Virtual-Dub: How do I realise an input of two or more video files?

[MaxUndMoriz]

In "virtual dub" (version 1.10.4) we find filters e.g. "blend layers" or "merge layers" which need an input of two or more video files to work correctly.

I could not find out how to manage an input of these files and I did not find any help concerning these filters.

What I get is: "an instance of filter 'blend layers' has too few inputs (expected 2, got 1)" or "an instance of filter 'merge layers' has too few inputs (expected 3, got 1)

Can anybody help? Thank you so much!

[sneaker]

Add filter to list. Right-click it -> "Add Input". Then right-click the new line(s) to select input.

[MaxUndMoriz]

Thank you 'sneaker', this seems to bring me 1 step nearer to the aim, but I yet did not manage blending layers.

I loaded a first file, than I added the filter:
* add "blend layer" <ok>
Window "Filter: blend layer" opened, proposing:
* Blending mode "Normal" <ok>
when right-clicking the filter-line I choose:
* "add input"
this gives a new line saying: (no connection)
clicking again right gives the possibility: (source)
This looks good, but Virtual Dub did not show me how I could tell the program what the 'source', the second file is, and where it could be found. It keeps saying "an instance of filter 'blend layers' has too few inputs (expected 2, got 1)"

[poisondeathray]

You can use fflayer . I think you might need vdub2 (vdubfiltermod) , not sure if it was implemented in vdub classic

eg
load file normally

filter => fflayer . In the source field there will be a button to select which file to load. Make sure "follow timeline" is selected if it's a "video" not an image. When you load the video, in the drop down box, it will say "files of type" ; select ffmpeg :video if it's a video , or all files (*.*) ; otherwise you won't "see" video files to load

Next filter add blend layers . To test it try like 50% blend and normal blend mode for now (you can change it later to whatever). To add input pin, right click, add input. To change the input, select that pin and select "previous output". This means the fflayer is input #1. Add another pin. But this time right click and select "source" instead of "previous output"



But it's probably easier using a NLE , even free ones like aviutl, shotcut etc... when doing this type of thing

[shekh]

If you just add "fflayer" filter it is already doing normal blend. Is this what you want?

[MaxUndMoriz]

Thank you 'shekh', thank you 'poisondeathray', and once more thank you to 'sneaker'.
All works nicely!
Easy if you know to use the filter; tricky if you do not find out where to click, where to tick a box.
The combination fflayer & blend layers gives more possibilities than fflayer without blend layer. But fflayer together with the 'blend' and 'curve editor' gives very nice results.
It's true there are other programs which give good results too; but if you enjoy using V-Dub than you would like to use filters which are offered by V-Dub.

What I do:
(Menu) File| Open video file: {path/ name of (basic) video file}
(Menu) Video|filters...|Add...| fflayer<ok>
source: {path/name of overlaying file **}
** the three-dot-button does not allow to scan the index of my video files [Windows XP], I have to type or copy path and name in the line
tick "follow time line from" (frame number of the basic video file where the overlay should start)
<ok>
right-click on the line where 'fflayer' is named
clicking "Add input" gives "(no connection)
right-click "(no connection)" and choose "(source)"
mark the line where 'fflayer' is named
click button "Blending..."
tick box "Apply opacity curve"
<ok>
(Menu) Video|tick "Curve editor"
Editing the curve: Use shift-key