Windows 7: Video file question

Hi folks I dont know if this is the right place to post this but maybe you all can help me. I am new to video processing and I am trying to get my dvd that I have a vid camera recordings converted to use on Camtasia. I have Allok video file converter program. I have converted the VOB files on the camera disk to many different file types but when I play them on Camtasia they have lots of lines in the playback. Could it be my converter program? if so what is a good converter program to get? Could it be my file formats that I am trying in Camtasia? if so then what file format should I try and at what settings?
Another note is that when I play the camera disk files directly using windows media player the videos play just fine.
I just want to know just how to work simply with videos so that I can share them on the web and friends and family
Thanks in advance for any info.
~James

Hi James.

This sounds like your converter is causing the problem.

I have never used Camtasia but would say if you want to convert VOB files that you hav a look at this old newsgroup How to Convert VOB Files for use with Windows Movie Maker - Vista Forums.

I would personally suggest installing Windows Movie Maker 6 on your PC (if that's available to you) using this tutorial Windows Movie Maker 6.0 - Install on Windows 7.

Another alternative if you are looking to upload your videos to youtube (or not) you may want to take a look at http://www.youtube.com/editor?popart=681928. It's very basic but I don't know what you went to do with your videos .

I hope this is useful.

Oli

The best video format I have ever used till date is Matroska

And the best way to convert from vob to matroska is HandBrake

It uses x264, man

Edit : If you use MeGui ofr FFmpeg, you will get x264 there. All the three may be free to use, but produces output far far better than that is done by a paid app .

These are all great ideas and I have tried them all but no matter which converter program I try I even see the lines in the preview window player as well but when I just play the clips straight in windows media player or even HP media player i get good picture, if I go ahead and convert the files and play them in media player I get the lines.

Lines in the preview window, you mean the preview window of the converter ? Use handbrake, it doesnot have a preview window (unless you have QuickTime Pro installed). If the input file is clear , the output file must be a clear one .

I have the Handbrake now and cannot figure it out, like I said I am not very good a t video
I am converting a file right now to ffmpeg but i am not sure if Camtasia will recognize the format

You have no need to convert the VOB files at all. Take a copy of the VOB file and change the file extension to mpg. Don't worry about the warning you might get, ignore it. (You've still got the original VOB file.) Then use the MPG file to upload to You Tube or burn to a disc so that your friends can play it on a PC. If you want to create a DVD to play on a DVD player through a TV post here and I will give you the workflow, it's quite straightforward!

Four steps
1. Open the program. Inthe main window, first select source (Click on source, and browse) ; select destination (broese to desktop, give the filenake such as vid.mkv) select format (mkv) and set aspect ratio (if you want to change the default, click on anamorphic and select custom)


2. Click on videos tab , select codec x264, advanced options is two pass and turbo first pass both checked; and select the bitrate (try not to reduce below 1000)


3. Click Audios tab, and accept the default, if the default is like the shot


4. Now click on start. A command prompt window will appear, and everything will be done in it

Im wondering if the lines you see are Interlace lines, or other file corruption.


If it is interlaced, the player may need to de-interlace for playback. Otherwise there will be lines.

Im not sure what Camtasia is, but if it is not capale, turn on hardware acceleration and let the graphics card do it.

Alternatively, you can de-interlace the files yourself when encoding and just encode it progressive.

Cool! i figured it out but I have to take an extra step in order for Camtasia would accept it. I was right about Camtasia not accepting it but all I did was reconvert the output file from handbrake to AVI and Camtasia accepted it and it plays beautifully without those stupid lines and now it comes out awesome, thanks so much.