Video Edit - Cutting a section of video from a larger video file

[bpatters69]

Hello All,

I have a 90 minute video and I want to capture about 10 minutes of it so I can upload the 10 minutes to Facebook and youtube. I am fairly sure that the video format is MPEG but I am not certain. Is there a program which can examine a video file and tell me exactly what type of video a file is?

Assuming that the original filetype is MPEG or something universally accepted, what would be the best editing program to use? I see a program called AviDemux in the software section. Would AviDemux be a good choice? Is there a format I should convert the video to so that Facebook and youtube accept the file without issue? Assuming AviDemux allows video conversion. Is there a better choice? I like free but if there is a reasonably priced alternative, I am happy to pay.

I have been playing the video on VLC Media Player and it plays without issue. VLC also has some limited editing abilities and if you hit the record button when the section of the video plays that you want to separate, VLC creates a file of the video on my hard disk. I tried to use the editing capability a couple of times and it creates the file but the file is about 250Mb. I then tried to upload the file to FB and Youtube and the file failed after I waited about 15 minutes for the file to upload, the site to try to "process" the file and then fail. Not sure what happened.

Thanks, Bil

[Bernix]

To check video audio format use Mediainfo, or open file in Avidemux and click icon (i) on left top. Avidemux is fully capable to do this. Set start and end. Under timeline A and B icon.
In video output choose x264 under configure set it on 22 or so. Default is 20.
Under audio format choose AAC fdk and set to 128 f.e.
Output format set as MP4
Then save video as and it started encoding.

Bernix

[bpatters69]

Many thanks Bernie. I will give it a try. I appreciate it.

The video section that I want is a speech that was given at my wedding so the content is very important to me.

[Bernix]

If is it very important for you so left it at 20 or go lower to 18. And set in video configuration in tab motion -> Motion estimation to uneven multihexagonal search and slider under this on 9. Also in this tab direct prediction mode on auto, And in tab frame, adaptive b-frame Decision on auto as well.
But result depend mostly at your source. Resolution and bitrate that was used and content.

Bernix

[bpatters69]

Thanks again Bernie.

[bpatters69]

Hi Bernie,

Does this look right for the options?


[Attachment 43668 - Click to enlarge]

Here is what Media Info shows


[Attachment 43669 - Click to enlarge]

[jagabo]

Does this look right for the options?

I recommend you use Video -> Copy, Audio -> Copy, Output ->MPEG PS. There's no point in you reducing the quality of the video before uploading. Youtube and Facebook will do that for you.

Or use Mpeg2Cut2. Mark in, Mark out, Save This Clip.

[Bernix]

Hi,
the problem is it is 450 MB with no sure it will be accepted. OP #1 it took 15 min. to upload 250 MB and no luck.

Edit: try what jagabo said. You get exact quality you have. If not success, try this, but in audio settings choose remix to stereo.

Bernix

[jagabo]

I don't know about Facebook, but people upload GB+ files to youtube all the time.

[ChapmanDolly]

You should have no problem with a 450mb file. Most of mine are between 3 and 6gb which upload to YouTube with no problems apart from the time it takes.
Here are the YouTube video specs https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en-GB

[Bernix]

Hi,
I don't react on file size (just it will last longer than 250 MB). I just want to say the video is not sure to be accepted. H264 video with aac in MP4 container for sure isn't problem and size quality ratio is more than reasonable.

Bernix

[bpatters69]

Hello All, the reduced video was only about 250Mb and I was able to upload it to both youtube and Facebook. I followed Bernix's advice with regard to settings and the quality is as good or possibly better than the original. The Mediainfo screenshot that I presented was based on the original file and not the reduced version.

Check out the result. I cannot thank all of you enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biyafCWmPNo&t=7s

[jagabo]

I followed Bernix's advice with regard to settings and the quality is as good or possibly better than the original.

Reencoding with a lossy codec like x264 can only have made the video worse. And since Youtube reencodes the video again that's two rounds of quality loss.

[bpatters69]

Thanks Jagabo. I will create another copy and compare they two.

[jagabo]

The biggest drop in quality is Youtube's encoding. They took your 250 MB file and reduced it to about 40 MB. So you may not notice much of a difference between uploading the original 500 MB file and your reencoded 250 MB file.