Video Format help

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

If it must be AVI Check out the camtasia Codec:

https://www.techsmith.com/download/codecs.asp

At 2 min and 20 sec at 800×600, this came in at about 140MB (compared to 4+GB uncompressed). Lossless quality.

Warning: Anyone without this codec installed will not be able to play the vids – but if it’s on your computer only, you should have no trouble.

—————————————-
Aharon Rabinowitz
aharon(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com
—————————————-
Creative Cow Master Series DVD
particleIllusion Fusion Volume 1
available @ http://www.pIllusionFusion.com

[Mike Clasby]

Hey, you’re way over my head, but can you use wmv files instead of avi? This seems to imply you can:

https://gpwiki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4811

His tut here:

https://gpwiki.org/index.php/DirectX:Direct3D:Tutorials:VB:DX8:DirectShow

WMV files are great quality and small, but I’d use the WM Encoder, here:

https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/IntroEncoding.aspx

WM Encoder will make wmv’s any size you want but you have to trick it, for a 120×30, I used the 320×240 VHS default (this is to get a lower Bitrate, 250, and to get VBR encoding), then when I finished the Wizard, click the “Properties” button, then Compression Tab, “Edit”, Then click on the Tab that shows the Bitrate (259 kb for the preset I chose), and change the Video Size to 120×30. You can also change the bitrate here.

Another method to change the wmv output size is: Properties, click the Video Size Tab, then Method>Custom, Change the Width and Height to 120 and 30, then close the Properties window and click the Start Encoding button.

Method 1 gives a 49 kb wmv from a 606 kb uncompressed avi. Method 2 produced a 58 kb wmv, I don’t know why the difference in size.

Of course the people using your ap would need the wmv codec on their computer.

I’ve got the WM Encoder that the last generation, but I think the new one is the same.

[Myx_2000]

Yeah, I started with wmv. It was my first direction. What I found out after I made all my renders is that this software only has support for avi. Doh! So, this is why I am banging my head against the wall. I have currently dropped 3 of the uncompressed pieces and am just using the logo loop as this was the main deal, the rest was more or less just extra candy.

The danger I am also running into with some encoders is that there are color shifts. This software has a feature that is great on a lot of levels and a pain on others, but you can set a specific RGB value as transparent. The 120 x 30 is a selection indicator for a list. It looks very much like the marching ants in Photoshop, but yellow. It sits on top of 1,1,1 Super dark grey (set as the transparent color in this layout).
If the compressor shifts any color to squish a bunch of pixels together, I am hosed because my transparency goes away. I am currently talking to the programmer and asking for him to support avi + alpha, or, adding wmv support. But for the mean time, I need to find an avi solution.

As to the TechSmith codec, I use camtasia as well. I had not thought about using it as an output source. I will have to try that. It does allow for avi output and I believe you can specify any size. I can try that tomorrow.

Never put off until tomorrow
that which can be done
the following day.