AviSynth much needed help!

[dbanimal]

I'm completely new to this and have searched through much help documentation and still can't get this figured out. I started with the real basic and already fail.

Getting started


Basically, AviSynth works like this: First, you create a simple text document with special commands, called a script. These commands make references to one or more videos and the filters you wish to run on them. Then, you run a video application, such as VirtualDub, and open the script file. This is when AviSynth takes action. It opens the videos you referenced in the script, runs the specified filters, and feeds the output to video application. The application, however, is not aware that AviSynth is working in the background. Instead, the application thinks that it is directly opening a filtered AVI file that resides on your hard drive. Linear Editing:


The simplest thing you can do with AviSynth is the sort of editing you can do in VirtualDub. The scripts for this are easy to write because you don't have to worry about variables and complicated expressions if you don't want.
For testing create a file called test.avs and put the following single line of text in it: Version
Now open this file with e.g. Windows Media Player and you should see a ten-second video clip showing AviSynth's version number and a copyright notice. Version is what's called a "source filter", meaning that it generates a clip instead of modifying one. The first command in an AviSynth script will always be a source filter.


So, I created a text file and named it test.avs and put in Version. Now, as you can see it says "Now open this file with e.g. Windows Media Player", I try that and get "The selected file has an extension (.avs) that is not recognized by Windows Media Player...". I opened this file in VirtualDub and it showed two version images but did not play a ten-second video clip.

I did install AviSynth, now my question is am I supposed to put the test.avs file somewhere within AviSynth?

As you can see I need major help just to even get started and any help would be greatly appreciated...even if you can only provide a completely dumbed down version of how to even get started. Thanks in advance!!

[poisondeathray]

vdub isn't a player, but the version() clip generated should be 10 seconds long. Move the slider bar and there should be 240 frames, 24fps = 10 seconds

in vdub, push the 3rd button on the bottom to play the output pane (it looks like an triangle arrow pointing left, with subscript "o")

Did you do the full install of avisynth?

[manono]

How did you try and open it in WMP? By right-clicking on the Version.avs and then 'Open With WMP'? I just tried that and it worked. The 10 second video isn't really a video, but just the text being 240 frames at 24fps or lasting 10 seconds. Go File->File Information and confirm. And if it opens in VDub, it's a good script and AviSynth was installed properly. And that's a good way to always test your scripts - by opening them in VDub. It'll give out with an error message if something's wrong.

I did install AviSynth, now my question is am I supposed to put the test.avs file somewhere within AviSynth?

No, you can delete it. If the script opens in VDub, you successfully installed AviSynth.

As for learning AviSynth, what are you trying to do? What's your source and what's your intended output?

[dbanimal]

Yes I attempted to open the file by right-clicking on it and selecting WMP and got that error message. I had to change the file to DirectShowSource instead of AviSource as it is a mpg video, not AVI. I played around with Vdub more and did figure out the play button at the bottom so that is working. I've already started playing with a sample clip I have and figured out how to crop.

My sample clip (which will be with all my VHS captured videos) has an annoying horizontal line at the very bottom, I figured out how to eliminate that line using crop but my next big thing is trying to get rid of the graininess and maybe some manual color correction and I can't find the proper commands for those - do I need to download filters to achieve this and if so, do they go in the "plugin directory"?

Also, is there a plugin directory explanation page somewhere that will give the plugin name AND an example of how to use it?

As in instead of:
Crop
Spline36Resize

they give an example:
Crop(10,0,-10,-10)
Spline36Resize(720,480)

That would make life so much easier. My intentions are to get all my video editiing done then burn to DVD. Thanks for your responses!!

[Gavino]

Start reading here: http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page
See especially Sect 2.2, "Filters, external plugins, etc" and 2.3, "AviSynth Syntax".

Also, Avisynth's installed documentation covers the same ground.
(normally C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\Docs\English\index.htm)

[manono]

Yes I attempted to open the file by right-clicking on it and selecting WMP and got that error message. I had to change the file to DirectShowSource instead of AviSource as it is a mpg video, not AVI.

You said all you were trying to open was a Version.avs, not an actual video.

As for MPEGs, get the DGMPGDec package, read the 3 included docs about half a dozen times, and then make a D2V project file using DGIndex and use MPEG2Source rather than DirectShowSource, as outlined in the DGDecodeQuickStartGuide.

gavino has given you the important links. The good grain removers and color correctors are external plugins and functions.

[jagabo]

Crop(10,0,-10,-10)
Spline36Resize(720,480)

Be careful about resizing your video vertically. You almost certainly have interlaced video and you will mess it up. See my post in your other thread:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/330494-VHS-to-PC-capture?p=2051487#post2051487

[dbanimal]

You said all you were trying to open was a Version.avs, not an actual video.

Yes, this is correct. I tried my Version.avs in WMP and got that error. I then tried my own video file with the same results. So it would appear I'm doing something wrong but I was able to view my videos (including Version.avs) easily in Vdub. Do I have to be at a certain version of WMP in order for it to work?

[jagabo]

Do I have to be at a certain version of WMP in order for it to work?

I have seen some occasions where WMP can't play AVS scripts that open just fine in VirtualDub. I never figured out why (nor did I try very hard).

[manono]

I never figured out why (nor did I try very hard).

I chuckled when I read that. I haven't used WMP in years, but tested a Version.avs in it and it opened OK. But I agree, WMP is about the worst player out there. I'd be much more likely to think something was wrong if the Version.avs didn't open in MPC-HC or some other real player.

[dbanimal]

Be careful about resizing your video vertically. You almost certainly have interlaced video and you will mess it up.

Are you referring to resizing using the Spline36Resize or Crop? I only want to crop my videos slightly to remove the horizontal line of crap at the very bottom. Otherwise all my videos are being captured at 720x480 so there's no need to resize, I was just using the Spline36Resize as an example of a plugin.

[jagabo]

Be careful about resizing your video vertically. You almost certainly have interlaced video and you will mess it up.

Are you referring to resizing using the Spline36Resize or Crop? I only want to crop my videos slightly to remove the horizontal line of crap at the very bottom. Otherwise all my videos are being captured at 720x480 so there's no need to resize, I was just using the Spline36Resize as an example of a plugin.

I was referring to the Spline36Resize(). Cropping is OK as long as you crop an even number of scanlines from the top of the frame (multiples of 4 are even better). But if you're going to make a DVD you have to get the frame back to 720x480.

[dbanimal]

But if you're going to make a DVD you have to get the frame back to 720x480.

How do I accomplish this after cropping because yes, I would like to make a DVD when all is said and done.

[jagabo]

But if you're going to make a DVD you have to get the frame back to 720x480.

How do I accomplish this after cropping because yes, I would like to make a DVD when all is said and done.

You use AddBorders() like I indicated in your other thread.

[dbanimal]

But if you're going to make a DVD you have to get the frame back to 720x480.

How do I accomplish this after cropping because yes, I would like to make a DVD when all is said and done.

You use AddBorders() like I indicated in your other thread.

My apologies, I didn't check my other thread. Thanks!

[dbanimal]

LOL!! This is so frustrating! It seems I need about a million different programs to accomplish something that should be so simple. I downloaded HC and tried to encode based on the documentation and was unsuccessful. Now the HCgui closes immediately after executing rendering it completely useless!! I think most of the documentation that goes along with these programs is assuming you're a professional doing it for years, unfortunately this is not the case in my situation.

I'm still going to attempt to do some "simple" things with AviSynth as in getting rid of some noise and that pesky lower horizontal line - and then attempt to actually save those changes to my video (haven't figured out how to do that yet) - then attempt to add some DVD user friendly items (Chapter selections etc...) then burn to DVD. Wish me luck and hopefully I'll have some hair left on my head after all the pulling in frustration!

Edit: Well now after about a half hour of attempting to open the HCgui it finally opened and stayed open, now it's back to figuring out how to use it being the documentation isn't helping. Or do I even need it? I still have no idea how to apply my changes in AviSynth to my actual video (crop, addborders).

[dbanimal]

Sorry to vent my frustrations but if it helps, this is all that I want to accomplish:

Capture VHS to my PC as an mpeg-2 (my highest quality option) (done)
Do some basic editing using VideoRedo to eliminate bad frames and a few other things (done)
Remove most of the noise and lower horizontal line from each frame
Create a DVD movie using either Pinnacle 10 Quick Start (crappy I know but FREE) or Vegas - I already own it
Burn to DVD
Enjoyment had by all who view it

The End.

[jagabo]

I'm sure Pinnacle Studio and Vegas have block fill filters that will let you overlay a black block over the VHS head switching noise a the bottom of the frame.

By the way, with so many programs crashing on you there must be something wrong with your computer.

[dbanimal]

I'm sure Pinnacle Studio and Vegas have block fill filters that will let you overlay a black block over the VHS head switching noise a the bottom of the frame.

By the way, with so many programs crashing on you there must be something wrong with your computer.

None of the programs are crashing, it's just HC was not opening for me for an extended time but eventually worked. If anything is crashing it's my brain as I'm not having much success getting things accomplished! I'm slowly figuring things out (at a snails pace) it's just that it's nice to have some guidance along the way!