Thursday, July 26, 2007

Notes Video Capture

Notes Video Capture
===================

See also NotesDVD

Contents
=========
Abstract
Capture Video via Virtual Dub
Experiment with Virtual Dub - Video Compression
Compress AVI (video and audio uncompressed) using Virtual DUB.
VirtualDub with DivX

VirtualDub filters plugins
VirtualDub MPEG2 codecs
How to Improve Video Capture Quality


Abstract
==========
These instructions uses
- Virtual Dub
- DivX codec
- mp3 codec
- video capture / tv tuner card

Video capture is done from miniDV camcorder into *.avi file using Virtual Dub.
The second stage compresses the *.avi file into another *.avi file.
Note between the two *.avi processes, an intermediate process is required to extract the sound from the first avi file into a separate wav file.


Capture Video via Virtual Dub
================================
1. Connect AV cable on Canon to COMPOSITE on TV card, yellow-video, red/white-audio

Do NOT
2. Switch on TV View program.
3. Select Video Source on TView program (select until display on PC screen)


DO:
2. Open Virtual Dub
3. File -> Capture AVI (to go to capture mode)
3.5 Video -> Video source -> Video Composite
4. Device -> Conexant Capture
5. File -> Set Capture File (give a filename)
6. Video -> Compression
Cinepak Codec = 6.6:1
Indeo Video 5.1 = 10:1
(Experiment with Virtual Dub - Video Compression)



Experiment with Virtual Dub - Video Compression
=================================================
Set the following:
- Capture - "Hidden display while capture", 29.97 fps
- Video - "Noise reduction enable", "Enable RGB filtering"
- Audio - MP3, 48kBit, 22kHz
- Record Duration about 20s

Uncompressed RGB YUV = 95.977MB
Cinepak Codec = 1.842MB
Indeo 5.1 = 2.734MB
Indeo 3.2 = 7.197MB
Indeo 4.5 = 2.591MB
Intel YUV = 55.044MB
MS Video1 = 41.639MB

MSVideo - Smoothest picture with smallest filesize

Audio better is using:
1) Raw (no compression)
2) Windows Recording Line Volume = 38%, better than higher volume.

Video - choose either
1) Intel YUV (better compression with DivX)
2) MS Video1


Compress AVI (video and audio uncompressed) using Virtual DUB.
===============================================================
1. Exit the capture mode from previous process
2. Open and select the *.avi file which contain the video and uncompressed audio from previous video capture process.
3. Audio - Source Audio, Full processing mode, Compression (mp3, 48kBit, 22kHz)
4. File -> "Save WAV ..." as MP3 - this process strips the sound from the previous *.avi file into a separate *.wav file.
5. Audio -> Audio From Other File - Select the file that was saved.
6. Video -> Full Processing Mode - Compression (DivX, High Quality)
for Good quality DivX, try
6.5 Audio -> Interleaving - adjust by testing if video out of sync with audio
7.File -> Save as AVI -> this will combine the video from the previous *avi and the newly saved *.wav file to produce a compressed DivX, MP3 *.avi file.
In terms of size, continuing from the experiment, the now compressed files have the following sizes:
IntelYUV_mp3 55.044MB -> 2.046MB
IntelYUV_raw audio 38%Vol 55.416MB -> 1.867MB
MSVideo1 raw audio 40.452MB -> 1.879MB
MSVideo1 raw audio 38%Vol 44.390MB -> 5.443MB


VirtualDub with DivX
======================
1. From the main Menu -> Video -> Compression -> DivX Codex -> Configure
2. In the DivX Codec Properties -> Main -> Profile = "High Definiion Profile" -> Rate Control = "1 Pass" -> Bitrate = 1500 kbps
Fairly good quality vs size -> Profile = "1080HD Profile" -> Encoding Presets = 8 -> Rate Control = "1 Pass" -> Bitrate = 3000 kbps



VirtualDub with DivX
======================
1. From the main Menu -> Video -> Compression -> DivX Codex -> Configure
2. In the DivX Codec Properties -> Main -> Profile = "High Definiion Profile" -> Rate Control = "1 Pass" -> Bitrate = 1500 kbps
      Fairly good quality vs size       -> Profile = "1080HD Profile" -> Encoding Presets = 8 -> Rate Control = "1 Pass" -> Bitrate = 3000 kbps


VirtualDub filters plugins
============================
Filter pack from Dee Mon:
http://www.infognition.com/VDFilterPack/
Jim Leonard's White Balance filter
http://neuron2.net/whitebalance/whitebalance.html

flaXen filter
http://neuron2.net/flaxen/flaxen.html


To use this filter, install Virtual Dub, then install these plugins into the VirtualDub's plugins folder.


VirtualDub MPEG2 codecs
========================
To use the Virtual Dub and encode with the MPEG2, the following codes need to be installed.
Panasonic VfW DV codec
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/panasonic_dv_codec.htm
 Adaptec VfW DV codec
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/adaptec_dvsoft_codec.htm


How to Improve Video Capture Quality
======================================
This step may require additional filters for VirtualDub. See the previous section for filters available for VirtualDub.

White Balance Filter - Jim Leonard
- to correct for white balance problems.
- Example: when the video in general looks orange, blue or too dark.
- may occur when white balance is on automatic mode, so different types of light having different temperatures causes this problem
- this filter can also be used to adjust Hue, Saturation, Intensity, Brightness, Contrast

Deinterlacing filter
- used to remove the effect of interlacing, ie. when not all frames are processed.
- fast motion causes edges of objects to look jagged.
- the filter will also make the video look far sharper

Sharpening Filter
- used when video seem to have soft edges or lack detail.

Dynamic Noise Reduction
- used when video is grainy

Chroma Noise Reduction Filter
- used when there is chroma noise; ie where rainbow effects shimmer across the screen.

VHS filter - flaXen
- used when video has timing issues and skips a bit
- try using the Stabilize section of this filter only

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