FOUND THIS ON THE WEB I didnt read it just copied and pasted but it mat help.
MAKING VIDEOS (Video capture from camera or vcr source)
If you are capturing thru an analog input these include the recognizable and most common "RCA" standard video and audio jacks or thru the Hi-Band SVHS cable. You will most probably already have the program included with the hardware.
Most capture programs that compress your video files will have different parameter choices. A great many of these programs employ mpeg 1 as their format of choice. "Motion Picture Experts Group" a recognized format, supported by most computer platforms.
If you are capturing thru a Firewire Digital cable the material is compressed and will be in the Avi format but again to large a size and video rate for playback on most Home desktop computers. Ideal however, for editing scenes, adding titles and music. The finished rendition still in its AVI NTSC DV format can then be sent back and recorded to digital or analog video tape. If you intend on using it for any computer application, then this is where the mpeg compression is definitely needed.
Factors to consider in reducing the size of a video file are as follows:
1) Size of the actual capture- as in frame size, these are expressed in pixels, small square shaped components that make up the picture. A good enjoyable size would be 320*240
2) Color bit size- this is the amount of color quality throughout. There are 2 types "Yuv" and "Rgb" Yuv 24 is the maximum bits per pixel while Rgb 32 is its maximum bit per pixel. By reducing these properties to a lower bit rate, you consequently reduce the video clips size, but accordingly you reduce its color quality. Reductions for Yuv are as follows Yuv-24 Yuv-12 Yuv-9 Reductions in Rgb are Rgb32 Rgb16 Rgb8
3) Bitrate per second (both video and audio)- This function affects the amount of info being recorded. The greater the number the better the definition and overall picture and sound quality.
4) Actual length of the capture, this deals in realtime minutes and seconds.
5) Video Frames Per Second "fps" Video tends to look choppy if this variable is set to low, Real life action moves at 60fps Tv images and video move at 29.9fps, reducing this number to 24fps will greatly reduce the file size while still maintaining fluidity.
Usually capture programs allow you to set the size of the window, the bitrate per second, color bitrate an compression method as in mpeg or avi etc. We prefer you submit them as m-pegs. Although we do accept Avi, Quicktime, Rm, Wmv or any other than can be successfully converted to mpeg and rm files which are the formats of choice for the Homeclips area.
If you decide to submit in the Rm format, please bear in mind that this format can not be reprocessed to add the Homeclips watermark. Therefore we do ask that you include the Homeclips watermark in your rm files. Simply: "Shown At Homeclips.com" This is done in pre-production before you process the final clip in the Rm format.
Bear in mind all of these will reduce the overall quality of the capture but will greatly reduce the file size. Check your manual and find out where your adjustable settings are. If there is no manual available, check to see if they have a website for information regarding your software application.
In the Homeclips video area contributions will now be as large as 5meg. Try to use the 320*240 pixel size, use the 24fps or better but no less than 15, And a overall bitrate of 120 to55 kbs will produce very good videos. Naturally you can experiment with the various options for personal satisfaction, but the most important thing here is to have fun.
Participating At Homeclips
For those interested in making and producing your very own naughty "mpeg" (Motion Picture Experts Group) movies. It couldn't be simpler. Of course you will need a video camera and at the links provided below, you will find the different video capture software solutions for "usb" and "parallel port" interface that you will need. From one of my favorite companys, The "Dazzle Video Creator" is by far the best and easiest way I have found in producing digital ".mpeg" video clips or video stills. Mpeg uses state of the art technology for compressing raw video directly from either your vcr or video camera into manageable digital video files. Although ".avi" files are very good, in order to maintain the same video quality the ultimate file size is rather large. The Dazzle Hardware provides you with the capability compressing and maintaining video quality at a reasonable, manageable file size. Provided are both the analog "Rca composite" and the "Hi band Svhs" inputs. Moreover since it connects to your scanner or "parallel port" or for those who have "Usb" ports, there is also a version for that interface as well. There is no need to open your PC to get started.
You can capture in 3 different compression sizes. You can also capture and make audio files in the ".wav" format. There also an input for a microphone. There are color, brightness and various other adjustments you can make to your finished masterpiece. The "Dazzle" also gives you the option of sending your edited version back to videotape. You can Assign a file size limit to your video clips, so that they will all be the same. In addition you can email them right from the software or create web pages. It also gives you the capability of converting them to the "Real player" "Rm" format. The Dazzle also comes with 2 other softwares. The Ulead Video Studio version 3, for adding graphics and music files and also a picture editing device called "Photo Express" for cropping and manipulating picture files such as jpegs and bitmaps, also from Ulead. Lastly the price is very, very affordable, all 3 softwares plus the dazzle capture hardware for 150.00. There is also Dazzle Photo maker that will make photos as well as mpegs, this one is the Usb version for Macs and Windows. This one sells for 99.00 but does not have the Svhs input only the normal vhs inputs (prices may vary). As far as availability, you can find them at most Camera, Electronics or Computer stores.
For those of us who love making our own movies, move over "Pro Porn Stars,
this is an exciting and affordable solution.
Below are links for "capturing and converting" video. . .
Video Editors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camel Mpeg Joiner 1.7b
input Formats- Mpg
Will join mpg files regardless of the compression used although it does recommend keeping the compression schemes the same for proper playback. Personal note: the compiled file will not play back
as a compiled file will only play the first segment on the Realplayer Dazzle or the Quicktime player. Although the Real Producer will play and convert it as a compiled file. Also so with the MGI VideoWave.
Virtual Dub ver.1.4d Freeware web home page:
http://www.virtualdub.com/
input Formats- avi avs mpg mpeg mpv dat
output Formats- avi wav
TMPG Encoder Freeware web home page:
http://www.tmpgenc.com/
input Formats- avi mpeg mpg qt mov asf
output Formats- mpeg mpg
Real Producer G2 Free Trial
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/index.html
input Formats- avi mov qt wav au mpg mpeg
output Formats- rm real
Dazzle Video Creator ver.3.6 Retail web home page:
http://www.dazzle.com
input Formats- mpg mpeg mpv mp3 mpa dat
output Formats- mpg mpeg mpv wav mpa
Ulead Video Studio ver. 5 Free Trial
http://www.ulead.com/
input Formats- (NOT MP3) avi mov qt gifs mpg mpeg mpv dat wav aiff aif aifc au mp2 flx fli flc
output Formats- avi mpeg1 mpeg2 wav mpa au aiff aif aifc DV videoCd DV videoCd (pal)
MGi Video Wave 4 Free Trial
input Formats- avi mpg mpeg1 mpeg2 dat wav mp3 mp2 cda wmf
output Formats- mpeg1 mpeg1 (pal) mpeg2 mpeg2 (pal) wmv avi real DV videoCd DV videoCd (pal) web home page:
http:// www.mgisoft.com/support/downloads/index.html
Windows Media Encoder beta 7 Freeware
input Formats- .wav, .wma, .wmv, .asf .avi, .wav (MPEG) .mpg, .mp3 .bmp
output Formats- wmv
http://www.ulead.com/download/download.htm
http://www.dazzle.com/products/select.html
http://www.ulead.com/vs/features.htm
Cordially, Manny
Webmaster@Homeclips.com
VIDEOPLAYERS---------------------------------------------------------------
Depending on the pc you have, Mac spawns Quicktime and Microsoft initiates the Media player, now each of these have their updated plug-ins. You will need to visit their sites and carefully check to see the versions that will work with your particular system. This is very important, if not done correctly the videos will not play. After downloading the various plug-ins you must install them, simply follow the on screen instructions.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
http://www.microsoft.com/
http://www.real.com/
