How do I slow down film?

[gaia33]

I have a Cinemate 15 (http://www.moviestuff.tv/c_15.html) I run 8mm film through it and capture the video with a camcorder. The video is very clear, but even though I slow down the film speed running through the Cinemate and I have the camcorder set on 60th of a second speed per instructions, the videos end up being rather fast once I transfer to DVD. If I slow the film speed in the Cinemate any more, the film will start flickering. Is there a program or some way I can run the camcorder captured 8mm film through my computer and slow the film speed down before I copy it to DVD? Your help will be so appreciated!

[manono]

In Avisynth:

AssumeFPS(whatever framerate, you like), for example:

AssumeFPS(18)

http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/FPS

Of course, if slowing it like that, the audio (if any) will also have to be slowed. A sample of the problem and your idea of the correct framerate might be helpful. But, if you're saying it runs OK after being capped but only gets fast after being converted to DVD, then I might question your encoding methods. If, for example, it's been capped properly at 18fps but you're encoding at 29.97fps, that would easily explain your problem. You can't actually encode at 18fps, but there are easy workarounds for that.

[gaia33]

It's 8mm film from the 50s and 60s. No sound at all. I just want to upload to my computer from the camcorder and slow down the film speed, save and burn to a DVD. I don't know about the fps because I don't watch it from the camcorder--only from the DVD I make from the camcorder. The picture quality is good, though.

[aedipuss]

early standard film speed was 16fps, later cams were 18fps. they use 15fps with 60fps capture to prevent flicker, and rolling. so it's either a little off or a lot off true speed. once captured you can import it into an editing program like vegas and reduce the running time to slow it down.

[manono]

It's 8mm film from the 50s and 60s. No sound at all. I just want to upload to my computer from the camcorder...

There has to be some video out from the camcorder, firewire or something. Then you just need a similar input to the computer so you can capture the video. If worse comes to worst, you can copy from the DVD you made and send it to the hard drive for further processing.

[gaia33]

Thanks, everyone. I know how to upload the camcorder to my computer. I just needed some ideas of how to slow down the film speed before burning to DVD. I have a call into the man who owns Moviestuff and sells the telecine machines. He's very good at calling back and helping, but with Christmas and all he's been a bit slow this time. I'll see if he has any ideas, and if not, I'll definitely try the Vegas!

[gaia33]

well, it looks as if I need some software to slow the speed down. I checked out the Vegas and while it appears to be an excellent program it is not only way more than I need, the cost is almost $600.00!! Is there a more basic editing software that I can buy to slow down film speed? Thanks!

[manono]

Avisynth is free. And I already explained how to slow it down. Depending on the format the video's in, you may be able to use VDub to slow it as well. I also suggested posting a sample so we can see what you have. 10 seconds with steady motion will be plenty.

[gaia33]

Thanks for your help! I'll try the Avisynth! May be a while before I can learn the program enough to save and post something, though. I have the Windows Movie Maker, but what I can see, it only slows the video down on the computer, but doesn't allow the video to be slowed and then saved. But I could be missing something.

[gaia33]

I downloaded the Avisynth 2.5 and I opened it to set it up, but it's just a folder with documents--no "program", no exe file to set up the actual program where I can use it...what am I doing wrong?

"This is the ONLY free non linear video editor that you'll EVER need. Nothing else compares to Avisynth simply for the fact that there are hundreds of third party filters that will suit your need. It can do anything you want, provided that you have the approriate plugins annd filters, from denoising to deinterlacing and etc. What sets Avisynth apart from other softwares is that it is completely script base; this makes the learning curve much more difficult compared to other video editors. If you are not satisfied with the repertoir of filters available to you, you can even create your own via the scripting language or by plugins. I gave the ease of use a 5 because of the learning curve and the fact that you have to spend extensive amount of time searching and testing external filters that you'll like."

I know absolutely nothing about scripts or filters or this sort of thing. I need a program I download into and can see what I'm doing on the board in front of me similar to Windows Movie Maker.

[jagabo]

Are you capturing as AVI? You can use AviFRate to change the frame rate. That won't work with DV AVI.

For DV AVI you can open your video in VirtualDub, select Video -> Frame Rate... and change the source frame rate to whatever you want (eg, 18 fps). Set the output frame rate (frame rate conversion) to 29.97, Select Video -> Direct Stream Copy, then save.

[gaia33]

I haven't yet uploaded my video from my sony camcorder. I'm assuming it will upload the same as other videos as avi. Thanks for you help!

[gaia33]

I was able to upload the avi movie to the Windows Movie Maker and it is an easy program to use. The only problem is that it will slow or speed up the film by half, but I can't choose to slow it, say a quarter speed or a speed of my choosing. I was able to save it to DVD and the quality is still pretty good.

I think the Virtualdub may do better, but when I tried to use it, the "help" wasn't there---said the files were missing. Downloading it again didn't help. There is a help area on their site, but unfortunately geeks, whom I admire, btw, have a tendency to use jargon they think everyone knows and understands, but no one but geeks do. So, without any "help" files, it will take forever to learn the program. Guess I am stuck with using the Windows Movie Maker. Sad, really. I learn quickly when I have instructions.

Jagabo, I switched to DV avi. It's easier for me to work with. Would love to try the virtualdub, but at this time, I have the "board" set up so I can see, but no instructions, and when I downloaded into it, all I got was a black screen. No movie.