Converting AVI video format to DivX® video format is accomplished by using video converting software. Both formats are digital and require a computer — either PC or Mac — to play or convert. Numerous software packages, both paid and freeware, either offer conversion as a feature or are designed specifically for video conversion alone. While not all software features the direct ability to convert AVI to DivX®, some will convert AVIs to other video formats that can then be converted to DivX®.
The conversion process involves loading the AVI source video into the application interface, then setting output options. Output can involve anything from resolution to aspect ratio, frame rate, compression, subtitles, cropping, audio quality, and stereo or mono audio output. Some software allows loading of multiple source videos, whether for batch conversion processing or combining multiple files into a single file.
Once the output options are defined, the software will usually allow end users to specify a target file name and folder for saving the new video file. After that, the conversion process is wholly automated; the software parses the video frame by frame, applying the output settings and the specific video codec settings to convert AVI to DivX®. Video encoding from one format to another is also known as transcoding, and can be time-consuming and system resource intensive, depending on the size and quality of the source file. After conversion, users may require a different media player to view DivX® video, depending on the capabilities of existing media playback applications.
Online research can determine the best software to convert AVI to DivX®, depending on the source materials, user requirements, and intended use. Paid software generally offers more functionality, features, and flexibility than freeware. Frequent users, such as multimedia content producers and digital video editors, often use paid conversion software, while one-time or occasional users often use freeware or time-limited trialware.
AVI stands for "Audio Video Interleave." The video format was developed by Microsoft, and relies on breaking video and audio data into blocks linked by encoded tags. The DivX® codec was developed with the purpose of compressing file sizes while still offering acceptable video quality; one reason many people convert AVI to DivX® is to save hard disk space. Although commonly just called DivX®, there are really two formats: MPEG-4 Part 2 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC DivX® Plus HD codec.