[übermetroid]

I dont know where else to put this so I thought it should go here.  

Where would I find the best AVI to DIVX converter?  The one to do the FS2 movies would be great.

Thanks!  

[Zarax]

Virtual dub should do the work, if you wants to spare the people from downloading divx codec (plus the usual spyware) you may try Windows Media Encoder, which outputs WMV and is at least as good as Divx (wait until Kazan will see this and he'll starts roaring fire and flames)...
WMV encoding tips can be found in the developers section of the website in my signature.

[vyper]

WMV is good and yes widely supported, but I'd stick with XviD codecs.

[Zarax]

Yes, xvid is another good choice, what is the last version anyways?

[übermetroid]

WMA is good, but does it work inside of FS OPEN?

[Zarax]

The cutscenes works with any installed codec...

[übermetroid]

no kidding?  I thought they had to be Divx.  That was why the cutscenes that are on the FTP site are Divix.

Interesting.  I will have to test that out.

[Zarax]

I can convert your cutscene if you want, just give me a download link...

[übermetroid]

Originally posted by Zarax
I can convert your cutscene if you want, just give me a download link...

Zarax, thanks but currently the files are too big to put up.  And with my 26.6K internet EVERYTHING takes forever to do.

These are not my cutscenes by the way, but the ones from FS1.  

Oh and you are right about any AVI plays in Open...  Thats so cool!

[Zarax]

Ok...
Then i suggest you to look at the DVD to WMV (just ignore the ripping part) tutorial at www.microsoftusernetwork.com/zarax

[vyper]

[q]what is the last version anyways?[/q]

Depends who's binary you're using - unless you compile the source yourself from xvid website

[karajorma]

Originally posted by ubermetroid
no kidding?  I thought they had to be Divx.  That was why the cutscenes that are on the FTP site are Divix.

The cutscenes are DivX cause I asked which encoding would be best and no one not to use DivX

[Flaser]

Zarax I don't know wheter you are one of the MS worshippers and I don't really care if you believe WMA or WMV to be superior.

For aside any performance considerations there's one reason why not to use them: you can't convert them to anything else once you've encoded them.

If you argue that DivX or Xvid is lame, let me remind you that they're actually the same code.

People ripped the codec of the wmv in it's early days because the encoder MS shipped with it was simply ridiculous.

My personal shun of MS native codecs comes from this reason alone.

This also means you can't use Virtual Dub and other derivates of it to encode.

However pls. don't try to convince me that the MS encoder is on par with Nandub.

I don't doubt wheter the performance of the things you mention are on par with DivX, Xvid ect. but there are other factors aside sheer performance.

MS codecs could be good for someone who just wants to encode his files once, and be done with it.

But they lack the flexibility thanks to built in MS restrictions that other tools offer.

In other words, I think MS once again crippled it's software with poor marketing.

BTW for the same reason the whol OGG/Mp3/WMA issue was lame.
WMA could be the best of the three - but with shoulnd't use it as long as it needs a licencse.
The same goes for Mp3 unfortunately, and we're stuck with OGG which is said to be just as good, even better than MP3, but it has its fair deal of problems thanks to its constant development and non-fixed standard.

On another side note I think you've misconcepted the general reason why people prefer MP3: you don't just convert a file, it's not a predefined method, rather a wide array of choices.
WMA once again suffers from MS marketing.

However I'm inclined to believe it has better results on lower bitrates.

On the other hand, what people want is small size, not small bitrate when listening to music - well aside from actual broadcast, but even than size is what matters.

At higher bitrates MP3 so far handles better when properly encoded in VBR format.

As the end of this pointless tirade let me state two things:
-MS codecs are in constant development
-So are other codecs.

[übermetroid]

Zarax, I was havving trouble loading your site (26.6k, remember?) so I went ahead and used Virtual dub.  It worked quite well and I was able to batch convert all the FS1 MVEs into nice sized DivXs.

Thanks for the help!

[ChronoReverse]

If you argue that DivX or Xvid is lame, let me remind you that they're actually the same code.

Actually no.  Divx was created from OpenDivx.  Xvid was made by the people left behind when part of opendivx became DivxNetworks.  Most of Xvid was actually rewritten =/


Currently XviD is in the beta state for version 1.0 (aka dev-api-4).  Beta3 should be released soon.  In any case, when 1.0 is released it should be a rather complete release that would be superior to the current dev-api-3 builds (nic's, koepi's and umaniac's builds).  If you'd like to try the beta, I believe Koepi has beta2 on his site.


Frankly, it doesn't really matter whether you use XviD or DivX, both are good and it's in fact possible to play back both using each other's codecs if you don't use GMC.

[Zarax]

Well, in this scenario i don't think more than one conversion was required, and anyways any encoder expert knows how bad are the results of a re-encoding, unless the encoder is optimized for the specific scenario...
About WMV restrictions, i don't know you are talking about, i use WMV in all places, from DVD backup to internet streaming without problems, just turn off DRM in your player and you'll be fine.
I'm not here to argue whetever is better, i just stated that WMV doesn't require to download additional codecs (if needed WMP will autoupdate).
About licensing, i cared to ask to MS Windows Media guys, and i happily discovered that for non commercial use there are no fees as long as you will use it in a windows environment...
If some coders are interested (Bobbau?) i can forward you the licensing info...
About encoders, there is the WMV VCM codec that can be used (for video only) in any encoder, virtual Dub too...
The only real problem is the "if it comes from MS then is ****" syndrome, which prevents most people from seeing things just as they are...
And finally, about me being a MS worshipper, you can call me that if you want, but i'm one of the few people who use reasonable manners with MS, and i'm leading an user project aimed to make MS more sensitive to the users needs and in the long term embrace the open source movement...
It's an hard as hell proposition but it's much better than shouting around against MS and try to force every user project (especially open source ones) to go into linux, like many borg-ish zealots are doing everywhere.
You can agree with me or you cannot, i respect your opinions, just do the same please.

[Zarax]

Originally posted by Flaser
Zarax I don'tPeople ripped the codec of the wmv in it's early days because the encoder MS shipped with it was simply ridiculous.
On the other hand, what people want is small size, not small bitrate when listening to music - well aside from actual broadcast, but even than size is what matters.

At higher bitrates MP3 so far handles better when properly encoded in VBR format.

As the end of this pointless tirade let me state two things:
-MS codecs are in constant development
-So are other codecs.

I agree with you, but there are some things you're missing:

1) The codecs have evolved up to the 9 version, and if you use the real encoder (not the lame ones you can find in plus or WMP addons), which is free too (and without spyware unlike divx pro) you can obtain much better results, expecially with VBR or the Professional Codec (just avoid the preset profiles).

2) Size is proportional to bitrate (and time),  so higher bitrates means larger size

[Kazan]

Zarax is a M$-Whore haha, i knew it from the start and now i see his site

hahahahahahahaha

I should have known only someone being _PAID_ by microsoft would whore-their piece of trash codecs -- not only are they lossy trash but they are propertary.

Think what you like Zarax, I have 10 years of good reasons why microsoft sucks and should eat **** and die.  

I bet you're a republican too?

[Taristin]

...what does someone's political affiliation have anything to do with anything? My family's Republican.  Oddly enough poor republicans, but republican none the less.

[Zarax]

Kazan, now you've got my patience out.
Shut up your borg linuxer mouth, and at least sell your ass to IBM quietly like you should.
I'm not paid by anyone except those companies who wants their COBOL apps upgraded, next time you want to show how lame you are go in a true professional forums and see how they will greet you.
And about my political affiliation, i'm a labourist, so you are only showing how many prejudices you got.