So, I have this vid

[gwyn]

And my vid is finished, I think, and it's pretty and shiny. I am quite, quite pleased with it. I would like to show it off, take it around the block and let everyone look at it. And I wanted to do what I've seen some of my vidding compatriots do, which is put it up in a larger window size format, but in a manageable file size. And I went and downloaded the programs people told me to use, such as Divx AVI and 3ivx, and other things I don't even know the names of. But nothing works when I use it.

The files are either too large MB-wise, or they look like hell imagewise. I can get Divx avi to show up in the Quicktime application, but I cannot get it to show up in Final Cut Express. I export the vid as a full quality movie, 720x480, for the DVD I will make. But it won't let me change the settings, not for nothing. 3ivx, on the other hand, won't show up through QT, but will in FCE, only I can't seem to get it to make anything but liney, huge files.

I tried running a larger window, 640x480, through regular old MPEG4, which is what I generally compress my vids with in QT for putting up on the web. But I can't figure out how to rejigger the settings so that it doesn't come out all blurry and pixelated and such. I assume that I have to change something, a bit rate, a FPS, a something, but I've been all over the web, and not one person tells me what they use to export the files at that size and maintain picture quality. Don't even get me started with the other codecs, like Sorenson, because I think the picture quality stinks. Out of sheer desperation, I'd make a WMV except that I'm a Mac user.

I just do. not. get. it. This is actually driving me to tears. See, me, I generally don't cry for sad stuff or on a regular life basis, except about stuff with my sister or my mom. But frustration will drive me to tears, and I have never felt this frustrated, stupid, or hopeless about doing something as I do this awful compression thing.

I know I should just give up and put the damn thing up looking all ugly and pixelly small and where people can't see anything in the cool editing and where all the beauty in this movie that I wanted to show off can't even be seen because the window's too small. No matter how many times I offer the free DVDs to people, they never ask for them, even though that's the picture I made this with in mind, so it's really the web or nothing -- ugly small, or no audience to share with. I don't know. I don't get how people figure this out. I don't get why it's so effing hard, and why it's so impossible to find out the information if you're not already predisposed to, you know, getting it (my god, some of these boards where people talk about putting movies online? They make Usenet look friendly). I feel as if I'm drowning in a riptide of foreign languages when I read this stuff.

Sometimes, I actually find myself missing the bad old days of videotape distribution, because then at least there was one way, and one way only. And everyone was on the same page as you, and the fannish help network was still alive and kicking.

Comments

[jebbypal]

*shrugs* I really can't help, but you might ask sdwolfpup.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

First, {{{K}}}, because I know what it's like to cry tears of frustration. I'm most likely to shed tears over that particular emotion, too.

Secondly, and perhaps more to the point, I'd be very happy to walk you through this, step by step, over AIM. I am home alone tonight, Wednesday night, and Thursday night, so let me know when would be a good time for you.

Thirdly, if chat is not convenient, I can post my steps here or email them to you, so let me know if that's the best option.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would be wonderful. I will try to look for you tonight -- I'm going to be home, too, but if I don't catch you then, I will try again this week. I know I'm doing something wrong, but I just honestly don't know what, or how to correct it.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll look for you tonight as well.

I'll bet that you're not doing anything wrong, but rather that you're missing a crucial piece of information. (: We'll suss it out.

[maubast.livejournal.com]

When I make a larger copy of my vids (sorry, mine are all .wmv), they don't look as nice as the smaller ones. I don't know - I mean, I'm just a hack when it comes to vidding. I mean, I use Windows Movie Maker 2.0.

*wishes there was something she could do to help*

(I'd like a DVD, though, I always do!)

fannish help network was still alive and kicking.

I hear that. I've asked for help on vidding and was met with total silence. So I've given up asking strangers for help.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Hey, don't put yourself down about the WMM2 -- until just a while ago, I was using iMovie, and only a little while before that, VCRs! I think that in some respects, WMV files have an advantage over QT in that you can make larger windows with relative ease and not much bigger size in terms of MB. You lose some quality and QT, when it's larger, to my mind gives you superior effects rendering, but right now, I'd trade that stuff for making a larger file without tears of frustration.

I have to make a test burn of the vid and make sure I've caught all the flashes and frame problems, but then after that, I should have a disc ready. There are only a few vids on the new WIP one.

[maubast.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thanks for your kind words, gwyn.

I hate being frustrated when it comes to vidding... there's just no one to ask for help. (For me, for various reasons)

*rubbing hands greedily together* New gwyn vids on DVD. yay! *hugs*

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

if it makes you feel any better, guess what I spent my Monday doing--- same divx hell (for different reasons, such as upgrading only to find the license didn't transfer etc).

Good luck with laura.

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

What do you need to send DVDs? A SASE? 'Cause I'ma wanting to be making an order soonish.