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| keith C |
| Posted: Aug 30 2014, 11:48 PM |
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(Sorry if this is covered somewere but I ran a number of searches unsuccessfully).
Using a video capture system for church services (from a powered splitter) where the signal input for recording can be switching between Powerpoint and cameras.
The Arcsoft software supplied kills the recording when the minister blanks the Powerpoint output so I've switched to VirtualDub as that was supplied for more sophisticated use/function.
When initially installed, frame size indicated was 640x480, and video standard PAL I seemed to be default. As per instruction sheet I was supplied with, I changed frame size to 720 x 576.
Now each time I boot, I have to go in and change video standard as it's defaulting to PAL B (eventually discovered after error message on trying to capture the second time) although holding the 720 x 576.
Does this imply I can only use 640 x 480 with PAL I on our set up?
Similarly I need an audio skew for lip synch (due to splitter I guess) that is not being stored on switch off.
It is tedious to have to re-set these very time ...... and extra instructions for others to learn who use the kit in my absence.
If there is something I'm missing I'd greatly appreciate the advice!
keithc
[moderator edit]
Topic title edited for clarity |
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| Abrazo |
| Posted: Aug 31 2014, 02:05 PM |
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Advanced Member
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1) A request to remember additional capture settings was made on Mar 16 2014:
> http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act...ST&f=15&t=22215
2) I suppose that the Auto skew setting that you mean, is in non-capture mode via the Audio-menu > Interleaving ?
Your preferred settings - when not in capture mode - can be stored via File > Save processing settings... and be loaded via File > Load processing settings... (*.vdscript)
You can automatically load these settings when starting VirtualDub via a shortcut and adding /s followed by something like "C:\folder\mysettings.vdscript".
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| keith C |
| Posted: Aug 31 2014, 10:58 PM |
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Thanks very much for the prompt reply Abrazo.
I had set the Audio Skew to correct a recorded test file. I am pretty sure it was then held when I switched back into Capture mode and that the next test recorded accurately. I thought therefore it would be retained when closing down as a 'default' setting.
I guess instead I need to amend Capture Timing options\Audio Latency - 'Number of audio blocks to use at start'? Are these milliseconds? |
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| Abrazo |
| Posted: Sep 1 2014, 06:51 PM |
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At my knowledge, the "Audio skew" setting (when VirtualDub is NOT in "capture mode") is NOT related with capturing.
So, probably it was purely by a lucky coïncidence that audio was correctly synchronised afterwards.
The "Audio latency" setting in capture mode, honestly, is not really clear to me neither.
"Audio blocks" should correspond to the consecutive pieces of audio created by the audio-encoder (codec), but I suppose that the number of blocks per second can be different depending on the codec that you are using.
When there is a mention of (ms) it is indeed milliseconds.
Myself, I would not change the audio latency settings (leave it at "Automatic" and leave the "Number of blocks to use at start" on "30").
The most important thing to verify while capturing is the number of "Frames dropped". At preference it should stay at zero (0).
When all images are correctly recorded (no frames dropped at all), and the sound is correctly recorded (no interruptions), synchronisation of video and audio should be allright.
The length (time) of the recorded video and audio should be equal.
You can verify this when the captured file is opened in VirtualDub and you click File > File information...
To avoid dropping frames, all other programs should be closed.
In VirtualDub "capture mode" via the Video-menu, set a video "Compression..." codec that is not too heavy (like x264vfw or Xvid) and at prefence set Audio > Compression... to "no compression".
You can do audio compression afterwards, starting from the recorded file AND if still needed, you can then also apply "Audio skew".
I hope this may help. |
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| keith C |
| Posted: Sep 1 2014, 11:06 PM |
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Thanks again Abrazo. Seems I need to experiment a bit more, and probably be patient(!) and correct the audio skew later.
At least I had used the compression settings you mentioned, and frames dropped were zero, but the audio skew in a couple of test recordings was massive - 2500ms - and perhaps surprisingly is a far greater (video) delay than the other software that kept crashing.
(The sound is input direct from a mixer but the video is from a spare output on a switcher/scaler and is then converted from HDMI to Composite so it's no great surprise there is some lag in the video).
Regards
Keith |
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| -vdub- |
| Posted: Sep 2 2014, 12:41 AM |
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Use with 640x480p (progressive) what your device or virtualdub defaults to. I thought virtualdub defaulted to 640x360p but that maybe is something else. There will be a resolution that you should be able to capture video and audio without the issues you have now
Is the capture for 16:9 tv or monitor later viewing and that destination is to DVD. I then understand why you think or assume that you would need 720x576
25 fps (frames per second)
720x576 pixels (D-1)
704x576 pixels (D-1)
Resolution | Aspect Ratio
720x576 = 14:9
You will have seen films on dvd that are viewed like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillarbox black bars either side of the picture. 14:9 will be like that but fill more of the screen but not the whole screen. This also depends on tv and dvd settings since could fill the screen by other ways that will either not have the full picture or have a wrong aspect ratio (round isn't round, people faces tall or fat etc)
704x576 = 16:9
All pc DVD author software should be able to author both of the above correctly to DVD
Capture I would do so always using an intermediate lossless AVI file capture with Largarith http://lags.leetcode.net/codec.html or other AVI lossless compressor using YUV mode for the colorimetry. Which will keep the file size much lower that uncompressed lossless compressor (Virtualdub default compressor)
Capture I would try instead 640x360 (16:9) Then after capture can up-scale the video to 704x576 (16:9) using Virtualdub internal Resize filter
640x360 could be up-scaled to 704x576 for DVD or 1280x720 or 1920x1080 for BR disc. While keeping the correct aspect ratio 16:9 (round is round no heads tall or fat etc). Though when capture it is always best to capture at the resolution and aspect you intend to keep. So video quality doesn't suffer with blocky type pixelated videos. though as long as use correct resolutions and keep the aspect correct should not have any issue
640x360p (p = Progressive)
Searching this forum may help also as well as searching the internet for answers
Reasons to use 360p http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-definition_television
Reasons not to use 480p http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/480p
And if your capture card can only capture 4:3 and you don't mind having 4:3 video you could use 480x360. After capture you could up-scale the video using Virtualdub Resize filter to increase video size and also more important to set the video inside a 16:9 frame. Do both of these using resize filter. This way you can author to dvd as 16:9. It will show as 4:3 in 16:9 frame with black bars either side of the video as with dvd older video films
Though video capture devices that can capture 16:9 are now low cost can be bought in many locations. Better to check when plan to buy one if it is a good device (search the net) work with the os and if any problems known with Virtualdub etc etc
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| keith C |
| Posted: Sep 2 2014, 10:48 PM |
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Thanks vdub - So much to learn! Wonder if i'll ever get there ...
Yes, the intention is to make recordings available on DVD but I hadn't thought about the various aspect ratios involved!
I'm someone who has spent many many years watching TV in 4:3 and now generally watch in 14:9 as 16:9 loses top and bottom on my ancient TV. Can't stand watching 'fat faces' at my sister's as her husband insists on 'widescreen' setting! But I digress.
I believe the inputs from our cameras and Powerpoint will be 4:3 but was blindly following an instruction sheet designed for VCR conversion.
Cameras are definitely 4:3 and the projector we use is too, but have had little help from the guy who installed the video gear in the church - his instruction was to record in real-time direct to DVD, then edit down and produce DVDs to distribute). I thought it must be simpler (and cheaper) to record direct to PC in the first place but seems I might have been wrong!
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| -vdub- |
| Posted: Sep 3 2014, 06:21 AM |
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Do read the Virtualdub Help (Keyboard F1 key -or- Help > Contents) Capture it may help to fix the problem you already have with the 720x576 capture
Test by capturing a few videos at different resolutions to know what the capture device and pc are able to do. Capture a some 5 minute each resolution to know which works the best.
See how it plays in your dvd and tv, then on a 16:9 tv as the final dvd videos will be viewed on both
Below are some correct 4:3 aspect ratios if 640x480 doesn't work try the next one. Though each one smaller will have less video quality.
640x480
576x432
512x384
448x336
384x288
Use your dvd author software to write the files to disc and test them on various dvd and bluray players attached to 4:3 and 16:9 TV's, monitors. Wiki (Wikipedia) used to have a page showing all the correct (official) dvd resolutions that could be used to author dvd. It is no longer visible instead some thing else that knows nothing of what the exact dvd standards are. So I won't be able to point what are the 4:3 resolutions for dvd. Maybe you dvd author software tell you this. I do know but is stored on a dvd in a text document or other along with 16:9 resolutions. I did a search and the information seems no longer on the net or any other site has this info
Or If you have now a 16:9 capture device that may work as is without any problems
As 'the guy who installed the gear in the church'
Are you able to select in video compressor either mpeg or mpeg2 or similar name ! this is also worth trying to capture test video with, let us know how the mpeg2 compression worked out |
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| dloneranger |
| Posted: Sep 3 2014, 01:36 PM |
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dvd, sd or widescreen use the same rez, but have a flag set that tells the dvd player to stretch it
720 × 576 pal
or
720 × 480 ntsc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution
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Windows7/8 Codec Chooser
All FccHandlers Stuff inc. Installers for acm codecs AAC, AC3, LameMp3 |
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| -vdub- |
| Posted: Sep 3 2014, 11:33 PM |
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Never did like dvd for getting it so badly wrong. Time now that Bluray was as cheap as dvd is and let dvd hit the pile of rubbish goodbye to dvd won't be soon enough. Bluray is better by far designed to do what dvd couldn't do 16:9 and far more besides
I would sooner buy a cheaper capture device that is able to do 16:9 correctly. I think most are HD 16:9 now which all hardware is now some same price as a pint beer. Maybe also others that capture also 4k 16k etc will be low price within a year or so if not all ready. Then would need to bother with this and that do as you need. That is as long as the device is known to be ok with the os use intend to use it on and the software you decide to capture with |
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