M
January 11th, 2006, 04:48 pm
I cannot take full credit for all of this. Pretty much all of it was stolen from other re-encoding tutorials, but I'll give it a shot. Enjoy.
Re-encoding. Why would anyone ever want to do it. You have the nessesary codecs, the file has no errors, it's not pixlated to the extreme, and it seems unnessesary to go further with it. That is true. AVI is the most supported video format out there, and MKV/OGM are a close second with CCCP codec pack (http://cccp-project.net/download.php) or the K-lite Codec Pack (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm) out there. Heck, most of the time you don't even have to worry about codecs, just use VLC media player (http://www.videolan.org/)! But there is an advantage to re-encoding. Oh there is!
The name of the format is RMVB (RealMedia Varible Bitrate), and it uses Real's video compression technology. While it does use Real Player's technology, you can play it underneath any standard media player (BS Player, Media Player Classic, Zoomplayer, VLC).
For you quality nuts, find the difference between the two sets of screencaps below.
Low Motion Screen Capture:
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/9883/rozenmaidenavi22dv.jpg
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1426/rozenmaidenrmvb25fp.jpg
Slideshow of the above on top of each other (http://img393.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashslideshow1sm.swf)
High Motion Screen Capture:
http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/8470/rozenmaidenavi19fo.jpg
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/6199/rozenmaidenrmvb14uo.jpg
Slideshow of the above on top of each other (http://img393.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashslideshow8gp.swf)
Pretty similar, huh. But the next part I like.
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/38/z5ro.jpg
That's a 51.9% drop in file size, without losing any major quality. That means you can now fit about 8 epsodes of your unlicensed anime in this format on one CDr disk, and about 47 epsiodes on one DVDr disk. Need I say more?
The items needed for this tutorial:
Real Alternate (http://www.free-codecs.com/Real_Alternative_download.htm) or Real Media Player (http://www.real.com/) (so far I could only get it to work with installing Real One player. I'll figure out Real Alternate soon enough)
One of the following:
Realanime 4.0 A little more powerful, but more complcated at the same time (http://www.eluni.net/downloads/RealAnimeLE/RealAnime_400PWP.exe)
Realanime 3.2 see above (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/RealAnime.shtml)
Easy ReaMedia Producer (http://redcheek.net/erm/ermp_full.zip) (for those that do not know what most of the stuff is)
TIME and lots of it.
You need at least the following min specs on your computer:
CPU: 2.4 GHz
MEM: 512 MB
The reason:
You have to re-encode the AVI/MKV/OGM files, and that takes a LOT of processing power. I has taken me about 1 day (processor time 23:54:37) to convert the orginal Rozen Maiden series (12 Eps). If you go into a standard series of 26 eps, that means it would take 2 1/4 days. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone with a slower processor than mine.
The ram is set at 512 MB because it takes, on average, 33.2 MB +/- 10 MB of ram to run either of the two programs. It's not that much, but if you want to do somthing else during those 2 days, you need to have some extra headroom so that your computer doesn't start to lag.
(I have yet to test this with multi audio or AC3 AVI files, though I do know it's possible to do this under Realanime. As soon as I do, I will update this tutorial. I will also use use both programs for the examples as much as possible.)
AVI->RMVB
First thing you need to do is Install the programs (Real Alternate or Real One Player, and either Realanime or Easy RealVideo Producer). Next you need an AVI file you want to encode (duh).
Launch either of the two programs and locate the AVI file via "Add" button (at the top for Easy RealMedia or under the Input tab on Realanime-see pictures) or by "Drag and Drop" method.
Easy RealMedia Producer:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/76/easyload4ti.jpg
Realanime:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/1665/realanimeload1ne.jpg
In the next couple of steps the two programs differ.
Easy RealVideo Producer:
This program is more suitted for the common person.
Highlight all the files in the Main Window by selecting the Highest Video file, pressing and holding the shift keyand then selecting the Lowest Video file (Basically, select all the file). The "settings" button should light up. Select it and set your settings to this:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9002/easysettings11cm.jpg
Click the "RV10/9 Settings..." button in the upper right hand corner and set the varibles like this:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/6168/easysettings26kd.jpg
Click ok an both the "RV10/9 Codec Properties" and the "RealMedia Encode Settings" windows. You should be back to the main window. Just click the start button located at the bottom-left, and wait for your files to be completed.
RealAnime:
This one is for the more experenced, though you don't have to be too experenced (I learned how to use it in about 1 1/2 days, with ease. So long as you're confidant in your abilities, you can use this one as well).
While still under Input Click the advanced tab, and make certain that under "AVI, MPEG" box that you have the audio track selected as src- Use Source. If not click the drop-down menu to select that.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2923/realanimesettings01wa.jpg
Go to the top and select the Settings tab (next to Input). Set your settings like the following:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/8646/realanimesettings15yd.jpg
^These settings are what I find as the best for file size vs quality. You can deviate from them, but it will either make the output either larger in size, or worse in quality. Your choice.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9757/realanimesettings22kz.jpg
^Same as the above. I just found that these settings are pretty effecent. Play around if you dare.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/3951/realanimesettings35ym.jpg
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2967/realanimesettings40kq.jpg
And click on the Output tab and select a temperary folder (holds a copy of the orginal file while re-encoding) and an output folder. Just worry about the output folder. Click in the top-most menu and select Encode->Start.
======================
All that's left is for you to leave you computer idle for about 2-5 days (Depending on CPU speed, Number of files, quality of the output file).
MKV/OGM/Multi-audio AVI tutorial will come once I can complete a series flawlessly.
Questions, comments, found an error that I made, or you keep getting an error: feel free to post it here!
Re-encoding. Why would anyone ever want to do it. You have the nessesary codecs, the file has no errors, it's not pixlated to the extreme, and it seems unnessesary to go further with it. That is true. AVI is the most supported video format out there, and MKV/OGM are a close second with CCCP codec pack (http://cccp-project.net/download.php) or the K-lite Codec Pack (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm) out there. Heck, most of the time you don't even have to worry about codecs, just use VLC media player (http://www.videolan.org/)! But there is an advantage to re-encoding. Oh there is!
The name of the format is RMVB (RealMedia Varible Bitrate), and it uses Real's video compression technology. While it does use Real Player's technology, you can play it underneath any standard media player (BS Player, Media Player Classic, Zoomplayer, VLC).
For you quality nuts, find the difference between the two sets of screencaps below.
Low Motion Screen Capture:
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/9883/rozenmaidenavi22dv.jpg
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1426/rozenmaidenrmvb25fp.jpg
Slideshow of the above on top of each other (http://img393.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashslideshow1sm.swf)
High Motion Screen Capture:
http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/8470/rozenmaidenavi19fo.jpg
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/6199/rozenmaidenrmvb14uo.jpg
Slideshow of the above on top of each other (http://img393.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashslideshow8gp.swf)
Pretty similar, huh. But the next part I like.
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/38/z5ro.jpg
That's a 51.9% drop in file size, without losing any major quality. That means you can now fit about 8 epsodes of your unlicensed anime in this format on one CDr disk, and about 47 epsiodes on one DVDr disk. Need I say more?
The items needed for this tutorial:
Real Alternate (http://www.free-codecs.com/Real_Alternative_download.htm) or Real Media Player (http://www.real.com/) (so far I could only get it to work with installing Real One player. I'll figure out Real Alternate soon enough)
One of the following:
Realanime 4.0 A little more powerful, but more complcated at the same time (http://www.eluni.net/downloads/RealAnimeLE/RealAnime_400PWP.exe)
Realanime 3.2 see above (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/RealAnime.shtml)
Easy ReaMedia Producer (http://redcheek.net/erm/ermp_full.zip) (for those that do not know what most of the stuff is)
TIME and lots of it.
You need at least the following min specs on your computer:
CPU: 2.4 GHz
MEM: 512 MB
The reason:
You have to re-encode the AVI/MKV/OGM files, and that takes a LOT of processing power. I has taken me about 1 day (processor time 23:54:37) to convert the orginal Rozen Maiden series (12 Eps). If you go into a standard series of 26 eps, that means it would take 2 1/4 days. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone with a slower processor than mine.
The ram is set at 512 MB because it takes, on average, 33.2 MB +/- 10 MB of ram to run either of the two programs. It's not that much, but if you want to do somthing else during those 2 days, you need to have some extra headroom so that your computer doesn't start to lag.
(I have yet to test this with multi audio or AC3 AVI files, though I do know it's possible to do this under Realanime. As soon as I do, I will update this tutorial. I will also use use both programs for the examples as much as possible.)
AVI->RMVB
First thing you need to do is Install the programs (Real Alternate or Real One Player, and either Realanime or Easy RealVideo Producer). Next you need an AVI file you want to encode (duh).
Launch either of the two programs and locate the AVI file via "Add" button (at the top for Easy RealMedia or under the Input tab on Realanime-see pictures) or by "Drag and Drop" method.
Easy RealMedia Producer:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/76/easyload4ti.jpg
Realanime:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/1665/realanimeload1ne.jpg
In the next couple of steps the two programs differ.
Easy RealVideo Producer:
This program is more suitted for the common person.
Highlight all the files in the Main Window by selecting the Highest Video file, pressing and holding the shift keyand then selecting the Lowest Video file (Basically, select all the file). The "settings" button should light up. Select it and set your settings to this:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9002/easysettings11cm.jpg
Click the "RV10/9 Settings..." button in the upper right hand corner and set the varibles like this:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/6168/easysettings26kd.jpg
Click ok an both the "RV10/9 Codec Properties" and the "RealMedia Encode Settings" windows. You should be back to the main window. Just click the start button located at the bottom-left, and wait for your files to be completed.
RealAnime:
This one is for the more experenced, though you don't have to be too experenced (I learned how to use it in about 1 1/2 days, with ease. So long as you're confidant in your abilities, you can use this one as well).
While still under Input Click the advanced tab, and make certain that under "AVI, MPEG" box that you have the audio track selected as src- Use Source. If not click the drop-down menu to select that.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2923/realanimesettings01wa.jpg
Go to the top and select the Settings tab (next to Input). Set your settings like the following:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/8646/realanimesettings15yd.jpg
^These settings are what I find as the best for file size vs quality. You can deviate from them, but it will either make the output either larger in size, or worse in quality. Your choice.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9757/realanimesettings22kz.jpg
^Same as the above. I just found that these settings are pretty effecent. Play around if you dare.
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/3951/realanimesettings35ym.jpg
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2967/realanimesettings40kq.jpg
And click on the Output tab and select a temperary folder (holds a copy of the orginal file while re-encoding) and an output folder. Just worry about the output folder. Click in the top-most menu and select Encode->Start.
======================
All that's left is for you to leave you computer idle for about 2-5 days (Depending on CPU speed, Number of files, quality of the output file).
MKV/OGM/Multi-audio AVI tutorial will come once I can complete a series flawlessly.
Questions, comments, found an error that I made, or you keep getting an error: feel free to post it here!