How do I multi-pass encode a video in Virtual Dub

[AZGamer]

I've noticed multi-passed videos look better given their size and bitrate in terms of quality. I'm trying to save some home movies, and I want to keep them on my Hard Drive so I don't have to worry so much about the old tapes.

2 questions:
1. What Divx (or other codec) bitrate would be considered fairly lossless while still smaller than raw video?
2. How would I do a multi-pass encoding with Divx Pro?

Sorry if I sound confusing - I really haven't done much with Divx and VirtualDub (never really into "backing up DVDs" or the like).

 

[xtknight]

In regards to the bitrate/etc you should use I have absolutely no idea. What I can help you with is the multi-pass encoding itself. First, load your video. Do the normal, select compression as DivX, and go into DivX codec options in the same window. Select 2ndpass-1st. Click OK... Then, File->Save As... and specify a filename. VirtualDub will encode as normal. When it's done, immediately go back to the Compression dialog and into DivX options. This time choose 2ndpass - 2nd. Click OK, file Save as again and specify the same filename as you did to begin with. Then the file is done encoding with 2-pass.

 

[AZGamer]

Thanks - I saw those options, but at first it was just First Pass or X Pass - I wasn't sure if X pass was to be saved over first pass or what.

I guess I'll just try some different bitrates to see what works.

 

[boran]

there are lossless avi codecs, the one I know of is HuffYUV (google it, not 100% sure if the name is correct) but that one might be outdated.
this site gives a good list of lossless codecs and compares them.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: AZGamer
Thanks - I saw those options, but at first it was just First Pass or X Pass - I wasn't sure if X pass was to be saved over first pass or what.

I guess I'll just try some different bitrates to see what works.

Nope, nothing is overwritten. The 2ndpass-first phase outputs a log file of encoding data. Then the 2ndpass-second phase processes that and outputs the final file. Not sure what's actually outputted to the AVI file during 2ndpass-first phase, but don't worry about it. It worked for me. I'm not familiar with DivX as I do most of my encoding with XviD, which is a better codec according to Doom9's codec comparison.

 

[Goi]

You might wanna check the "Don't run this job now" box when you save the 1st and 2nd pass, then go to Job Control (F4) and run both passes serially so you don't have to keep checking if the 1st pass is done. Also, consider xvid instead of dvix.