split captured video into scenes

[Matko]

Hello,
I am capturing analog video from video 8 camera. Since I need to work with individual scenes I need to split this video into separate avis acording to scene change. Is there a software (I prefer freeware) which can do this automaticaly? Or can you recommend me any other method for splitting video into separate scenes?
Thanks a lot.

[jggimi]

Welcome to the forum; I hope you find it useful.

There are tools; it will depend on what format your capture is in as to which to use.

If you're capturing AVI, I recommend VirtualDub. If you're capturing in MPEG, I recommend TMPGEnc. Both are available from the Doom9 Download pages, and both have guides in Doom9's guide pages. Note: Vdub is Freeware, TMPGEnc is freeware, unless you need "TMPGEnc Plus" -- for MPEG-2, which is trial-ware, but relatively inexpensive.

[Matko]

Thanks for your answer,
for capture I am using VirtualDub, but I didn't notice, that Vdub has ability to split video into segments regarding to scene change. I know it can find scene change but then I must mark selection between two scene changes and save it manualy. If Vdub can do this automaticaly for whole avi, please let me know how to set it. Thanks.

[jggimi]

As far as I know, the answer is none. Vdub, TMPGEnc, and other tools require human intervention. There are automated splitting tools, (AviSplitCalc, bbMPEG) but these work by size.

Think about it. What is your definition of a scene change? How will software match your interpretation?

A number of MPEG-4 codecs set keyframes at possible scene changes, but ask anyone who splits CDs at keyframes, or anyone using DivX 3.11a who modifies keyframe locations by hand, just how well those codecs do at placing keyframes at their personal interpretation of a scene change. Answer: pretty poorly.

This question isn't about capture, but about post-processing. If you like, I can move it to the Vdub forum, or any other forum you feel would be most appropriate, where you might be able to get more knowledgable assistance.

[steve_g]

Windows Movie maker (bundled with XP) can do this. Though the programme does have other limitations.
Not free, but Pinnacle Studio 8 does it quite well. I think that newer versions of Ulead might be able to.
All use an algorithm based on quantity of change between frames, so there can be errors, but scenes can easily be re-joined.
Stusio 8 can also split scenes based on discontinuous time sequences, but this only works with DV.

[Matko]

Thanks for your answers, in the meantime I find utility called Stoik video converter, it does approximately what I want, but with one important limitation. It doesn't understant Vdub multisegment avi, it can process only one segment at a time. Is there any way how to read multisegment avi created by Vdub in other application in the way Vdub does (virtualy as a single avi)?

I understand, that definition of scene change is a little tricky, but I am quite satisfied with what Vdub does when you seek for scene change.

To Admin:
Yes please move this thread wherever you think it is more appropriate. Thanks.

[jggimi]

Glad you found a tool that's working for you.

(I'd be delighted to move the thread; but 1) you've found your own answer, and 2) I have no clue which forum would be appropriate.)

[^^-+I4004+-^^]

>Is there any way how to read multisegment avi created by Vdub in other application in the way Vdub does (virtualy as a single avi)?

tried avisynth and "segmentedavisource" command?
try opening such .avs in that stoik of yours....

or use VDub's frameserver as 2nd alternative.....