New question from New user...

[Ken Berry]

One thing you haven't said is whether you want the output quality to be such that it will play back full screen ... or only in a smaller screen. If the latter is acceptable, then you can produce such a video using the XVid (or DivX) codec. XVid is free and you can find it with a simple Google search. There is also a free DivX codec, but it also comes in a paid Pro version. I think the free version inserts a watermark.

I have just done a quick series of tests using various output formats on a one minute project made up of top quality 16:9 AVCHD video, 25 fps, 1920 x 1080i Upper Frame First. I achieved the lowest size x best quality (though small screen) output using XVid set using the 1280 x 720 option set for single pass. It produced an output video of 22 MB for that one minute.

To access the XVid codec in VS X5 (once you have installed the codec), you go to Share > Create Video File > Custom, then select .avi as the output format. Click the Options button, and on the third tab (labelled AVI), you click on the drop down menu marked Compression at the top and select XVid from the list of available codecs. Then below that is a Configure button. When you select that a new dialogue box appears, and you then click on 'Profile @ Level' and select XVid HD 720 as the output. In the next window, leave the default at Single Pass. Click Ok and Ok to close those dialogue boxes. Give your new file a name in the original Share dialogue box, and then click Save. The conversion will start and is fairly fast for such a small project. The end quality is pretty good, if you play it in a reduced size screen. It should play in any standard media player, including Windows Media Player.

But I believe that to get the sort of quality output you are after in that small size is going to be next to impossible if you want to play it full screen...

I had hoped that it would compare my objective [by using something like "AI" (Artificial Intelligence)] to the -many- options it has built within itself, and then produce an optimal file (based upon what I had asked for). It doesn't do that.

I don't think even the big movie studios, with their million dollar software programs can do that, clever though those programs might be. But in a low priced package like VS, it would be many bridges too far...

Or, else maybe some of you took the weeks/months... even years!, and lots of trial and error [like I'm forced into doing], in order to educate yourselves.

Yup... I fall into that category. I started around 2003 with Video Studio 7 and had never edited a video before in my life. So it has been a learning curve ever since. I have flirted with a number of other packages, including Adobe Premiere CS4 and Elements, Cyberlink PowerDirector, and Magix, but have ultimately always come back to VS because to me it has become very user friendly... And believe me, you would have similar problems and often an even steeper learning curve with some of the other programs on the market.

At 67, I'm not as sharp as I used to be at age 19!

Same here. I am 63, and without checking, some of our other Site Admin people and Moderators are around the same age as you and me. But we enjoy video editing, and mastering VS has certainly not been beyond us because of age. So there is is definitely hope for you yet!!

[lata]

Hi
I am only 62 . You say --- I'm not as sharp as I used to be at age 19! ha ha.--- well i guess we all fall into that category, at least i do.....

Oh Ken a belated Happy Birthday.

Old_Fart
Yes we do seem to have moved of of track a little. So back to basics.

1 / First I had thought your video clips were longer than 2 minutes.
2 / I thought you were struggling with Video Studio in editing the raw avi files(by raw I mean un-compressed---approx 1 Gb per minute. 65Gb per hour) If so I suggested converting to DV-Avi at 13 Gb per hour. You may not need to do this, but is an option.

3 / You say your videos are 960 x 720px this is an aspect ratio of 4:3, At least you mention this size?

4 / Can you right click an original clip in the timeline, select properties and tell us the details.

Copy the window to an image and attach to your post, as you did in your first post.

This will tell us the aspect ratio of the original fraps files, 16:9 or 4:3.
If you are capturing full screen then this will be the pc monitor's resolution.

5 / You have to eventually convert the video to another format, you are needing to use WMV as that is the only format your brother will use?. But remember Kens comments on DivX / XVid playing on windows media player.
Using Make Movie Templates Manager will allow you to create several WMV templates, then you can test always using the same settings.

I have a Guide for the movie manager but relates to creating MPG.
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/manager/manager.htm

View the left hand column, third image down-- File Format choose Windows Media Video--give it a name (call it 640 x 480)
From the following window choose the Profile tab--then select the Profile called Ulead Neptune_Best Quality, this will use 640 x 480 frame size. 4:3 ratio. Yep i know, but we need to know the original fraps ratio as 4 above.

Ok see how that goes, check quality and file size in Mb
Remember to tell us how long the video is in minutes?

[Ken Berry]

Trevor could be onto something here. In my experiments above I tried WMV, but only using the 1280 x 720 Standard profile. That produced an excellent video but running at 89 MB, so too large. I did not try 640 x 480 Neptune Best, but have just done so. It produced a good quality in smaller screen mode using either VLC or Windows Media Player. More importantly, it was only 6 MB. The original 16:9 aspect ratio was also respected.

However, there is a slight jerkiness in pans -- though that could be because the WMV uses 30 fps whereas my original video is only 25 fps.

[Old_Friend]

Trevor could be onto something here. In my experiments above I tried WMV, but only using the 1280 x 720 Standard profile. That produced an excellent video but running at 89 MB, so too large. I did not try 640 x 480 Neptune Best, but have just done so. It produced a good quality in smaller screen mode using either VLC or Windows Media Player. More importantly, it was only 6 MB. The original 16:9 aspect ratio was also respected.

However, there is a slight jerkiness in pans -- though that could be because the WMV uses 30 fps whereas my original video is only 25 fps.

I'd like more detailed information from you as to how you achived the 16:9 ratio and ended up with a .wmv file that was only 6 MB's.

~ What screensize was your result? What are its dimensions? Was it wide-screen 16:9, or something smaller?
~ How long did the movie run, in min's/sec's? If it runs for only 1 minute or less, that won't be suitable to what I'm hoping for. It's hard for me to convey a complete thought (scenario) in lhat short period of time.

I'm sure you've guessed 'that' after reading my very lenghty posts here on this forum! ha ha. I want to tell a longer story, but still be able to email it to my brother, while allowing him to view it sharply at 16:9, 'full-screen' with his Windows Media Player. I just don't know how to get this Corel Video Studio Pro X-5 to do it!

-- Remember, I'm trying to get acceptable quality at 16:9, viewed at full-screen, yet keeping the HDD filesize to 25MB's or under for emailing the file! (Normally, 1280x720 has looked pretty decent, as long as its filesize falls under 25MB's). Mpg-4 so far has allowed that, but the movie run-time is still too short (time-wise, and content-wise). My main problem has been to make "longer" movies which still meet my criteria, and to upload them under 25MB's filesize, etc.

~ What was your initial input format (avi?) or something else? If you used raw .avi, did you do 'something' to it BEFORE inserting it into the library, or timeline?
~ What was the overall movie runtime length of the one you said had these values? I need to find out how to create the longest running movies, viewable at 'full-size', with sharp graphics, and still keep the file size under 25MB's, only so that I can email them.

[canuck]

You are putting so many restrictions on what you want that I don't think any program will do what you want, it is just not possible.

I don't understand your insistance on e-mailing; many ISPs will not even accept e-mails with 25MB attachments. Also there are a lot better formats available then wmv or players then WMP.

[Ken Berry]

I have already said several times that I only got this quality and size in my various experiments by using formats that produced a 'small screen' size. In saying this, I mean the sort of thing you get in YouTube in terms of screen size. Going full screen, the quality drops off significantly to enormously.

I also used the one minute project because you had talked above about your videos being one to one and a half minutes length. Now you seem to be talking about something longer.

I am afraid I have to agree with canuck that getting some video of good quality, full screen and 25 MB or less seems well nigh impossible. I would also have to agree with his comment about ISP limits. Mine, for instance, only allows a maximum of 10 MB. Yours may be more generous.

[Old_Friend]

I also used the one minute project because you had talked above about your videos being one to one and a half minutes length. Now you seem to be talking about something longer.

I think that in this Topic Thread the only mention I made of a "1minute project" was not a requirement of mine, but rather a limitation that I found in the Corel Video Studio Pro X-5. Once again, it was NOT my desire to end up with a movie playing length of only 1 minute! It's the exact opposite. I want a longer playing video, which still retains the quality/aspect ratios/filesize that meet my requirements.

Either this program cannot do it, or it can. It's only a matter of Corel "fixing" it, so that it can. If it can't do it, as implied in its current generic coding, then it won't be valuable to me or others unless they only want to send their files to U-Tube, or save them somewhere else on their hard disk drives (without being able to share them, unless by DVD's).

Compression while maintaining user's desired output quality/aspect ratios/and filesize, don't seem to be included as a "built-in" choice.
Reference your statement above:

I also used the one minute project because you had talked above about your videos being one to one and a half minutes length. Now you seem to be talking about something longer.

That's misleading because I never said that I wanted a video to be limited to "1 minute." It was actually a complaint.
What I actually said earlier is:

Nearly every video I've created so far does not exceed more than 1min or 1:30secs of video length, and still meet my requirements, no matter which options I've chosen to produce them.

It's the opposite of what you understood.

[canuck]

As has been stated several times now, what you want can't be done by this or any other software that I know of. Your insistence on e-mailing is one of the main bottlenecks.

[BrianCee]

There is no practical limit to the length of video you can produce in VideoStudio - I regularly make videos of one hour long and have on occasions made two hour videos - the only reason I do not make them longer is because I do not think people in general will sit through a very long video.

Why do you think you can only make a video 1 - 1.5 minutes long - what prompted that complaint

[lata]

Hi

We just seem to be going round in circles, and you are not answering my questions.

If I create a test render at one minute and provide you with the file size in MB then you can approximate how large your video files will be, given that they are longer than one minute.
That is the only reason for me to use a one minute video file.

It does not matter how long they are.

I asked you to provide details of the captured files using fraps, this was to allow me to advise you on the options you had in creating a WMV, I am still waiting to know the pixel dimensions of your video files.

I downloaded Fraps to have some understanding of what you are using, Interestingly the files created by fraps are NOT uncompressed AVI's at 65GB, they use a Fraps compression, i haven't worked out the actual size, don’t suppose it matters.

I also gave you instructions on using the Neptune Best profile, and hoping for feedback on quality and size. If it was suitable then we can explore the 16:9 option, but i feel as though i will be wasting my time not knowing the original aspect ratio.
Fraps does not use a fixed aspect ratio so your screen captures could be any shape.

I asked in an earlier reply, did you read it?

4 / Can you right click an original clip in the timeline, select properties and tell us the details.

Copy the window to an image and attach to your post, as you did in your first post.

Help us to help you...........

[Old_Friend]

You are putting so many restrictions on what you want that I don't think any program will do what you want, it is just not possible.

I don't understand your insistance on e-mailing; many ISPs will not even accept e-mails with 25MB attachments. Also there are a lot better formats available then wmv or players then WMP.

Actually, I don't care about the limitations of your ISP. My ISP (Yahoo!Mail) allows me up to attach files up to 25MB's, (but not exceeding 25MB attachments). It's MINE that I'm dealing with, not yours.
I thought I explained it very well and completely in my previous posts, but let me try again.

My so-called "insistance" on e-mailing is because that's how I want my videos to be shared! I do not want to have to send a physical product (a DVD) through the mail. It's too expensive, and too time-consuming for him to receive something that he should be able to view rather instantly -- via E-MAIL! Updates to it would become a nightmare, and an additional expense. U-Tube uploads defy privacy between my brother and me because MY COPYRIGHTED CREATIONS would then be in the hands of the domain U-TUBE! I want and require personal transactions between myself and whoever I choose to share information to remain "private" as far as possible in this day and age. I know that it's completely impossible because there are so many groups 'snooping' on our PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS on the Internet, like Google, MS, Yahoo, Homeland Security, and others!

But, I still want to offer laughter to my brother via e-mail. I expected that Corel would have found a way to get beyond simplified, standard video editing (like many other competitors use) and offer something "built-in" that incorporates "State-of-the-art" AI. It's not too "futuristic,".... it could be done now, if they actually wanted control of market share by providing the most modern utility for common users. That only my opinion.

From what all of you have said so far, this Corel version will NOT allow me to produce simple quality movies to the specifications that I want them to be in the final output requirements I desire. Too bad. In my opinion, it's not the available industry technology preventing it... it's Corel's decison to not employ the technology into this program. Bummer. They had a great opportunity, but bypassed it.

[lata]

From what all of you have said so far, this Corel version will NOT allow me to produce simple quality movies to the specifications that I want them to be in the final output requirements I desire. Too bad. In my opinion, it's not the available industry technology preventing it... it's Corel's decison to not employ the technology into this program. Bummer. They had a great opportunity, but bypassed it.

Windows Media Video is your preferred format, you can create your own Template/Profile using a variety of settings, this is not a Corel application, simply a video format that Corel is using through the program for your benefit. Now if the Windows Media Profiles do not meet your requirements then approach Windows Media.
Part of Windows Media was Windows Media Encoder, I think it is now part of Windows Media Essentials Installing this by the way would increase the number of profiles available to you via Video Studio.

But as I say you can customise these profiles, I have given you several options to try these but I seem to be ignored.

[Old_Friend]

From what all of you have said so far, this Corel version will NOT allow me to produce simple quality movies to the specifications that I want them to be in the final output requirements I desire. Too bad. In my opinion, it's not the available industry technology preventing it... it's Corel's decison to not employ the technology into this program. Bummer. They had a great opportunity, but bypassed it.

Windows Media Video is your preferred format, you can create your own Template/Profile using a variety of settings, this is not a Corel application, simply a video format that Corel is using through the program for your benefit. Now if the Windows Media Profiles do not meet your requirements then approach Windows Media.
Part of Windows Media was Windows Media Encoder, I think it is now part of Windows Media Essentials Installing this by the way would increase the number of profiles available to you via Video Studio.

Windows Media? What does that have to do with Corel Video Studio Pro X-5?

But as I say you can customise these profiles, I have given you several options to try these but I seem to be ignored.

I havn't ignored anything, as far as I know. If you have answered my SPECIFIC QUESTIONS applicable to my SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, then I suppose I missed them. My apologies! I didn't see them.

You wrote:

Windows Media Video is your preferred format, you can create your own Template/Profile using a variety of settings, this is not a Corel application

If this is not a "Corel application," then why is it offerred as though it was (since it's built-in to Corel's product)?

This is the first time I've heard this mentioned, since my topic began...

Part of Windows Media was Windows Media Encoder, I think it is now part of Windows Media Essentials Installing this by the way would increase the number of profiles available to you via Video Studio.

Would employing that addition to X-5 give me what I've been trying to achieve since I first began this topic?
If so, then how do I incorporate it, since X-5 didn't offer it by default?

[canuck]

Why would you think the email via Yahoo is any more secure then video uploaded to youTube and which you have declared as private?

I don't understand why you can't accept the fact that you cannot create videos to your unreasonable requirements. No software can do it!

BTW, unless you are capturing video (using FRAPS) that you yourself created/recorded I doubt very much that you can apply a Copyright to it.

[Ken Berry]

If this is not a "Corel application," then why is it offerred as though it was (since it's built-in to Corel's product)?

"Windows Media" format or WMV is a "Windows" product made by the manufacturers of Windows i.e. Microsoft. It is not "built-in to Corel's product", it is built-in to Windows. But Corel -- and just about any other Windows-based video editing program -- can take advantage of what is there. DV/AVI is another Microsoft product which is built-in to Windows and used by VS and other editing packages. Similarly, the DivX codec is owned by the DivX corporation, but again if loaded onto your computer, can be used by VS. In fact, it used to be included in the VS package, but that did not make it a Corel product -- they were just licensed to use it, just as they are licensed to use the Dolby audio codec and the SmartSound automusic feature.

Here's a hypothetical: if there was indeed a codec/video format out there capable of what you are seeking i.e. a high quality video at full screen, yet so highly compressed as to be able to fit whatever length you are after into a space under 25 MB, don't you think there would be a new Bill Gates out there laughing all the way to the bank? Such a format would in effect make just about anything else totally superseded and be enormously popular. Some of the more highly compressed formats are heading in that direction. But the fact remains that it does not yet exist.

As for AI, well, I will just have to commune with the robot Wall-E about that...