Editing and Converting Video Files

[CastleDoctrine]

I have a few questions about editing and converting video files.

How do you convert a .DEM file into other formats such as .avi, .wmv, and flash formats, and what applications can you use to do it? Which video file formats, and associated applications, do you prefer and why?

Can a .DEM file be edited for brevity (such as when only a small part of the demo is what you wish to show)?

What are the best compression levels for the most popular video file formats? Will heavily compressing such files reduce audio/visual quality in the long run?

Thanks.

[Stevo]

Here's something I posted in the film crew forum:
[quote="Stevo";p="112037"]Here's a step by step tutorial to convert your recorded demos into video format.

Recommended method:
What you need:
Demo file(s)
VirtualDub (download: http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net)
Plenty of HDD space

To install VirtualDub, just unzip it to the desired location. To use it, run VirtualDub.exe or VeeDub64.exe depending on the version.

Converting:
1) Run TF2 and reduce the resolution (I use 720x480). You should also restart the game after this or some things may be out of proportion. Also change any other settings for the desired effect (such as disabling the HUD or voice; see below for useful commands).

2) In the console type the following commands (replace demoname with the name of the demo file):

Code: Select all

startmovie moviename
playdemo demoname

The demo will now play while the game records the frames to TGA files at 30 fps.

3) When the demo is completed or you have all the footage you want, in the console type:

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endmovie

You should now have lots of TGA images and a WAV in the mod directory.

4) Run VirtualDub and go to File > Open video file. Browse to your Steam\SteamApps\account\Game Name\mod directory and select the first image in the series (moviename0000.tga). Click Open. It will now import all the images in the sequence.

5) Go to Audio > WAV Audio and select the moviename.wav file. Click Open.

6) If you plan to edit the file in another program, you can leave it uncompressed. Otherwise you can choose compression options in Video > Compression... (more details coming soon).

7) Go to File > Save as AVI and save the output to the desired location. When the process completes, you will have an AVI file that can be edited or played back with other tools.

Clean-up:
The easiest way to remove all the TGA files is to use the following commands in the Command Line:

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cd Path-to-mod-folder
del *.tga
del moviename.wav

Alternate method:
I have not tested this very much and there seems to be issues with audio synchronization, but it is a much easier and faster process.

What you need:
Demo file(s)
Plenty of HDD space

Converting:
1) Run TF2 and reduce the resolution (I use 720x480) in windowed mode. You should also restart the game after this or some things may be out of proportion. Also change any other settings for the desired effect (such as disabling the HUD or voice; see below for useful commands).

2) In the console type the following command:

Code: Select all

startmovie moviename avi

A prompt will ask for compression options (may not work in full-screen). Choose a good balance between size and quality or leave it uncompressed.

3) In the console type the following command (replace demoname with the name of the demo file):

Code: Select all

playdemo demoname

The demo will now play while the game records to an AVI file.

4) When the demo is completed or you have all the footage you want, in the console type:

Code: Select all

endmovie

You should now have a complete AVI video in the game directory.


Useful commands:
demoui - Nice GUI for opening and controlling demos
sv_cheats 1 - Required for some of the below
voice_enable 1/0 - Enable/disable voice
cl_drawhud 1/0 - Enable/disable the HUD


I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions of comments, please post it here and I will update the tutorial. [/quote]

You can edit the video in VDub to cut out parts and stuff.

Compression is a matter of preference really. You need to balance quality and file size depending on what you will do with the video.
Here's what I started using since YouTube added 720p support:
Video
Format: H.264 MP4
Frame Size: 1280x720px (16:9)
FPS: 30 Progressive
Profile: Main
Level: 4.1
Bitrate: 6Mbps CBR

Audio
AAC Stereo 48kHz 320kbps


The results: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkaCDuFrKKs&fmt=22


Hope that helps.

[MMX]

wow that rocks

since when dose YouTube support 720p?

[Stevo]

About a month I guess.