11 steps to a good-looking vid
Jul. 11th, 2010 09:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bironicI promised someone who's struggling to learn to vid that I'd share my vidding tech process. Here's a sense of how I made the vids I've posted so far, followed by how I do it now.
.
Old, broken way:
0. AnyDVD (copy-protection stripper) automatically runs when DVD is inserted into the disc drive.
1. Rip clips from DVD with DVD2AVI; choose Indeo codec.
2. Create new Adobe Premiere file in 16:9 or 4:3 NTSC.
3. Load clips and edit. Choose "Interpret Footage" for every clip to change 4:3 footage from DVD2AVI to 16:9.
4. If using titles, be sure to use lots of transitions and/or put blank video beneath the titles, or else it won't compress properly later.
5. Export vid as uncompressed. Choose square pixels. Try to select "deinterlace," but program may freeze.
6. Convert for online viewing by dragging into DivX Converter and cross fingers.
7. Upload and share!
Upsides: Simple.
Downsides: DVD2AVI takes FOREVER and doesn't have the option to select proper aspect ratios or use decent codecs; Premiere crashes when you try to deinterlace; DivX gives you zero control over conversion settings and sometimes excises what it thinks is "empty" vid space; final vid quality is mediocre.
.
So then my computer ran out of memory, and while I was waiting for the fix, I read the AnimeMusicVideos Guide with pen in hand. This had been way too overwhelming when I first started vidding last year, but once I'd made a few vids and struggled with specific problems with the process, the AMV Guide made a lot more sense. Even if it seemed like I'd need to incorporate many more steps and learn many more programs.
Well, I've been using the revamped method for a few months now (after clearing some hurdles with the help of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
vidding_tech and vidding, because nothing ever works right the first three times), and it's great. You'll see the difference in a couple of weeks when the vids start getting finished and posted.
Oh, and aside from some computer-related installation headaches, the great thing is that I believe every program was free (except of course Premiere). I paid $20 last year for the DivX license and with the new method I don't even need it. What I did buy was the external hard drive for storage, because, boy howdy, does that make my life easier.
.
New, proper way: (including some side notes for myself, which perhaps are useful to you)
0. AnyDVD (copy-protection stripper) automatically runs when DVD is inserted into the disc drive.
1. Rip vobs from DVD with DVD Decrypter
Go to Mode > File
Select the big ones (they come in pairs)
[Takes ~5 minutes per episode or ~20 per disk]
Rename files as desired
2. Open vobs in DGIndex to save as d2v
F5 to preview (Make sure default is Honor Pulldown Flags before you F5)
Esc to stop
SGA - Should be:
16:9 (anamorphic)
29.97 fps or 23.976 fps
frame type: progressive
video type: film
Video - Select FORCED FILM --> 23.976 fps
Audio - Select Disable
Save files
[Takes ~1 minute per episode]
[If vob file moves, will need to remake .d2v]
To break up disks into episodes, drag bar between eps until cell flips from end to start (cell 1)
3. Create a txt file (will be .avs file) for each episode. Easiest to make a copy of an existing avs file and change the file name & the first line of code.
Save as [Season]x[Episode] Title.avs. If starting from scratch, be sure to select 'all files' when saving or it will save as .txt.
File text should include:
MPEG2Source("G:\Footage\SGA\Season 1\FILENAME.d2v", cpu=4)
AssumeFPS(23.98)
ConvertToRGB32()
Spline36Resize(848,480)
(AssumeFPS is close to film for older premiere versions)
(spline is for wysiwyg, needs to be at the end; converts to square pixels)
(DVDs that aren't anamorphic & progressive need to be deinterlaced here)
4. Open .avs file in VirtualDub to test. Space bar to play.
5. Make clips (VirtualDub).
Settings:
Video: Fast Recompress
Video: Compression: Lagarith lossless
Audio: None
(Need to be reset each time VirtualDub opens)
File > Save as AVI...
[A whole ep takes ~1 hr and ~16-19 GB!]
6. Load Custom Settings in Adobe Premiere:
Editing Mode: Video for Windows
Timebase: 23.98 FPS
Frame Size: 848x480
PAR: Square Pixels (1.0)
Fields: No Fields (Progressive Scan)
Display Format: [24 only option?]
Audio Sample Rate: [depends on audio being used, prob 44100 Hz]
Video Rendering:
Compressor: Huffyuv OK
Optimize Stills OK
(settings may need to be adjusted if not working with SGA footage)
7. Edit vid!
[Memory issues –
- If render, can't see two clips on top of each other or transitioning
- If too many clips in bins, need to split project file]
Save save save! Save copies at least 1x/day.
8. Export vid using same settings as import/editing. Do not compress, or compress only with Lagarith or Huffyuv.
Export audio as separate .wav file.
[Possible 8a. Do slow/fast clips and other effects in Adobe AfterEffects instead of in Premiere?]
9. Create an avisynth script for the exported .avi file.
AVISource("G:\FANDOM\VIDFOLDER\EXPORTEDVID.avi")
ConvertToYV12()
Open up AvsP.
Go to Video > Crop. See if any edges need trimming. Use even numbers only.
Go to Video > Resize Calculator and nudge down a little, say to 800 width.
10. Compress vid for sharing.
10A) FOR ONLINE
XVid in VirtualDub:
Open AVS file.
Audio > Audio from other file... and open the exported .wav.
Audio > Full processing mode
Audio > Compression > Lame MP3, 44100 Hz, 160 Kbps CBR, stereo
Video > Compression > Xvid MPEG-4 > Configure
Profile @ Level > Advanced Simple L5
in More... uncheck Packed bitstream
Encoding Type: Twopass - 1st pass
in More... check Full quality first pass & uncheck Discard first pass
Quality preset: (User defined)
in More > Motion, set VHQ to 4 - Wide Search; check Use VHQ for bframes too
in More > Quant, set all 1s to 2s (2 31 2 31 2 31)
Other options... FourCC can be DX50 for DivX compatibility
Video > Fast Recompress
Save as AVI
Check it out in Windows Media Player.
Then, back in VirtualDub:
Video > Compression > Configure
Twopass - 2nd pass
Target Size - ~70% of first pass size
Recommended (but not necessary) to change Overflow Control to 20%
Save as AVI
Can then delete firstpass file.
[Then figure out how to get captions to work properly in online video players!]
10B) FOR CONS (I have not done this yet)
To letterbox in the .avs file:
LanczosResize(720,352)
AddBorders(0,64,0,64)
[Need to un-square pixel it?]
[Need to do AssumeFPS again?]
[For Vividcon, try LlamaEnc]
11. DISTRIBUTE AND ENJOY YAYYYYY
Downsides: Took a while to hash this all out. There was more up-front work, getting discs ripped to the hard drive. My computer (an IntelliStation Z Pro, now armed with the maximum number of memory cards) is not *quite* powerful enough to handle everything gracefully.
Upsides: Clipping goes ridiculously faster. Clips have proper aspect ratio and are deinterlaced before they enter Premiere; Premiere no longer crashes except when trying to handle lots of imported files. Lots of compression options and control over file and viewing size. Final vid quality is fabulous.
.
Seriously, though, it seems like there are as many processes as there are vidders, and that's apart from the Mac vs. PC stuff. More than anything, grasping all the concepts was the most important part; the tools & methods followed.
Hope this helps!
.
Old, broken way:
0. AnyDVD (copy-protection stripper) automatically runs when DVD is inserted into the disc drive.
1. Rip clips from DVD with DVD2AVI; choose Indeo codec.
2. Create new Adobe Premiere file in 16:9 or 4:3 NTSC.
3. Load clips and edit. Choose "Interpret Footage" for every clip to change 4:3 footage from DVD2AVI to 16:9.
4. If using titles, be sure to use lots of transitions and/or put blank video beneath the titles, or else it won't compress properly later.
5. Export vid as uncompressed. Choose square pixels. Try to select "deinterlace," but program may freeze.
6. Convert for online viewing by dragging into DivX Converter and cross fingers.
7. Upload and share!
Upsides: Simple.
Downsides: DVD2AVI takes FOREVER and doesn't have the option to select proper aspect ratios or use decent codecs; Premiere crashes when you try to deinterlace; DivX gives you zero control over conversion settings and sometimes excises what it thinks is "empty" vid space; final vid quality is mediocre.
.
So then my computer ran out of memory, and while I was waiting for the fix, I read the AnimeMusicVideos Guide with pen in hand. This had been way too overwhelming when I first started vidding last year, but once I'd made a few vids and struggled with specific problems with the process, the AMV Guide made a lot more sense. Even if it seemed like I'd need to incorporate many more steps and learn many more programs.
Well, I've been using the revamped method for a few months now (after clearing some hurdles with the help of
vidding_tech and vidding, because nothing ever works right the first three times), and it's great. You'll see the difference in a couple of weeks when the vids start getting finished and posted.Oh, and aside from some computer-related installation headaches, the great thing is that I believe every program was free (except of course Premiere). I paid $20 last year for the DivX license and with the new method I don't even need it. What I did buy was the external hard drive for storage, because, boy howdy, does that make my life easier.
.
New, proper way: (including some side notes for myself, which perhaps are useful to you)
0. AnyDVD (copy-protection stripper) automatically runs when DVD is inserted into the disc drive.
1. Rip vobs from DVD with DVD Decrypter
Go to Mode > File
Select the big ones (they come in pairs)
[Takes ~5 minutes per episode or ~20 per disk]
Rename files as desired
2. Open vobs in DGIndex to save as d2v
F5 to preview (Make sure default is Honor Pulldown Flags before you F5)
Esc to stop
SGA - Should be:
16:9 (anamorphic)
29.97 fps or 23.976 fps
frame type: progressive
video type: film
Video - Select FORCED FILM --> 23.976 fps
Audio - Select Disable
Save files
[Takes ~1 minute per episode]
[If vob file moves, will need to remake .d2v]
To break up disks into episodes, drag bar between eps until cell flips from end to start (cell 1)
3. Create a txt file (will be .avs file) for each episode. Easiest to make a copy of an existing avs file and change the file name & the first line of code.
Save as [Season]x[Episode] Title.avs. If starting from scratch, be sure to select 'all files' when saving or it will save as .txt.
File text should include:
MPEG2Source("G:\Footage\SGA\Season 1\FILENAME.d2v", cpu=4)
AssumeFPS(23.98)
ConvertToRGB32()
Spline36Resize(848,480)
(AssumeFPS is close to film for older premiere versions)
(spline is for wysiwyg, needs to be at the end; converts to square pixels)
(DVDs that aren't anamorphic & progressive need to be deinterlaced here)
4. Open .avs file in VirtualDub to test. Space bar to play.
5. Make clips (VirtualDub).
Settings:
Video: Fast Recompress
Video: Compression: Lagarith lossless
Audio: None
(Need to be reset each time VirtualDub opens)
File > Save as AVI...
[A whole ep takes ~1 hr and ~16-19 GB!]
6. Load Custom Settings in Adobe Premiere:
Editing Mode: Video for Windows
Timebase: 23.98 FPS
Frame Size: 848x480
PAR: Square Pixels (1.0)
Fields: No Fields (Progressive Scan)
Display Format: [24 only option?]
Audio Sample Rate: [depends on audio being used, prob 44100 Hz]
Video Rendering:
Compressor: Huffyuv OK
Optimize Stills OK
(settings may need to be adjusted if not working with SGA footage)
7. Edit vid!
[Memory issues –
- If render, can't see two clips on top of each other or transitioning
- If too many clips in bins, need to split project file]
Save save save! Save copies at least 1x/day.
8. Export vid using same settings as import/editing. Do not compress, or compress only with Lagarith or Huffyuv.
Export audio as separate .wav file.
[Possible 8a. Do slow/fast clips and other effects in Adobe AfterEffects instead of in Premiere?]
9. Create an avisynth script for the exported .avi file.
AVISource("G:\FANDOM\VIDFOLDER\EXPORTEDVID.avi")
ConvertToYV12()
Open up AvsP.
Go to Video > Crop. See if any edges need trimming. Use even numbers only.
Go to Video > Resize Calculator and nudge down a little, say to 800 width.
10. Compress vid for sharing.
10A) FOR ONLINE
XVid in VirtualDub:
Open AVS file.
Audio > Audio from other file... and open the exported .wav.
Audio > Full processing mode
Audio > Compression > Lame MP3, 44100 Hz, 160 Kbps CBR, stereo
Video > Compression > Xvid MPEG-4 > Configure
Profile @ Level > Advanced Simple L5
in More... uncheck Packed bitstream
Encoding Type: Twopass - 1st pass
in More... check Full quality first pass & uncheck Discard first pass
Quality preset: (User defined)
in More > Motion, set VHQ to 4 - Wide Search; check Use VHQ for bframes too
in More > Quant, set all 1s to 2s (2 31 2 31 2 31)
Other options... FourCC can be DX50 for DivX compatibility
Video > Fast Recompress
Save as AVI
Check it out in Windows Media Player.
Then, back in VirtualDub:
Video > Compression > Configure
Twopass - 2nd pass
Target Size - ~70% of first pass size
Recommended (but not necessary) to change Overflow Control to 20%
Save as AVI
Can then delete firstpass file.
[Then figure out how to get captions to work properly in online video players!]
10B) FOR CONS (I have not done this yet)
To letterbox in the .avs file:
LanczosResize(720,352)
AddBorders(0,64,0,64)
[Need to un-square pixel it?]
[Need to do AssumeFPS again?]
[For Vividcon, try LlamaEnc]
11. DISTRIBUTE AND ENJOY YAYYYYY
Downsides: Took a while to hash this all out. There was more up-front work, getting discs ripped to the hard drive. My computer (an IntelliStation Z Pro, now armed with the maximum number of memory cards) is not *quite* powerful enough to handle everything gracefully.
Upsides: Clipping goes ridiculously faster. Clips have proper aspect ratio and are deinterlaced before they enter Premiere; Premiere no longer crashes except when trying to handle lots of imported files. Lots of compression options and control over file and viewing size. Final vid quality is fabulous.
.
Seriously, though, it seems like there are as many processes as there are vidders, and that's apart from the Mac vs. PC stuff. More than anything, grasping all the concepts was the most important part; the tools & methods followed.
Hope this helps!
