Very sorry if i've just missed it or if it's too simple to be worth the post, but I've got several misc. raw AVI files (15-60 min) that i've captured & I'd like to compress them in some way...my thought was Xvid, but I've had a hard time finding help with the steps to compress the AVI's to Xvid. - also, I'm open to suggestions, however, about what compression i should use, etc. I could burn video DVDs, but figured i could fit more footage by compressing the files and burning onto data DVDs. Any help is appreciated.
Hi BJP,
AVI (AudioVideo Interleave) files are compressed already, using a cornucopia of codecs.
So, not going by time but rather by filesize, you can fit 800MB on CD and 4500MB on DVD.
That is a whole big bunch of 15-60 minute AVIs :)
The point is, encoding them to DivX (or XviD) wouldn't really be compressing them - it would more accurately be described as transcoding.
It is a not-insignificant job taking lots of time & effort, and the files (thought they will lose quality) will not necessarily become much smaller.
I would recommend encoding to DVD-standard MPEG2, for maximum playback compatibility, but as you said, I can fit 6 2-hour DivX films on one DVD :)
So it's tough to beat MPEG4 on compression.
Try GordianKnot
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_encoders/gordian_knot.cfm It will open an AVI as its source-file.
There is also AutoGordianKnot (AutoGK) which is more automatic, for NooBies
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_tools/autoGK.cfm and I assume it will use AVI as its source, too...
Hope this helps,
Regards
