XviD codec crashes my TF2 when creating a movie

[SevenNights]

Hello there.

So, I've been trying to get into the TF2 movie busyness, getting them demos and 'tubing them. I've followed this guide, which has been tremendous help: http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...d.php?t=934312

But here's the thing: Whenever I try to make an .avi using the XviD codec, my TF2 inexplicably crashes. I already had the k-lite pack, and after downloading the cccp pack the problem persisted. I tried installing just the XviD codec, it still crashed. Host_framerate 30, no editing, 1 smoothing, 1280x720 resolution, WINDOWED MODE.

Can anyone direct me as to why the hell this is happening? It's not only me that's having this problem, as I see a whole bunch of other people complaining as well.

Halp!

[KK_reborn]

I can't help you with this but I can recommend using XFire to create your movies. It's easy as clicking two buttons. The movies are then yours to do what you wish with them, they can even be uploaded to your own XFire profile.

[Hamish]

Firstly, make sure your in windowed mode.
If the problem persists then you could try rendering out to a lossless codec like Lagarith then encode to whatever codec you please in a video editing package.

But your problem does sound like you're not in windowed mode, try that first. If it still doesn't work, then go for FRAPS or XFire even though the frames may not be stable.

[Laggy1.2.3]

Download the PLDX config, save your movie as targas and set your FPS at 30, then virtual dub. I will make a tutorial later.

[exconvict]

why do people insist on making TF2 encode the video?

startmovie <moviename> is the command you want

A targe sequence will be generated along with a .wav file. Use this to make a movie and compress it however you like. Using TF2 to encode the video is a terrible idea, as can be seen here and in many other threads.

[SevenNights]

Hey replies! Awesome and thanks, guys!

I am actually in windowed mode, from the very start. Forgot to mention it, sorry.

@exconvict: Doesn't that method create a zillion TGA files that take up tons of space? I also have a couple of friends that have trouble synching the audio with the video afterwards. Any tip as to how fix/prevent desynching?

Also, I look forward to your tutorial, Laggy1.2.3. I really need all the help I can get at this phase.

If all else fails, I may try X-Fire like KK_Reborn sugested. Althought I really, really, REALLY wanted to get this codec working first!

[exconvict]

Originally Posted by SevenNights

Hey replies! Awesome and thanks, guys!

I am actually in windowed mode, from the very start. Forgot to mention it, sorry.

@exconvict: Doesn't that method create a zillion TGA files that take up tons of space? I also have a couple of friends that have trouble synching the audio with the video afterwards. Any tip as to how fix/prevent desynching?

Also, I look forward to your tutorial, Laggy1.2.3. I really need all the help I can get at this phase.

If all else fails, I may try X-Fire like KK_Reborn sugested. Althought I really, really, REALLY wanted to get this codec working first!

Yes, it creates quite a few tga files. The size isn't absurd or anything, maybe 15GB or so. The general game plan is this:

Create a config called video with the following code in it:

sv_cheats 1
host_framerate 60
cl_drawhud 0
tf_weapon_criticals 0
cl_showfps 0
net_graph 0
clear
echo "sv_cheats 1"
echo "host_framerate 60"
echo "cl_drawhud 0"
echo "tf_weapon_criticals 0"
echo "cl_showfps 0"
echo "net_graph 0"
echo "-------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "-------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "-------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "Don't forget to set:"
echo "DXLevel"
echo "viewmodel"
echo "particles"
echo "should have launch options:"
echo "      -sw -w 1280 -h 720 -noborder -dxlevel 95"
echo "Next step:
echo "      -startmovie <moviename>"
echo "      -playdemo <demoname>"

Before you start up tf2, put in the following launch options:

-sw -w 1280 -h 720 -noborder -dxlevel 95

and make sure these are removed:

-full

Launch tf2 and type exec video and then set your viewmodel and FOV settings. (viewmodel_fov 54 and fov_desired 90 are standard). Afterwards type startmovie <moviename> in console. Then playdemo <demoname>

Walk away from your computer while it chugs away (slowly) and creates a ♥♥♥♥load of targa files + 1 .wav.

After this you take the targa sequence and load it up into virtualdub or any other similar video editing program. Some people create an uncompressed avi (which is ginormous) and then drop it into more advanced video editing programs. I personally do a .mov or .avi compression with virtual dub and then drop it into Adobe AfterEffects. Once the avi is created, just delete the targa sequence.

[SevenNights]

Well, targa sequence came out fine, but for some reason I simply can't create an .avi with virtualdub. No doubt I'm screwing up somewhere...

I first selected open video file and selected the first image file. Then I went to video/framerate em set the framerate to 60. Then I went to audio and selected the .wav TF2 created. Finally I went to file and "saved as an .avi". And the results were scary. The colors went inverted all over the place. EVERYONE WAS BLUE! And the video seemed to stop playing at random intervals. Basicaly, it looked corrupted.

Any idea why this happened?

[Hug_an_Emo]

I just used a different codec and it worked fine. Try all of them and find one you like. Dealing with all those targas in a pain.

[ardysqrrl]

if you don't have a lot of hard drive space you probably shouldn't work with video

[SevenNights]

I have like 150 free gigs, so it's not space. It's not memory either (4gbs).

I already tried all other diferent codecs and, quite frankly, they all suck. They either create a giant .avi file with crappy quality, or a MASTADONTIC, TITANICAlLY MASSIVE file, with ok quality.

[leahcim]

Originally Posted by SevenNights

Well, targa sequence came out fine, but for some reason I simply can't create an .avi with virtualdub. No doubt I'm screwing up somewhere...

I first selected open video file and selected the first image file. Then I went to video/framerate em set the framerate to 60. Then I went to audio and selected the .wav TF2 created. Finally I went to file and "saved as an .avi". And the results were scary. The colors went inverted all over the place. EVERYONE WAS BLUE! And the video seemed to stop playing at random intervals. Basicaly, it looked corrupted.

Any idea why this happened?

You probably want 30fps not 60fps (source writes out 30 frames per second...I don't know whether that is configurable, but I presume it's the default. It doesn't write out frames as though you are playing the game for real, at a variable rate or based on v-sync settings etc, though - completely different kettle of fish)

Then you want to choose 'compression' from the video menu and select xvid from the list of codecs (standard windows dialogue), and click 'configure' to configure the xvid settings.

I usually choose "Target quantizer" (if you see a Target bitrate button, press that button and it changes to target quantizer) and I choose either '2' - which will be a biggish file, but excellent quality or '4' which will still be good but have more compression. "6" is passable if you really want to compress. Higher than that and the quality will suffer.

If you prefer you can just set a target bitrate.

If you want to compress the audio as well, you need to choose "full processing mode" from the audio menu, and then you can select 'compression' as for video above, and it's a similar process of choosing the codec from the list and configuring it.

Then "save as avi" should create a 30fps movie with the sound perfectly synced. If it doesn't go into the options menu in virtualdub, choose preferences, choose 'images' from the left. Enter 30.0000 where it says "Default frame rate" and then from Video / frame rate set it to "no change"

[SevenNights]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o88tGD2Biy8

YES! It finally works! Perfect quality in a very small file! Thank you for all your help guys, especially exconvict and leahcim! You guys are going in the credits on my first prodution.

Can't give rep yet, probably due to my newbieness, so here's imaginary rep. And cookies!

For future record, one of my problems were using the 64bit version of virtualdub. Apparently is doesn't handle very well codes (since codecs are 32bits), while some didn't appear at all. So, virtualdub 32bit must be used.

[immensewok]

I had a lot of crashes with "startmovie foo avi". Turning off multicore support fixed it.

[leahcim]

Originally Posted by SevenNights

YES! It finally works! Perfect quality in a very small file! Thank you for all your help guys

You're welcome.