Tool or a guide for DV->DivX/Xvid conversion

[Seadya Badihi]

You can find so many advices on DVD->DivX/XviD conversion, and so many good tools for it (e.g. DVDx), but almost none of that for people who want to backup their DV films to MP4 files on disks. (This is becoming useful with the new MP4 DVD players expected on the market). OK so I know how to get it on my computer using a FireWire, but then what? VirtualDub with a codec gives so-so results. Can anyone help me find a good tool or a guide for DV->DivX/Xvid conversion that will allow me to do this backup, and keep my fine DV quality?

[UncasMS]

VirtualDub with a codec gives so-so results

could you define *so-so* ?

if vd doesnt provide quality, then hardly any other tool will

thus your routine/settings might be to blame.

[Seadya Badihi]

I get some blurs. In some places I get spots of different colors etc.
I can guess that some of it may be better if I had a tool that can do YUY2 color coding, and BiCubic SSE resize, and so on. But maybe its just something I am doing wrong. Maybe I need a different DV encoder, or maybe somewhere there is a good external filter, that I am not aware of, or just some parameters that I don't set well.

[shiny#3]

"but almost none of that for people who want to backup their DV films to MP4 files on disks."

have you tried to use the pinnacle studio
(version 8.0 or higher)
to edit and transcode your movie???

It can transcode to Mpeg4 if the codec is installed. use the custom settings in "make movie" --> avi--> display all codecs. I still prefer the Xvid codec.
you can also give Nandub a try.
if you want to transcode only.
(not resizing or editing).



If you really intend to play your movies
on a standalone like the Kiss DP-450
make sure that you choose the right aspect ratio before encoding.
It cannot be changed by ths standalone divxplayer afterwards (so far)
do not use a resolution higher than
1600x1200

by the way bitrate higher than 1300 kbits/ is not sensible.
mpeg4 v3 has it set to 2360 kbits by default.

Fitcd does also create a proper avisynth script using the precise bicubic resizer (if installed).