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I think I'll take a closer look at some of the video codec options in camtastia. I love how it highlights the cursor and clicks, but I get horrible frame rates when capturing in SL. I always assumed it was just slow with 3D captures for some reason, didn't think that it might be the codec.
I also like mpeg4/h.264 for the final rendered video. H.264 rocks but my video editor of choice does not support it, and I don't usually want to spend extra time rendering twice. =8-)
Any tips on audio codecs? I have had mixed results and sometimes my audio comes out scratchy. I do tend to skimp a bit on the audio bandwidth - bad habit I guess. :)
Machinima = fraps, tutorials = camtasia. Completely agree with the reasoning above, and I myself use both for various projects. I don't use anything other than those two.
Fraps doesn't have a built in compressor because, as it's aimed at games, it *must* be fast... the aim with fraps is to capture the best quality and resolution as fast as possible.
This also obviously results in absolutely massive files, so regardless of the approach used, grabbing some external 500GB / 1TB drives is essential.
It provides sort of a hybrid between fraps and camtasia. It captures the whole screen uncompressed so the fps is plenty good for SL (my SL fps doesn't go high enough to tax it), and then you can focus on what areas you need to by editing and changing the focal point and zoom with video events on the video track. You don't have to choose compression/format settings until you're done, and you can go back and re-export with different settings at any time.
The ability to edit, do cursor callouts, and also capture your isight cam and do picture in picture (on a separate track again) make it a really versatile app. Not to plug too heavily, but check out slpnvideo.com - any of the videos in that feed made by myself were made using screenflow.
For tutorials I shoot without the UI and then composit it in later. This allows me to customise and highlight the relevant features easily. The bulk of my tutorials have been shot against a greenscreen, tweaked and then added to the background. That technique is probably not useful for what Torley does, but it is another option. It works a treat for corporate customers.
Vlad, for audio codecs try IMA 4:1. It's available through QT Pro.
Re: audio codec, I like the AAC that's often paired with H.264 anyway; comparable (in some cases, perhaps better) than MP3 at reasonable bitrates. I go with 128 kbps and encoding quality = best.
@skribe: I'll check that out, thanks for sharing how you do it!
Alas, I'm not thrilled with IMA 4:1, it's staticky and *old* compared to AAC. Some apps don't allow you to encode with Apple's AAC due to licensing I think, which is why I currently need to do a re-render thing out of QuickTime Pro instead of directly from Vegas.
@Tenebrous: :D Actually, Fraps isn't totally lossless itself but uses its own FPS1 codec; its filesizes are still smaller than wholly raw, uncompressed footage, but still too gargantuan for my tastes. FRAPS' competitors like GameCam and even WeGame offer other codec choices, and another hurdle for FRAPS is its movies can't be played (that I know of) on Macs.
@radar: I welcome Mac tips too! Tried ScreenFlow and delight in its UI and simplicity; it's missing several major things which I've seen requested as features like audio clipping protection (limiting) and volume balancing, but its intelligent capture system for highlighting, as you mentioned, looks like a big boon. Self-promotion of cool stuff is welcome here, I'll watch more of your vids!
If your computer is more recent and powerful enough to make SL rock and roll in the beauty department - (and you are capturing interface) - check your video card for video output.
The best you can get (uber-high-end video cards) is the YUV - but if you have Super (SVHS) - that's the next best thing because it separates the RGB and Luminance signals into separate wiring = cleaner picture. Especially with reds.
Torley: it is a fact that digital color creation in the spectrum used to create video signals: reds are the most difficult to create, hence why older TVs and VHS video tapes "bleed" that color so often. It's likely the reason for your hot pink issues.
Anyway - If you don't have SVHS - then look for RGB Composite output (a.k.a. RCA.)
Run this into your video camera. If your video camera doesn't allow video input (many consumer grades don't) - then record to your VHS machine. You might lose a *little* color definition with VHS, but you will have a computer that puts ALL its effort into framerate and drawing the picture as intended.
Yes, it's a double-whammy because now you have to capture (digitize) from your tape recording back to the computer. But this affords a couple major benefits: Smooth framerates. Takes and retakes - no wasted hard disk space - digitize only the parts you really want. And sometimes a first or second take is much better than a third or fourth.
You also can trim your capture as you log the clips - saving massive console (edit) time.
As for Compressor Decompressors (CODEC): H.264 is the defacto *best*. It is specifically designed from the ground up to be both a BROADCAST *and* STREAMING CODEC.
That is why I am able to take your MP4 videos from the web, Torley, and still 'upconvert' them into SDMPG2 for DVD production (have the Land DVD done by the way - I should post it and email you a link to an ISO image - 'til I finish others to mail to you. LOL)
Stick with H.264 if you can. Doesn't matter the wrapper: DIVX or Quicktime or even AVI (shivers!).
If you must capture directly on the computer, Mac users: the best is Snapz Pro in terms of professional features. PC Users, Camtasia is among the best.
As for things like zooming the screen around and highlighting clicks, et al, I personally prefer to do it in post because it affords far tighter control on the what and where of it all and less work for the computer to do. (sorry... "post" as in post production - editing in the NLE for the locked cut.)
On the PC I love Sony Vegas (Used it since before Sony snagged it). My favorite is Final Cut Pro on the Mac. However, unfortunately for PC users - it's not available - the same for iLife. If you have a Mac with iLife '08 - iMovie is already set-up to do 99% of what Torley does already in about 1/3 the time to do it in Vegas or even Final Cut. Everything except the mouse-click highlights. But that's easy enough to do.
Capture, set zooms, cut to narrative, publish once for all services: YouTube, VodPod, AppleTV, Quicktime and DVD-Ready - all in a single-click, double-pass, saving a lot of time.
Okay wow - I should have just made this a post on my own blog, but I rant (and Torley knows this LOL!)
My *REAL* reply message was - **plug a video cable from your computer to a MiniDV or VHS recorder** and let the computer focus on SL - while you narrate. Even though you have to play it back to get it back into the computer - you actually *SAVE* a lot of time. And capture better-looking video (no dropped frames... usually.) :)
WHEW!
I'll shut-up now.
LOL
I've been tempted on occasion to get a tool like a Shuttle Pro but haven't found my editing style to really need it, yet.
On Mac, it seems iShowU is frequently cited as an alternative to Snapz Pro, and there's also that nifty new one, ScreenFlow... have you tried that yet? It's relatively feature-bare but the UI is excellent.
I like how differerent Sony (formerly Sonic Foundry) apps look and behave similarly. But as you point out, not available on Mac.
I've used iMovie but haven't found it as easy to use as Sony Vegas for making video tutorials past the initial "align clips" phase: for example, it lacks audio plugin chaining, which I use for noise reduction and boosting my volume level without clipping. That's a big difference most people notice but don't articulate about. It also doesn't have a grid mode, which is what I use to quickly snap/align all the subtitles I insert, as well as pans/zooms. I always look for streamlining opportunities.
Vegas is on-par with professional apps like Final Cut Pro (Mac), Avid Xpress (Mac/Pc), and so on. iMovie is more the consumer side - like Pinnacle (Avid now?) Studio.
For sound normalization and compression (evening out the sound volumes without clipping) - most would use GarageBand. Which they should just rename to "Sound Studio" or something because it's grown to be way more than a music assembler lol.
Hey, your videos look awesome!
Now, keep in mind, when I say that, I am talking about the VIDEO itself. As a professional peer in the creation of them. We can't help but to look at how each other does thing ( Oh good, he used such and such a font for titles, nice sound segue in that edit, would a J-cut have been better than an L-cuy there?) LOL
So, when I see your videos - I think "Wow, this guy knows his stuff - wonder if he is or was in the industry?" ;)
And yes, I wish Vegas were on the Mac and Final Cut on the PC - I use each for certain kinds of projects. Would be nice to have both on the same machine. LOL
As for recording methods, one that's unlikely to cause framerate drops but will give you full quality (despite the system requirements of the game/program) is any form of video capture cards. Since you've got a working method for recording now I wouldn't recommend trying something like that, but it's always an available method for anything else as it records exactly what you see on your screen.
Great tutorials so-far btw. I've learned quite a lot from watching your videos!
I am totally amazed at the talent and expertise of this panel!
I am a novice, novice, did I mention novice machinimist (wana be, that is)---
i have Fraps and want to do many SL projects.. However one little impediment keeps poppping up---my avatar does not move when I am 'recording" HELP!
Any advice for this machinimist "wanna be" ???
Thank you very much!
Paisa