how to make smaller file sizes when capturing 1 hour + video

[makeitorbreakit]

I use video studio 10+ and all the 1-hour videos that I capture are huge.

How can I break them up in to smaller file sizes so that I can manage them better and transfer them when they done?

After I complete a project, I move the files to an external 250 gig hard drive.
The computer always says that I cant because there not enough space, even though I have 200 gig+ on source and destination the hard drive.
1 gig of memory and I wind up having to delete the files after burning a DVD.

[Terry Stetler]

You can split DV clips during capture by setting VS up to 'Split By Scene', meaning to chop up the capture at those points where you start/stop the camera. You can also do this on large clips in the Video Library by selecting the clip then 'Split By Scene' from the context menu.

What file system is the 200g formatted to? Only NTFS can store files >4 gigs in size.

[Ken Berry]

One of my complaints about VS9 and 10 is that your CANNOT use split by scene AFTER capture to create *real* separate files. In effect, it retains the original, and just *virtually* splits it into virtual files which in reality have no separate existence. You can move them around and edit the individual bits as you do with separate files, but in this case, they are not separate files. The only way to actually create separate files is to cut with the scissors icon and then go to Clip > Save Trimmed Clip. I could be wrong and would be happy to be corrected, though.

Since it appears you are capturing to DV format (13 GB per hour), then as Terry suggested, you can use split by scene during capture and actual separate files are created. AFAIK, however, you cannot do this when capturing direct to mpeg-2. You can only split mpeg video by scene after capture, when my above comment about virtual files applies.

And I am sure it was a typo, Terry, but only NTFS can save files larger than 4 (not 2) GB in size...

[Terry Stetler]

Right you are, changed. Was thinking about DirectShow vs. VfW

As far as creating 'real files', there is a workaround: VirtualDUB. It can split video files into whatever sized chunks you want.

http://www.virtualdub.org/

Just set both the audio and video to "Direct Stream copy" then save it as a Segmented AVI. In the save dialog you can set the file size options.

[heinz-oz]

I always capture the tape with "Split when scene change detected" No need to use another program to split after.

[Terry Stetler]

Me too, but he needs a retroactive 'solution'

[Ken Berry]

Terry -- re VirtualDub -- isn't the file produced uncompressed AVI? And thus huge and compounding by many times his storage problems?

[Terry Stetler]

The file produced by the "Direct Stream Copy" mode is in the original format, be it DV or otherwise. In the example I gave above all it will do is parse and split the file at the size interval you set in the export dialog. No actual processing will be done, but that's not what we need here anyhow.



Direct Stream Copy is not the default Video setting. "Full Processing Mode" is, and it will as you said export uncompressed if a codec isn't selected. This is why you have to explicitly select Direct Stream Copy.

Also: Full Processing Mode cannot export DV unless there is a DV softcodec installed like MainConcepts. VirtualDUB can only export using VfW codecs, and Microsofts built DV codec is DirectShow.

On the other hand DSC is the default processing mode for Audio.

VirtualDUB, especially used in conjunction with AVISynth, is a very powerfull pre and post production tool. It can do things by way of the dozens of open source plugins written for it that very few, if any, editors can do.