Using VirtualDub to Compress AVI File
Using VirtualDub to Compress AVI File
Avi containers
AVI files are containers for both video and audio tracks. These two tracks are interleaved, which means that both tracks are broken up into smaller pieces that are then placed one after another: First a bit of video, then the corresponding bit of audio, then a bit of video again and so on. If the tracks were not interleaved, and the audio track was just placed after the video track, then the time the hard drive would have to spend searching between the two tracks would be considerably greater, which would be a problem for the playback.
Compressing AVI containers
For compressing an AVI file, we will use a programme called VirtualDub (which you can get by clicking on the link at the bottom of this article). Open VirtualDub, click compression from the video menu. Choose DivX from the compression window. Click on configure and select single pass as this is the easiest way to compress.
Audio compression and interleaving
In AVI files, the audio track is usually handled by an mp3 codec but you can choose another codec in the Audio menu if you wish. In the audio menu you can also set the interleaving configuration. By default, VirtualDub interleaves the audio track every frame. You can change this, but most of the time there is no reason to do so.
There are two settings for compressing the audio track. Actually, only one of these settings will compress, as choosing direct stream copy will only interleave the audio track with the video track. If you are happy with your audio track as it is, simply select direct stream copy. If you want to compress the audio track as well as interleave it, select “full processing mode” and then choose which codec you want to use.
Compress your file
Now simply click on save as AVI in the file menu. Sit back and let VirtualDub do the work.
The author of this article is an expert on media codecs and webmasters a website on this subject.
VirtualDub is a great free tool for compressing AVI files which you can get at his website. You can also read more about media compression and download more great tools.
Related post
The Six Popular Video Formats
...
Convert DVR-MS File Recorded By Windows Media Center
...
Making Sense Of DVD Software
...
A WinZip Alternative - Should You Consider One?
...