What do you prefer: Xvid or DivX?

[trentREZNOR]

Hello guys:

I want to work with the Xvid-codec in the next couple of days to convert video-streams (mpeg-2 to divx/xvid). Which one is better: divx or xvid? I have already convert a mpeg-2 stream into xvid and into divx - i think, xvid has the better quality. What do you mean?

PS: Where can i find the best xvid-codec, i have installed the one included in nimo, but i´m looking for a stand-alone installer.

Thank you! nico

[SKD_Tech]

I have seen clearer results with the Xvid codec, but it all depends on your bit rate.

[Spiral0ut]

XviD will give the highest quality results. I encoded Ocean's Eleven a while back, and I honestly can barely tell the difference between the XviD file and the DVD.

[Enchanter]

Re: What do you prefer: Xvid or DivX?

Originally posted by trentREZNOR
Where can i find the best xvid-codec, i have installed the one included in nimo, but i´m looking for a stand-alone installer.

Koepi's Unstable build is what you are looking for. It contains the advanced MPEG-4 encoding features (B-frames, GMC, QPel and many others) and is updated very frequently.

And to answer your original question, I personally like XviD, although that does not mean DivX is a distant second in my opinion.

[snakefist100]

Divx vs. Xvid

I like Xvid for 1 simple reason, It's free and made by people who want to make it. Divx is a company now and want's $$. People who make/modify thing's because they really want to generally make better stuff. Yet I have to say this I think the flm effect in the Divx 5.02 encoder is pretty sweet and gives it that just like DVD grain effect at a smaller file size/bitrate.

[The Maynard]

I like the quality alot better than divx. The colors are alot more vibrant and I love being able to tell it how big I want the file instead of trying to calculate bitrates and guess at it.

[Enchanter]

More vibrant colour? Can't say the same since both DivX and XviD seem to have the same level of colour saturation to me.


What makes XviD my choice are the following:

1. Sharp pictures, almost close to that of SBC (DivX 3.11). I simply abhor the smoothing effect of DivX 5.

2. Configurability, akin to nandub. This is important to those who like to tweak.

3. Excellent picture quality: details are preserved well, no colour smearing, no $hit-like artifacts. This applies to low- and high-bitrate samples. DivX 5 does not fare well at low-bitrate.

4. No spy-wares!

[Spiral0ut]

I simply abhor the smoothing effect of DivX 5.

Then turn on the quarter pixel. With the quarter pixel effect on, at high bitrate, a DivX 5 movie will look a lot like an XviD. However, as you said, XviD handles low bitrates much better. Though, no matter what codec you decide to go with, one thing is clear: never ever ever ever TOUCH the DivX 4 low / high motion codecs. The quality will always be crap, no matter how high the bitrate, and you'll get a lot of smearing and blurring at nearly any reasonable ammount of motion. Your best options would be DivX 3.11, DivX 5 (if you prefer the smoothing effect, if not, you'd be better off staying away from this codec), or XviD. I prefer XviD. Also, as far as colors go, I have noticed that most DivX 3 files I have tend to give the video and orange-ish tint, which is one of the reasons I prefer XviD.

By the way, a sidenote that I found somewhat amusing, so far we have trentREZNOR, Spiral0ut, and The Maynard. This thread is just littered with art-rock references.

[Batman]

Some time ago a similar thread emerged, you should have searched the forum first.

To recap: I prefer xvid.

[Enchanter]

Originally posted by Spiral0ut
Then turn on the quarter pixel. With the quarter pixel effect on, at high bitrate, a DivX 5 movie will look a lot like an XviD.

And risk getting QPel artifacts (on smokes and lights)?

No, thanks. I have done my own tests on QPel and I decided to not touch it.

Originally posted by Spiral0ut

However, as you said, XviD handles low bitrates much better. Though, no matter what codec you decide to go with, one thing is clear: never ever ever ever TOUCH the DivX 4 low / high motion codecs. The quality will always be crap, no matter how high the bitrate, and you'll get a lot of smearing and blurring at nearly any reasonable ammount of motion. Your best options would be DivX 3.11, DivX 5 (if you prefer the smoothing effect, if not, you'd be better off staying away from this codec), or XviD.

I have always known this. Thanks for taking the time to tell me though.

Originally posted by Spiral0ut

By the way, a sidenote that I found somewhat amusing, so far we have trentREZNOR, Spiral0ut, and The Maynard. This thread is just littered with art-rock references.

Can you be more specific?

[Spiral0ut]

Enchanter:
And risk getting QPel artifacts (on smokes and lights)?

No, thanks. I have done my own tests on QPel and I decided to not touch it.

Yeesh. I haven't done much encoding with the DivX 5, and I haven't used the QPel hardly at all, so I didn't realize that. Thanks for the info.

I have always known this. Thanks for taking the time to tell me though.

The original poster was asking whether to use the DivX or XviD codecs. The remarks I made were made generally, for anyone interested in the topic, not specifically directed at you. Sorry for the confusion.

Can you be more specific?

Trent Reznor = singer of Nine Inch Nails, which is commonly known as an art-rock band.

"Spiral out" = a line from "Lateralus" by Tool, which is another art-rock band.

Maynard James Keenan = singer of Tool. Art-rock.

Sorry, it was kind of an inside-statement type of thing.

[Drewby]

I prefer Divx simply because I can play that format in my DVD player. Xvid movies I have to watch in front of the computer.

However, I like the quality of Xvid better. The picture is a little sharper it seems and the compression is great as well.

[Spiral0ut]

Drewby:
I prefer Divx simply because I can play that format in my DVD player.

Lucky bastard.

What make / model is your DVD player?

[Drewby]

It is an Apex TV/DVD combo. Not the most feautre rich on the market, but a steal at the price.

I got mine from Sears last Christmas. I got a 20", but here is the 27" model if you are interested: http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=05744033000

[Klooedzs]

i agree with you guys. If you just wanna have a user friendly codec, then divx is easy to use. but not much feature offered. xvid on the other hand offers a lot with just small size of codec. so if you decided to use xvid, read the guide properly.

lately i've tried to encode AND 1 mixed tape tour 2003, xvid did actually generate ****. it is not common for xvid, but it did. qpel solve the problem. i guess you have to decide wether to use qpel or not, depending on the movie that you wanna encode. for anime, maybe you better of not using qpel. for non anime, you might wanna consider this, MIGHT...!

for the comment on divx 4.*, it's true that you better off not touching it. Eversince got sue from microsoft, divx 3.11 alpha creator start to make divx again from scratch. that's their first try. the quality is totally sucks. better for you to go choose 3.11 alpha or 5.* or xvid in that case.

one more thing, i find that divx can be playable in dvd player software, while xvid can't. don't know why, maybe it haven't been recognise from the software manufacturer. well, i guess that's a minor positive part from divx...?!

hopefully there's someone else making the competitive codec to xvid or divx. it'd be fun to have lot's of codecs to be compared with, don't you think?? heheheh