VirtualDub 720p HD settings for YouTube! [Good quality, small file size]
I often record gameplay clips from video games I'm playing with FRAPS. Usually in 1920x1080 resolution depending on the game and the FPS I get with FRAPS running. For transcoding the raw footage to something bearable to upload I usually use only VirtualDub.
Lately I've experimented with settings, and I think I found some good ones. Good video and sound quality with small file size were my goals. I think roughly 100 mb for a 5 min. clip and about 300mb for the full 10 min. in full 720p HD quality is awesome.
I'm still experimenting with sound compression but I think with 192 kb/s AC-3 ACM I have a good start.
Please bear in mind that the higher your resolution is the bigger your file size will be and vice versa. Those 100 mb respectively 300 mb are based on my 1920x1080 resolution!
This guide is intended for 16:10 and 16:9 resolutions. If you're playing on a 4:3 resolution, do not resize down to 1280*720p without maintaining aspect ratio, because the end-result will otherwise look over-stretched/-squeezed.
My settings for VirtualDub are in the picture below. If you want a very detailed explanation what each option does, check this out!
By the way, you have to have the H.264 codec installed to get it working. Download and install the latest VFW-version build here. PAY attention which version you're downloading, x86 (=32bit) or x86_64 (=64bit).
A warning about the Option "Multithreading" -> "Threads" don't set it higher than [# of your CPU Cores * 1.5] because then your whole system will start chugging. For example a Core 2 Duo would be 2 Cores * 1.5 = 3, a Q9550 would be 4 Cores * 1.5 = 6 and an AMD Phenom II X3 would be 3 Cores * 1.5 = 4.5 4.
This is by no means a guarantee that it will or will not work on your system. Each system, its components and its software are unique. You'll probably have to experiment a bit on your own. But those mentioned numbers are a good start.
It also might be necessary for you to adjust the audio volume to your liking. I have -10 dB, because the sound I record is terribad. My onboard sound sucks, period. Some people also experience asynchronous sound, here's how you can fix it.
On a side note: When you have uploaded your clip on YouTube and YouTube processed it the quality then will be lowered again. There's nothing you or I can do about that, it's up to YouTube.
The whole tutorial is also available on YouTube as a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9XOgnaJ_Hs
A few links to my own HD clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxijbXfIs4A&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yt35f2WFFY&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe4jCQ8zzz0&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNLlobJbrm8&hd=1
Addendum 16.September 2009: Enabling GPU acceleration
Since version 1.9.4 it is possible to use the GPUs processing power (if your GPU supports it, which most modern GPUs do) as part of whole the transcoding process. This way you can speed up the transcoding process significantly (depending on your compression settings!).
On my computer this cut my transcoding time from an average 1h for a 10 min. clip down to some 40-ish minutes. Under "Options" -> "Preferences" enable "3D accel".
Addendum 23.10.2009: Crashes during encoding
There's currently a problem causing VirtualDub 1.9.4/5/6/7/8/9 to crash under Windows 7 while encoding sometimes. The culprit is 3D accel! Turn it off under "Preferences" -> "3D accel" and enjoy VirtualDub once again!
Addendum 16.05.2010: Option "3d accel" slowing down encoding
I've been getting mixed messages. Apparently using "3d accel" causes it to render slower than usual on some systems. I can confirm that. With 3d accel turned on, a 10min video takes about 1 hour 10-20 minutes, while turned off it takes about 1 hour max. You'll have to experiment on your system!
And if you are running on a multicore cpu, don't forget to enable threading via "Option" -> "Preferences" -> set "Threading" to 1!
Update 27.01.2011:
Updated Setting Screenshot
Say NAY to Key loggers, Trojans, Viruses, Worms 'n more!
It never cases to amaze me how revealing and careless people are going on about on the internet. I mean nowadays where Key loggers, Worms, Virus and whatnot are as standard as your daily breakfast.
My dad, again for the umpteenth time, got infected with yet another Worm, this time it was, how could it be different, the Conficker. Of course he keeps his computer up-to-date, his Anti-Virus not so much. And on top of that he uses Internet Explorer.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the Internet Explorer once upon a time when I was just another kid starting out on the internet. Since then I went from Internet Explorer to Netscape, did a migration to Opera and finally found my home in Mozilla, later Firefox.
USE FIREFOX! Even though you have to get used to a totally different UI if you are switching from IE or Opera, it's well worth it in the long run. And here are 2 reasons why:
These 2 addons coupled with Avira-Antivir , and if you really are paranoid, you can trow in Sandboxie, and trust me you are 98% on the safe side.
Of course there always IS and always WILL be a risk of catching a Virus, Key logger, Trojan. There's no 100% guarantee!
So folks, remember, use Firefox, use NoScript, AdBlock, Avira-Antivir and Sandboxie, and you really never have to worry again.
When I play WoW, I often surf the official boards. Occasionally there's some idiot posting Key logger links. By now the fear and paranoia on these boards have risen to such levels where people simply refuse to check out any links they don't know. A good idea indeed, but flawed nevertheless. Almost every link posted there contains useful information. Very, very rarely is it a key logger. Yet the damage of a few have jump started the fears of thousands.
I for one don't have to worry. I click any link I want and never catch anything. My NoScript blocks any script, by standard, unless I specifically allow them to run. Sure I have to spend a little extra time figuring out what this script is and what it does, but it's well worth the trade-off I get in security.
My AdBlock blocks ads, period. No Ads, I don't see any Ads, EVER. Not so long ago, there was a Key logger being distributed simply by an Ad-banner. I don't have to worry about it. Of course it must be said that some awesome and useful sites are financed purely through advertisement. It hurts them if you block all their ads!
I really do believe with the 5 tools mentioned above you are on the safest side possible without compromising too much.
So long, Don Salva
Addendum:
I've been getting e-mails with folks saying a firewall software is missing. I apologize. Let me clarify: If you have a modern hardware router there's no need for a software firewall as there already is one integrated in good, modern routers (I'm not talking about ancient ones, like from 1980 or so).
A firewall software is only necessary if you are paranoid and have the need of a illusory "double security" or if you have no router and are connecting direct to the internet via your personal computer with nothing in between your pc and the internet.
5 easy-to-do tweaks to make your Firefox faster!
I was angry and frustrated that Firefox once again has slowed down the i-lost-count-this time! Seriously, it's such a great browser but so full of little problems which really can get annoying as hell!
So I went to google and found 5 easy-to-do tweak with remarkable results! Remarkable, because you truly can see the difference between a standard and a tweaked Firefox. One might wonder why such tweaks are not standard options..
Type “about:config” into the address bar and hit return. Look for the following entries:
- "network.http.pipelining" and set value to true
- "network.http.proxy.pipelining" and set value to true
- "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" and set value to 30-40
- "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set value to 0
- "config.trim_on_minimize" and set value to true
If you don't have them, create them:
- Right click -> new -> boolean -> type in "network.http.pipelining" -> set value to true
- Right click -> new -> boolean -> type in "network.http.proxy.pipelining" -> set value to true
- Right click -> new -> boolean -> type in "config.trim_on_minimize" -> set value to true
- Right click -> new -> integer -> type in "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" -> set value to 30 (default is 1)
- Right click -> new -> integer -> type in "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" -> set value to 0
Now the explanation as to what does what:
network.http.pipelining and network.http.proxy.pipelining:
It enables pipe-lining, which means the browser normally sends 1 request at a time, with pipeline enabled it will send the amount of request you set in "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests"!
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests:
Like I said Firefox usually sends 1 request at any time. By setting a different value than 1, you force Firefox to send more requests thus enabling it to load faster, because he gets more responses at any time.
config.trim_on_minimize:
Each time you minimize your Firefox it will clear the RAM. Firefox is infamous of wasting RAM for Pages you don't need so you can go "back" to them.
nglayout.initialpaint.delay:
If this value doesn't exist or isn't set Firefox waits 250 milliseconds, or 0.25 of a second then starts rendering the requested page(s). People report that setting it to 0, ergo forcing Firefox to begin rendering immediately causes almost all pages to show up faster.
Addendum:
If you are one of the lazy lot, and don't want to manually tweak your Firefox, here's a great Extension with virtually the same effect
Fasterfox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1269
Enjoy your new, faster Firefox!
Want to support us?
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Follow Us!
Tag Cloud
Recent Comments
- floopy on How to unassociate File Types in Windows 7!
- Don Salva on VirtualDub: How to use mkv, mp4, flv, mov and other file formats with VirtualDub
- Steve on VirtualDub: How to use mkv, mp4, flv, mov and other file formats with VirtualDub
- Angie on How to fix the video lag in Firefox!
- Claudette on How to unassociate File Types in Windows 7!
Recent tweets
- Video game worlds size comparison: http://t.co/oSaMwAsU #games #worlds #size
- 3 most useless things in the world: Nuns' nipples, bishops' balls and an employer's praise without a raise. #truestory
- History of #ART : http://t.co/wFgLomCr #funny #picture
- How much of x substance does one need to kill you? http://t.co/1bBqIRdX #infographic
- “Fast Food - Ads vs. Reality” — http://t.co/g2I8X1ve
Categories
Archives
Calendar
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Feb | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||