Video Editting software?

[bsi]

I have a simple need. I just want to extract pieces of mpg and avi files from a large original movie. Surely there is something that does this simple task quickly. The software does not have to be free. The source files are internet downloads of about 700 or 1400M or DVD's.

I am currently using Handbrake by setting the Start and Finish in seconds from the original movie. However, it seems to be actually re-encoding the file as it does this. For example, to shave off the first 30 seconds of a 12 minute clip takes a 22 minute session.

I do not know the actual term for this. I thought it was cropping but I now think that means shrinking the movie (like taking 640x480 from a 720 x 480 clip or similar). If I knew the exact term I could google it more effectively. I am not looking to compress the quality or resolution, just a straight "cut" of a piece of the movie.

The ideal solution would be to load 70 minute movie XX and say I want to extract from 15:23 to 45:12 to file XX-A.

TIA

I am also interested in extracting scenes from DVD's. The scene stop/start must be stored somewhere.

 

[ctv250]

I recommend virtualdub. Pretty simple to use. It's free, as are the plug ins for it.

 

[Anynym]

I'm not familiar with virtualdub so I can't speak to its advantages or disadvantages.

You can do what you want from a command-line tool called ffmpeg, which is free. The syntax would be something like this:
> ffmpeg -i original.mpg -ss 923.0 -t 1789.0 -acodec copy -vcodec copy extract.mpg

That example takes one input file (-i) named "original.mpg", starts (-ss) 923.0 seconds in (or 15 minutes and 23 seconds) for a time (-t) of 1789.0 seconds (which is 45:12 minus 15:23), using the same audio codec (-acodec copy) and the same video codec (-vcodec copy) to encode the resulting file ("extract.mpg").

ffmpeg is available for Windows from videohelp.com, or for other platforms (google for details).

 

[bsi]

I'm not familiar with virtualdub so I can't speak to its advantages or disadvantages.

You can do what you want from a command-line tool called ffmpeg, which is free. The syntax would be something like this:
> ffmpeg -i original.mpg -ss 923.0 -t 1789.0 -acodec copy -vcodec copy extract.mpg

That example takes one input file (-i) named "original.mpg", starts (-ss) 923.0 seconds in (or 15 minutes and 23 seconds) for a time (-t) of 1789.0 seconds (which is 45:12 minus 15:23), using the same audio codec (-acodec copy) and the same video codec (-vcodec copy) to encode the resulting file ("extract.mpg").

ffmpeg is available for Windows from videohelp.com, or for other platforms (google for details).

This was a good start. The command line is a little intimidating, mostly because the file path and name are VERY long. However, it does work and VERY fast, exactly what I was looking for (no re-encoding). For some files that start at the beginning (-ss 1) it chops off the first 5 seconds, playing the first 5 seconds as a blank screen before kicking in at second 6. I will figure that out or work around it.

I am going to try to learn enough VBS to create some sort of front end to prompt for a file name/location. I have to believe someone has already done this though.

Will try virtualdub this weekend.

 

[WoodPeckr]

This was a good start. The command line is a little intimidating, mostly because the file path and name are VERY long. However, it does work and VERY fast, exactly what I was looking for (no re-encoding).

Also been using ffmpeg on Linux and it works great!
Learned how to use this neat command line program with help from the Ubuntu forums. Never used CL before and like you was very intimidated by CL.

Learning it wasn't that bad really. The code you need for whatever you are doing takes a 'set formula' you will pick up quickly. Once you see this, it becomes easy.

You just copy & paste in the required code in a terminal, hit enter and ffmpeg takes over and does it all!....:thumb:

 

[trod]

ffmpeg rulez

 

[Anynym]

... For some files that start at the beginning (-ss 1) it chops off the first 5 seconds, playing the first 5 seconds as a blank screen before kicking in at second 6. I will figure that out or work around it.

Just a few comments:
- the very beginning would be -ss 0.0, not -ss 1.
- I recommend using the n.m notation, i.e. include a value after the decimal point, for best results. (There's an alternate syntax of h:m:s.ss but it's more exacting and less forgiving)
- I have found that some media players take a few seconds to "warm up" - after loading the trimmed video file, try restarting at the beginning to check if there might be more "earlier" in the file.
- Not knowing what media player you use, I recommend using the VLC media player.
- As your filenames are long, you have the option to copy & paste them (or rename them if need be) to shorter filenames (e.g. a.mpg) and directories.
- You can CD (change directory) to the path where your files are, to minimize typing (tab to autocomplete).

 

[freestuff]

I need a little help with ffmpeg.
I downloaded ffmpeg-git-78accb8-win32-static
Then I double-click on ffmpeg application file in the ffmpeg-git-78accb8-win32-static\bin
A window pops open but then immediately closes.
What am I doing wrong?
Also, can you use this program on files that end in .wmv, .avi, .mp4?
Thanks.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Believe you have to open up a DOS prompt window first to use FFmpeg.

All those files you list should work.

 

[freestuff]

Believe you have to open up a DOS prompt window first to use FFmpeg.

All those files you list should work.

Ok, I believe I was able to open up a DOS prompt window (start, run, command). But again when I tried to open FFmpeg (by double clicking the application in the bin folder), that window opened up for a second and then closed again. Am I suppose to type a command in the DOS prompt window to load the FFmpeg? Thanks.

 

[Anynym]

Ok, I believe I was able to open up a DOS prompt window (start, run, command). But again when I tried to open FFmpeg (by double clicking the application in the bin folder), that window opened up for a second and then closed again. Am I suppose to type a command in the DOS prompt window to load the FFmpeg? Thanks.

In the DOS window, change directory (cd) into the directory where ffmpeg is, then type the ffmpeg command line.

E.g. C:\Program Files\ffmpeg> ffmpeg C:\video\myvideo.avi -o myvideo.mp4

Which would convert your avi file into an mp4 format. Or at least, whatever its defaults are for that format. (Probably a lower resolution than you really want.)

 

[freestuff]

Thanks.
This is a very useful and quick program.
I just have 2 minor output issues.
I extracted a clip from an avi file. The video was fine but playing it with my VLC the sound came out all garbled and then there was no noise. However, playing the clip with Windows Media Player the sound was fine. Something wrong with the original file or something I did?
As for the second issue, the output clip (just like the original file) is a MP4. However, when I played it on my VLC, the sound came out all right but the image would not appear for 5 seconds.
Any help? Thanks.

 

[bsi]

Well, a couple of months have gone by and I am very glad I have learned about ffmpeg. I am learning more every day.

When I Google, it is information overload. I was hoping that you gurus (Anynym?) could point me to the links you guys use.

Although I am always looking to learn something new, right now my two top priorities are

1) Extracting DVD's (there have been some google hits but imperfect success)

2) Joining files (looks like I do this outside ffmpeg) (example copy /b a.mpg+b.mpg+c.mpg abc.mpg almost works)(I inherited a bunch of pre-2001 clips 60 seconds each looking to join them up to make a single file)

TIA