I have read as many of the posts as I can understand to find the answer to my question(s) and can't seem to find anything that addresses them. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

First, I am using VirtualDub 1.5.1. I have tried encoding several things now (all starting out as .avi's). I follow the instructions from fibrizo (sticky here), but have yet to see 2 jobs in the queue.....always only 1. When I try and run the job, I get an error (I can't figure out what that error is, though.....it just says error). I am fairly certain I am following the instructions well as I have printed them and have them sitting next to me as I work VirtualDub. The only time I got the reencoding to work, the file simply turned the screen black in PocketMVP and nothing happens. I actually had to soft reset to get out of it.

It anyone can help, or can point me to something I missed in the forums, I would muchly appreciate it. Thanks......

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.

Hmm, sounds similar to what I have experienced so far.
Ripped and encoded a dvd using the two sets of instructions. I thought the instructions were written well. (clear & concise)
-I did have two jobs in the queue when doing the encoding...
But the movie only shows a black/blank screen when playing on the axim
Really don't know what to try now... maybe I'll try encoding some smaller clips. This one was 375 MB...
Gabe

SCM and G,

You have to check the box labeled "don't run this job now or something to that effect" in the save window. Then go back to the video compression options and set your divx to 2nd pass and save your avi again to the same name and check the "don't run now box" and then go to the job control and run the 2 saved avi files.

If you don't change your 2nd pass options you'll get an error or black screen or both...

LFNNS

Will give that a try......appreciate the input.

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.

"turned the screen black in PocketMVP and nothing happens"

I had the same thing happen to me, so reinstalled pocket divx player again right on top of the first one on my Axim and it worked fine after that.

"Time heals all monies spent"

LFNNS,

Seems to have done the trick. Now, I was able to encode a movie.....but I have watched 5 mins and stopped it and the report notes that I was dropping quite a few frames. How many is "normal" to drop? How can I work around this or do I need to?

Thanks......

-Cosmo

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.

Although I got Pocket-Divx-player to work it still gets buggy somethimes, so I like to use this Player...PocketMVP .8.041303

You can get it here.

http://home.adelphia.net/~mdukette/downloads.html

I ckicked on "All Color PocketPCs" to get it on my Axim

It plays everything I encode with VD

"Time heals all monies spent"

Video playback is very cpu intensive and will tax the Axim. Always clear the unit of background programs before playing. Switcher or similar programs will show which are open.

I've seen reports of PDA screens such as the Axim's limited to a max of 20fps. I've had excellent results with encodes at 15fps. Bitrates anywhere in the 200-300 will be your best bet. 250bps seem to be the "sweet spot", but your mileage may vary, depending on type of video and your preferences. I've experimented with a movie trailer, encoding at 150 to 400bps (in 50 bps steps) and the difference (on the Axim) in 250 and 350bps was indistinguishable to me.

Audio will be a factor in your final file size and performance. Mono takes less space than stereo.

I would strongly encourage trying out short clips (<5 min) at different settings to see what makes your eyes/ears happy. I like to take the movie's trailer from a DVD to experiment with. Plus they make great short examples to impress your friends and co-workers.

The Pocket MVP help file has excellent tips, hints and explainations on the how and why of encoding at these rates.

hope this helps,
Jeff

Learn as you go - share what you know

Jeff,

Great pointers......thanks very much. I think this first (full-length....heck, go for the gusto) movie I reencoded turned out pretty good for my first time. It is definitely watchable. Now, I'll take some of the things you and others have said and fine tune things.

-Cosmo

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.

Right, I understand that part. And had no problems there...
But, I will take your implied suggestion and try it again

-in the main screen of PocketMVP, I can see the film and advance it by clicking on the timeline below the screen, it is slow to respond, but the film will go to that frame. (so, it's decoding correctly??) but just won't playback at fullscreen?

I'll do as suggested and encode some smaller test files before I try another huge one.
Thanks,
Gabe

Hi Gabe,

375Mb sounds a little high for your dvd movie unless it was really long??

Geezer listed some good common sense settings which should be helpful. Try a smaller test file and use the minimum settings just to get the process going...

Try 15 FPS (or do the decimate by 2 to get to 15fps from 29.97)
make sure the size is under 320x240
audio is mono 22Khz

try adjusting your cache settings in Pocket MVP for playback.

LFNNS

You can also find online some trailers encoded for the Axim. To get specifics of these clips (in PMVP), load the file and choose Media Info from the File menu. Listings of framerate, FPS and audio settings will be available.

Pocketmatrix has a few high quality trailers.

Learn as you go - share what you know

To all.....I successfully encoded my first movie and watched it on the plane. All was ok.....BUT, one thing I noticed was that the audio was ~ 2 seconds ahead of the video. Is this what is meant by "skipping frames?" What can I do about this? Any solutions or pointers?

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.

If the audio is out of sync through the entire movie, use the audio offset option to tweak it back in place. (in Vdub - Crtl-I)

Learn as you go - share what you know

geezer,

is this happening b/c of "dropped" frames?

Today I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've been alive.