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sony vegas settings
1
#1
0 Frags +

i know this isnt the right forum but people tend to read more this than off topic (i may be wrong, idk)
so ill format my pc since is working awful and i want to make something with my frags, but i dont want to repupload it 100 times to youtube because of the shit quality
can someone post what settings should i use to get decent quality
thanks

i know this isnt the right forum but people tend to read more this than off topic (i may be wrong, idk)
so ill format my pc since is working awful and i want to make something with my frags, but i dont want to repupload it 100 times to youtube because of the shit quality
can someone post what settings should i use to get decent quality
thanks
2
#2
2 Frags +

I made a post about this on natf2 a few months back, I'll copy it and post it here.

I made a post about this on natf2 a few months back, I'll copy it and post it here.
3
#3
8 Frags +

I see many comments on frag videos that rave about the quality of the image, and "test.mp4" renders being uploaded to YouTube as if video compression was still a mystery that needed hours of gumshoe detective work to solve. It's not; there are consistent and repeatable processes that will always result in very high quality video, and here's how I like to do it.

This guide will not talk about recording your footage or getting it into Vegas. This is for what comes after.

Step #1 - Rendering from Sony Vegas

Note: I am using Sony Vegas 11 in this example. If you use a different version, your menus may not look exactly the same. Though, you should still be able to figure it out.

Vegas is not the best at compression. We want a better program to do the compression. So we need to get our video out of Vegas as un-molested as we can. For this purpose, we will be rendering our video uncompressed.

To start off, go to 'File > Properties', and make it look like this:

http://i.imgur.com/5MzXW.png

A few words about Pixel format (Optional)

If you want the absolute best image quality, and do not care about how long your render time is, then you can set the "Pixel format" to "32-bit floating point (video levels)". In most cases, you will be hard-pressed to tell 8-bit and 32-bit apart, but in scenes with large amounts of subtle color detail (i.e., the sky when you're looking up and getting an airshot), having 32-bit can prevent color banding. Below is an example of color banding in an 8-bit render. Notice how the sky doesn't transition smoothly from light blue to dark blue.

http://i.imgur.com/oUfql.jpg

(Click to Enlarge)

I see many comments on frag videos that rave about the quality of the image, and "test.mp4" renders being uploaded to YouTube as if video compression was still a mystery that needed hours of gumshoe detective work to solve. It's not; there are consistent and repeatable processes that will always result in very high quality video, and here's how I like to do it.

This guide will not talk about recording your footage or getting it into Vegas. This is for what comes after.

[b]Step #1[/b] - Rendering from Sony Vegas

Note: I am using Sony Vegas 11 in this example. If you use a different version, your menus may not look exactly the same. Though, you should still be able to figure it out.

Vegas is not the best at compression. We want a better program to do the compression. So we need to get our video out of Vegas as un-molested as we can. For this purpose, we will be rendering our video uncompressed.

To start off, go to 'File > Properties', and make it look like this:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/5MzXW.png[/img]

[b]A few words about Pixel format[/b] (Optional)

If you want the absolute best image quality, and do not care about how long your render time is, then you can set the "Pixel format" to "32-bit floating point (video levels)". In most cases, you will be hard-pressed to tell 8-bit and 32-bit apart, but in scenes with large amounts of subtle color detail (i.e., the sky when you're looking up and getting an airshot), having 32-bit can prevent color banding. Below is an example of color banding in an 8-bit render. Notice how the sky doesn't transition smoothly from light blue to dark blue.

[url=http://i.imgur.com/oUfql.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/oUfql.jpg[/img][/url](Click to Enlarge)
4
#4
8 Frags +

Step #1 (continued)

Now, go to 'File > Render As'. Select "Video for Windows (*.avi)" as the Output Format. Pick a template (any template, it doesn't matter) and click "Customize Template". Make it look like this, and don't forget to hit the Save icon in the top right when you're done:

http://i.imgur.com/drFIM.png

Hit render and grab a Snickers.

Step #2 - Compressing Your Render

I use two methods for compression, depending on how important image quality is to me for the video I'm dealing with. If I just want it done fast and don't mind if it isn't 100% perfect, I use EasyH264. If I want it to be the best it can be, I use FFMpeg.

Method #1 - (Relatively) Fast and Easy: EasyH264

EasyH264 is a GUI frontend for ffmpeg.exe. FFMpeg is a cross-platform command-line tool that lets you do nearly anything you can imagine to a video file. As such, it can be complicated to use. EasyH264 takes care of this by having only a few options and presets available.

http://i.imgur.com/zra6A.png

Very straightforward. Select your input file, choose an output filename, set your FPS to match your render (30 in this case), and select the highest quality preset, which is "Brassemmense HD 720p (Big)". Press "Start Encoding" and wait. Your output file will be ready for uploading, as EasyH264 also takes care of audio compression automatically.

Troubleshooting (Optional)

Q: The encoding window opens and closes very quickly when I press "Start Encoding", and I am left with broken output. Why?
A: EasyH264 couldn't read your input file. If your input file is encoded with Lagarith or HuffYUV, EasyH264 will most likely fail to read it. Re-render completely uncompressed, as this guide suggests.

Method #2 - Slower but worth it: FFMpeg

See the guide on Alienware Arena: http://www.alienwarearena.com/articles/view/encoding-h264-with-ffmpeg

The only thing that I change is I use a 10000 bitrate instead of 5000. Only use this method if you plan on using a very high bitrate like 10000. For anything less, use EasyH264 instead.

[b]Step #1[/b] (continued)

Now, go to 'File > Render As'. Select "Video for Windows (*.avi)" as the Output Format. Pick a template (any template, it doesn't matter) and click "Customize Template". Make it look like this, and don't forget to hit the Save icon in the top right when you're done:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/drFIM.png[/img]

Hit render and grab a Snickers.

[b]Step #2[/b] - Compressing Your Render

I use two methods for compression, depending on how important image quality is to me for the video I'm dealing with. If I just want it done fast and don't mind if it isn't 100% perfect, I use EasyH264. If I want it to be the best it can be, I use FFMpeg.

[u]Method #1[/u] - (Relatively) Fast and Easy: [url=http://tweevo.com/easy-h-264-video-encoder/]EasyH264[/url]

[url=http://tweevo.com/easy-h-264-video-encoder/]EasyH264[/url] is a GUI frontend for ffmpeg.exe. FFMpeg is a cross-platform command-line tool that lets you do nearly anything you can imagine to a video file. As such, it can be complicated to use. EasyH264 takes care of this by having only a few options and presets available.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/zra6A.png[/img]

Very straightforward. Select your input file, choose an output filename, set your FPS to match your render (30 in this case), and select the highest quality preset, which is "Brassemmense HD 720p (Big)". Press "Start Encoding" and wait. Your output file will be ready for uploading, as EasyH264 also takes care of audio compression automatically.

Troubleshooting (Optional)

Q: The encoding window opens and closes very quickly when I press "Start Encoding", and I am left with broken output. Why?
A: EasyH264 couldn't read your input file. If your input file is encoded with Lagarith or HuffYUV, EasyH264 will most likely fail to read it. Re-render completely uncompressed, as this guide suggests.

[u]Method #2[/u] - Slower but worth it: FFMpeg

See the guide on Alienware Arena: http://www.alienwarearena.com/articles/view/encoding-h264-with-ffmpeg

The only thing that I change is I use a 10000 bitrate instead of 5000. Only use this method if you plan on using a very high bitrate like 10000. For anything less, use EasyH264 instead.
5
#5
4 Frags +

If your limited on disk space and you have trouble editing higher fps video using a tool called SrcDemo2 works good. Isn't really faster but you get a high quality final product with minimal disk space. Just another option.

http://code.google.com/p/srcdemo2/

If your limited on disk space and you have trouble editing higher fps video using a tool called SrcDemo2 works good. Isn't really faster but you get a high quality final product with minimal disk space. Just another option.

http://code.google.com/p/srcdemo2/
6
#6
1 Frags +

If you want to record a 4-5 minute video at 480fps, you're gonna need a lot of space, but 240fps really lowers the amount of space required. The only up side to using 480 or higher is better work with motion blur and slow motion, but you only need to worry about that if you plan on using it. Even slow motion with 240fps looks good, just not at something like 3%.

If you want to record a 4-5 minute video at 480fps, you're gonna need a lot of space, but 240fps really lowers the amount of space required. The only up side to using 480 or higher is better work with motion blur and slow motion, but you only need to worry about that if you plan on using it. Even slow motion with 240fps looks good, just not at something like 3%.
7
#7
0 Frags +

thanks a lot for the answers
i only have 100 gb free space so i think im going to try that thing cali posted

thanks a lot for the answers
i only have 100 gb free space so i think im going to try that thing cali posted
8
#8
1 Frags +

lange you're the greatest.

lange you're the greatest.
9
#9
0 Frags +

Lange, if you use ffmpeg is the bitrate variable or constant? If it's variable is the value you select the max or average?

Lange, if you use ffmpeg is the bitrate variable or constant? If it's variable is the value you select the max or average?
10
#10
0 Frags +

Bitrate will vary slightly just like frames-per-second when recording. Selecting 10 000 is just an average, it will generally range from about 9800-10200 bitrate (more or less variation depending on the encoder/codec you use too.

Bitrate will vary slightly just like frames-per-second when recording. Selecting 10 000 is just an average, it will generally range from about 9800-10200 bitrate (more or less variation depending on the encoder/codec you use too.
11
#11
0 Frags +

Just want to add onto Lange's post about project properties...

If the project property differs from the video being worked on and exported, you'll end up with frame blending (compare frame by frame of before input to output) . As far as I know, it was default behavior for vegas 9/10.

You can click the button to the right of [save][X] to have Vegas match project to file property.

and about exporting...
If you want to export using lagarith's lossless codec (vs uncompressed), you can compress it down using virtualdub & x264.

Just want to add onto Lange's post about project properties...

If the project property differs from the video being worked on and exported, you'll end up with frame blending (compare frame by frame of before input to output) . As far as I know, it was default behavior for vegas 9/10.

You can click the button to the right of [save][X] to have Vegas match project to file property.

and about exporting...
If you want to export using lagarith's lossless codec (vs uncompressed), you can compress it down using virtualdub & x264.
12
#12
0 Frags +

Thanks, dellort. I don't think ffmpeg can encode lagarith lossless codec files.

Thanks, dellort. I don't think ffmpeg can encode lagarith lossless codec files.
13
#13
0 Frags +

Yeah I don't recommend lagarith because FFMpeg (especially EasyH264) can't process it.

Yeah I don't recommend lagarith because FFMpeg (especially EasyH264) can't process it.
14
#14
0 Frags +

Do you think lagarith can further significantly compress files processed by ffmpeg?

Do you think lagarith can further significantly compress files processed by ffmpeg?
15
#15
1 Frags +
LangeStep #1 (continued)

Now, go to ‘File > Render As’. Select “Video for Windows (*.avi)” as the Output Format. Pick a template (any template, it doesn’t matter) and click “Customize Template”. Make it look like this, and don’t forget to hit the Save icon in the top right when you’re done:
http://i.imgur.com/drFIM.png

Hit render and grab a Snickers.

Step #2 – Compressing Your Render

I use two methods for compression, depending on how important image quality is to me for the video I’m dealing with. If I just want it done fast and don’t mind if it isn’t 100% perfect, I use EasyH264. If I want it to be the best it can be, I use FFMpeg.

Method #1 – (Relatively) Fast and Easy: EasyH264

EasyH264 is a GUI frontend for ffmpeg.exe. FFMpeg is a cross-platform command-line tool that lets you do nearly anything you can imagine to a video file. As such, it can be complicated to use. EasyH264 takes care of this by having only a few options and presets available.

http://i.imgur.com/zra6A.png

Very straightforward. Select your input file, choose an output filename, set your FPS to match your render (30 in this case), and select the highest quality preset, which is “Brassemmense HD 720p (Big)”. Press “Start Encoding” and wait. Your output file will be ready for uploading, as EasyH264 also takes care of audio compression automatically.

Troubleshooting (Optional)

Q: The encoding window opens and closes very quickly when I press “Start Encoding”, and I am left with broken output. Why?
A: EasyH264 couldn’t read your input file. If your input file is encoded with Lagarith or HuffYUV, EasyH264 will most likely fail to read it. Re-render completely uncompressed, as this guide suggests.

Method #2 – Slower but worth it: FFMpeg

See the guide on Alienware Arena: http://www.alienwarearena.com/articles/view/encoding-h264-with-ffmpeg

The only thing that I change is I use a 10000 bitrate instead of 5000. Only use this method if you plan on using a very high bitrate like 10000. For anything less, use EasyH264 instead.

nice essay nerd

[quote=Lange][b]Step #1[/b] (continued)

Now, go to ‘File > Render As’. Select “Video for Windows (*.avi)” as the Output Format. Pick a template (any template, it doesn’t matter) and click “Customize Template”. Make it look like this, and don’t forget to hit the Save icon in the top right when you’re done:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/drFIM.png[/img]

Hit render and grab a Snickers.

[b]Step #2[/b] – Compressing Your Render

I use two methods for compression, depending on how important image quality is to me for the video I’m dealing with. If I just want it done fast and don’t mind if it isn’t 100% perfect, I use EasyH264. If I want it to be the best it can be, I use FFMpeg.

[u]Method #1[/u] – (Relatively) Fast and Easy: [url=http://tweevo.com/easy-h-264-video-encoder/]EasyH264[/url]

[url=http://tweevo.com/easy-h-264-video-encoder/]EasyH264[/url] is a GUI frontend for ffmpeg.exe. FFMpeg is a cross-platform command-line tool that lets you do nearly anything you can imagine to a video file. As such, it can be complicated to use. EasyH264 takes care of this by having only a few options and presets available.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/zra6A.png[/img]

Very straightforward. Select your input file, choose an output filename, set your FPS to match your render (30 in this case), and select the highest quality preset, which is “Brassemmense HD 720p (Big)”. Press “Start Encoding” and wait. Your output file will be ready for uploading, as EasyH264 also takes care of audio compression automatically.

Troubleshooting (Optional)

Q: The encoding window opens and closes very quickly when I press “Start Encoding”, and I am left with broken output. Why?
A: EasyH264 couldn’t read your input file. If your input file is encoded with Lagarith or HuffYUV, EasyH264 will most likely fail to read it. Re-render completely uncompressed, as this guide suggests.

[u]Method #2[/u] – Slower but worth it: FFMpeg

See the guide on Alienware Arena: http://www.alienwarearena.com/articles/view/encoding-h264-with-ffmpeg

The only thing that I change is I use a 10000 bitrate instead of 5000. Only use this method if you plan on using a very high bitrate like 10000. For anything less, use EasyH264 instead.[/quote]

nice essay nerd
16
#16
3 Frags +

I use lagarith for all my clips to save on disk space, then export the final video as just an uncompressed avi. I'd also recommend using adobe media encoder, works really well and is much easier/faster/better than ffmpeg.

I use lagarith for all my clips to save on disk space, then export the final video as just an uncompressed avi. I'd also recommend using adobe media encoder, works really well and is much easier/faster/better than ffmpeg.
17
#17
2 Frags +

DANIEL PLS

DANIEL PLS
18
#18
0 Frags +
danielnice essay nerd

any chance you can re-post that color correction tutorial you had on the MGE website a while ago

[quote=daniel]nice essay nerd[/quote]

any chance you can re-post that color correction tutorial you had on the MGE website a while ago
19
#19
0 Frags +

i've been using easy h264 since i started making videos and it's always been pretty fast for me with no real lack of quality. is AMC definitely faster, or does it depend on anything? does it effect quality?

#18, this game hardly needs any real color correction. you're best off using Levels, though feel free to use the CC plugin (i sometimes use it to make a small touch to things). but if you're really wanting to do CC, Vegas' plugins are probably not the best option.

i've been using easy h264 since i started making videos and it's always been pretty fast for me with no real lack of quality. is AMC definitely faster, or does it depend on anything? does it effect quality?

#18, this game hardly needs any real color correction. you're best off using Levels, though feel free to use the CC plugin (i sometimes use it to make a small touch to things). but if you're really wanting to do CC, Vegas' plugins are probably not the best option.
20
#20
0 Frags +

You should write a short but detailed moving making guide for the tf2 community lange, you seem to really know the backbone of it. Thanks for the tips

You should write a short but detailed moving making guide for the tf2 community lange, you seem to really know the backbone of it. Thanks for the tips
21
#21
0 Frags +
kirbyi've been using easy h264 since i started making videos and it's always been pretty fast for me with no real lack of quality. is AMC definitely faster, or does it depend on anything? does it effect quality?

#18, this game hardly needs any real color correction. you're best off using Levels, though feel free to use the CC plugin (i sometimes use it to make a small touch to things). but if you're really wanting to do CC, Vegas' plugins are probably not the best option.

i know how to use color correction, im looking for something else from his tutorial

[quote=kirby]i've been using easy h264 since i started making videos and it's always been pretty fast for me with no real lack of quality. is AMC definitely faster, or does it depend on anything? does it effect quality?

#18, this game hardly needs any real color correction. you're best off using Levels, though feel free to use the CC plugin (i sometimes use it to make a small touch to things). but if you're really wanting to do CC, Vegas' plugins are probably not the best option.[/quote]

i know how to use color correction, im looking for something else from his tutorial
22
#22
0 Frags +

Well fuck, this whole time I was writing some post about CC. Oh well, I'll post it anyway for whoever wants to see it.

-----------------------------------

Here is the difference while using Levels over CC compared to TF2's vanilla colors, and also showing what you can do in terms of touching up a bit by using Levels also with CC plugin.

http://i.imgur.com/7G17O.jpg - Here is the natural colors of TF2.
http://i.imgur.com/SD1R0.jpg - Here is using Levels only.
http://i.imgur.com/d2Qjt.jpg - My Levels settings (only for Granary).

There's a clear difference in the visuals, and it looks a lot better.

http://i.imgur.com/M81Sg.jpg - This is using my [newly changed] CC settings without the use of Levels. It's a minor touch, but it's still too dark. You can just use the Brightness plugin, sure, but Levels is better anyway.
http://i.imgur.com/ayUpC.jpg - This is using Levels w/ CC. Originally, the CC preset I used in this made it really ugly, but I turned it into a minor change and this is what we have now. Minor changes are what you should be using with any CC plugin, really.
http://i.imgur.com/9dcsn.jpg - CC settings (Only for Granary).

Well fuck, this whole time I was writing some post about CC. Oh well, I'll post it anyway for whoever wants to see it.

-----------------------------------

Here is the difference while using Levels over CC compared to TF2's vanilla colors, and also showing what you can do in terms of touching up a bit by using Levels also with CC plugin.

http://i.imgur.com/7G17O.jpg - Here is the natural colors of TF2.
http://i.imgur.com/SD1R0.jpg - Here is using Levels only.
http://i.imgur.com/d2Qjt.jpg - My Levels settings (only for Granary).

There's a clear difference in the visuals, and it looks a lot better.

http://i.imgur.com/M81Sg.jpg - This is using my [newly changed] CC settings without the use of Levels. It's a minor touch, but it's still too dark. You can just use the Brightness plugin, sure, but Levels is better anyway.
http://i.imgur.com/ayUpC.jpg - This is using Levels w/ CC. Originally, the CC preset I used in this made it really ugly, but I turned it into a minor change and this is what we have now. Minor changes are what you should be using with any CC plugin, really.
http://i.imgur.com/9dcsn.jpg - CC settings (Only for Granary).
23
#23
0 Frags +
alfai know how to use color correction, im looking for something else from his tutorial

what are you looking for? the tutorial is gone but i might remember

[quote=alfa]
i know how to use color correction, im looking for something else from his tutorial[/quote]

what are you looking for? the tutorial is gone but i might remember
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