Video Camera

[Steve Lipsky]

Steve: I hope you are figuring out the video editing ok.
Did you record any matches yet?

In addition to you being able to edit out your high run for us to enjoy, what about uploading entire matches between you and whomever you happen to be playing?

That might be a way for us midwestern yokels to get a chance to see the game played the right way.

Do you play Danny B every week?

I'm sure you have other strong players in your league, too.

Hi Dennis. Danny and I play at least a couple games every Saturday, so we got two games on tape yesterday. It's giving me a chance to learn a little of the editing. There's a lot more to learn. Still, I am definitely happy with the quality of the video! I can't thank you guys enough for all your help with that.

In the immediate future, we plan to get a free video up pretty soon. The eventual plan is for us to sell a subscription for the games, which will include at least 5 or 6 games per month (probably more) and at least one or two of them with full player reviews. The fee would be something very nominal. I have a pretty technical-minded friend who is going to take care of the website, so it should all be very professional.

I'm really looking forward to it!

- Steve

 

[dmgwalsh]

Hi Dennis. Danny and I play at least a couple games every Saturday, so we got two games on tape yesterday. It's giving me a chance to learn a little of the editing. There's a lot more to learn. Still, I am definitely happy with the quality of the video! I can't thank you guys enough for all your help with that.

In the immediate future, we plan to get a free video up pretty soon. The eventual plan is for us to sell a subscription for the games, which will include at least 5 or 6 games per month (probably more) and at least one or two of them with full player reviews. The fee would be something very nominal. I have a pretty technical-minded friend who is going to take care of the website, so it should all be very professional.

I'm really looking forward to it!

- Steve

Excellent news.

I must have been reading your mind.

Now we get to learn from the New Yorkers.

Once you get going I'll email the link to the 50 or so players in my several 14.1 leagues and others of like mind.

 

[3andstop]

You sound like you know an awful lot about this stuff.

I was using virtual dub to take a mpeg file and save it as avi, using xvid codec and I was trying to get the size under 100 mb and was asking Solartje how to do that, using virtual dub. He says he uses it a lot. Some of the uploading services want you to keep the vid size under 100 mb.

What do you thing would be the best way to, for example, reduce the size of an mpeg file? My Canon saves the movies as mpeg.

Dennis, I do some NLE editing and I also do analog to digital video conversions for folks as a retirement hobby. I even do a tad for Accu-stats now and again. Mostly wedding, and old home movies that folks want converted to digital DVD and edited with effects so they can menu and watch it on TV.

My native capture format is all dv-avi, I don't know if your camcorder can adjust mpeg output quality.

I do little to none in terms of transferring formats to web output. It sounds like the codec you are using is the one of choice for web, (H264 I believe), but of course it all depends on the length of the video that you are trying to compress.

It also depends on the tweaking options available to you in your software regarding bitrate. I don't use Virtual dub so I don't know. The output really is a matter of size vs bitrate, both video and audio. Try to lower your audio bitrate if it is tweakable through the software.

It may also depend on the source video format type as to whether it can transcode well.

This type video transcoding isn't what I do, so I've never really played with the various codecs or the programs available to change default settings for web. All my work goes out as TV DVD. I'm sorry.

I just wanted you to understand that those files named AVI can in reality be just about anything, and not to expect all AVIs to act the same when transcoding, but it seems you are using the right codec for web. I'm sorry I just can't recommend a specific program to use to adjust your compression.

 

[Solartje]

How do you get it to give you an avi file 100 mb or less?

Dennis

Hi dennis, i did it like i discribed it above..

open the file:

Select in the menu -> video -> select full procesing mode.
Select in the menu -> audio -> select full procesing mode.
Select in the menu -> video -> compression

Find the XviD MPEG-4 Codec from the list and select it.

Select in the menu -> save avi as.. -> save the file

now you will use a default compression settings. I think with 100mb (for youtube for example) you could get almost 30min of video in this setting.


When the file is busy saving and compressing it will show you an estimate of the filesize.

IF you want to compress the file even more, then you do this:

Select in the menu -> video -> compression -> configure
the xvid MPEG-4 codec will be highlighted as we choose that before,
there you can reduce the fillsize even more by sliding the slide barr left and right.

Here is what i do if I want to maximise the space:
In the audio i chose: no audio (i don't want people hear my wife naging )

the i calculate:
audio = 0 MB
video = 100 MB left ( as we want the file under 100mb)
video size= 100 MB * 8 * 1024 = 819.200 kb
Video time = if the video is for example 30minuts= 30 min * 60 = 1800 seconds.

So the perfect bitrate will be : video size / time = 819.200 kb / 1800 sec =
456 kbps. If you chose this with the slidebarr, you will get the best videoquality and a file size of 99mb for a video of 30 minuts. I then take this number to adjust the slidebarr till it fits... (this ofcourse might be overkill, but after some time you will find this helpfull


Just try these basic things first. Really they look very difficult, and i have 0% experience of the program. After one day of trial and error, and understood it, and from there on its a blessing. You have 20-30 plugins to eddid the video, and you have many many more that you can add later on.

some ive used for youtube video's:

If the original video is larger then 640x240 (wich i think is the quality of youtube), you can configure the program so that it resizes your video. no point in saving a 1024 file if youtube only can display 640x240 (or was it 320?)

If the original video uses 60frames per second, you can configure the program so it only displays one out of two frames, so you get a video with 30fps wich is the framespeed youtube uses (or was it 15?)

If you dont want sound (wich i often take away to reduce the filesize even more. (sounds takes up roughly 5% of the filesize) you can do that with the program too. or you could compress the sound more, or you could use your own soundtrack..

and a plugin to add subtitels (aka = count 14-1 balls potted, etc...)

i could explain how to do that, but lets start by just compressing the video.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I just bought a Sony handycam ...

So I used this in a class this weekend and it has two "features" that I really wish it either didn't have or could be overridden. (I haven't found any way to override them.)

The first is auto-focus. It would be very nice to have a manual focus mode so that a player walking between the camera and the table doesn't change the focus to "near." The second is "picture stabilization." With the camera on a tripod, this is not needed and the feature actually picks up on things like a moving cue stick and tries to stabilize the stick which makes it look as if someone bumped the camera.

Other than that, I was happy with the Sone, and Nero Showtime was sufficient for video review of the resulting MPEGs.

 

[cleary]

So I used this in a class this weekend and it has two "features" that I really wish it either didn't have or could be overridden. (I haven't found any way to override them.)

The first is auto-focus. It would be very nice to have a manual focus mode so that a player walking between the camera and the table doesn't change the focus to "near." The second is "picture stabilization." With the camera on a tripod, this is not needed and the feature actually picks up on things like a moving cue stick and tries to stabilize the stick which makes it look as if someone bumped the camera.

Other than that, I was happy with the Sone, and Nero Showtime was sufficient for video review of the resulting MPEGs.

What is the model number of your camera?

Most cameras under $1,000 dont really have much of a manual focus, but they should be able to lock on a focal length. And the picture stabilization should also be able to be turned off.

 

[Steve Lipsky]

Excellent news.

I must have been reading your mind.

Now we get to learn from the New Yorkers.

Once you get going I'll email the link to the 50 or so players in my several 14.1 leagues and others of like mind.

Thanks Dennis!

 

[Bob Jewett]

What is the model number of your camera?

Most cameras under $1,000 don't really have much of a manual focus, but they should be able to lock on a focal length. And the picture stabilization should also be able to be turned off.

I'd have to look and I can't right now. It was the cheapest Sony with a hard disk at Best Buy, with a model number of 42 or 45. There was no obvious button or menu pick, but I suppose I could try to read the manual.

 

[cleary]

I'd have to look and I can't right now. It was the cheapest Sony with a hard disk at Best Buy, with a model number of 42 or 45. There was no obvious button or menu pick, but I suppose I could try to read the manual.

Maybe the Sony-DCR-SR45???
If so, check pages 20-23 of your manual. It will show you how to turn both functions on and off.

Here is an online version of the manual:
http://www.weltonusa.com/MiscManuals/DCRSR45(Manual-Operation).pdf

 

[Vahmurka]

In the immediate future, we plan to get a free video up pretty soon. The eventual plan is for us to sell a subscription for the games, which will include at least 5 or 6 games per month (probably more) and at least one or two of them with full player reviews.

please consider a possibility of keeping them for later downloads (probably for a small fee) for those who won't be able to watch or even record them live.

my gosh, Solartje, I can't give you more Rep atm, but your two last posts in regard with VirtualDub use taught me more than I knew this program was able of so far!!! Thanks! ...And I even have a help file for VD.

 

[Solartje]

please consider a possibility of keeping them for later downloads (probably for a small fee) for those who won't be able to watch or even record them live.

my gosh, Solartje, I can't give you more Rep atm, but your two last posts in regard with VirtualDub use taught me more than I knew this program was able of so far!!! Thanks! ...And I even have a help file for VD.

You are welcome,

PS I'm still discovering new things on this program everday day. Once you get the basics of compresing audio and video and saving and cuting, try playing with filters and additional add-ins. U'll be like :yikes: cooooooool, even MORE things. And its free. Just one amazing program. I havent found anything it can't do at the moment.

Also as its free, many people make many add-ins as its widely used, and those add-ons are also free. what can you wish more. Now i still need a good camera my picture camera can make movies in 800x.. 30fps something. haven't tried make vidoes yet with it, but i guess it wont be good enough without any extra lightning. gonna try it tonight and run one of Wei's runouts.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Maybe the Sony-DCR-SR45??? ...

Yes, that's it. With those features available, I have no complaints about the model. I paid a little more at Best Buy than I could have gotten it for on-line, but there was instant gratification and the sales person was actually friendly and helpful.

 

[skip2134]

I purchased a camera at wal-mart for 100 bucks and i can hook it up straight to my tv or computer to put it on youtube. I am currently putting a couple video's on youtube of some runs i've had at my home. I like it. Also, my youtube name is iruinrax if you would like to see. Don't mind my horrible position play, but look on the bright side, good camera for dirt cheap.

MD

 

[stevekur1]

Hey Stevie,

How is the challenge going to capture the 100 on video ? i haven't had alot of spare time lately to play due to family issues.

I haven't forgotten about the friendly challenge and i am gunning for you. hopefully in the upcoming week i will be hitting the tables again !!!

Good Luck!
Steve

 

[Steve Lipsky]

Hey Stevie,

Yesterday was the first time we played since 3 weeks ago or so. We played three games - all decent or better than decent. They each had some 50s and in one or two I ran like a 70 or an 80. At least that's what someone told me; I thought it was less. I'm going through the video now though to determine exactly what it was.

Hopefully I'll be able to put up one or two of these games soon.

- Steve

 

[stevekur1]

Hey Stevie,

Cant wait to see them !

Are you gonna put them up on Youtube? or some other video service?


Steve

 

[sde]

Okay, who is Steve and who is Stevie?


Steve :thumbup:

 

[Steve Lipsky]

Okay, who is Steve and who is Stevie?


Steve :thumbup:

We've been wondering that for about 15 years.

Btw, I just edited the first game - turns out I ran a 97 before scratching on a breakshot, so I guess a 96. Just missed our bet, Stevie!

It's a pretty good game, actually - can't wait to get it up for everyone.

- Steve

 

[stevekur1]

Like i said before, I cant wait to see it.

And to answer the question we are both "Stevie Stevie" LOL

 

[sde]

Like i said before, I cant wait to see it.

And to answer the question we are both "Stevie Stevie" LOL

LOL

Steve E. not Stevie