Divx linux how to install

DivX? We Don't Need No Stinking DivX!

Most of you are familiar with creating DivX backups of your DVDs. DivX is the easiest and most versatile format to use -- especially if you ever want to convert it to another file format (VCD, for example). But there are a few people who like to break from the mold. I'm not talking about you Microsoft-hating Linux lovers out there.

Why, you ask? Because I choose to be different and use Microsoft's Windows Media 9. (DivX loyalists: Feel free to begin your flames.) The advantage of using Windows Media is it produces small, high-quality files. The downside is Windows Media Player's proprietary format, WMP; DivX-based AVI files can be converted to virtually every known format (MPEG, MPEG2, etc.). Still, Windows Media files are designed to be a final resting place for your video, so conversion issues shouldn't be so critical. I have spent some time researching how to convert a DVD to Windows Media Video (WMV) and while this is by no means the definitive way to do this, it's worked for me. And the results have been unbelievable.

What you will need to get started: Dvd2avi (this version comes with an VFAPI plugin) VFAPI Windows Media Encoder AC3decode Avisynth Windows Media Player 9 Avi Mux

Of course, it's not legal to be ripping copy-protected DVDs, so we'll just assume you have some original content on a home-burned DVD you got from a friend and have somehow (there are instructions somewhere on the Internet) gotten the media files onto your hard drive, okay? Once you've done that, install Avisynth.

Open the video vob (or video object, the fundamental video file on the disc) inside DVD2AVI then save it as a DVDAVI project. This should take less than 5 minutes on most computers.

Open your DVDAVI project inside VFAPI then convert it to the AVI format. This should only take a few seconds, but be sure to first install the codec included with VFAPI.

You're getting close now to true Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoding. Use AC3DEC to convert your vob audio file to a WAV file. Some old DVDs will actually have WAV files in them negating the need for this step. Select "Convert to WAV" unless you have a couple of hours to listen to the entire file. The process should take 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the speed of your computer.

Using Avimux, join your newly created AVI file created in Vfapi with your WAV audio file created in AC3DEC. You now have one very large AVI file with the WAV audio Windows Media Encoder loves.

Next we move on to the actual encoding -- be warned, VBR encoding is a resource-intensive process and may keep you computer tied up for more than 24 hours.

In Windows Media Encoder, select "Custom Session." This is where all the decisions are made.

Select "Source" from the File menu, then select the muxed VI file you created. Uncheck the "Push to Server" box and select "Encode to File." Then choose the destination of your finished file, highlight the bit rate and select "Edit."

Choose variable bit rate then click on the "Kbps" tab.

The settings above normally work to create a file appropriate for burning onto a CD. I use 2000k for my files to preserve the original video size and frame rate but that results in a huge file. It's up to personal preference.

Skip to the "Select Processing" tab, select "Deinterlace" and then select "Start encoding." Sit back and wait. You can ignore the estimated completion time on the first pass because the second pass takes much longer. Be sure to watch the part of the second pass -- it's fun to compare the original to your backup.

Editors Note: Now that you've got your video into WMV, I'll bet you're wondering about how to get it out! For a how-to on editing Windows Media Video (and converting to a non-Microsoft format), see Editing Windows Media Video on PCMag.com.