Interesting video looping technique from Microsoft

[jagabo]

Microsoft has developed and interesting automated video looping technique. It analyzes periodicity in different parts of the frame to create a continuous looping video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drKmS-Czu44
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/25/microsoft_automated_video_looping_with_progressive_dynamism/

Sample software is provided. I haven't tried it out...

[racer-x]

I downloaded the s/w and tried it on 2 different clips I shot with my t2i. The results are horrible, not sure if it is source material related or not. I'm quite sure I can do better by manually looping my sources.

example:

[jagabo]

Yes, it seems to have gotten the alignment very wrong with that clip.

[budwzr]

Probably shot as a rough loop, then the software works like the photo stitchers, no?

Like the deshakers can only do so much, then the s hits the fan.

[jagabo]

I tried running the software but get a VCOMP110.DLL missing error.

[racer-x]

I tried running the software but get a VCOMP110.DLL missing error.

I got the same error and had to install Visual C++. After that, I just created a shortcut to the exe on my desktop, then drag and drop video clip onto it. It took about 4 min to process each clip.

You can get visual c++ here; http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=30679

[El Heggunte]

I tried running the software but get a VCOMP110.DLL missing error.

I got the same error and had to install Visual C++.

That's not very-correct --- you installed a Visual C++ 2012 Runtime Redistributable Package,
and yes, precise definitions do matter.

Even though Micro$oft themselves remain incurably-lazy , and they give the same generic name "vcredist*.exe" to various different packages (2005, 2008, 2010,2012 and 2013).

[racer-x]

You are correct El Heggunte, I was posting on my tablet and got lazy................

Anyway I tried an easy one this time. It worked OK, but you can see some blocking imperfections in the lower-right quadrant. I guess I'd catalog this as a work in progress........

Example:

[jagabo]

I installed the VC++ 2012 runtime and no longer get any error messages. The program starts up and looks like it runs to completion. But the MP4 files it outputs are only 32 bytes long, containing only the basic mp4 header, no video stream. I've tried both the included batch files and dragging/dropping the sample videos and other videos onto the EXE.

[racer-x]

Don't know if it matters or not, but I'm running Win7 Ultimate x64. It works fine for me. It's about a 3 or 4 stage process and the command prompt window closes when it completes.

I'm just not excited about the finished quality..............

[jagabo]

Don't know if it matters or not, but I'm running Win7 Ultimate x64. It works fine for me. It's about a 3 or 4 stage process and the command prompt window closes when it completes.

Yes, I see it go through several stages including:

#Initializing:
#Preprocess Single Periods:
#Most Dynamic:
#Static:
#Compute progressive dyanamism:
#Writing Final Video:

All of which show a percentage indicator that runs from 0 to 100. The last, "#Writing Final Video" stage, takes long enough that I don't think it's completely failing -- maybe 15 seconds. I'm running Win7 Pro 64 bit. I have another computer running Win7 Ultra 64 bit. I'll guess I'll try it there. I also have a computer running Win8 (part time via a swappable boot drive) I can try it on but that one has a wimpy dual core CPU.

I'm just not excited about the finished quality..............

I suspect it more about patents than quality.

[TreeTops]

I don't think it's worth the hassle.

[jagabo]

I'm interested more in the technology than the quality of the results.

[racer-x]

I agree it's a great.great concept. It seams to work better with some videos than others. It seams to like videos that are 30fps.

[godai]

I'm interested more in the technology than the quality of the results.

agreed,

thanks for share it

[racer-x]

This s/w works surprisingly well on certain video clips. The original video below had people walking around in the background, yet the s/w identified and deleted them from view.............Cool!

Example:

[racer-x]

This s/w is a keeper! Been playing around a bit with various stock footage and got some great results on certain type of clips. It did a great job creating loops for a couple of fireplace scenes I shot a few years back. The loops are seamless and allowed me to delete some otherwise large files I no longer need. I won't post any more examples, no need to clog the server space........

Just wondering, has anyone else successfully used this s/w? It's a hit or miss on the clips it likes, but at least it is easy to use and takes up little space.