Trim Video And Be Able To Reduce The Data Rate Only

[oka]

Many of my videos seem to be trimming and saving to a file. With a HD video at a high data rate, all I do is trim the video and save back to a file. However, I select the "Same as first video clip" to save to a new file. What I usually do is save the file and use a third party software to reduce the video the data rate I need.

In other to reduce the re-rendering time, I wish both processes could be done in VS's 'Options' button. Other ideas?

Thanks.

[BrianCee]

Well you can reduce the data rate at the same time - but not if you use "same as first Video Clip" because then your telling VideoStudio to use the same bit rate as your original.

You need to use one of the supplied templates or make one of your own with a lower bit rate if you want to save and reduce the bitrate at the same time'

[oka]

Well I understand. However, what you mentioned would work if all my videos have same (exact properties), then I can create a template with a lower data rate. It would have been ideal if in the OPTIONS section, one can do that. As a video editing software that "does everything", it have been possible.

I'll just keep doing it the way I have been.
Thanks for your time anyway.

[lata]

Hi

Share -- Create Video File provides you with standard templates.
The Custom option at the bottom allows you to choose a format and change the properties including the data rate.
----------------------
The option from Settings - Make Movie Templates Manager also allows you to create your own templates in a similar manner to the Custom option.
The templates will be available to use adjacent to the Custom button.

[oka]

Hi

The Custom option at the bottom allows you to choose a format and change the properties including the data rate.

Actually this option is for DVD video and not for HD video.
It only gave me options for DVD video format. Most of my videos are HD format so I cannot use this method.

Thanks

[Ken Berry]

Caxtin wrote:

Actually this option is for DVD video and not for HD video.
It only gave me options for DVD video format. Most of my videos are HD format so I cannot use this method.

But I assume you use instead the "Add" option in Make Movie Template Manager, navigating and linking to a HD clip with the properties you want, and setting that as your template.

[oka]

In the "Make Movie Template Manager", I went and tried the "Add" option, and needed to link to a video with the property that I need. But the main thing is, I don't have a video with the property I need since that is what I am trying to create. The "New" button can't do that either.

Unfortunately, it looks like VideoStudio cannot create a HD video template from scratch, or I may be missing something hidden somewhere in the application.

[lata]

Unfortunately, it looks like VideoStudio cannot create a HD video template from scratch, or I may be missing something hidden somewhere in the application.

Yes you are missing something........

The Custom option allows you to create many different types of video format.

For a standard DVD yes you would choose the "Mpeg files" option, but this panel can be expanded to choose other formats, click the down triangle.

If you choose "Mpeg Transport Stream", then Options and you should be able to set properties for HD type video.

As I say using Make Movie Templates Manager in a simular manner will allow you to save the template.
New--choose a File Format--give it a name--set the properties.

[oka]

OBSERVATIONS:

CUSTOM SETTING (SHARE TAB)
When I select “Custom” and select the “MPEG Transport-Stream Files (.m2t}”, it gives me the video as a H.264 video format with a variable data rate. However, with the original a HD video, I would like to create a custom format that will match the original format. Then when I go to the “Options (Compression)” window, it defaulted to H.264 and I have a video setting for AVCHD or AVCREC options. Also, the VDR is defaulted as variable and NOT constant. So, in this case, I can really get the same properties of the original file format.

MAKE A MOVIE TEMPLATE MANAGER (NEW OPTION)
The configuration is the same as in Custom Setting from the Share Tab.

MAKE A MOVIE TEMPLATE MANAGER (ADD OPTION)
In this case, I have to browse for an already created file (which is what I am trying to achieve).
Now, all comes down to video formats. Bringing this up her, sure some other readers would like to know also.
With some articles I googled, it seems H.264 is a pretty good video format which is better than the traditional MPEG format while it gives a lower data rate than the common MPEG.

So, since I cannot get VS to create a regular MPEG HD video format, using the H.264 (.m2t) would even be better? Please educate me!

[Ken Berry]

High def mpeg-4 video using the h.264 codec is AVCHD -- and as you say is more highly compressed than the "traditional" mpeg format, by which I assume you mean mpeg-2. But AVCHD by its very nature uses a variable bitrate, not a constant one. This begs the question, though, what the properties are of the video you are trying to copy... You haven't actually told us in your earlier posts.

If you are wanting to use a constant bitrate and produce high def mpeg, then you would need to use HDV which uses a constant bitrate of 25 Mbps and is high def mpeg-2. H.264 AVCHD in VS uses a lower bitrate of max. 18 Mbps (and 20 Mbps for AVCREC). But to my eyes at least, AVCHD at that bitrate produces the same excellent quality as HDV, though in a smaller size file. The international AVCHD standard is now up to a maximum of 28 Mbps, but VS has yet to catch up with that -- though if you can get a small bit of such a video, you can use the Add function to make a template for it...

[oka]

VideoProperties.JPG (27.49 KiB) Viewed 6566 times

If I have to use HDV, where would this option be found? The one I found has it's own properties and not customizable. The “Create Video File” / HDV is not it; the “Custom” is not it either and neither is the ”Make Movie Template Manager”. Guess AVCHD would be it except it does not have the constant-bit-rate property.

I would just like to leave the video as is except reduce the video data rate. That is, maintain all the video properties but reduce the rate from the 30,720kbps to +/- 16,000kbps. AVCHD would have been right for me if it has a constant-bit-rate. Guess I would have to purchase the third-party utility to achieve the goal.

I sure appreciate your time on this!

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for providing those properties -- though I can now only wonder where exactly they came from. Were they from a camcorder? If so, I wonder which one -- though I seem to recall that there was a JVC camera which produced video with properties like that: largely HDV, especially with the mpeg layer 2 audio, but with larger than the standard HDV frame size (which is 1440 x 1080 anamorphic) and a higher bitrate than the standard 25 Mbps of HDV.

But the nearest VS can get to it is, as you have found, going to use a variable bitrate and either Dolby or LPCM audio. Dolby is, at least, similar in size to the original mpeg layer 2 audio. And if you use, in Make Movie Template Manager, mpeg-2 transport stream as the basis, and select mpeg-2 as the basic format instead of AVCHD/AVCREC, you can also select a lower bitrate the same as you could with AVCHD -- only it would be variable. But you could also set it for two pass encode to ensure the best quality if you are worried that a variable bitrate will somehow or other give worse quality than constant.

[oka]

I capture with Aver MediaCenter 3D which I capture from my Sony HD camcorder or my home theater receiver to my computer. The issue was that when I first started using the capture card, it was set to 30000kbps as default until I found out and set it down to 16500kbps. So, I have been ‘cutting’ the files down to much lower data rate, which is why am here on this post.

Well I found an answer. I was about to purchase a HD video utility that worked during try-outs when I found something else and free. I discovered Windows Live Movie Maker which is part of Windows Live Essentials. The PRO is, it did the job right and is as flexible as the third-party utility. The CON is, you will have to get the installer and download the whole file from Microsoft and select what you want to remove from installation. The other CON is that you would have to install Live, Messenger, Movie Maker and Photo Gallery. For me, I just removed (uninstalled) the first two and am fine. A CON which is really not bad is, it saves it only in WMV format.

After editing, setting up a template to my choice, I saved the file. Bye the way, the settings can also be saved to a native file. The end file was at 16000kbps WMV file and it played well side by side with the original MPEG (30000kbps).

A question would be. What would be any hidden difference between a MPEG and a WMV file with same properties? If any, would it be a big deal?

Think I will be settling with the Microsoft Live Movie Maker which was simple enough and straight-forward.

Surely, I really apreciate all the inputs I have gotten from all of you. Thanks!

[lata]

Hi

I dont understand, sorry I think I am singing out of a different song book.

First a question...................
What are you intending to use the video for, to create a Standard DVD, to Create a HD DVD, to upload to the internet, or simply play on your computer?
What you convert your video file to depends on these answers.
and that is the difference between MPEG2 and WMV, you cannot use WMV to burn a disc.

-----------------------------------------

I can use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a template to these settings, yes the audio is different to your sample but the video properties are similar.

MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(HDMV-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 10653 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

The data rate of 10653 is the lowest the template will allow, as Ken mentioned it is also using a variable bit rate which will further reduce the video files size.

Windows Movie Video
Video Studio can work with these formats, it can create them as well as edit them
Share Create Video File-WMV--WMV HD
In addition to the default templates you can choose a variety of other WMV profiles using the Custom option.

Having said that we would advise that you installed Windows Essentials simply to benefit from the additional codecs that the installation provides.

[oka]

LATA, no you are not “singing out of different song book”. We are using the same book but some of us may see the musical note differently and hit a different keynote depending on how the musical key sounded. I was(am) not shy to ask more if I could not get ‘it’ from just reading from the post lines. Sometimes, the English language gets the best of me as a second language. From between you and Ken, I did this from what I gathered.

I first rendered a very short (20sec) video to use as a ‘template’, saved it with the “MPEG Transport-Stream Files (*.m2t)”. Then I went to the Make Movie Template Manager and added that file as my template and named it what I wanted for a 16K constant bit rate, and voila, it became my template when I go to Share to render my video with all the properties I needed, including the audio. Just perfect and what I am looking for!

Well, I sure appreciate everyone’s help here . . . I’m Still Work In Progress! Thanks again!