Trimming frames from the centre of scenes with Virtualdub?

[Will Hay]

I've been trimming mpeg's after encoding with TMPGEnc with no real problems, but there isn't a facility to cut clips/frames from the *middle* of a capture, only at the begining or end.
I'd like to run my captured avi through Virtualdub (I use Vdub for captures but that's where my experience of this superb program ends) and trim a couple of scenes from the centre, and then encode to TMPGEnc.
Could anyone give me some pointers?
Many thanks,
Will

[Satanico Pandemonium]

First, load video into VirtualDub
Then set the beggining and the end of the part you want to cut out, with the last two buttons on the right. After that, selected part of the video will be blue. Just press DELete button on yr keyboard.
Done.

[alenhard]

If you still have the chance, I would highly recommend that you frameserve to TMPGenc. Do all your cutting and filters and stuff with virtualdub, then frameserve away! Don't know if you are already doing it, but it's the best way to go. (videotools.net)

[Will Hay]

Thanks to both of you
***
To Satanico Pandemonium:
Sounds simple, thanks
I think I've tried that before but wasn't sure how to save it without Vdub either encoding (does it encode?) or changing it in some way.
***
To alenhard:
Frameserving to TMPGEnc is something I'd like to learn yes.
I'll only import the avi into TMPGEnc anyway.
Is frameserving wiuthin Vdub easy to follow?
Thanks again folks,
Will

[Thorn]

As long as you've already installed the handler (using the auxsetup.exe in the virtualdub folder) you can frameserve by just selecting 'start frame server' from the file menu in virtualdub. This serves the data (after filtering and whatnot) without having to save an intermediate file - it just sends the decoded/decompressed frames directly to the program that opens the file (such as TMPGenc). The only time you may have a problem with this is for multipass if you're filtering - the filters have to be run twice so you add a lot of time to your encoding. Otherwise it's often the best way to edit without having an intermediate file.

[Will Hay]

I hadn't installed the handler, thanks for the tip.
I'll do a test capture now and see how I get on.
Thanks again,
Will

[Will Hay]

I installed the handler, did I test capture and then went to 'start frame server'.
I got a prompt to setup the frameserver and a frameserver name as desktop (this is shaded) then the name of my capture, ie 'test.avi' and a start button.
When I pressed 'start' I get a message 'save vcdr. signpost for avifile handler'.
I got a bit lost here so simply selected the desktop, but nothing appears to happen - TMPGEnc certainly doesn't open.
I then opened TMPGEnc and then tried to import the file created by Vdub but TMPGEnc just crashed.
Is there something glaring I've not done?
Thanks,
Will

[alenhard]

You have to save the file with a .vdr extension. Then in TMPGenc, click the drop-down menu for video source and select All Files, then your vdr file will be readable.

[djmattyb]

You didn't do anything wrong at all. Virtualdub needs to fix their software because the frameserving file names are messed up. Here's what you need to do.

1) Select 'Start frame server'
2) for Frameserver name: put anything you want, it's not important
3) click 'Start'
4) a 'save' window pops up titled "Save .VDR signpost for AVIFile hander'. Now what you put here IS important. save it as YOURFILENAME.AVI. Save it as an .AVI even though it's set to be a .VDR.
5) Then run TMPGEnc and open YOURFILENAME.AVI as the file to encode.

I have no idea why the default file name is *.vdr when it should be .AVI, but that is the solution to the problem.

[Will Hay]

Thanks for that, much appreciated.
Will give that a try tomorrow, gotta' crash, 01:07 UK time!
Will

[Thorn]

Exactly djmattyb... I always got the same crash if I used the VDR extension but as long as your frameserver stub (what virtualdub tries to save as *.vdr) is saved as *.avi you'll be able to read it in TMPGenc.

I think the frameserver was designed to use .vdr files since they're not technically true avis. However, since using the avi extension gets it all working TMGPenc probably didn't see the but worth fixing.

[Will Hay]

Ain't working guys
I'm still getting a crash when I get the the signpost part - I call it test.avi in the save name box, try import it as I would a normal avi in TMPGEnc and it freezes
Will

[alenhard]

Hmmm...I've always used the .vdr signpost with TMPGenc and it's always worked perfectly for me. TMPGenc version 2.59.47.155, Virtualdub 1.4.12.0.

I just thought of something else that may work. In the VirtualDub program folder, run the "proxyon" file. I think that could be part of the problem. Not sure but give it a try. Don't give up!

[Will Hay]

Hmmm...I've always used the .vdr signpost with TMPGenc and it's always worked perfectly for me. TMPGenc version 2.59.47.155, Virtualdub 1.4.12.0.

I just thought of something else that may work. In the VirtualDub program folder, run the "proxyon" file. I think that could be part of the problem. Not sure but give it a try. Don't give up!

Didn't work, but thanks.
I am doing the right thing by leaving the Vdub programme running and as soon as I save the file (*.avi, not *.vdr) open and try import into TMPGEnc, right?
Will
Vdub 1.4.13.0 & TMPGEnc Plus 2.58.44.142

[Will Hay]

The first box I get the frameserver setup, that says DESKTOP/filename.avi, that's okay right?
I will perservere but *if* I can't get it to work, and I still want to use Vdub to edit out frames, what's my options?
I deleted some frames from a test file and then hit 'save as avi' and I got a message about an uncommpressed file being large - when I hit save and checked the file it was bigger than when it started!!!!
Will

[alenhard]

Yes, you do have the option of making the cuts and then saving the new avi. Depending of the codec that you use to create it, the file can be larger or smaller than the original. Frameserving is so great because it cuts out this step completely and keeps quality loss at the lowest possible amount.

Once I've made all the cuts I want with VirtualDub, I hit file then start frameserver. Then a little window pops up that says "frameserver name: AM-V80......" There is a window next to it that asks for the file name. Save this as an .avi!!!

Then a new window appears and asks for you to "SAVE .VDR SIGNPOST FOR AVIFILE HANDLER." Save this one as a .vdr file! Then switch over to TMPGenc (make sure to open it before you start the frameserver) and open the .vdr file. In TMPGenc, select the video file with the "browse" button, find the directory where you saved the .vdr file, and select "all files" from the drop down menu. If you don't select this, your file will not show up because it won't be the correct type. Load the .vdr and start converting!

I hope this helps! By the way, what exactly is that "desktop/filename.avi" thing? Is it the first window I described? Let me know!

[Will Hay]

Once I've made all the cuts I want with VirtualDub, I hit file then start frameserver. Then a little window pops up that says "frameserver name: AM-V80......" There is a window next to it that asks for the file name. Save this as an .avi!!!

Yeah, I do this, I get the prompt DESKTOP/*.avi (I have to give this the same name as my test capture .avi file right?)

Then a new window appears and asks for you to "SAVE .VDR SIGNPOST FOR AVIFILE HANDLER." Save this one as a .vdr file! Then switch over to TMPGenc (make sure to open it before you start the frameserver) and open the .vdr file. In TMPGenc, select the video file with the "browse" button, find the directory where you saved the .vdr file, and select "all files" from the drop down menu. If you don't select this, your file will not show up because it won't be the correct type. Load the .vdr and start converting!

I've tried this second process as saving both as an .avi and a .vdr.
I don't get the option to select all files as it freezes at the point of picking up the .vdr file.
I must be doing something amiss, I really want to try this frameserving it sounds so easy and is *exactly* what I'm looking for.

I hope this helps! By the way, what exactly is that "desktop/filename.avi" thing? Is it the first window I described? Let me know![/i]

Yeah, it's the first prompt I get from Vdub when I hit 'frameserving'.
Thanks for your help, will try again tonight and let you know.
BTW and for what it's worth I use the PicVideo MJPeg codec at quality setting 20.
Will

[Will Hay]

Hi guys,

4) a 'save' window pops up titled "Save .VDR signpost for AVIFile hander'. Now what you put here IS important. save it as YOURFILENAME.AVI. Save it as an .AVI even though it's set to be a .VDR.
5) Then run TMPGEnc and open YOURFILENAME.AVI as the file to encode.
I have no idea why the default file name is *.vdr when it should be .AVI, but that is the solution to the problem.

This seems to contradict your advice alenhard, insofar as you say to save as .vdr at this point.
It doesn't really matter as I've tried both options
Will

[alenhard]

I wish there were a one-solution-fits-all for this problem you're having, but it appears that what works for some doesn't work for others. Like I said, I've always saved it as a .vdr and had no problems.

Before you start the frameserver, do you already have TMPGenc running in the background? I start it up and have it ready so I can just switch windows and browse for my video file after I've started the frameserver. It's in TMPGenc that I select "all files" from the drop down menu so that my .vdr file is selectable.

I'm stumped. One more question- are you saving the test.avi to the desktop? Try saving both the avi and the vdr to a folder on your c: drive or whatever your main hard drive is. (I.E. c:\test.avi).

One more thing- in the "video" drop down menu in Virtualdub, select compression and then choose "no compression." See if that makes a difference. When you frameserve there is no file being created by virtualdub so there isn't a need for any type of compression.

[Will Hay]

Before you start the frameserver, do you already have TMPGenc running in the background? I start it up and have it ready so I can just switch windows and browse for my video file after I've started the frameserver. It's in TMPGenc that I select "all files" from the drop down menu so that my .vdr file is selectable.

Just tried that

I'm stumped. One more question- are you saving the test.avi to the desktop? Try saving both the avi and the vdr to a folder on your c: drive or whatever your main hard drive is. (I.E. c:\test.avi).

I can't change the avi (the frameserver setup from DESKTOP/TESFILENAME.avi) but I captured to my V:/ drive and then also saved the .vdr file to the same destination

One more thing- in the "video" drop down menu in Virtualdub, select compression and then choose "no compression." See if that makes a difference. When you frameserve there is no file being created by virtualdub so there isn't a need for any type of compression.

It's called uncompressed(rgb), that the same thing, right?
If so...
...
Thanks for all your help anyway, I'm very grateful.
Will

[Will Hay]

<bump>

[Will Hay]

Perhaps you guys would be kind enough to comment on the following:
Hey, Virtualdub, I thought you were my pal
If you can, thanks.
If you can't, thanks for looking
Will

[kees1952]

Frameserving from Vdub to TMPGenc is a problem with the last releases. Sometimes it works and one day later you do exactly the same procedure and it doesn't work. The solution: start using AVISYNTH. There is a lot of information on this webside about this methode. Most of all: it's free and it is frameserving (to TMPGenc) without any problems. Takes some time to get to know it, but it's worth it.

Regards,

Kees Janssen.