FRAPS and VirtualDub
Hi Roy --
I use a registered copy of FRAPS to record the video, with a setting of 30 fps.
The output is a number of 3+GB avi files. For that 7 minute youtube clip I think there three 3GB files and one slightly smaller one.
To join and compress the files I use VirtualDub. It''s free, works well, produces good results and is reasonably fast.
There is a wealth of information on the Net on it's use, but basically:
_____
Video joining:
Select Video/Direct stream copy.
Select Audio/Direct stream copy.
Open first video file.
File/Append AVI segment.
Select second video file.
Repeat with all video files.
Save as AVI and save the whole video.
_____
Deleting segments:
Play the video or use the arrow keys to move backwards and forwards through the video.
Click Edit -> Set selection start or press Home key on your keyboard for begining of cut.
Click Edit -> Set selection End or press End key on your keyboard for end of cut.
A blue mark section in the position slider.
Click Edit -> Delete or press the Delete key on your keyboard and the blue section will be removed.
Repeat for other section.
Save As.
_____
Making HD compressed videos:
Video/Full processing mode
Video/Compression
Choose codec = Xvid MPEG-4 Codec
Configure DivX 1080HD -- more = H.263
Single pass
20000 (maximize to increase file size and definition) - adjust this setting to get the correct final file size.
Audio/Full processing mode
Audio/Compression = MPEG Layer-3
File/Save as AVI
_____
If you don't have the Xvid codec it's included in the K-Lite Codec Pack.
If you find the compressed file size is going to be too large or too small, just stop the process and adjust the configuration.
Compressing that 12GB avi file into a 382MB file for uploading to youtube took about 20 minutes on my 3.2GHz dual core PC.
__________
The other factor is, of course, the frame rates on the route itself. My routes are probably the exact opposite of your - mine are small in size and focus on switching operations. The gameplay revolves around picking up and setting out cars in a yard and then moving to the next yard. In most of my routes the presence of AI trains on the main line adds another challenge - the need to navigate a path through the AI.
While my routes might look very dense, the focus is actually on areas that create the illusion of being there. And I was also quite flattered by one comment that the person got better frame rates on my routes than on a blank baseboard.
Your routes, by comparison seem very long and very highly detailed.
If you want to try one of my routes look for Krashnburn, IntenCity or (my favourite) DowntownTractionCo. All the required dependencies are either built-in or on the Downlaod Station.
_____
If you choose to use VirtualDub tell me if it produces better results than the software you are using now.
Regards,
Phil