HOW TO: Video encoding

[CrimandEvil]

This little How To will cover how to use AutoGK to encode your DVD rips or MPEG2 files into Xivd/Divx files.

What is AutoGK?

AutoGK is a simple video encoding app based off of the more flexible (and complicated) Gordian Knot. It's aim is to make encoding videos easier.

Feature list includes:

- DVD/VOBs(unencrypted from hdd), MPEG2, MPEG1, transport streams (including multi-program ones) and AVI/DV input sources
- XviD or DivX(5/6) output formats
- AC3, DTS, PCM, MPA input audio tracks
- AC3, DTS, MPA, CBR/VBR MP3 output audio tracks
- two audio tracks in AVI
- external (vobsub) or internal (burnt-in) subtitles (with support of forced subs)
- HDTV input/output resolutions(upto 1920x***) and frame rates (50/60fps)
- automatic crop and resize based on compressibility of the source to achieve best results
- automatic detection of input source: PAL, NTSC, FILM, HYBRID
- automatic deinterlacer and IVTC
- automatic split into CD-sized chunks for main video and external subs

What you need
AutoGK - AutoGK will with eveything else you need.
Source material - ripped DVDs/MPEG2 files.

Getting Started

After you install AutoGK open up the Xvid control panel (or the Divx control panel if you have that installed, this guide assumes that you're using Xvid) by going into the Xvid App folder on the Start Menu and select "Configure Encoder" and change your encoding type to "Twopass - 2nd Pass." What this will do is run the video through an analyzer to gather statistics on how to best encode your video (this is the first pass) and then apply those statistics (this is the second pass). Click "Okay" to save your changes.

Now open up AutoGK, this is what you should see.

Step One is where you select your source video (Input File) and select where you want to save the video to (Output File).

Step Two deals with additional Audio tracks and subtitle tracks that you might want to add.

Step Three is where you select your bitrate using either Presets, custom size or a size based on quality percentage. For DVDs I usually go with the Quality Percentage at 95% to keep as much of the quality as possible.

Step Four is optional settings were you can customize certain aspects of AutoGK alittle. Lets click on "Advanced Settings" and setup AutoGK.

Here is where you can select from either Xvid or Divx (if it's installed), specify how audio is handled, change the file's resolution as well as options related to subtitles. For the time being I would suggest keeping everything were it's at and only adjusting the audio the codec options as you see fit.

Now that you know your way around AutoGK you can start encoding files, select your source material and save location. Select your quality settings settings and then hit the "Add Job"botton and then "Start." AutoGK will launch a few apps in the background to that will being doing the encoding. Now you just have to wait for the movie to finish.

Because of the time it takes it would be best to do this when going to bed, work or any other time when you'll be away from the computer.