Question about file format

[guardiansoulblade]

Okay, I have a sort of technical question. Is the file format .mp4 a good file format to use to edit AMVs? I'm just curious because that's the format I use when I edit. DivX is so annoying with that stupid logo down there and I read here that it's not a good file format. So is .mp4 a good video editing file format?

[The Origonal Head Hunter]

It's not so much a matter of container as it is codec. And the codecs that are usually put into .mp4 make it a firm "no." Your best bet will be lossless formats such as lagarith and huffyuv.

[guardiansoulblade]

Okay, but when I rendered the file as a .avi, in virtualdub and used lagarith it was really, really big, as in 36 gb file big, how do I get them to be smaller in virtualdub?

[The Origonal Head Hunter]

Don't convert entire episodes. Lossless codecs are large by their very nature, since you are trying to keep as much quality as possible while still still making it editable.

Cut clips, as shown here:

use those to mark the beginning and the end of the "clips" you want so you can save room

[guardiansoulblade]

I guess I'll stick to my lossy .mp4 format, 'cause I want to use various parts of episodes, and I don't want to have to re-rip my DVDs, just because I don't have a scene I want to use.

[Kariudo]

why would you have to re-rip your dvds?
The original source file isn't destroyed when you make clips with vdubmod

[guardiansoulblade]

I delete the DVD rip files after I convert them to .mp4, because I only have 160 GB hard drive and multiple DVD rips of a whole anime series takes up a lot of space, and I've got games and Microsoft Office on my laptop.

[LittleAtari]

I delete the DVD rip files after I convert them to .mp4, because I only have 160 GB hard drive and multiple DVD rips of a whole anime series takes up a lot of space, and I've got games and Microsoft Office on my laptop.

Well, if you're up to keeping your DVD rips, you dont have to lossless your files. You can make fake AVIs with VFAPI. If you have the new AMVapp, it should be in there. In general, I always recommend AMV makers to have an external drive for the DVD rips and stuff. It just makes things easier because you have the space to store everything.

[The Origonal Head Hunter]

I delete the DVD rip files after I convert them to .mp4, because I only have 160 GB hard drive and multiple DVD rips of a whole anime series takes up a lot of space, and I've got games and Microsoft Office on my laptop.

There are 500 GB HDD's going for under 100 bucks now. Scrape up your pennies and get one.

[guardiansoulblade]

Half a terabyte, wow! I will consider that, but I already have an external hard drive and it's almost full. I have to by the second season of FMA before I do anything else though.