Problems installing a huffy codec

[xinjingqiao]

Hi,
I've been using Ulead for a while and am trying to branch out into something a little better. I downloaded Virtualdub and the recommended Huffy codec. I installed Virtualdub - at least I think I installed it. I unzipped it but it seems to run from the disk, not requireing entries into the registry because there are no icons from the menu or desktop to start it. I also installed the Huffy codec but Virtualdub does not recognize it. Any suggestions?



Celeron 2.0 Ghz, 512 mb; 80 and 120 GB hard drives

[burnman99]

Try this. Under Video Format Settings make sure it's RGB24. Then reopen VirtualDub and see if it lets you use Huffy.

Later!

Rog

[xinjingqiao]

The RGB24 setting may be a part of the problem...if I am not capturing I can access the compression option to choose a codec and there are several to choose from. However, once I go to the File menu and choose capture I get several error messages like, "driver not installed" and something about RGB24". Then when I go to the Video option there is no option for RGB24. Under Video, Format there are options for format size - alll high sizes, the smallest is 640x480.

I am capturing from firewire. I have used Ulead to capture using the same cable, camera and tape so I think we can rule out the external hardware as a problem. Viirtualdub is set up to receive from the DV camera.

Also, even when I can access the Huffy codec there seems to be no option for choose a bitrate. Am I at the right wedding or out to lunch?

T

[Richard_G]

I may be wrong, but I didn't think VirtualDub can do Firewire transfers. With Firewire you are not capturing at all, you are transferring a file from the tape in your camcorder to your hard drive. Assuming you are transferring as avi, it is a simple transfer with no encoding or compression being done at all. Ulead is capable of converting to mpeg during the transfer but you would only want to do that if you had no intention of doing any editing to the footage.

VirtualDub and Huffy would only be used if you are capturing from an analogue source, not DV via Firewire.

[redwudz]

Correct. Virtualdub does not do DV transfers. You can use it for editing a stored DV file by installing a DV codec such as the Panasonic DV codec.

[xinjingqiao]

Thanks! That explains a lot of problems I am having! But I have noticed.. I tried capturing 2 different times. The first time (using Ulead 6) I choose DVD settings at 720 x 5XX and the second time it was something like 380 x 540. In both cases, after the file had been transferred by Ulead, the resulting file was the same size even though the resolution of the second one is about 60% of the first. Why did I need to choose the resolution? Does this setting not go into affect until the file is rendered into the final state?

T

[Richard_G]

The framesize does not affect the final file size, the bitrate does. If you transfer the file as DV avi, it will be 720 x 576 (or 720 x 480 if NTSC) and will run out at around 13Gb per hour. With a DV transfer this cannot be altered.

As you can change the framesize you are obviously transferring and encoding to mpeg. To get very good quality DVD compatible file, you would use full frame (720 x 576 or 720 x 480) and a bitrate of no less than 8000 kbs (kilobits per second). If you reduce the frame size, you can drop the bitrate accordingly and retain the quality but with a smaller file size.

I often use what is termed half D1, which is a framesize of 352 x 576. As the framesize is halved, I can halve the bitrate to 4000 kbs and lose very little quality. The only loss in quality is because every other horizontal pixel is missing, not because the file has been compressed more. Because the bitrate has been halved, the file size is also half the size for the same length.