How to render using VirtualDub

[Plec]

Hello!

*Warning this question might be stupid*

I'm having some trouble rendering my video in SFM. AVI is unstable and MP4 messes up the contrast and colours of the video. Now some people are suggesting to render the video through Image Sequence and use VirtualDub afterwards. It has the best quality from what I've heard except I don't understand how to use VirtualDub at all. I've found one video that kinda explains VirtualDub except it is 50+ minutes long and I unfortunately don't have time to watch the whole thing.

If anyone can summarize how to use PNG files in virtualDub and render it as a movie I will personally comment on your profile and tell that you're awesome.

I rendered the Image Sequence in 30 FPS btw

[Clown]

use this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4yX1I-4k18

[Plec]

Originally posted by MK-JackWabbit:

use this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4yX1I-4k18

I got a feeling that you might not've read my post

[Clown]

Originally posted by Plectrum61:

Originally posted by MK-JackWabbit:

use this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4yX1I-4k18

I got a feeling that you might not've read my post

well if you dont have the time to learn or cant be bothered i cant help you when you wont take the time to sit down and learn we've all had to sit down for an hour a day to learn a new skill or a better way of doing something

[Plec]

Originally posted by MK-JackWabbit:

Originally posted by Plectrum61:

I got a feeling that you might not've read my post

well if you dont have the time to learn or cant be bothered i cant help you when you wont take the time to sit down and learn we've all had to sit down for an hour a day to learn a new skill or a better way of doing something

I appreciate it that someone took the time to create a 51:30 minute video trying to explain how people should render through VirtualDub, but I was hoping for someone who can explain it more clearly like Valve did with Source Filmmaker..
Example: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SFM/Command-line_startup_options or the small tutorial clips they've made which are 10 minute each.

Perhaps it's just me but a video that's to the point makes me understand something better.

But anyway, thanks for trying to help.

[The Resonte!]

you can use Blender or VirtualDub. Pte Jack has a... 12 minute video i think on using Blender to put together image sequences. so you have two choices.

[Plec]

Originally posted by The Resonte!:

you can use Blender or VirtualDub. Pte Jack has a... 12 minute video i think on using Blender to put together image sequences. so you have two choices.

Ill look into it, thank you!

[R234]

Here's a concise explanation on how to use VirtualDub: http://steamcommunity.com/app/1840/discussions/0/864969481773034807/#c864969481799210023

[Pte Jack]

This is the guide using blender for producing MP4 video...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=375229570

Virtualdub's default format is AVI, if you're looking to produce AVIs then that 50 some minute video is the method of exporting MP4s directly from Virtualdub and includes the step required to do so. Exporting AVIs is a simple as exporting the image sequences and audio from SFM, then setting the right switch and producing the video out of Virtualdub. (I believe that is the method that R234 posted)

[Deeakron]

Here are the steps a friend wrote down for me that I always use, although you may have to find some of the codecs (or whatever they're called):

====={Phase 1 - Rendering}=====
1 - load .dmx in SFM
2 - Select File -> Export -> Movie
3 - In the "Export" box, select "Image Sequence"
4 - In the "Format" box, select "TGA", check "Separate WAV file"
5 - Change the "Output Path" at the top to C:\Image Sequences\,
right click and create a folder for that movie. Then in "file name" box, name it the movie name
6 - Click "Export Movie" at the bottom

====={Phase 2 - Compression}=====
1 - Open virtualdub
2 - select File -> Open Video File
3 - browse to the output path from phase 1, and open the first .tga file
4 - Select Audio, and change to "Full Processing Mode"
5 - Select Audio -> Audio from another file, browse to C:\Image Sequences\<movie name>, select moviename.wav
6 - Select Audio -> Conversion, and check "high quality"
7 - Select Audio -> Compression, select "LameMP3" on the left, then "44100Hz, 320Kbps CBR, Stereo" on the right
8 - Select Video -> Framerate, change to framerate set in phase 1 (default 24, otherwise, what you chose in the Appendix)
9 - Select Video -> Compression, select "x264vfw", check "Force Keyframes" and put 1 frame
10 - Select File -> Save as .Avi, browse to where you save FINAL videos

====={Phase 3 - CLEANUP}=====
1 - delete all of the .tga and .wav files in C:\Image Sequences\<movie name>, remember to empty the recycle bin
*2 - if rendering at 1080p, remember to remove the launch option
*3 - if you changed the bitrate, open up the x264vfw configure window, and move the slider back to 6400


#####{Appendix}#####
====={Changing Resolution}=====
**NOTE** Rendering at 1080p is the best quality, but it will take significantly longer to run, and take up more space
0 - before starting SFM, right on SFM in the Steam Library, select "properties"
0.1 - click "set launch options", and paste "-sfm_resolution 1080"
**Complete these steps directly after phase 1, step 5**
1 - Select "1080p" in the "Resolution field"


====={Changing the framerate}=====
**Complete these steps directly after phase 1, step 5**
1 - Select the "Layoff Settings tab"
2 - Check "Override Frame Rate" and input 30 or 60. 30 is a good medium, 60 is best. Don't go higher than 60. More FPS will take longer to render proportionate to framerate/24
3 - Check "Override Shutter Speed" and input 1/(2*framerate) rounded up to the hundredths place
for 30fps, 1/(2*30) = 1/60 ~= 0.017

====={Changing compression quality}=====
**Complete these steps by replacing Step 9**
1 - Select Video -> Compression, select "x264vfw", check "Force Keyframes", put 1 frame and click "configure"
2 - Move the bitrate slider to the right, up to a max of 36,000.

**Bitrate Chart**

720p 24fps 6,400 (kbps)
720p 30fps 8,000
720p 60fps 16,000
1080p 24fps 14,400
1080p 30fps 18,000
1080p 60fps 36,000

You can precalculate an estimate for the size of your video with this calculation

[(bitrate+320)/(8*1024)]*(video length in seconds)

=====[file size conversion chart]=====
kbps = kilo bits per second
kBps = kilo Bytes per second
1 byte (B) = 8 bits (b)

kilo = 1024 base unit (Bytes or bits)
mega = 1024 kilo = 1024^2 base
giga = 1024 mega = 1024^2 kilo = 1024^3 base
tera = 1024 giga = 1024^2 mega = 1024^3 kilo

[Plec]

Originally posted by Deeakron:

Here are the steps a friend wrote down for me that I always use...

Thank you!