in this matter. can you give me a link to nandub?
 
C

Czar

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
28,510
0
0
Originally posted by: NicColt
>but from what I've read DIVX uses MPEG 4.

it's a hacked version of MPEG4 v3. Microsofts windows media video is now MPEG4 v8 which is much better but it's a closed coded.
Click to expand...
that was divx3.11

divx4.12 and divx5 are full independant mpeg4 codecs
 
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NicColt

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2000
4,362
0
71
>divx4.12 and divx5 are full independant mpeg4 codecs

yea I know but MPEG4 is basically just a codec 'guideline' and what and how you do it becomes an mpeg4 codec. divx4.12 and 5 in order to avoid infringing on microsoft's mpeg4 codec had to create a new mpeg4 codec from scratch and the resulting codec compared to microsoft's mpeg4 v8 is just plain bad. I dare anyone to render a clip with the same b/sec with divx5 and one with wmv v8 the you will see for yourself.

The search for the holy grail here are two things.

1. what codec to use for the best compression/quality recording for later playback for a 1 time viewing that is versatile, in other words that can play on several computers, for example those that you would send by email or to record a tv show for later viewing.

2. what codec can you record with to get the absolute best quality and to then render clips to archive, or those that you will keep.
 
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kcbass

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2001
1,378
0
71
well, I tried capturing video with virtualdub per the instructions on dreday's link above, but no matter what type of compression or what frame rate i try, the video keeps jumping and although virtualdub says there are no frames being dropped, the video is terrible. Any suggestions from anyone? By the way, I am attempting to capture video from a vhs tape, not just off of television...
 
K

kcbass

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2001
1,378
0
71
well...no one seems to be watching this post anymore, but i'm gonna keep bumping it anyway. I still need to know if anyone has any advice for creating DIVX files from a VHS tape
 
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NicColt

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2000
4,362
0
71
What I'm going to tell you is my opinion only.

>I am attempting to capture video from a vhs tape

Your probably running into Macrovision copy protection.

>any advice for creating DIVX files from a VHS tape

goto doom9.org or something like that and get the macrovision buster for the AIW Radeon.

some like divx some don't, I for one don't. Depending on what I'm doing and the quality I want, I prefer to use MPEG. I'm also gearing up for uncompressed captures for higher quality. Once I have captured the video at the quality for the job I want. I then open the captured video it in my video editor called Vegas Video or you can get it's smaller version called Video Factory, I don't like premiere I don't like studio I don't like virtualdub ect. they are all a pain in the ass compared to vegas and that's my opinion end of story. Once I have my video edited I will then render it to a quality that I want. For the best quality/file size I will most likely use Microsoft MPEG4 v8 or windows media video at a hight bitrate.

If the video I rendered is 3 gigs I will use winrar to 'store' it in 655 Meg chunks to fit on cd-r or cd-rw's and that's it for my advice and opinion.
 
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kcbass

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2001
1,378
0
71
also, i don't know what Macrovision copy protection is, but when i try to record, the video just looks like the tracking is all screwed up. i thought my tape was dying, but it just turned out to be how my computer was playing it back...
 
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