Author Topic: Film format question  (Read 316 times)

Offline Mystic2

  • Aces High CM Staff (Retired)
  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
      • http://www.theunforgivenweb.com
Film format question
« on: August 29, 2006, 06:53:42 AM »
I know this has been posted before but I can not find what im lookin for in the searches so here goes.  I want to play around with makin a small movie but I am having trouble with the AH film format.  I can save the clips I want, but when I try to save as an AVI, and try to open it with Windows movie maker, it tells me that the format or file is corrupt.   I have tried saving the film clips to 2 different computers and have the same problem.  What type of compression format am I supposed to use?  Any suggestions?:huh
FSO Setup CM
~~~THE UNFORGIVEN~~~
"LIVE FREE, DIE WELL"

mystic2@ahevents.org

Offline dtango

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1702
Film format question
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2006, 07:45:52 AM »
Mystic2- it's been awhile since I've used the export to AVI feature in AHF.  I now use Fraps instead for capture of AH films.

From what I can remember of the AHF instead of compressing the AVI choose the "save as uncompressed AVI" option.  That will give you max image quality to start with before you do any other rendering and compression in WMM.

Uncompressed AVI definitely works for WMM.  Here's a list of the file formats WMM pulls in (imports).

Video files: .asf, .avi, .wmv
Movie files: MPEG1, .mpeg, .mpg, .m1v, .mp2

The .avi is only uncompressed I think.  If you've done some compression and saved as .avi it won't work.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs
Tango / Tango412 412th FS Braunco Mustangs
"At times it seems like people think they can chuck bunch of anecdotes into some converter which comes up with the flight model." (Wmaker)

Offline Schatzi

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 5729
      • http://www.slowcat.de
Film format question
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2006, 08:17:45 AM »
If I were you, id ditch the "Save as AVI" function alltogether and go with some screen capturing software.

Heres links to two threads that might help you on where to start searching.

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=180513&highlight=fraps+Schatzi

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171269&highlight=fraps+Schatzi
21 is only half the truth.

Offline Mystic2

  • Aces High CM Staff (Retired)
  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
      • http://www.theunforgivenweb.com
Film format question
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2006, 10:46:30 AM »
Thanx for the replies.  I have the free version of fraps, but will look into the others.... :D
FSO Setup CM
~~~THE UNFORGIVEN~~~
"LIVE FREE, DIE WELL"

mystic2@ahevents.org

Offline Kermit de frog

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3695
      • LGM Films
Film format question
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2006, 12:47:40 PM »
Mystic, you'll be happy with the free version of fraps.  If you want to record clips longer than 30 seconds, then I'd recommend you buy fraps.  I will buy fraps next month.  I wouldn't use the "save to avi" function of the film viewer, because it doesn't work most of the time.   I use Windows Media Video (.wmv) format.  You can also use other types.  


A codec is a "coder/decoder" format for video files.  Each different type of codec works differently, some compress more with less video loss, some do not have any video quality loss, some are better at still pictuers while others are better at high motion video while others are okay at still and high motion but offer little compression.  Some codecs require you to download them from a website while others are already included with windows operating system.  There are websites that you can search for that will help you understand the differences between specific codecs.
Time's fun when you're having flies.

Offline Jake54

  • Zinc Member
  • *
  • Posts: 98
Film format question
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2006, 02:58:25 PM »
look for gamecam and just like fraps 1 thing hough UNLIMITED TIME! it works for movie maker. I use it for my movies.  Lok iy up on google.com