(37.8KB) (37.8KB)Published: 16Oct00 | Last Updated: 07Jun01 | Status: Discontinued
I. How To Convert and Join ASF Movies
II. Changing Frame Rates
III. Changing Frame Size
IV. How To Capture Video With VirtualDub
STR Note: It is widely known that adjusting movie file formats can result in some oddities. In particular, some experience is required to fully understand compression types/compatibilities. Despite this, FR has done an excellent job of taking these issues into account in putting together the following. Thanks FR.
I. How To Convert and Join ASF Movies
Introduction
Since ASF files are not easy to join, the best way to do this is to convert them to AVI. This is easy to do. To do so download and run Virtual Dub v1.3c or earlier, which you can get from here: Add link. You must have v1.3c or earlier to convert ASF files, Micro$oft made Avery Lee remove ASF support from all newer versions. You can have more than one version on your machine at a time, just put each in it's own folder and have separate shortcuts for each version. To join the clips use Peck's Power Join, which can be found here: Add link.
Conversion
Open V-Dub | click File | click Open Video File | find your ASF file and double click it | click Video | select Direct Stream Copy | click Audio | select Full Processing Mode | click Audio | click Compression | select desired Codec and bit+sample rate | click OK | click File | click Save AVI | name it and click Save. Repeat for each clip in the series.
STR Note: It is suggested that one use either ADPCM or No compression. Depending upon the audio compression used in the original clip, using ADPCM can result in smaller file sizes as compared to using No Compression. If you want control, you might select MPEG Layer-3. Whatever the case, use the same settings for each of the files that comprise the series you want to join.
Joining
I'm assuming the clips are all from a series that was encoded with the same settings. To successfully join clips they must be exactly the same in frame rate, frame size, audio and video compression. I will explain how to change these in another section for clips that are not part of a series.
Open Peck's Power Join | select Drive where AVI files are | double click on folder containing AVI's | select first AVI | Click Add File button, the two red arrows | select next AVI | Click Add File button and repeat as necessary | click Join! | Name it and click Save | When the Join Complete dialogue opens click DONE or VIEW joined file. Do not delete the source clips until you are sure the file plays completely and you don't need them for something else. That's it.
II. Changing Frame Rates
Introduction
Have two AVI's that you want to join but one is 30 fps and the other is 15 or 10 fps? No Problem! You can use any version of V-Dub to "Decimate" the frame rate of the faster AVI to match the other. Here's how to do it.
STR Note: From this point on it is strongly suggested that one uses the most current version of VDub, 1.4c. It does the job faster, and it handles the newer codecs, etc....
Procedure
Start V-Dub | click File | Open Video File | select your AVI | click Open | click Video | click Full Processing Mode | click Video | click Frame Rate. Under Frame Rate Decimation click Process Every Other Frame (Decimate by 2). With a 30fps AVI this will drop half the frames resulting in 15fps. If you select (Decimate by 3) it will turn the 30fps clip into 10fps.
Next Click OK | click Video | click Compression | select same codec as other clip and configure as needed | click OK | click File | click Save AVI | name it and click Save | when it is done click File | Close Video File. That's it.
STR Note: Yes, one must select a compression type. To view the compression type a file uses, right click the file in Windows Explorer, choose Properties, then click the Details tab. If there is no Details tab, or if one wants more info, open the file with Windows Media Player, click File | Properties | Advanced.
III. Changing Frame Size
Procedure
To convert a 320x240 AVI to 352x240, 160x120 or whatever size you want...Start V-Dub | click File | Open Video File | select your AVI | click Open | click Video | click Filters | click Add | scroll and click Resize | click OK | enter the new sizes in the boxes | under Filter Mode select "Precise Bicubic" for highest quality (if you have a slow machine it will take a while) | click OK | click OK to close the Filters dialog box (if you click the X it won't save your settings) | click Video | click Compression | select and configure a codec | click OK | click File | click Save AVI | name it and click Save | when it is done click File | Close Video File. That's it. Depending on your machine and the size of the file resizing can take awhile.
IV. How To Capture Video With Virtual Dub
Introduction
You need to have a capture device installed in your PC. A PCI capture card can be purchased for about $50. You can hook up your VCR, home DVD or camcorder to it. If you are using a DVD or camcorder use the S-Video connectors for best results if so equipped. To capture the audio you will need to select the input your capture card uses (auxillary, line in, CD, video etc.) and enable the recording volume control for it. Right click on the volume control icon | click Open Volume Controls | click Options | properties | select Recording | check the box(s) for your source input | click OK | the recording volume control will open | select your source and adjust | minimize for further level adjustment if needed.
Setting Up For Capture
Close all background programs particularly virus scanners, make sure drive is not severely fragmented. Open V-Dub | click File | Capture AVI | click File | Set Capture File | select drive and folder you want the capture file to go in (the biggest fastest drive you have) | click OK.
Procedure
Click Capture | select Hide On Capture (allows your CPU to work on the capture rather than wasting cycles on the display) | click Video | select Preview W\Histogram | click Video | Format | select size (320x240 should be big enough for most use) | select image format (24 bit RGB) click OK | click Video | Source | select Video Connector (tuner, composite, or S-video) drag this box so you can see the histogram and the display window, pick a scene that has dark and light areas, use the Brightness control to center the histogram and the Contrast to control the width.
Ideally, a scene with black and white should have the tips of the histogram touching the left and right sides of the graph. If the settings are too dark the graph will pile up on the left, if too bright, in the right. Adjust Saturation (color) and Hue (tint) to taste | click OK | click Video | Compression |select a codec and configure | click OK.
Click Audio | Compression | select format (use PCM [uncompressed] or ADPCM if you want to use MP3 or DiVX [WMA] audio recompress the audio after capture) | select Attributes (sample frequency, bit rate, mono or stereo [higher rates=higher quality but bigger files, use what you need]) | click OK | at the bottom right of the window click on the "####fps" button and select the frame rate (for max quality 29.97fps for NTSC [u.s.] 25fps for PAL [euro] you can always decimate later to shrink the file) | roll your source, to test your settings hit F7 watch the CPU usage meter if it stays near 100% you will get dropped frames, lower the compression settings if necessary.
If the CPU usage is low but the display says you are dropping lots of frames, increase the compression the hard drive isn't keeping up. | Hit Esc to stop test | If you are ready to capture roll your source a few seconds ahead of the desired start point | hit F6 to start cap | hit Esc to end cap | the file will be saved as Capture.avi rename it before capping another or it will be overwritten. After you are done click File | Exit Capture Mode. You will be back in the main mode and can open the captured file and reprocess as needed.
-An FR/Steve Production