Encoding with VdubMod with high action

[tancients]

So, I've used Vdubmod and TempGNC for DVD rips, SVCD encoding of downloaded anime and whatnot. What I've never had to deal with is stuff with high motion (in this case, video gameplay). And most of them were already in a nice compressed version, so the transition was smooth with very little visual glitches.

I use fraps for recording the gameplay, it works fine and while the output file is raw video data, it is an exact replica of the actual visual. But when I encode it, I can't seem to get it so it at least looks 'clean' instead of a bunch of clutter and artifacts.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oz6BSJ6gkD4 (Original video is 40megabytes)

While the original version I uploaded to youtube was 'acceptable', the reencoded version showed a lot of problems I'm having with longer segments. Odd visual errors in the HUD areas (Bottom left corner is the most obvious), and I'm wondering if theres ways to get it so that static portions of the video remain crisp (Doesn't have to mean 'when put on youtube'). For a 10-13 minute segment at 512x384 resolution 60 fps, it comes out to 140 megabytes, being 'barely acceptable' in terms of quality.

So, is there settings I can use in vdubmod? Would vdub be better? Should I use a different capturing option? The faqs on doom9 helped to make it so it wasn't 10x worse than what youtube spat out, but I'm hoping for some additional tweaking help. Since this is the best website I can find regarding video encoding in general, maybe there might be someone who can point me in a direction or give suggestions, help in any of the facets. Maybe I'm just expecting too much quality from a decreased filesize. I'm just wanting to make something to show to friends (or maybe some random storyvideo fun) without people saying gasping at a 140megabyte file for only 14 minutes of actual video.

[CWR03]

The framerate has a lot to do with needing such a large file size at a short run time. You can set Fraps to capture at any framerate you like - try 24 or 30 fps.

[tancients]

The framerate has a lot to do with needing such a large file size at a short run time. You can set Fraps to capture at any framerate you like - try 24 or 30 fps.

I had tried that originally, but the game itself runs extremely sluggish for whatever reason, yet completely smooth at a full 60 (Regardless of background programs and game settings) Would it be better to alter the audio and video for 30 frames afterwards? Or would that cause the audio to become completely distorted?

[foxyshadis]

Cutting half the frames is definitely much better for compression. You'll probably get it looking a little better by using smoothing filters to round edges off a bit and eliminate very tiny detail. However, in the end, you're probably going to just have to add a lot more bitrate to get it looking really pristine; large resolution and sharp video costs a lot of space. Consider switching to x264, which can save you a lot of space for a given quality.

[tancients]

Is x264 an encoding format? And would dubmod (Or should I be using normal vdub for this?) need a plugin? I'll try cutting it down to 30 frames (using the guide on doom9 does it properly, correct?). Though like I said, it's much more preferential to record at 60 frames and then cut it down.

[joseph5]

So, I've used Vdubmod and TempGNC for DVD rips, SVCD encoding of downloaded anime and whatnot.
:readrule:

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Is x264 an encoding format? And would dubmod (Or should I be using normal vdub for this?) need a plugin?

x264 is not a video format, it's a H.264 (aka MPEG-4 AVC) encoder! The same way Xvid and DivX are MPEG-4 ASP encoders.

You can use x264 in VirtualDub(Mod) with the VfW (Video for Windows) version of x264. Just get it here (http://mirror05.x264.nl/Cef/force.php?file=./x264vfw_x86_r667.7z), unzip all files to an empty folder, right-click the .INF file and choose "Install". It will then simply show up in the Video -> Compression menu. Nevertheless using VfW Codecs to encode H.264 is highly inadvisable! You better give Avidemux (http://www.razorbyte.com.au/avidemux/#avidemux2.4) a try, instead if VirtualDub! Avidemux comes with built-in x264 encoder (besides many more) and doesn't rely on archaic VfW. Also note that you will need to install ffdshow (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=173941&package_id=199416&release_id=439904), if you want to open H.264 videos in VirtualDub(Mod). That's because x264 is only an encoder, it's not a decoder! In case you use Avidemux, you won't need ffdshow, as Avidemux comes with all required decoders built-in.

[tancients]

To Joseph5:

I'm not asking for help in regards to that. Its in regards to self-recorded videogame play. It was merely a preface to show that I've at least used the program somewhat for different things. I did read the rules, and reread them just to make sure.

And in regards to H.264, I already have ffdshow, so I'll take a look over avidemux. Would you suggest doing my editing work in dubmod first? (Cutting, adding filters, editing) and doing direct stream copy. Open it in avidemux, and use CRF mode for encoding? Since I'm much more concerned with acceptable quality. Or would avidemux be able to be my multipurpose do-all that dubmod is for me currently?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I'm not asking for help in regards to that. Its in regards to self-recorded videogame play. It was merely a preface to show that I've at least used the program somewhat for different things. I did read the rules, and reread them just to make sure.

It's simply a bad idea to mention "downloaded" stuff in your posts ;)
Did you read my post above ???

[tancients]

Yeah, see above, I posted and didn't check back for a bit. I'll refrain from mentioning it though in any future posts. Thanks. :)