Giveaway of the Day Forums » Software Talks

1. funkymom
   Member

   i think this is the right place to post.......i'm sure someone will politely correct me if i'm wrong (that's right, i'm talking to you bubby!)

   anyway, while i am surely computer capable and a quick learner, there is lots and lots that i don't know. so i need some help, and i have found this forum to be especially friendly, knowledgeable and (most importantly) to have a great sense of humor.

   i recently used my laptop's built-in webcam to record some video of my daughter. i would like to share it with family and friends. i figured i would upload it to youtube, but the file is too big and i don't know how to make it smaller.

   i'm particularly frustrated because i have so many (free), of course) programs that i thought would help with this project. but, either i'm wrong or i don't know how to access what i need.(how's that for grammar freewarefan, just in case you were wondering why i didn't respond to your previous post----just kidding, i'm not really so self centered to think that you have been sitting anxiously by your computer waiting to hear from me. ;) )

   so if any member of this fabulous forum has any advice for me, i would love you forever!

   Posted 8 months ago #

2. gerberette
   Member

   Hi Funkymom! I'm kinda new to the forums too, so I have no idea if we're in the right spot here, but it seems like a good place to be. :-)

   How big is the file? According to YouTube, you can upload 100MB files using the single upload process or up to 1GB using YouTube Uploader, which can be found here :
   http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=79983

   How long is the video? YouTube only allows 10 min max. But DailyMotion will allow videos up to 20 min long, but under 150MB in size. http://www.dailymotion.com/us
   I like DailyMotion because it's really user friendly. Also our IT department at work put a block on YouTube videos. Not that I would ever want to watch videos at work. Noooo. *cough cough*

   As far as free software that can compress and/or edit videos, I'm at a loss. I use Pinnacle Studio myself (love it!) but it's not free. (Unless you get it from a friend. *big grin*) So I'm really sorry I can't help you out there. But I'm going to keep watch to see what suggestions people will come up with.

   Thanks, Gerberette

   Posted 8 months ago #

3. funkymom
   Member

   hi gerberette-
   thanks for the response. i did check out the youtube help, but the problem is that, for some reason, this file is enormous- just over 1 gig!

   i will check out daily motion, thanks for the advice.

   i just know that there is a way to make the file smaller.

   Posted 8 months ago #

4. FreewareFan
   Member

   i'm not really so self centered to think that you have been sitting anxiously by your computer waiting to hear from me.

   Well, I HAVE been!!!!!!! You mean you're not going to contact me? I'm hurt, devastated, shattered.... :-)

   But seriously, contact me if you'd like to help, we could use another female on the team. You'd make the third one....

   Now, about your issue here. You say you'll "love me forever"?? Well then, here we go..

   I suspect that the main issue is the large filesize. I'm thinking that there's a good chance that the format of the file is something other than .avi, yes? If you can confirm what file extension it is, then you will probably be close to a resolution.

   If what I think is right, then what you'll need to do is to convert the video file to another format that will, in the end, make it smaller. I'm sort of doing like 12 things at once today, or I'd help you much more, but just do a search for free video converters, and you'll find something. Then convert it down to a smaller filesize, and there you have it.

   I'll check back soon as I can, to see how it's going.. Bye for now.

   Posted 8 months ago #

5. BuBBy
   Administrator

   @funkymom says -

   i think this is the right place to post.......i'm sure someone will politely correct me if i'm wrong (that's right, i'm talking to you bubby!

   Yes the location is fine - but the subject is all wrong. (Today's lesson) When creating a post - use a descriptive subject or topic that helps someone to know what the topic is about.

   The topic "can anyone help me?" does nothing to describe what the actual problem is, or the nature of the required assistance.

   I was expecting someone calling on my expert fruit extraction skills, after they managed to stick 2 whole seedless grapes up their nostrils, whilst singing "Help me if you can I'm feeling Down".

   Disappointed to find it's an issue to do with sharing a webcam video, I might suggest a topic "Help me share a webcam video with family".

   Who knows, maybe then this topic would be filled with "webcam video sharing experts" instead of experts in "Nasal Grape Extraction".

   I guess my job here is done. :)

   Posted 8 months ago # | Login to Send PM

6. RunesageMagik
   Member

   Lampoons and spoofs, once the province of wise men bored with omphaloskepsis, seems to be spreading throughout the land like an uncontained brushfire! ;-)

   Posted 8 months ago #

7. BuBBy
   Administrator

   omphaloskepsis - meditating on the grapes that while once were visible, have since disappeared inside ones navel.

   Posted 8 months ago # | Login to Send PM

8. qb7894
   Member

   I'm sorry qll I thought this was a user freindly site where I could learn something..... I already know how to bitch.....back bite ...and be brutal to strangers.... I have been reading White Rabbit, and Freeware fans reveiws for several weeks and all comments on gaotd and ggaoth for several weeks and have not seen such FLAMES as seen just now here......how dare you ......are you so stupid that you just think you are the only persons who's opinion counts?

   Posted 8 months ago #

9. qb7894
   Member

   I am sorry if I offended anyone....I an new to posting and did not understand some of the things said untill my neice 1,1003 miles away explained to me.... still I feel as if someone was rude but she tells me am wrong........so sorry alll

   Posted 8 months ago #

10. qb7894
    Member

    she says I should say....Flame me Out...I was mistaken????

    Posted 8 months ago #

11. qb7894
    Member

    Help!!!! am 55 years old got 15 year old telling me to get off......I will not write anthing more ...promice if she will just get off my case....lol....

    Posted 8 months ago #

12. RunesageMagik
    Member

    BubbyCo, my vineyard's not overgrown!
    44" pecs, 35" waist... not bad for mid-50's.

    Posted 8 months ago #

13. RunesageMagik
    Member

    QB, are you on the right thread? I don't see anyone flaming anyone else here.

    UPDATE: Lekanaw, I just sent smoke signals to ya.

    Posted 8 months ago #

14. LeKanaw
    Member

    Hi qb:
    Yap, your niece is indeed right.
    There is NO back bitting or flaming going on here, Mr.B & RM are playing around as we like to do here - it's called having fun.
    Somehow, you must have misunderstood what was said, or the intent in which it was said.
    If we can't have fun, what else is there, oui?

    If you would like to edit some of your post now, I can help you do it, if you want to.
    I'll be around for a little while.
    Like RM said, maybe you got mixed up and are referring to another thread?
    Peace, Manu

    Posted 8 months ago #

15. FreewareFan
    Member

    Hey funkymom, have a look at today's giveaway!! It's just the program you need, and even comes with instructions... :-) It should take care of the file size problem.

    Posted 8 months ago #

16. BuBBy
    Administrator

    Oh Dear, I had to re-read this topic. I was thinking I must've missed something. Even with my new magnifying glass - I couldn't spot any sign of flames or smoke. I suspect my friends from the far north have let the chill and ice go to their heads.

    Don't worry. we are all in this mess together, and if even one among us learns something new each day, then crawling out of bed wasn't an entirely wasted effort. Speaking of bed... it is getting late.

    Posted 8 months ago # | Login to Send PM

17. LeKanaw
    Member

    Hi Bubby:
    Yeah, I re-re-read it several times, I still can't figure it out.
    But I think all is good (I hope!)
    I'll see what I can do... (later, going to bed now too!)

    Sleep tight my friend! About those Bed Bugs down South... don't let them bite :-D
    Peace, M

    Posted 8 months ago #

18. goodgotd
    Member

    the topic name got me here. musta worked.

    sounds like low-compression MJPEG or MPEG-2 format. video capture can be *nasty*. *I'm* gonna stick with free stuff.

    you could maybe host it at theonlinedatastorage (http://www.theonlinedatastorage.com, 1.24 gigabyte limit!)...

    Or try something like Dr. DivX OSS v2.0.1 (http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_6_227_27270.html, it uses divx- ok, divx is just mpeg-4 with specific bitrates and framesizes and standardized audio- you don't wanna know what I know [the horror, oh, the humanity] about just how strange not specifying what *version* of divx can get.... so use 5.21 or better.)

    The codec pack below installs 6+.

    Maybe WinFF .33 (http://www.biggmatt.com/)
    Or Alltoavi (http://alltoavi.sourceforge.net/index.php) using xvid-

    might have to get codecs for the latter, K-Lite Codec Pack Full (http://www.codecguide.com/about_kl.htm) works ok for me.

    or see what alzip compressor (free, http://www.altools.net, only splits alz format, sob, sob) in rar or alz format can squash it to, *then* host it.

    someplace free, like sendspace (http://www.sendspace.com, 300 mb limit) or the previously mentioned theonlinedatastorage.

    then just send 'em the link.

    man, and I thought *I* was a jerk!

    Posted 8 months ago #

19. ldahl
    Member

    qb7894, no rudeness going on here... just the guys being their usual charming selves and giving the rest of us some chuckles along the way.:))) If there was actual rudeness, there would be black smoke and the gutters would run with blood.(yes, they are that good)
    Bubby I need to consult you about your fruit extraction skills, you see I'm having a problem with some orange pips...

    Posted 8 months ago #

20. funkymom
    Member

    wow-lots of activity going on.......all this fuss over my little post?

    bubby-i hear what you are saying and it's good advice, but then this thread wouldn't be so exciting! and i did mention that one of the reasons i like this forum is the humor.

    by the way- i've "accidentally" gotten a pea stuck up my left nostril. how are you with vegetable extraction?

    getting back on topic, thanks for all relevant responses (the irrelevant ones too).

    freewarefan- the file is an .avi, does that matter? i have absolutely no experience with video. what format would be best to change to? when i do convert the file will it also change the size?

    i am asking these questions before trying out today's giveaway-so maybe i'll have answers myself later in the day.

    it was very exciting to come to the site today and see a program being offered that seems to be exactly what i need! i'm hoping it does the job.

    goodgotd- i just knew that someone would see my topic title and rush in to help a damsel in distress! thanks! i actually did download drdivx yesterday, but have not installed yet. i have the divx program and tried to use that, but it only seems to convert the file to be dvd or mobile phone ready, not really what i needed. i'll check out the doctor later.

    i so appreciate any and all advice given, but i must say that i only understood some of it. i am not fluent in "computer" (yet).

    o.k. i'm off to download today's giveaway..........wish me luck!
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    aside to freewarefan- i actually was going to respond to your post looking for editors, but i didn't really know how to upload my info. when i realized that i couldn't even figure that out i assumed i was missing some important qualifications for the job. :(

    Posted 8 months ago #

21. goodgotd
    Member

    already .avi covers a lot of ground, I'd suggest dropping by http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ for Gspot and using it to find out what formats are inside the Audio-Video Interleave file- it's just a container rather than a format.

    then pass it on (audio and video formats and the pixel size), as I'm really curious now. Maybe you have one of those huge pixel size cams. <wince>

    WinFF uses the standalone FFMpeg transcoder and if it can read the file it generally does a decent, fast job- and it's small.

    [no dolby 5.1 AC3 audio need apply- a pal got a widescreen (not hd, just 16:9 ratio 720x480) dvd-recording sony handycam with 5 mics and then he dropped the editing research on me- drove me nuts for *months*]

    editing? Free Video Dub 1.2.1.1
    (http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-Video-Dub.htm) is a free dub-editor for avi that doesn't recode the video/audio, so it's real fast. sometimes divx player is the only player that can find the sound after it's done, though

    SolveigMM AVI Trimmer 1.5 (http://www.solveigmm.com/?Products&p=AVITrimmer) is less flexible but can handle some video that ties free video dub in knots- and is just as fast.

    hmm... I gotta find a 'neutral' forum to post an email on for direct communication. I could bring you up to speed on video insanity right fast.

    y'all might not believe it, but I have an effectively unspammable email configuration.

    Posted 8 months ago #

22. mrkesik2008
    Member

    You know, you should use some file hosting service to transfer that video. I recommend MediaFire or MegaUpload, upload your files there and it will give you a link to send to whoever. Send that link in an email or give it to the person directly, then she/he will be able to download and watch the video on his/her local computer.

    Posted 8 months ago #

23. goodgotd
    Member

    at least megaupload has a 500 meg limit- but mediafire? 100 megs tops for a (currently) gig-plus file? oof.

    Posted 8 months ago #

24. funkymom
    Member

    o.k. i've downloaded zc converter and had no trouble converting the .avi to .flv (which is specifically given as the option for youtube). it was so quick and easy, i was really psyched!

    but, when i uploaded to youtube, the video ran really fast. so i went back to check out my options in the converter and changed the "frame rate(fps)" to "keep original frame rate". i wasn't sure if that was the problem but i don't know very much about this stuff and it seemed like my best bet. then i removed the fast video and uploaded the new one to youtube and .................it still runs too fast- my 3 year old looks way more, speedy and hyper than she really is and she's a 3 year old, so she's plenty hopped up all the time already.

    so i am once again at a loss.

    mrkesik2008-thanks for the suggestion, but the file is enormous - 1 gig (i don't really know why). otherwise i would just e-mail it myself. i even tried to send it through skype, but it looked like it was going to take 3-4 hours, and we both have pretty fast connections.

    goodgotd- i'm sorry i don't understand half of what you say in your responses, it's way too technical for me.

    hmmm given my lack of tech savvy, i'm wondering if i'm adjusting the frame rate the wrong way. i assumed i need it to be a lower number, but maybe it's one of those crazy-reversed tech thingies (see- this is my techspeak) and i need a higher number? anyone out there know?

    thanks again for all suggestions and advice. i will understand when you all get bored with my little problem and abandon this thread................................... then i will get out my hoodoo gear and curse you all and your families for generations! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Posted 8 months ago #

25. Archangel
    Member

    Hello funkymom. Frame Rate speed doesn't adjust the speed that the video plays. The higher the rate, the better the picture. I downloaded this program too but haven't used it yet. I wanted it to convert avi to Blackberry avi (thats what I'm on now!). When I get home I'll check the settings and post back in this thread and try to help you.

    BTW never go slower on the frame rate. Keeping the same rate works best.

    Posted 8 months ago #

26. Violet4714
    Member

    veering off-topic again here...but...
    personally, i think the speedy hyper baby is perfect for youtube...

    Posted 8 months ago #

27. goodgotd
    Member

    if the video is speeding up with a lower frame rate, go the other way- try a faster one. youtube may be doing some 'correction' when you upload.

    in film, thats how slo-mo works, shoot frames faster than normal, then *display* the frames at normal speed. just a thought.

    and if you want me to break explanations into smaller bites, just ask about the parts you want to know more about. I hadda learn this stuff the hard way, then get it across to a 94 year old. I think I can do it. no reason to be sorry. not knowing is curable, honest. not wanting to know, that's harder.

    Posted 8 months ago #

28. Archangel
    Member

    Ok,

    When doing a conversion, the standard (whats playing and going to be converted) is running at its set speed. You adjust your fps on the recording/converting end. A slower speed gives you the pixels that block up (during an action scene when there is alot of movement). If you record at a faster speed, you don't have that (unless its on the "Standard").

    Posted 8 months ago #

29. goodgotd
    Member

    Heh, there are more twists and turns in e-video than your worst nightmares (mine have been given more scope thereby) and one item is the framerate in the internal scorecards can be not at all in line with the speed recorded. and there are plenty of places to bugger things up. PAL vs NTSC with interlace & progressive scan mixed in.. 24 fps to 120 is just a slip of the data, honest. And that's ignoring all the... interesting framerates and formats coming out of digital cameras and webcams. and if youtube tries to 'normalize' the vid on upload and guesses wrong, all bets are off.

    I was just making a stab at a forlorn hope of getting a baby moving at less than hyperspeed. :) I've come up with worse effects, honest. look up 3:2 pulldown, just for fun. Or anamorphic 16:9.

    oh, and *which* 'standard'? It's a long list....

    Posted 8 months ago #

30. Archangel
    Member

    LOL I meant the "Original" Video as the "Standard" (not that its standard to anything LOL). Not NTSC or PAL. (In Law Enforcement when we do comparisons the original is referred to as the standard)

    I agree with you. There are so many different codecs, formats ect.

    Posted 8 months ago #

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