Codec Confusion

[joehyde]

Hi,

I'm a Lightwave Newbie but totally knocked out with it. One constant source of confusion though is choice of final rendering option. All my 10 sec animations are about 100 Mg, no matter what format I choose. I've seen good animations, 40 sec long, MPEGs about 4Mb - good enough to show on a monitor, but can't for the life of me find out how to get mine any smaller !! I can do .movs and .avis - but they're both massive.

Can anyone help ?

Joe

:eek:

[Ben_Chapé]

Hi

well there's a lot of encoding tuts on the web (try a google request you'll be amazed)



in most case some codecs are requesting some finetuning to fit a good image quality/size.


i generally use those tools:

* for avi : generally divx v4/mpeg4 codec or v5/with pre-built in presets
encoding done with a free app called virtual dub (great tool).


* for mov : quicktime with mpeg4 codec
encoding done with quicktime.


* for mpeg : a standard mpeg 1 codec
encoding done with TmpGenc.

* for wmv : file mode
encoding done with microsoft windows media encoder


You will have to play with bitrate to adjust the size/quality, it really depends of the image content in fact


another important tip: always compress the sound too. uncompressed sound can be very size consuming (using a mpeg3 codec for example)


hope those infos willl help.

[starbase1]

Hi Ben,
Which DivX 5 settings are you using? I seem to get either a complete mess, or a huge file...

Nick

[Ben_Chapé]

I think Divx5 really sucks in fact :mad:



i'm a fan of divx4/mpeg4 codec :D
(try it , its great, and it can be played on all computer with divx5 installed)

but if i cant do anything else than divx 5 , i use divx 5 pro (Adware).

i select the profile tab , then 'hometheater' profile.
then bitrate tab : 1 pass mode , and i play with the kbps to adjust my needs.(generally from 300 to 1500 max)

it's quite important to fix some keys to a decent interval too (if you want the ability to fast/rev foward the packed video.)

[starbase1]

Strange you mention that - I was getting on fine with Divx 4, but 5 seemed to uninstall 4! :-(

Thanks for the tips, and glad it's not just me!

:D

[Rei]

One of the ones preshiped with LW (so long as you have quicktime) is the Soreson 3 codec, this is quite good and it needs very little to get small files. Works best on medium busyness scenes.

[starbase1]

Thanks Rei - I am really dumb at this - I did not realise some codecs only work with MOV's! :(

Anyone know where I can still download the V4 DivX?

Nick

[banshee]

Any of these above mentioned codecs/programs suitable for making mpeg's for viewing on an xbox? Not neccessarily for making dvd's, but viewable animations that I can burn onto a cd-r. The xbox manual says nothing but I have heard that it can play mpegs. Just curious 'cause I've been looking at Sonic Foundry's Vegas Video 4 and I have expired (atleast what my brain can think of) all search options for any info on this. :o

[Rei]

Starbase - http://www.divX.com but i dont know if they have anything but the latest few versions (5.0.3)

Banshee - Sonic Foundry's Video Vegas wont let you make MPEG-4's for use on DVD's, it costs a load more to get the licenes to do that, but it can render out to MPEG-1 and 2, just select it from the Render Out screen. These should work on VCD's which the X-Box can play (i think)

[banshee]

Rei
Thanks. All the Vegas's can render out mpeg 1 & 2 (which is good I guess) except Video Factory which requires a plug-purchase. Vegas4 + DVD (which includes a Dolby-certified AC-3 encoder and DVD Architect) is about $240 (US) more and I believe a DVD burner would have to be purchased to, which is not in my budget. I'm just lookin' to burn stuff on a CD-R and run it through XBox to watch on TV and if XBox can play mpeg1 & 2's, then I should ok with it, right? :confused:

[Rei]

No problem, I remember reading that the PS2 can play VCD's and I will have so much fun laughing at M$ if the X-Box can't. About DVD burners, the best is the Sony one, which is the first +/- burner, and is also one of the cheapest too (200 or 300 pounds no VAT)

See I can be usefull (you know who you are...)

[WizCraker]

To bad for Sony the +- format is not the standard, acording to the DVD Forum.

I prefer Pioneer, They also are one of the founders of the DVD Forum but they have been put in charge of development of DVD Format and standarzation. Plus I've never seen one of their drives not burn to a disc. Maybe that is why Apple chose their drive [dubbed the SuperDrive].

[banshee]

Rei
Well, I spent a whole bunch of time researching on dvdrhelp (got this from the old forum) and it apears that the xbox can only play certain formats (mpegs, VCD's, divx etc...) if I get a mod chip put into it. Quite honestly, that site and a lot of the content just smacks of piracy (to me), some good info but most of it is not for me. It appears that I would have to get a dvd burner and authoring tool to make real dvd's to view on stand-alone players. I guess the idea of being able to share stuff for tv viewing on xbox and other dvd's is out of the question at this point. For some reason, I thought it may have been an easier task. Correct me if applicable :)