More fun with VirtualDub and encoding vid files

[astolat]

While making the DivX file for Duende, I finally figured out how to really get the file size down (the trick is to compress the audio to MP-3 instead of leaving it in WAV format), and as I was about to gloat about this to melina123, it occurred to me that maybe some of the rest of you would be interested in how Virtual Dub can be used both for this, and for getting clips out of a DivX or similar type file that can be used in Premiere or a similar editing package.

So, here's how it works (this is for Windows only, sorry).

ETA 2/28/2007
To change instructions to use the AMV App instead of downloading codecs separately.

ETA 7/15/2006
Changes:
- VirtualDubMod *can* do audio processing, it's just done via the Streams->Stream list menu. So I have updated these instructions to use VirtualDubMod instead of VirtualDub.


1. Using VirtualDub to get clips out of a downloaded or ripped file that can be used in Premiere

1. Get and install the Panasonic DV codec.
   
2. Get an AVI or MPEG source file from somewhere -- you can either rip a DVD or download an AVI.
   
3. Open the source file in VirtualDubMod (current version is 1.5.10.1).
   
4. Open up Vdub.
5. Go to Video -> Filters and select "Add..."
   
6. Add a "resize" filter and select "Configure". Resize into 720x480 size. If the file has a wonky aspect ratio, you can use the preview and combine the 'resize frame and letterbox image' in combination with the image resize to get the video to look right. The important thing is that you end up with a frame of 720x480.
   
7. Go to Video -> Compression and select the Panasonic DV codec from the list.
   
8. (Optional, saves disk space) Go to Streams -> Stream list. This will show you the audio. Select the audio stream and then click the "Disable" button in the lower right hand corner. This will give you only the video instead of the audio.
   
9. You can either convert the entire source file (will be gigantic; M&C converted was about 46 GB -- yes, that's *gigs*, not megabytes) or set start and end points for the clip you want.
   
10. To actually get the clip, go to File -> Save As AVI. You can also batch up a bunch of clips to run them overnight.

These clips will now work just fine and be frame-accurate in Premiere.


2. Using VirtualDub to encode a vid for online distribution

1. Get and install the AMV App. This will install the XviD and MP3 codecs for you along with Virtual Dub Mod.
   
2. Export your movie from Premiere or whatever editing program you use, into a DV AVI. This will be very large. (e.g., it was 660 MB for Duende, which is under 3 minutes.)
   
3. Open up VirtualDubMod.
   
4. Open your DV avi file in VDub.
   
5. Go to Streams -> Stream list. This will show you the audio stream.
   
6. Right-click on the audio stream and select "Full Processing Mode".
   
7. Right-click on the audio stream again, and now "Compression" will be an available choice.
   
8. Select Compression and select MPEG Layer-3 from the list on the left, and then "192 kBits/s, 24,000 Hz, Stereo" from the list on the right.
   
9. Go to Video->Compression and select XviD MPEG-4 Codec from the list. Hit Configure.
   
10. Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 1st pass Click OK.
    
11. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file as whateveryouwant_1.avi. Wait until the file has saved. (Will take a while.)
    
12. Go to Video->Compression and choose XviD again and hit Configure.
    
13. Under "Encoding type" choose Twopass - 2nd pass.
    
14. In the "Target size (kbytes) field, put in the target size. I usually go for 30000. (30 MB) Click OK.
    
15. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file with the real final name you want.
    
16. When done, trash the whateveryouwant_1.avi file.
    
17. You are done!
    
    
18. Old DivX instructions preserved for legacy use:
    
    
    
    1. Go to Video->Compression and choose DivX 5.1 from the list. Hit Configure.
       
    2. Under "Variable bitrate mode" pick Multipass, 1st pass (VERY IMPORTANT!).
       
    3. Under "Encoding bitrate" enter 768 kbps. Click OK.
       
    4. Now go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file as whateveryouwant_1.avi. Wait until the file has saved.
       
    5. Next, go to Video->Compression and again select Divx 5.1, and hit Configure.
       
    6. Under "Variable bitrate mode" pick Multiplass, nth pass. Leave bitrate at 768 kbps. Click OK.
       
    7. Go to File->Save as AVI. Save the file with the real final name you want.
       
    8. When done, trash the whateveryouwant_1.avi file.
       
    
    

Voila -- you will now have a high-quality XviD file. The second pass thing is critical for getting the quality up, and the audio compression step is critical for getting the size down. If you don't do that, more than half your file will be uncompressed WAV audio.