AVI lossy?? at DVinfo.net

Robert Bobson · August 24th, 2011, 09:29 AM

I have some long videoclips that I only need a few seconds of video from. I see that reducing my editing project only eliminates the clips that aren't used at all - but doesn't shorten the clips I'm only using a small part of.

So if I put the sections of video I need in a timeline and then export as an avi file - and then use that as my new source, I could delete the original long clip.

but will this degrade the original footage quality? or is it all "digital" and therefore non-lossy?

thanks

Andrew Smith · August 26th, 2011, 09:31 AM

AVI is a 'container' format. It's the compression scheme used for the data that is held within the container file that will make the difference.

If you are re-encoding then there will be some sort of loss in quality, but it really depends on the codec used.

I know that PremierePro has the ability to export your DV clips back out without re-rendering the bits that haven't been changed with effects etc. Give it a go and let us know.

Andrew

Robert Bobson · August 26th, 2011, 09:34 AM

Thanks - I used to know that! :)

I'll check out which codec I'm using and see...

Andrew Smith · August 26th, 2011, 09:35 AM

While you're at it, let us know what editing app you are using. :-)

Andrew

Robert Bobson · August 26th, 2011, 09:40 AM

I'm using PPro cs5.5

Andrew Smith · August 26th, 2011, 09:44 AM

Ahh, yes. An excellent and fine choice, sir!

Andrew :-)

Peter Manojlovic · August 26th, 2011, 02:57 PM

Robert..

If your sequence codec matches your source codec, and you haven't made any changes (except for in and out points), then you will loose no quality.
So long as you have "recompress" unchecked in any export option..

Unfortunately, your title is a bit misleading..Unless you're capturing uncompressed 4:4:4 footage, everything is considered lossy....

Vince Pachiano · September 15th, 2011, 07:57 AM

Of course, you can check the results yourself.
Using your typical workflow, export a clip
Import your clip, adjust the time line by a tad, export your clip
repeat several times until you are on the nth generation

Write your nth generation clip (and the original) to your output media (DVD RW+/- for example)
Examine your results on an output device (your TV)

August 24th, 2011, 09:29 AM	#1
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	AVI lossy?? I have some long videoclips that I only need a few seconds of video from. I see that reducing my editing project only eliminates the clips that aren't used at all - but doesn't shorten the clips I'm only using a small part of. So if I put the sections of video I need in a timeline and then export as an avi file - and then use that as my new source, I could delete the original long clip. but will this degrade the original footage quality? or is it all "digital" and therefore non-lossy? thanks

August 26th, 2011, 09:31 AM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	Re: AVI lossy?? AVI is a 'container' format. It's the compression scheme used for the data that is held within the container file that will make the difference. If you are re-encoding then there will be some sort of loss in quality, but it really depends on the codec used. I know that PremierePro has the ability to export your DV clips back out without re-rendering the bits that haven't been changed with effects etc. Give it a go and let us know. Andrew

August 26th, 2011, 09:34 AM	#3
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	Re: AVI lossy?? Thanks - I used to know that! :) I'll check out which codec I'm using and see...

August 26th, 2011, 09:35 AM	#4
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	Re: AVI lossy?? While you're at it, let us know what editing app you are using. :-) Andrew

August 26th, 2011, 09:40 AM	#5
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	Re: AVI lossy?? I'm using PPro cs5.5

August 26th, 2011, 09:44 AM	#6
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	Re: AVI lossy?? Ahh, yes. An excellent and fine choice, sir! Andrew :-)

August 26th, 2011, 02:57 PM	#7
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Re: AVI lossy?? Robert.. If your sequence codec matches your source codec, and you haven't made any changes (except for in and out points), then you will loose no quality. So long as you have "recompress" unchecked in any export option.. Unfortunately, your title is a bit misleading..Unless you're capturing uncompressed 4:4:4 footage, everything is considered lossy....

September 15th, 2011, 07:57 AM	#8
Vince Pachiano Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 307	Re: AVI lossy?? Of course, you can check the results yourself. Using your typical workflow, export a clip Import your clip, adjust the time line by a tad, export your clip repeat several times until you are on the nth generation Write your nth generation clip (and the original) to your output media (DVD RW+/- for example) Examine your results on an output device (your TV)