Compressing Video size

[erick]

OK, I'm new at this. Need help from some video experts, please :help:

I have used Startrails.exe and virtualdub to produce some videos from jpg files. A lot of jpg files - 500-700 of them!

I produced them as uncompressed AVI files and have one 408MByte and one 604MByte! I did try to upload one to Youtube so I could show everyone, but it chunked around for several hours and then had an "upload failed" error.

I need a different approach.

Startrails (and I presume Virtualdub) will let me produce compressed videos.

I need to know what would be a good format choice - I've only vaguely heard of the formats.

I also need to know where is best to place them, to link to from here. I guess I can try Youtube, but I can also try Liveleak. But I really have to get the size down before I can upload them.

Suggestions gratefully accepted. Education will be humbly received.

Thanks all :)

[iceman]

Did you resize the files first? That will always help.

ie: there's not much point stacking your full-res jpeg's, as they're only viewed in 640x480 resolution anyway.

I've reduced the size of mine at times by resizing the original files first, and then creating the video. Obviously you'll want to find a batch method of resizing all of your files :)

You also have to choose the right codec when saving from startrails - I think I used xvid or divx. I can't remember now. You then have quality settings in there to adjust the file size - better quality = higher file size.

Youtube can handle ~500mb files, but it may have been too big for your connection at the time.

Hope that helps. Look forward to seeing the final!

[erick]

Thanks Mike. Yes, that is the option I thought of - resize the jpg files. But, manually, all 700 or so - anyone with ideas for a batch process? I'll go googling for a method.

I was hoping that a compressed video format would be the way to go. I don't know nothin' about codecs etc. Startrails offers the attached options? Any that I should try? That produces something I can play in Win Media Player and upload to Youtube?


EDIT:- Googling done. This looks promising:-

"Batch Resizing & Cropping: Tools & Tips
Tips and tools to help you crop and resize multiple images. This list includes Windows and Macintosh software to help you quickly batch process many photos for posting on the Web, sending pictures by email, or cropping many graphics to common sizes. Although these features are usually built in to most photo editing software, these free and inexpensive tools can speed up and simplify the process of cropping and resizing, especially when your preferred photo editor does not offer batch processing functions.

How to Resize a Batch of Images with XnView (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/xnview/qt/batchresize.htm)
Many times you may need to resize multiple image files to a common size, either for uploading to a web site, sending to another device with a small screen, or for some other purpose. This is a quick task using the batch processing tools in the free XnView image viewer, but the way this function works may not be obvious.

Resize Multiple Files with Photoshop Elements (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/processmultiple.htm)
You can resize a whole folder of pictures or multiple pictures at once using Photoshop Elements Editor or Organizer. This tutorial will walk you through both methods."

[middy]

Hi erick,

Irfanview is your friend. It is an excellent image viewer with batch processing for resizing and a whole host of other image processing techniques. Frankly I don't use any other program for viewing my images.

cheers,
Andrew

[erick]

:eyepop: But I use Irfanview exclusively! Thanks Andrew - I'll go searching for the option!

[erick]

Easy to use the batch processor in Irfanview. Great! I resized all the jpg files to 800x600 pixels, bringing them down to around 110k in size. They started at around 2.5M each.

Recreated the uncompressed video and................

...............it is still the same size - around 460MByte! :mad2:

That doesn't make sense or does it - I don't know? All I know is that I'm no closer to having a manageable size video to upload to Youtube.

OK, I'm playing with the compression options. "MicroSoft Video 1" allows me to generate a smaller video file - some 25MByte - but the quality is yuck at 75% and I also lose control of the framerate - it seems to revert to the 15fps default regardless of what I set!

Time to give up for now. :sadeyes:

You'll just all have to come around to my place to see the timelapse videos :D

[33South]

http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm

Added to start menu under Bink and Smacker, lots of options (to ignore :confused2: ).

You can either create the avi from the original jpgs (use force framerate if required) or convert avi to avi.

Just use convert a file to and select compressor of choice when prompted - DIVX should give good compression maybe 50% without too much loss of quality.

[erick]

Thanks I have downloaded, but, sorry, not enough info - which utility do I need of the several provided in the folder?

Wait a minute, I've found the online help - I'll do some reading.

[erick]

Nope, I'm getting nowhere.

[iceman]

Eric, do you want to send me a DVD/CD of the data and i'll make a movie for you?

[iceman]

Failing that, I have some data of my own that I need to make into a movie too - so I can document the steps for you?

[33South]

Download just the first one The RAD Video Tools (http://www.radgametools.com/down/Bink/RADTools.exe) (RADTools.exe)

Then run the exe to install, this will add the entry to the start menu under Bink and Smacker.

Run from the start menu or dble click c:\program files\radvideo\radvideo.exe
Browse to the file(s) to convert then click button "Convert a file".

Select output type (default should be avi)

If converting avi to avi click the "Convert" button then pick a compression method .....

If joing jpgs to make the avi enter the fps in the first box labelled Force (no adding or removing)

If you want to discuss in more detail send me a PM.

Chris.

[erick]

Yes, I am right up to to here.

[For example - I've put together an avi from around 750 2.5MByte jpg files. I had to create in two halves in Startrails (it had a limit on the number of jpg files it could handle), then stitch the two halves together into one big file in Virtualdub. Final file is 604MByte. My object is to get that file to a size and format where I can post it somewhere and place a link on site for people to see and hopefully enjoy. I have two videos I am playing with - one a little smaller/shorter. I can get my video into RAD video up to the stage of "converting".]

So my question for the next step in RAD video is - what compression method? Which is DIVX? I seem to have the same set to choose from as I did in Startrails (see the few screen dumps in a post below)? Some I try to select and I just get an error. And how do I make sure my final compressed video is the frame rate I want - 2 or 3fps - it seems to produce videos running at more like the default (in Startrails) of 15fps - the night is over before you've had a chance to see anything :D

I've stayed in the thread, Chris, since I expect others are interested in producing videos as well.

Might take you up on your offer, Mike. Let's see how I go with Chris' patient tutoring.

[33South]

Erick

You can only see codecs installed on your machine, those that give errors are not compatible to the particular file format - hence the errors. You need to download and install ones you want you use, they will then appear in the list.

I havent used this version but you can get divx7 from here http://www.divx.com/en/downloads

When prompted only install the codecs, uncheck the other stuff unless you want it.

To slow down the output set the output frame rate say 0.1 or even 0.01, bit of trial an error to get a nice playback speed.

To help shrinkage also turn audio off unless you have an audio track you want to play.

See attached.

[erick]

I learn new things every day - thanks Chris. That gives me the way forward! I'll keep going.

I think one video is worth the effort. The other, all of you will be the judge! :)

[erick]

Chris, you are my saviour! :thumbsup: Downloaded and installed the DivX codecs and they work a treat. I used the top one in the screen shot below - never tried the lower one. Files at 3fps (insert 3 in that option at the top) come out to 10-13MByte and look great! I'll try to get them uploaded into Youtube or Liveleak.

This is worth writing up as a tutorial?

[33South]

No problem glad to be of help, looking forward to viewing the movie.

Chris.