Choose the compression rate for DIVX

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madfabe Posted messages 6 Status Member -  
madfabe Posted messages 6 Status Member -
Hello,

I just found my camcorder as well as my Mini-DV tapes.
To address the issue of the tapes (which deteriorate and degrade), I would like to transfer the videos to my PC. I have done that.

My problem is that the default conversion format is DV-AVI, which results in .avi files of 11.55GB for 58 minutes of video (video size: 720X576)

I would therefore like to convert them to DIVX. I have the right software, but I don't know what settings to choose to ensure that
1°) the file is as small as possible.
2°) the file has good enough quality to be watchable on a 127cm LED TV

So, if someone could give me some guidance regarding the settings to choose for the output format, that would be great.

Thanks in advance

Configuration: Windows XP / Google Chrome

4 answers

gej62
 
Hi
"for that I have the right software"
which one?
cheers
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glandu Posted messages 25506 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   4 090
 
Hello everyone, and sorry Géjé for interrupting you. Here’s my opinion: I don’t know much about the qualities of DivX, except that it’s a solution for commercial movies longer than 2 hours.
But for camcorder videos, I usually use the MPEG2 codec, with a resolution of 720x576, and for optimum smoothness in burning, you shouldn't exceed 7500 kb/s bitrate. This results in a maximum quality for approximately 4GB of video per hour, the capacity of a standard DVD that shouldn't be exceeded.
I remind you that the more you decrease the bitrate, the lighter the file becomes, and the less data you record, leading to a decrease in display quality.
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gej62
 
Hi
you don’t have to apologize, you goofball :-) your comments are always welcome
creating a DVD is a good idea. Zig will say that too.

indeed.
"I remind you that the more you decrease the bitrate, the smaller the file becomes and the less data you record, resulting in a decrease in display quality" - that's the art of compromise. So you need to use a bitrate calculator to get an idea, then test it.

as an example for divx (prefer xvid as codec)
video 58 minutes, resolution 720x576 (with black bars)
for a size of 700 mb
bitrate 1547 kbit/s (video size 641.81 mb) + (audio mp3 128, 53.10 mb)
also note an important value is the bits per pixel value
here 0.156 it is better to aim around 0.22
to achieve it, you need to lower the resolution to 640x480.
a high resolution in compression is not necessarily a quality criterion

for 1400 mb
bitrate 3234

for 4.32 gb
10659
might as well make it a DVD

knowing that there are other variables to consider for codec settings (movie speed, tune), it’s better to use profiles (settings defined according to the type of devices)

finally for the software
MeGui, xmedia recode, staxrip, xvid4psp, etc. there’s no shortage of it. but I admit that some do a better job than others.
Ah let’s not forget virtualdub with the xvid codec (otherwise I’ll get slaughtered by Zig whom I greet)
best regards
1
madfabe Posted messages 6 Status Member
 
Thank you for your information.

I wanted to have the smallest possible file sizes because I have about ten tapes to convert and most of the files are about my nieces. I didn't necessarily want to have to "lend" a hard drive or burn 10 DVDs for my brother-in-law ^^.
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