encode a DVD-file into mpeg4/avi

Not sure if such a topic already exists. but since it has sth to do with the subbing process there must have been a subject which I simply overread. If that's the case please merge the topics.

My group is realeasing "In love with a girl" at the moment. We had some problems with the quality of the last episodes as we only had the rmvbs. But now I got my hands on the DVDs (the quality is so much nicer Smile

). But this is where the problem starts. I am not really good in stuff like encoding. Actually my experiments I did (using virtualdub and MeGUI) turned out to be pretty bad. So I need a guide about how to encode a DVD file into avi or mpeg 4 or whatever format written in an understandable language.
I tried doom and videohelp but there are so many options. I am not really sure which format is better. Xvid, Dvix, avi, mp4...I got really confused. Which one shall I use and where is the difference? Also which size shall I aim for? Is there such a big quality difference between 700MB and 400MB files? as for the audio, lame mp3 is good, right?

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:06 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Well the main things you need to worry about during encoding fansubs is the video codec, audio codec, size etc. As for the codec, you basically have three main choices when fansubbing: XviD, DivX, or h.264 (x264)

I would personally go for XviD as it easier to use, is more stable, is free, and is more standard/supported. DivX is basically the same as XviD, but it isn't free and isn't as configurable. You would go for x264 if you want to keep very good quality at lower filesizes, but then this means it can take a LOT longer than when encoding with XviD or DivX, and can also take longer to process on slower computers, which means lag. Another bonus about XviD is that it works almost perfectly on all DivX Players, if you don't use the QPel and such. Also, make sure you always go for 2 or Multi Pass, as they always produce better quality for your filesize. Also, watch out for interlacing, as that can be a pain to watch, and even more of a pain to undo if it wasn't done right (as is the case with a few asian dvd's, but mostly the bootlegged Chinese ones).

As for size and quality, it's pretty much up to you to experiment. You can try different filesizes, and which ever is satisfactory should be the one you go with. Sometimes there can be little difference between a 700mb file and a 400mb, but sometimes there can be alot. It mostly depends on the source and codec.

As for audio, Lame MP3 is good, I usually encode it at 160kbps. Perhaps I'll write a guide during these holidays on encoding DVD's and hardsubbing them. I'm sure a guide suited to the more to the fansubbing environment (ie just adding subs) would help new fansubbers a lot. Big Smile

I have to also mention that the doom9 and videohelp guides ARE very helpful with this sorta thing as well, but as you said can be confusing.

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

@bankai

thanks for your input. Really hope that you can write a good guide when you have some free time. you are right videohelp and doom are good resources, but if you don't know where to start it doesn't help. but since I now know that I should go for XviD, I at least know which guides are relevant for me.
If I succeed in encoding I might share some of my other dramas. I have a nice collection of TW dramas.

fansubber environment? Do you mean the fansubbing thread? I've been there a lot and know how to add subs (but my results are not good enough to be shared). So do you want to say that adding subs and encoding DVD files are about the same procedure. I understand that they are, but you see I keep the original file format when I add subs to sth, so I wasn't really sure which kind of file I should chose since all the subbers use different programs and ul different kind of files. hehe, I am not really a new fansubber, but I am only repsonsible for timing, translating, QC and not for the technical aspects. I rather leave the tech. aspects to the people who know what they do. but since I am the one with the DVDs... Sad

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that avi works with it the best.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

stupid question I know, but can you tell me how long the first pass of a 2 pass takes? Somehow my first pass only needs about 1 min and then it's done whereas the 2nd pass takes some hours. Shouldn't the first pass take more time?

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

As far as I remember, the 2 passes for an XviD encoding should be equal. So that seems really odd to me that the first pass takes you a minute.

The exact time it takes to encode is dependent on your computer. My comp is a bit old and I think takes 2-3 hours per pass on a 700MB file. A newer computer (one of the new dual cores) takes an hour at most.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Hmm, that is strange. What exactly are you doing to encode the dvd's?

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I was playing around with virtual dub. Under "Video" I set the compression to Xvid first pass and the audio to lame MP3. Full processing mode. Then I saved it as avi-file. I used a small mpeg file for tests. The file is only 35MB big and it took about 30 seconds until the file was saved. I use that file to do my second pass then. And that takes a lot more time. btw realized that Virtual Dub doesn't accept vob files. That's why I was also experimenting with Gordian Knot but it somehow messed up my PC. I am having difficulties to open some of my folders now so I got rid of GK again. Not sure if that happened because if GK but I need to fix my PC first before using it again.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm not sure where you're going wrong*, but maybe try this:

- If you don't have it, get Avisynth 2.5 and DGIndex. With DGIndex there should be a DGDecode.dll file in the zip/whatever it comes in, which you put into the Program Files/Avisynth 2.5/Plugins folder.

- Get this program called DGIndex, load your vob into there, go to Audio and choose Output Method>Demux AC3 tracks to WAV. Then go to File>Save project.

- When that's done open notepad (or your preferred text editor and then type in something like, making sure you are pointing to the .d2v file and not the vob:
MPEG2Source("C:\Video.d2v")

- Try loading that into VirtualDub (or I recommend VirtualDub MOD). You can change "Full processing mode" to "Fast recompress" if you aren't using any filters to save a bit of time.

- Just walking through what I normally do, go to the compression window and choose xvid. Probably leave the profile at unrestricted, and change the encoding type to "Two pass: first pass" if it isn't already like that.

- Go and save the avi file, but make sure you check "Dont run this job now... etc.".

- Then go to the compression tab again and into the xvid window, and change the encoding type to 2nd pass, and bitrate to what you have calculated in the bitrate calculator. Best not to change any other settings.

- Then go to the "Streams" tab and click on stream list and click add, and add the .wav file that DGIndex made earlier. Then right click on that and change the encoding settings (you know how to do that.)

- Again you go and save the avi file, but make sure you check "Dont run this job now... etc.".

- Then in job control under the file menu press start and see if the 1 minute 1 pass still occurs.

* Though, seeing as the VOB is only 35mb big, it may not be too unusual for that to happen. Maybe you should try with something longer than 1 minute and see if it still occurs. I would say that a 35mb file is only a few seconds, right?

Note: Also, try and learn how to use Avisynth, because it's a really helpful tool because it allows you to encode practically any file playable on your computer in VirtualDub.

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

DGIndex is a part of DGMPGDec right? Btw. is there a difference btw virtual dub and virtual dub mod at all? to me it looks rather similar.
As for the 1st pass, if I chose "don't run this job now", the first pass will run together with the 2nd pass then or when does it run? I did this before but then it seemed like a single pass to me.

I'll try to follow your advices. Thanks for them. I let you know if it works for me. bet I am back whinning and asking for help soon Laugh

But I definetely figure it out (hopefully Unsure

)

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:40 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Yeah, I think DGIndex is a slightly updated version or something. As for the "Don't run your job now" option, its mainly used because its easier than waiting specifically when your 1stpass finishes to do all the settings again for your second job. It runs each job in the order you save them, so immediately after it finishes the 1st pass it should start the 2nd. I'm not sure, but I'm quite sure most people here use VDubMod. I don't know the specifics, but for me it just does things faster than regular VDub does.

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:50 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

been wanting to know why people who rip their drama from dvd can get such great quality. I tried doom and videohelp, try so many programs but still can't improve the quality if someone can write a guide that would be great

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Hi Bankai,

finally had the time to try out some encoding. but I have to confess that I wasn't using DGIndex since I found a Virtual Dub version which is able to handle DVD files. However I still am NOT successful.

So here is what I tried:
a) I loaded the vob file and set the video compression to XVID 1st pass
b) set the audio to lame MP3
c) save as avi (don't run this job now)
d) set the video compression to 2nd pass and saved the avi (don't run job now)
e) went to job control and started it.

However the quality came out so super-dooper bad. Dunno why.

I also tried:
a) I loaded the vob file and set the video compression to XVID 1st pass
b) set the audio to lame MP3
c) save as avi (don't run this job now)
d) set the video compression to 2nd pass and saved the avi

However whenever I do this a message appears saying that sth went wrong. here is the crashinfo (I don't understand a single thing)

VirtualDub-MPEG2 crash report -- build 24586 (release)
--------------------------------------

Disassembly:
100a3720: 43 inc ebx
100a3721: 088b308bd489 or [ebx-762b74d0], cl
100a3727: 328b7804897a xor cl, [ebx+7a890478]
100a372d: 048b add al, 8bh
100a372f: 7008 jo 100a3739
100a3731: 897208 mov [edx+08h], esi
100a3734: 8b400c mov eax, [eax+0ch]
100a3737: 89420c mov [edx+0ch], eax
100a373a: e875000000 call 100a37b4
100a373f: 8b45ec mov eax, [ebp-14h]
100a3742: 8b1b mov ebx, [ebx]
100a3744: 8b5004 mov edx, [eax+04h]
100a3747: 8955e8 mov [ebp-18h], edx
100a374a: 3bda cmp ebx, edx
100a374c: 75cb jnz 100a3719
100a374e: c745fcffffffff mov dword ptr [ebp-04h], ffffffff
100a3755: 8b45ec mov eax, [ebp-14h]
100a3758: 8b7004 mov esi, [eax+04h]
100a375b: 8b1e mov ebx, [esi]
100a375d: 3bde cmp ebx, esi
100a375f: 7425 jz 100a3786
100a3761: 8bc3 mov eax, ebx
100a3763: 50 push eax
100a3764: 8b1b mov ebx, [ebx]
100a3766: 8b10 mov edx, [eax]
100a3768: 8b4804 mov ecx, [eax+04h]
100a376b: 8911 mov [ecx], edx
100a376d: 8b7804 mov edi, [eax+04h]
100a3770: 8b10 mov edx, [eax]
100a3772: 897a04 mov [edx+04h], edi
100a3775: e8ae860500 call 100fbe28
100a377a: 59 pop ecx
100a377b: 8b45ec mov eax, [ebp-14h]
100a377e: 834008ff add dword ptr [eax+08h], 0ffh
100a3782: 3bde cmp ebx, esi
100a3784: 75db jnz 100a3761
100a3786: 8b45ec mov eax, [ebp-14h]
100a3789: ff7004 push dword ptr [eax+04h]
100a378c: e897860500 call 100fbe28
100a3791: 59 pop ecx
100a3792: 8b55ec mov edx, [ebp-14h]
100a3795: 8b7ddc mov edi, [ebp-24h]
100a3798: 8b75e0 mov esi, [ebp-20h]
100a379b: 8b5de4 mov ebx, [ebp-1ch]
100a379e: 33c0 xor eax, eax
100a37a0: 894204 mov [edx+04h], eax
100a37a3: 894208 mov [edx+08h], eax
100a37a6: 8b4df4 mov ecx, [ebp-0ch]
100a37a9: 64890d00000000 mov fs:[00000000], ecx
100a37b0: 8be5 mov esp, ebp
100a37b2: 5d pop ebp
100a37b3: c3 ret
100a37b4: 8b410c mov eax, [ecx+0ch]
100a37b7: 85c0 test eax, eax
100a37b9: 7419 jz 100a37d4
100a37bb: 8b542404 mov edx, [esp+04h]
100a37bf: 3b10 cmp edx, [eax] <-- FAULT
100a37c1: 7507 jnz 100a37ca
100a37c3: c6411001 mov byte ptr [ecx+10h], 01h
100a37c7: c21000 ret 0010
100a37ca: 52 push edx
100a37cb: e858860500 call 100fbe28
100a37d0: 59 pop ecx
100a37d1: c21000 ret 0010
100a37d4: 8b542404 mov edx, [esp+04h]
100a37d8: ebf0 jmp 100a37ca
100a37da: 90 nop
100a37db: 90 nop
100a37dc: 8b442404 mov eax, [esp+04h]
100a37e0: 89410c mov [ecx+0ch], eax
100a37e3: ba01000000 mov edx, 00000001
100a37e8: 885110 mov [ecx+10h], dl
100a37eb: 885118 mov [ecx+18h], dl
100a37ee: c20400 ret 0004
100a37f1: 90 nop
100a37f2: 90 nop
100a37f3: 90 nop
100a37f4: 57 push edi
100a37f5: 56 push esi
100a37f6: 55 push ebp
100a37f7: 53 push ebx
100a37f8: 8bf1 mov esi, ecx
100a37fa: 8b4608 mov eax, [esi+08h]
100a37fd: 85c0 test eax, eax
100a37ff: c6461800 mov byte ptr [esi+18h], 00h
100a3803: 7515 jnz 100a381a
100a3805: 8b560c mov edx, [esi+0ch]
100a3808: 33c0 xor eax, eax
100a380a: 894208 mov [edx+08h], eax
100a380d: 8b4e0c mov ecx, [esi+0ch]
100a3810: 88410c mov [ecx+0ch], al
100a3813: 5b pop ebx
100a3814: 5d pop ebp
100a3815: 5e pop esi
100a3816: 5f pop edi
100a3817: c20400 ret 0004
100a381a: 8b4604 mov eax, [esi+04h]
100a381d: 8b5004 mov edx, [eax+04h]

Built on Shilpa on Thu Sep 27 00:49:58 2007 using compiler version 1200

Windows 5.1 (Windows XP build 2600) [Service Pack 2]

EAX = 0263fb64
EBX = 023e68e0
ECX = 023ed244
EDX = 05c70020
EBP = 0012f9ac
ESI = 00000008
EDI = 001fa400
ESP = 0012f974
EIP = 100a37bf
EFLAGS = 00210202
FPUCW = ffff027f
FPUTW = ffffffff

Crash reason: Access Violation

Crash context:
An out-of-bounds memory access (access violation) occurred in module 'divx'...

...reading address 0263FB64.

Pointer dumps:

EBX 023e68e0: 0032fbc0 0032fbc0 05c70020 001fa400 00000008 7c913700 00040005 010c0158
ECX 023ed240: 00000001 0200d360 0032fbc0 00000001 0263fb64 00000001 001fa400 00000001
EDX 05c70020: b6010000 7f338854 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
EDI 001fa400: c4411666 c413f666 c3e30ccd c3cea000 c3d63999 c3ef6666 c4124ccd c4307666
ESP 0012f970: 00000000 100a373f 05c70020 001fa400 00000008 7c913700 023eccd8 024118f0
0012f990: 101a2998 0032fbc0 023ed244 0012f988 0012f9e0 1014348c 00000000 0012f9ec
0012f9b0: 1009098e 1019ffa8 1019ffa8 023eccd8 1019ffa8 023eccd8 024118f0 023eccd8
0012f9d0: 0012f9b0 00000051 0012fa08 0012f9b4 0012fa08 10143262 00000006 0012fa14
EBP 0012f9a8: 00000000 0012f9ec 1009098e 1019ffa8 1019ffa8 023eccd8 1019ffa8 023eccd8
0012f9c8: 024118f0 023eccd8 0012f9b0 00000051 0012fa08 0012f9b4 0012fa08 10143262
0012f9e8: 00000006 0012fa14 10064935 023eccd8 024118f0 023eccd8 023eccd8 0012f9f4
0012fa08: 0012fa54 10142ab8 ffffffff 0012fa60 1006489e 024115f8 1003396f 00000001

Thread call stack:
100a37bf: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+9f78b]
100a373f: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+9f70b]
1009098e: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+8c95a]
10064935: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+60901]
1006489e: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+6086a]
1003396f: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+2f93b]
10002886: divx!00002886
10004557: divx!DriverProc [10000000+4034+523]
75ec18a8: MSVFW32!ICSendMessage [75ec0000+187d+2b]
004b277b: VideoSequenceCompressor::finish()
004b20c3: VideoSequenceCompressor::~VideoSequenceCompressor()
0047bd3e: Dubber::Stop()
004a0991: VDProjectUI::UIRunDubMessageLoop()
0049c0ac: VDProject::RunOperation()
00474afa: SaveAVI()
0048e508: SaveAVI()
0049df11: VDProjectUI::MenuHit()
7e369488: USER32!GetWindowLongA [7e360000+945d+2b]
7e36b3a7: USER32!DefWindowProcW [7e360000+b33c+6b]
004a7311: VDUIFrame::DefProc()
0049fb9b: VDProjectUI::MainWndProc()
7e38e175: USER32!User32InitializeImmEntryTable [7e360000+2d35d+e18]
7e38e152: USER32!User32InitializeImmEntryTable [7e360000+2d35d+df5]
73d34ef0: MFC42!00004ef0
7e3684fc: USER32!000084fc
7e3685a4: USER32!000085a4
7e369488: USER32!GetWindowLongA [7e360000+945d+2b]
0049f74e: VDProjectUI::WndProc()
004a75d4: VDUIFrame::StaticWndProc()
7e368734: USER32!GetDC [7e360000+86c7+6d]
7e368816: USER32!GetDC [7e360000+86c7+14f]
7e3689cd: USER32!GetWindowLongW [7e360000+88a6+127]
7e36ca67: USER32!PeekMessageA [7e360000+c96c+fb]
7e3696c7: USER32!DispatchMessageA [7e360000+96b8+f]
0048e136: WinMain@16()
00528e8f: WinMainCRTStartup()
7c816fd7: kernel32!RegisterWaitForInputIdle [7c800000+16f8e+49]

-- End of report

The 9 seconds which I received before the crash has a really nice quality. Strange thing it always crashes at 9 seconds. Same thing happened when I used Virtual Dub Mod.
Do you think it has sth to do with the audio? Shall I create a wav first like you suggested and add it later? or shall I use another MP3 format?
btw I am using the XVID version which comes along with the k-lite mega codec pack.

ok, I am going to try the wav method or another MP3 format now.

EDIT:
apparently it had to do with LAME MP3. I used a wav file now and it works pretty nice. However I have another stupid question. I am not really sure how to handle the bitrate calculator. The bitrate calcualtor doesn't really tell me anything. I put in the length of the time and didn't change the rest. And my file turned out to be 110 MB coming from an 90MBbig file. And then put in 50MB manually without the calculator and it came out as a 58MB big file. I am adding a pic of the calculator and hope anyone can tell me how to set it.

EDIT2: Ok, I think I know why thw calculator messed up. It's because my testfile is so small. So if I put it on 1 700 MB CD it gives me a really high rate. hmmm... but when I used 1/2 CD it also gave me the same rate. scratch

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Ok, I succeded in creating some files (though the size didn't really turn out the size I like to have them)

This is the intro for "In love with a rich girl". The actual DVD file size is 90MB big.

I was able to reduce it to 61% http://sharebee.com/175d14b5
and to 28% http://sharebee.com/94107028

Please give me a feedback wether the video and audio quality are ok. If you need the original file for reference please tell me and I gonna ul it. Thanks for all your help.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:16 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Video and audio quality are great, but obviously the bigger file has the better quality. I don't have experience with the DivX bitrate calculator, so all I can say is that when I've used the XviD one everything I've encoded has seemed to have come out fairly accurately, in terms of file-size. So basically I just think you should do a few test encodes of an entire episode at different bitrates, and just go with whatever you feel comfortable with.

One other thing I noticed with your file is that it was interlace, which basically means each frame is made up of two "fields" , so when there are objects moving across the screen they sometimes create annoying lines across it. One way to deal with it is by using VirtualDub's simple Deinterlace filter, which you should probably use the option Blend with.

After you deinterlace it, a good idea would probably be to resize it, as right now it is still on a dvd resolution, which makes the people look a bit too fat. I suggest something like 704 x 528 for a DVD Rip, but when using VirtualDub's resize filter make sure you NEVER use Nearest Neighbour. Go for something like Bicubic Resize or Lanzcos3. NEVER resize before deinterlacing, otherwise it just screws everything up.

Off-Topic: I just love how non-english speakers write lyrics for songs in english, which neither make sense or are even spelt right Laugh

"Hay baby..." "Yeah we can fun!"