2-stage AMV encoding, the smarter way

Vegas215.com · #1 (**permalink**) 16th Jun 2006, 6:43 pm

It would seem logical that just using AMV convertor 3.68 directly would be the best approach to encoding to AMV files for the 1.5" display Yepo 757F.

It would be logical but WRONG.

I would strongly suggest that you pre-convert to AVI first using freeware Pocket DivX Encoder 0.03.60

Advantages:

(1) more likely to produce "playable" video clips that don't freeze
(2) better video quality
(3) more options to adjust video shortcomings for 1.5" display
(4) smaller filesize for video clip
(5) Pocket DivX Encoder can convert many more video formats
(6) faster (yes, two stages are faster than one)

Here is an example of my testing:

I started testing with a short internet downloaded MOV video clip. The original filesize was 38MB.

I then encoded directly with AMV Converter 3.68 set at HIGH fps and HIGH video quality. From start-of-encoding to finish took 4:35 minutes and produced a playable 128x96 15.2MB AMV file.

I then tried the 2-stage approach. I used Pocket DivX Encoder to produce an intermediate 128x96 AVI file. I then used AMV Converter 3.68 to produce the final AMV file.

The video clip produced by using 2-stages was 12.8MB and higher quality. It was also faster. The first stage took 1:20 minutes and the second stage took 30 seconds. Combined time was under two minutes compared to the 4:35 minutes by just using AMV Converter alone.

Here are the settings I used for Pocket DivX Encoder:

Device: Palm Tungsten
B-Frames: ON
2 Pass Encoding: YES
Codec: VHQ (FFmpeg MP4)
Audio Normalization: OFF
Video Quality: 80
Audio Quality: 3
Saturation: +12
Contrast: +10
Clip Size: 128x96

BTW, try arrow keys instead of mouse for finer control of clip size setting.

Here are links to my actual AMV files produced (15MB and 13MB):

 http://vegasmusictalk.com/test-video...ect-to-AMV.amv 

 http://vegasmusictalk.com/test-video...etdivx-AMV.amv

tadad1 · #2 (**permalink**) 16th Jun 2006, 7:26 pm

Vegas215.com,
I agree fully with your 2 step encoding, however having downloaded your samples. They are both AMV encoded at 12fps(medium) and not 16fps (high) and you may have mislabeled them because the 2 step is 15.2MB and the direct to AMV is 12.7MB. I also find the direct AMV conversion to be less pixelated, sharper and have better color than the 2 step conversion.

AMV Direct:

2 step with PocketDivxEncoder:

admin · #3 (**permalink**) 16th Jun 2006, 8:36 pm

I've found the two stage gives me better quality .AMV video files than a straight forward convert using the AMV Convert Tool.

I have done some comparisons. What tool did you use to take a screenshot tadad? I'm just using straight [print screen] button on my computer, but it's hard to tell by using that.

I'll upload some screenshots.

I've used Virtual Dub and when u actually resize it in Virtual Dub, you don't have the 'chop' effect as straight forward converting.

tadad1 · #4 (**permalink**) 16th Jun 2006, 9:05 pm

Binh,
I use VirtualDub as well, it is quick and offers a great selection of adjustment filters that help enhance the final AMV.
Re screenshots, they are just print screen images cropped.

Vegas215.com · #5 (**permalink**) 17th Jun 2006, 2:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadad1";p=&quot

Vegas215.com,
I agree fully with your 2 step encoding, however having downloaded your samples. They are both AMV encoded at 12fps(medium) and not 16fps (high) and you may have mislabeled them because the 2 step is 15.2MB and the direct to AMV is 12.7MB. I also find the direct AMV conversion to be less pixelated, sharper and have better color than the 2 step conversion.

Oops, sorry, you're right, the examples were mislabeled. They are backwards. I renamed after I uploaded and I guess I renamed the wrong way. The 12.7MB one was definitely the 2-stage, color-compensating one - too much saturation when viewed on a PC but it makes for better color on a 1.5" ChiPod screen.

The names have now been corrected.

I used AMV Convertor 3.68 at HIGH software settings for both examples.

This one is example-direct-to-AMV.amv

This color-compensating one, is example-pocketdivx-AMV.amv

====================================

This NEW 2-stage video clip, adding IVTC to the VHQ CODEC setting, reducing sound quality to 1 (since it is vocal only), backing off the contrast setting to 2 and saturation to 10, seems to look slightly better on my YP757F 1.5" screen.

 http://vegasmusictalk.com/test-video...t+IVTC-AMV.amv

#6 (**permalink**) 17th Jun 2006, 3:48 am

So which is better to use? Pocket DivX Encoder or VirtualDub?

Vegas215.com · #7 (**permalink**) 17th Jun 2006, 4:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymous";p=&quot

So which is better to use? Pocket DivX Encoder or VirtualDub?

A good question. Pocket DivX Encoder looks simpler. Perhaps someone should do tests comparing the two. I can host the sample output files, if wanted.

#8 (**permalink**) 25th Jun 2006, 2:32 am

Does anyone know how I can remove the divx icon that plays in the beginning? Because it gets rather big when I change the resolution to fit my player.

aillez · #9 (**permalink**) 1st Jul 2006, 5:28 am

thx 4 this info

andrears250 · #10 (**permalink**) 3rd Jul 2006, 6:12 am

i tried the two steps... but once i've done the first resize with pocket divx, amv converter show me an error message... and i can't convert the file i produced.