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[Guide] Video Recording and Compression (Fraps and VirtualDUB)


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#1 ArnieF4440

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Posted January 26 2013 - 09:51 PM

Okies, I'm just gonna consolidate my knowledge and settings in this thread as my little guide to Video Recording and Compression. There have been a couple threads about recording software and people have asked me. This is mainly directed at using VirtualDUB (1.9.11 +) for compression and Fraps (3.5.9) for recording, but alternate recording software are: A couple how-to video's are in the sections below, and they follow the steps I've provided :)

Software needed
Make sure you have these installed prior to doing any compression Fraps Setting
I'll just dump all my settings here, the important ones I've highlighted:
Spoiler

VirtualDUB Settings
Spoiler

Config/Processing settings files
These can be loaded by opening VirtualDUB, going "File -> Load processing settings -> open the config file"

Compression
Attached File  FRAPS Compression.zip   530bytes   604 downloads

Appending videos to each other
This is for older versions of Fraps where it split the recording when the video file hits 4GB. So, there's a couple ways of compressing all the files into one video:
  • just making all the videos into one big file, then processing it
  • or, process the files individually and merge it into one file
Either way, you have to select "Direct Stream Copy" in the video and audio settings instead of "Full processing mode". And as for merging them, I just load the first segment of the video and use "File -> Append AVI Segment" for each video you wanna merge in sequence to make a larger vid

So, here's the config file for that
Attached File  FRAPS Append.zip   520bytes   195 downloads



Single Video Compression using VirtualDUB
  • Open VirtualDUB
  • If you have a config file, go "File -> Load processing settings -> open the config file", otherwise set them up using the above settings (save the config file to stop replicating your effort XD)
  • File -> Open Video File -> Select your video file
  • File -> Save as AVI -> Select an output file
  • Let it process
  • Profit?
Video

Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbeb4qaVNF8


Batch Video Compression using VirtualDUB
  • Open VirtualDUB
  • If you have a config file, go "File -> Load processing settings -> open the config file", otherwise set them up using the above settings (save the config file to stop replicating your effort XD)
  • File -> Queue Batch Operation -> Batch Wizard
  • Drag any file into the list of files
  • Select the output folder (make sure it exists first)
  • Add to Queue -> Re-save as AVI
  • Repeat steps 4-6 for any other files that you want outputted to a different directory
  • Click OK
  • File -> Job Control (or just press F4)
  • Check "Autostart"
  • Let it process, make sure to leave the window open
  • Batch Profit?
Video

Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCfU148DGSA


If I've missed anything, tell me about it :)

EDIT: previous discussions on game recorders
http://community.pla...-game-recorder/
http://community.pla...-are-you-using/

Edited by ArnieF4440, June 13 2013 - 08:54 PM.

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#2 G4M5T3R

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Posted January 26 2013 - 10:02 PM

Just a suggestion, you might want to use a few spoilers. One for Fraps and one for Vdub.
Nice thread btw.
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#3 ArnieF4440

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Posted January 26 2013 - 10:25 PM

Cheers, done mate :) Was editing the annotations for the videos

Edited by ArnieF4440, January 26 2013 - 10:25 PM.

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#4 draco7891

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Posted January 26 2013 - 10:29 PM

MSI Afterburner can be set to record directly into x264vfw, saving you the user the extra step of having to encode the videos after recording.

As a bonus, with the right settings you can achieve 1.8MB/s of video (which makes a 15 minute match about 1.6GB). This is far better than anything Fraps or an MJPG recorder can do (on orders of magnitude).

For x264vfw settings I use:
  • Preset: ultrafast
  • Tuning: none
  • Zero latency (preserves audio sync when recording)
  • Single-pass CRF-based, 23.7 quality (you may want higher; 23.0 is default and generates about 2.3MB/s. I happen to like the semi-grainy feel this quality gives the video, but that's just me).
  • Log level: none.
in MSI Afterburner:
  • VFW compression: configured for x264vfw
  • 16:9 720p
  • 30FPS capture rate
  • no framerate limit
  • Multithreaded optimization: maximum threads (for me, 8)
  • Downmix audio into stereo (using mix not rip)
Vsync (60Hz) enabled in game.

Literally play, record, upload direct to Youtube.

Draco

PS: Unfortunately, Afterburner only detects the 32-bit version of x264vfw right now. Make sure to get the standard 32-bit edition instead of the x64 if you're like me and wondered why it wasn't giving me the option.

Edited by draco7891, January 26 2013 - 10:34 PM.


#5 ArnieF4440

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Posted January 26 2013 - 10:33 PM

View Postdraco7891, on January 26 2013 - 10:29 PM, said:

-Snip-

If I could Like your post, I would, lol
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#6 RespawningJesus

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Posted January 27 2013 - 12:48 AM

I would reccomend changing going to the very last fps settjng in fraps, and change the value to 120.

#7 chrissphinx

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Posted January 27 2013 - 12:54 AM

capping at 60 or 120 is completely useless unless you are just recording for your own personal enjoyment

#8 ArnieF4440

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Posted January 27 2013 - 01:25 AM

View PostRespawningJesus, on January 27 2013 - 12:48 AM, said:

I would reccomend changing going to the very last fps settjng in fraps, and change the value to 120.
The one with the 29.97? It's the default value and I record at 60FPS anyway. For me, 60FPS is the least choppy and correctly balanced between quality and size requirements when I process and upload to youtube.

Comparison tests (not the same vid though XD)



But what you record at is up to you, I'd recommend you make sure you keep "Lock framerate ..." unchecked if you're recording at a refresh rate lower or equal to your monitors refresh rate, or well, any time, lol. But I really wouldn't bother 120FPS unless you wanna do 2xslow motion, lol.

It doesn't change things if you run Vsync anyway, why put your GPU under the unnecessary load of rendering frames you aren't gonna see.

Edited by ArnieF4440, January 27 2013 - 01:26 AM.

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#9 chrissphinx

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Posted January 27 2013 - 01:33 AM

View PostArnieF4440, on January 27 2013 - 01:25 AM, said:

The one with the 29.97? It's the default value and I record at 60FPS anyway. For me, 60FPS is the least choppy and correctly balanced between quality and size requirements when I process and upload to youtube.
YT is just going to rip out frames until it's 29.97fps anyways

your comparison is terrible as well, since you have a ton of motion in your 30fps cap but next to none in the 60fps one

Edited by chrissphinx, January 27 2013 - 01:35 AM.


#10 ArnieF4440

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Posted January 27 2013 - 01:44 AM

View Postchrissphinx, on January 27 2013 - 01:33 AM, said:

View PostArnieF4440, on January 27 2013 - 01:25 AM, said:

The one with the 29.97? It's the default value and I record at 60FPS anyway. For me, 60FPS is the least choppy and correctly balanced between quality and size requirements when I process and upload to youtube.
YT is just going to rip out frames until it's 29.97fps anyways

your comparison is terrible as well, since you have a ton of motion in your 30fps cap but next to none in the 60fps one
Yeah XD, old conversions ...
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#11 ArnieF4440

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Posted April 18 2013 - 07:07 PM

Woo, necro ... Slight update. I've put annotations on the single video compression video and I'll do the same for the batch processing one. it just contains the steps though
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#12 ShazaM

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Posted April 18 2013 - 07:10 PM

Dxtory + Lagarith Codec (or PackBit [more hungry]) = The only way to roll.

I've tried just about every program out there, this setup above has netted the best quality with the best performance by an insane margin too.

Try it, you won't be disappointed. Just make sure you have storage ;)

Edited by ShazaM, April 18 2013 - 07:11 PM.

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#13 ml604

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Posted June 13 2013 - 07:56 PM

FFSplit anyone?
I just started experimenting with it, It is free and OSS, also supports Twitch.tv live stream uploading with overlays.
I have not tried upping the fps to 60, but I am recording better with the quality balance at 0.
I'm interested in anything else others are using as a comparison, it spits out mp4 quickly and painlessly.
604

#14 ArnieF4440

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Posted June 13 2013 - 08:51 PM

View Postml604, on June 13 2013 - 07:56 PM, said:

FFSplit anyone?
I just started experimenting with it, It is free and OSS, also supports Twitch.tv live stream uploading with overlays.
I have not tried upping the fps to 60, but I am recording better with the quality balance at 0.
I'm interested in anything else others are using as a comparison, it spits out mp4 quickly and painlessly.
604
I'll give it a shot ... after exams

Just an update though, I upped my sampling rate to 20,000, it works a bit better on YT IMO

Edited by ArnieF4440, June 13 2013 - 08:53 PM.

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#15 ledledled1

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Posted February 20 2014 - 08:28 PM

Awesome thanks for this i was having low frames while recording thanks!




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