I've been testing programs for a while, looking for the absolute easiest way to encode videos using a one-click solution as I don't create movies, I cut single clips from recorded footage.

 

And, I think I have found one that gives you a solid set of advanced options as well as being stupidly easy for the uninitiated.

 

XviD4PSP

 

Don't let the program name fool you. This program works well with everything I have thrown at it so far.

 

http://imgur.com/91v3b.png

 

This is the program opened with a FRAPS video with the settings I have been testing to create x264 clips. I have changed the format to a .mkv, I'm using a sharpening script to give the video a bit more pop, I'm using a custom Q ratio of 24 and audio is at default.

 

To change Q or CRF, you press the 'E' button next to 'Video encoding', insert your value and then press the '+' button at the bottom to add your profile. 24 is at the lower end of the scale for filesize, some compression artifacting can appear.

 

There are plenty of encoding formats to choose from, you don't have to use x264.

 

You can change output size, framerate, aspect ratio all under the 'Video' section at the top, once your video is selected. For example, you can change the framerate from 60 (FRAPS capture rate) to 30 with this particular video for a reduced encoding rate and greatly reduced filesize. 22.5mb -- 14.5mb

 

Try it out, it's a nice little program.

 

 

 

 

How to Cut and Create Clips for Encode

 

Go to Tools in XviD4PSP, select VirtualDubMod. Follow the instructions in the picture once your video is opened. When you have made your start/end clip adjustments, go into 'File' and 'Save As'.

 

http://imgur.com/9xbih.png

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by captncrunch240

I would like anyone with footage from the campaign filming who hasn't sent it to me yet to try this out

 

BTW, when this is playing videos to preview the performance is shocking. Is that normal?

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by YAK

using xvid4psp, i tried the preview and it was chunky, yes. that's why i didn't use it for previewing, it adds the sharpening script during playback so it must be adding a fair load, plus whatever other script it's running.

 

vdubmod, for cutting, runs smooth. once i'm in the encode screen all the work is done so previewing isn't necessary. unless, you are adding some colour enhancements like brightness or saturation, that would be worthy of a preview.

 

edit; playing the preview is bad, selecting frame by frame while paused is fine.

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by captncrunch240

By the way, why in MKV format? Nothing by default even supports that format, at least none that I know of.

it's better for my htpc so i'm trying to encode everything as a mkv from now on. that's the only reason.

 

and if your video program can't play a mkv, it's not worth having.

 

but, that said, choose whatever container you want, the actual encode is still the same.

.MKV is increasingly popular deal with it and it uses like the same codecs just supports more layer thingos

So when we upload the trailer, we want it in mkv format? Do many websites support that like WeGame or Vimeo?

I'd guess so.. I won't place a bet but.

 

-----

I could test it out if you want.

MKV won't work in Sony Vegas, I don't know what else I should use...

you aren't technically allowed to upload gaming videos to vimeo.

 

wegame has embed problems with forums and can't accept .mkv

 

youtube can accept .mkv and i'm uploading one right now to check it.

try mp4, i couldn't get that to work in vegas either.

I'm pretty sure you can get a little plugin for Vegas so MKV works.. I'll look it up.

 

Apparently my version of vegas is broken *rolls eyes*

if we were reducing fraps footage size for vegas and sending via dvd, i would send raw after cutting, see guide in first post.

 

or perhaps choose an ultra-hq xvid or something. all depends on vegas playing properly.

 

 

wait for this to process

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vVJuthsNjw

 

that's a 30fps crf22 .mkv

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by captncrunch240

Why doesnt this thing just work, I can't even watch .avi files with it. MP4 doesn't work with Vegas at all, and if I try to convert them to .avi I'll lose all the quality..... WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

How the hell am I ever supposed to make a high quality trailer with Vegas? Every time I try something it either doesn't work or has shocking quality. I've nearly given up on the whole thing...

Could be your computer and it's video player perhaps.

 

I use ffdshow and Media Player Classic.

 

Haali- http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/haalimediasplitter.cfm

 

ffdshow - http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm

 

MPC - http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/media_player_classic.cfm

 

Install in that order.

 

Open up MPC, go into the options and then formats and select all video.

 

As for encoding, can you choose .avi as the container and use x264 as the encoder? That doesn't work either?

No I don't even have x264 as an option in encoding. Sorry, what I want to do is get the highest quality footage I can get into Sony Vegas. MP4 and MKV files do not work at all. AVI files seemingly get filled with artifacts and in the XVID program I have no option to change its quality.

 

Oh, and no vista either.

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by YAK

So, your xvid4psp can't select the options like I have in the screenshot?

 

I'm thinking you need a codec pack. Try installing those 2 programs I have up there, haali and ffdshow and then check. If not, we will find you a codec pack.

 

You aren't using vista are you? There was a mention of something vista-ish on the main page of xvid4psp.

OK. I can watch the files with DIVX and Classic media player. What I need to do now is know how to render the finished product in Sony Vegas into a high quality, compressed format. The thing is, I don't have the x264 compression format. I can use your program SOP to compress the files very, very nicely, and get them into Vegas. Final editing is gonna suck though, I just don't know what to do.

Edited May 17, 200915 yr by YAK

You shouldn't compress before Vegas.

 

Push out of Vegas as an uncompressed something.

Did you get the program to work, Chief?

 

 

According to another thread, Chief has this program working, so don't be swayed by his comments. As long as yoiu have the correct codecs installed, it should be fine. Check my post above with Haali, MPC and ffdshow.

Edited May 19, 200915 yr by captncrunch240

i've just discovered something, after encoding a short clip tonight.

 

changing to aac from the original pcm loses A LOT of sound quality.

 

i have 2 clips sitting on my desktop, and the difference is noticeable. for a 9 second clip, the change between pcm and aac is 1.6mb larger to pcm.

 

by the time you wake up, if 'you' can be bothered, please try watching these 2 clips and detailing the difference you hear between the clips, if any.

 

for reference, it has me shooting a littlebird on karbala with a LAT and psyrus remarking on mumble afterwards.

 

AAC Audio

 

PCM Audio

I can't tell the difference... except that the second one has my barry white-esque voice in the background, which obviously improves the sound quality

 

Nah but seriously I put on my brother's 5.1 headphones, put them on a looped queue and closed my eyes... I couldn't tell the diff between the first 4 seconds of the clips. I'll be interested if others can notice the diff (is there something that I should listen for, like a change in the rotor sounds or something?)

 

Edit: Also you know that one vid is like 3 sec vs the other one is 9 sec?

Edited June 11, 200915 yr by Husker

I didn't, but that's because I probably turned the computer off before it uploaded. Will sort it out later.

 

On my computer, I can definitely hear a difference.

 

Can you have another listen when it's uploaded in its entirety, please?

OK, they are uploaded, both clips are full size.

Hmm... well I'm back on my $40 logitechs so yeah... no discernable difference for me... maybe I lack the ability to pick up a frequency range or something? My friend once showed me HD music (it's music that was like ultra high bitrate or something) and while it sounded less crackly, I couldn't tell a big difference, so I'm probably the worst person in the world to give you an answer, but also probably the only one who will bother by the looks of it