Screen Capture and AVI Codecs

jsanfilippo wrote on 2/27/2003, 8:17 AM
I posted yesterday asking about custom sizes in VV3 for video screen capture AVI files. I realized that my problem was simply that vv3 won't allow anything larger than 800x800. Not a problem... I just am working with 800x480 - an ideal size for my current project anyway.

The problem is rendering. MPEG1 and 2 seem to be out - they won't allow custom frame sizes. Most of the AVI codecs seem to result in rather large file.

My screen capture utility provides excellent results capturing to AVI using the Microsoft MPEG-4 V2 codec.

However, Vegas won't allow me to use that codec. Not even an option. I certainly have the codec installed! I *thought* that was a WMV codec, no? As I get such great results in my initial screen capture with this codec, I'd like to be able to edit and render back to it. Any ideas? Other codecs out there (or windows-native) formats that will allow 800x480 frame size with a fairly small file size?

Might it be that I need to uninstall and reinstall VV3 for it to recognize the MS MPEG4 V2 codec??

jsanfilippo

Comments

discdude wrote on 2/27/2003, 9:07 AM
Actually, only MS MPEG-4 V3 is considered a "Windows Media Video" (.wmv) codec.

MS MPEG-4 V1 & V2 are considered Video for Windows (.avi) codecs. At one time, you could use V3 for AVI's, but Microsoft disabled it. People pissed with that decision hacked the codec and it became DivX 3.11.

No one really uses any of the MS MPEG-4 codecs anymore (unless you count the DivX 3.11 "variant") because of their poor adherence to the MPEG-4 standard and the whole DivX "thing".

I'm not sure why you can't open MS MPEG-4 files; you should be able too.

As an alternative, I suggest you look into the "Windows Media Screen" codec. This codec is included with the Microsoft Windows Media Encoder (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia). The encoder will let you capture your screen. Try it, it works well.


jsanfilippo wrote on 2/27/2003, 9:17 AM
Good thoughts, but I can't use Windows Media encoder, as it apparently only captures to WMV only. I need either MPG or AVI, as I am using the file in a Macromedia Director project.

discdude wrote on 2/27/2003, 9:46 AM
You can import WMV files into VV 3 and render to Quicktime or MPEG. The reason I mention Quicktime is Macromedia always seemed to favor Quicktime (probably to appease the Mac lovers).
jsanfilippo wrote on 2/27/2003, 10:11 AM
There are plugins for MM Director which provide excellent support for MPG and AVI (DirectMedia Xtra by Tabulero). That way, my PC audience doesn't need to have Quicktime installed to view - again, since AVI and MPG are windows-native.

I'm still back to the issue of a good AVI codec!
discdude wrote on 2/27/2003, 11:22 AM
I'm not certain exactly what you need. From what I gather you want to capture your screen and import that video directly into a Macromedia Director project with no intermediate steps or recompression. If that is what you want:

DivX 5 is good a low bitrates. Unlike earlier DivX versions (namely 3.11), it is a fully legal codec. However, you have to ensure the codec is already installed on your users' computer because the codec cannot be distributed by you for free (as part of an installer for example). Still, it is not a bad option even though your users have to download and install the codec themselves.

Indeo is good at mid to high bitrates. Unfortunately, since Ligos bought the codec from Intel, you can no longer distribute the codec for free. Luckily, Indeo is included with practically all versions of Windows (and Quicktime) so this shouldn't be a problem.

As an alternative, MPEG-1 could also be used. Nearly every computer already has the software to play MPEG-1 video files.