Split 18 Gig AVI File into Smaller Multiple Files to archive on DVD-R with no Degradation

ger4ld wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:18 PM
Hi,

I have big files of AVI created when I captured my home video files form my sony camcorder... mosty average to 15Gig per mini-DV tape. I wanted to free up space on my computer so I want to burn the files into DVD-Rs. If I could get away with converting format to avoid degradation of quality, I just want to cut the AVI files into smaller files...... and burn it to DVDs. How do I do this quickly? Can anyone show me te procedure? Do I need to load the huge AVI file, cut it manualy into smaller files and render to separate AVI? Is there any way to do this quickly..... THANKS A LOT......

Please post procedure coz am a newbie with Vegas..

Comments

farss wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:45 PM
I've done this a few times. Yes, load big file onto T/L, split at 20 minute marks, render to new small file and burn those to DVD. I allow 5 frame handles so I can xfade the audio track when I stitch them back together.
There is NO loss of quality doing this, Vegas just makes a bit copy of everything.
Bob.
riredale wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:47 PM
There are other ways to do this, but the Vegas method is the most obvious.

Go to Google and search for "avi file spliter." You'll get lots of options.

You can also split using the free VirtualDub, but it's not for beginners...
B_JM wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:49 PM
you can use virtualdubMOD in stream mode and select split size ..

very fast - no re-compresses



B_JM wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:51 PM
virtualdubmod is the easiest -- you just select stream mode and enter the file size you want (say 4.2GB) - nothing faster or easier ..

Coursedesign wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:56 PM
What about Retrospect etc. standard backup software?

Couldn't that handle this without any manual splitting?
B_JM wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:59 PM
with virtualdubmod - there is no manual spliting (two clicks , type in a number) , but any file splitter may work - BUT people have reported corrupted headers with many of those programs
RichMacDonald wrote on 12/22/2004, 4:17 PM
> What about Retrospect etc. standard backup software?
>Couldn't that handle this without any manual splitting?

Yes. this is how I archive my work. I have several hundred GB in a series of DVDs that I burned using Retrospect. One downside is that you need Retrospect to recover the files...the disk doesn't even appear on the desktop.

Another alternative is to use QuickPar to split your avi file into a series of RAR and PAR files. This will handle the DVD split for you *and* it will create some backup/redundant segments in case one or more of the DVDs goes bad. better than splitting some avi and re-rendering, IMHO, because it gets the split amounts exactly right and it adds the redundancy. Of course you'll need double the hard drive space in the process, but same goes for the avi splitting approach. Quickpar is free, btw; google it.
farss wrote on 12/22/2004, 6:47 PM
One danger with most of these methods, the audio!
Just splitting a file as data should be fine, carelessly splitting an AVI could give you a glitch, that's why I recommended leaving a few frames of overlap. When you need to splice the files back together again you can trim the video and have say a 2 frame crossfade in the audio. I know this may seem being pedantic but knowing how Murphy strikes I'd reckon on good odds for the split ending up in somwhere vital audio wise.

Bob.
ger4ld wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:01 PM
SO how do u do this method? How do u overlap frames using VirtualDubMod.... I downloded bulid 1.5.10.1 and when i load my AVI file it issued me warnings of:

1. Couldnt locate decompressor for dvsd format
2. Type-1 DV file detected
ger4ld wrote on 12/24/2004, 12:21 AM
I have downloaded version 1.6.2 where do I specify the SPLIT SIZE?
B_JM wrote on 12/24/2004, 4:10 AM
install a DV codec , eitther the main concept or panasonic (free)

http://www.videohelp.com/download/pdvcodec.zip

virtualdubmod wll not re-render using this codec (if you select stream mode) , but will at least be able to import.

B_JM wrote on 12/24/2004, 4:16 AM
FILE -> Save segmented AVI

in virualdubMOD , you have more options on the segmenting ...

ive done this 100's of times and never had a problem with vid or audio ...