Which Editing Software?

[TripleTapper]

So after I record a 1 hour show using Divx, I want a easy/quick way to remove the commercials. Which software do you think would work best? I imported a show into Premiere and it works, but it is way too slow. There has to be something better out there.

Thanks

[Rem]

AVS Video Splitter is a simple editor that works on Divx files.

[TripleTapper]

Thanks, I'll check it out

[TripleTapper]

On a related note, what software would you reccomend to convert and burn a divx avi to DVD?

[GbrNole]

winavi - i don't know if anything is quicker?

[WuphonsReach]

Originally Posted by TripleTapper

On a related note, what software would you reccomend to convert and burn a divx avi to DVD?

Personally, I record directly to a DVD-compatible MPEG2 format file using my Hauppauge PVR card. That way, when I use TMPGEnc DVD Author, I don't have to re-encode the video streams to match DVD format. (Saves a lot of time.)

Here's some of the bitrates that I use. The 4Mbps rate allowed me to pack 3, 1-hour episodes (once commercials are stripped) per 4.35GB DVD. The 7.5Mbps is what I use when I'm only packing 2 episodes per DVD. These lines are from a v2 SageTV properties file, not sure if they work with newer versions of SageTV. The 7.5Mbps stream uses up 3.5GB/hr.

mmc/python2_encoding/DVD\ 4Mbps\ VBR=videobitrate\=4000000|peakvideobitrate\=6000000|vbr\=1|width\=720|height\=480|audiobitrate\=384|outputstreamtype\=10|audiosampling\=48000
mmc/python2_encoding/DVD\ 6Mbps\ VBR=videobitrate\=6000000|peakvideobitrate\=8000000|vbr\=1|width\=720|height\=480|audiobitrate\=384|outputstreamtype\=10|audiosampling\=48000
mmc/python2_encoding/DVD\ 7.5Mbps\ VBR=videobitrate\=7500000|peakvideobitrate\=8000000|vbr\=1|width\=720|height\=480|audiobitrate\=384|outputstreamtype\=10|audiosampling\=48000

I then copy the MPEG2 files off of the SageTV box and run them through TMPGEnc DVD Author. As I add the clips to the disc, I can then chop commercials out. Takes maybe 5-10 minutes to chop commercials out for each show (the faster your disc, the faster you can cut). Then DVD Author chews on the files for about 15-20 minutes in order to author the DVD.

Sprinkle in some PAR2 files to fill out the 4.35GB disc, then use ImgTool Classic to build the ISO file, and burn it to DVD using Nero or Easy CD Creator.

[TripleTapper]

Wow! Thanks for that very detailed response WuphonsReach.

The whole reason I got my Plextor was to use the embedded Divx encoder. I record all my shows in divx and store them on my server. From there I will soon be streaming the shows to my other TV's in the house via XBMC and a Sagetv media extender.

Only every once in a while do I need to store the recorded show into a DVD format. If I knew beforehand that I wanted to store the show on DVD, your idea would be great. Unfortunately the way it works now is that I have all my shows in Divx, a friend of mine comes over and wants a DVD of it, I need a quick and easy way to do this.

[TripleTapper]

Is AVS Video Splitter the same thing as AVS Video Editor? I am haveing a hard time finding Video Splitter. What other programs do you guys use for chopping out commercials?

[dvd_maniac]

As noted in the other thread. Try VirtualDubMod for editing out divx avi files.
Here is a quick guide from doom9:
http://www.doom9.org/virtualdub_procedures.htm

[TripleTapper]

I must have missed the other thread, but virtualdub is DEFINATELY not easy. Thanks though.

<edit> Doh! I found the thread...thanks again.

[dvd_maniac]

but virtualdub is DEFINATELY not easy

You're right about this if you are trying to encode BUT...
VirtualDub is VERY easy for taking commercials out of AVI files.
1. Just load the file into VDub
2. Place the timebar to start where to want to cut and mark start then go to end of that set of commercials and hit end.
3. A blue bar should pop-up on the timeline, hit the DEL key on your keyboard.
4. Finish cutting out all commercials and hit File -> save-as
5. On the bottom where it says Video, change to direct stream copy, give it a name and hit save.
6. a couple minutes later your edited file is done.

Takes me about 5 minutes to do an hour show from start to finish.

[TripleTapper]

Wow! Thats great! Thanks for your quick and easy tutorial!

<Edit 1> Well...I tried Virtual Dub and you are correct, editing is a breeze....HOWEVER I have a couple issues. I don't get any sound. As far as saving the edit file, I get three options: Save as AVI, Save Old Format AVI and Save Segmented AVI. Now when I try to save on my 2GHZ laptop with 1GB of memory for a 1/2 hour cartoon kids show, its going to take 4 hours? That can't be right. What am I doing wrong?

<Edit 2> Getting closer....before I just downloaded VirtualDub by itself. I uninstalled that and downloaded the GordianKnot Rippack which included VirtualDubMod. Now I see just the "Save As" under the File like you stated. When I do the save procedure though, it still says it is going to take 4 hours!

<Edit 3> I got it to work. It helps to read your ENTIRE directions Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. I am still not getting any sound in editing mode....any ideas?

[dvd_maniac]

I am still not getting any sound in editing mode....any ideas?

I do not understand what you mean by editing mode? Do you mean when hitting play on the timeline, or that the resulting edited file has no sound? Are you sure your selecting Direct Stream Copy?

[TripleTapper]

Yeah....when I hit play on the timeline, most of the time there is no audio. Also, depending on the video, I get severe artifacting in the timeline or editing mode. However when all the clipping is done and I hit the save as and Direct Stream copy it creates a perfect avi file. Very strange. Its usable, but not as elegant or polished as I was hoping for. It will definately hold me over for now.

[dvd_maniac]

no audio is probably a decoder/filter registering issue with Virtualdub, The artifacts could be the same. Do you get the artifacts in the same frames everytime? If you opened the editted file in Vdub do you see it on the same frames? If you have access to another pc try it there as well.

I myself have not noticed this behavior. But like you stated: The final file is perfect which is all you should care about.

[TripleTapper]

btw, GbrNole, Winavi was everything I was looking for. Thanks for the suggestion.

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by TripleTapper

On a related note, what software would you reccomend to convert and burn a divx avi to DVD?

I use VSO Divx2DVD. It's way easy to use, and has yet to fail for me.