Huffyuv to DivX without loosing in quality?

[Nekton]

I ripp all sort of tvshows/soccerstuff etc using my tvcard. I record using Huffyuv in Virtualdub to get a lossless recording, so far so good. My problem appears when I convert the files into DivX to reduce the size of them, I loose very much in quality. It becomes rather "smudgy". I see all these dvdrips and think to myself that I should be able to get the same quality

As I said I first use Huffyuv and later on DivX 5.01.

DivX settings
variable bitrate mode: 1-pass
Encoding bitrate: 910 kbps
Max keyframe interval 300 frames
Scene change treshold: 50%

Data rate control
Maximum quantizer: 12
Minimum quantizer: 2
RC averaging period, frames: 2000
RC reacting period, frames: 10
Rate control down/up reaction: 20

Performance/quality: Slowest
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Much of these I have no idea what they're for so I'll gladly accept any help with finetuning any settings .
I just today saw a dvdrip with a 97KB/s bitrate, I usually use about 150KB/s so there must be a way for me to get the same quality... Please?

Many thanks in advance
Nekton

[benderman]

At first you should use the 2-pass-mode instead of 1-pass. Then it's an absolute need to filter the video because tv-signals are never nearly perfect (except digital tv). There is always a little (or a lot) noise in the picture which needs a lot of extra bitrate. Always us the dynamic-noise-reduction-filter. Don't resize the captured video if not absolutely neccesary, because that will result in a lot more blocks than before.

[Nekton]

Where can I find the dynamic-noise-reduction-filter? It doesn't show in Video/Filters in Virtualdub...

[benderman]

Here's the link ...

http://stuwww.kub.nl/~s527912/wvideo.html

Maybe the other filters will also help you to improve the quality. And here are some more filters ...

http://sauron.mordor.net/dgraft/mine.html#virtualdub

You will have to test them on your own. Most of them have only one simple function and are self-explaining.

[Nekton]

Great! Thanks for your help, I'll try them out

[Nekton]

Now I've tried all these filters but with no improvement in quality . I've tried using "2-pass, first pass" and "2-pass, second pass" but when I do Virtualdub set the bitrate to 2KB/s and when I open the files in media player I get an errormessage saying that the size couldn't be set.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[hacker_on_fire]

Originally posted by Nekton
but when I do Virtualdub set the bitrate to 2KB/s and when I open the files in media player I get an errormessage saying that the size couldn't be set.

could you clariy this "2kb/s"

[Nekton]

I set the bitrate in DivX configuration in Virtualdub (File/compression/Divx - configuration) to 910kbps but when I choose save file the popup thing that appears says in "Videodata" - the filesize - encoding bitrate. The encoding bitrate is 2KB/s

[hacker_on_fire]

is that for the first pass cos if it is then it is ok as it is only analysing it and not yet encoding it. this is done it the second pass.

[Nekton]

Ok, but when does the second pass start then? It only does the first part at 2KB/s and no more.

[benderman]

You first start the 1st-pass and after it finished you start the 2nd-pass. I don't use DivX5.0.1 so you will have to look for a guide. I think you will find a link to a good guide in every posting by UncasMS.

[benderman]

If you only want to test the quality of the filters you may still use 1-pass like you managed before, but if you want to get the max you will have to use 2-pass.

[Nekton]

Ok, I'll do that.

You say that you don't use divx5.01, just wondering what do you use? I'm open for anything right now so changing my codec wouldn't be all that hard .

[hacker_on_fire]

to do two pass:

1) start encoding the first pass by selecting 1st pass the in the DivX5.01 Config. You know, where u choose bitrate etc...

2) to do second pass, after the 1st pass is finish choose 2nd pass instead of 1st passs from the drop down options (where you choose bit rate etc...) in the divx5.01 config option

personally i will be experimenting between divx3.11 and divs5 both with Gknot after my exams

but right now divx3.11 with gknot is a good choice

also a good place to start off for good guides is

https://www.doom9.org

[benderman]

I use nandub and DivX3.11a or M$MPEG4v2. A few months ago it was the best choice for 2-pass-encoding, but afaik DivX5.0.2 will produce the same good quality. I will stick to the original (M$MPEG4v2) till there is a much better solution.