Finding Your Star

When you record an animal video, you’ll want to find your star. Dogs, especially puppies, always attract views, and they can be easy to train. You can use hamsters, cats, birds, snakes, mice or lizards. If you don’t own a pet, you can shoot footage of local wildlife — even cities have squirrels, rabbits and skunks around local neighborhoods. You’ll want to record at least five minutes worth of footage so you’ll have enough data to edit the video.

Edit Your Film

Once you have the footage, it’s time to import the data into VirtualDub. If you don’t have a copy of this free open source video editor, you can download a copy from the Internet. When you have the program installed on your computer, open it and import the recording. Start by watching the video and making notes of parts you want to edit.

Did your finger cover the lens for the first minute of film? Don’t worry; you can cut that part out. Use the built-in editing tools to clip out parts of your video that you don’t want. You can even append the footage if you didn’t get enough to complete your video the first time you recorded your star. Other features will allow you to rotate or crop the film.

Add Sounds

If you have a basic video, you can use sound to add the humor. Consider a video with a squirrel chewing on a nut. You could record a random conversation and add that to the video to make it seem like the squirrel is talking between bites. If you have footage of a dog running around like a maniac, you could make it funny by adding a well-known song, like Flight of the Hummingbirds, to the video.

Upload Your Video to YouTube

Once you have the video ready to go, you just need to find an audience. YouTube has one built-in. Post your video in the funny animal category and see what others have to say. If you get enough hits, you might even make some extra money by uploading more videos and integrating ads with the videos.

You don’t have to have an expensive studio to create a funny video. When you use the recorder on your cell phone or camera and VirtualDub’s free editor, you can create a funny video that’s sure to keep you (and others) laughing.

As you research third-party add-ons, you may see AviSynth popping up in quite a few places. To understand how VirtualDub and AviSynth work together, it’s important to know what AviSynth is. At its basic form, AviSynth is a scripting language. However, people who know how to use the scripting language can instruct it to command video files.

Many people use AviSynth to combine video files. In this way, it can act as a post-production tool. Unlike VirtualDub, AviSynth does not have a graphical user interface (GUI). This means you need to be able to understand the scripting language and know how it works in order to use it, unless you find a program that acts a GUI for it. Once a person modifies a video file, he or she can then play the file using VirtualDub.

What Does VirtualDub Do?

On its own, VirtualDub can perform the following tasks:

• Open a video file.

• Add one video to another.

• Clip videos.

• Filter videos.

• Compress files.

• Incorporate sound into videos.

• Modify the frame rate.

What Does AviSynth Do?

Using a text editor, you can use AviSynth to perform the following tasks:

• Mix and match videos.

• Make a time-lapse movie from images.

• Add transitions to video segments.

• Pad a video so it fits a wider variety of media player screens.

Pairing VirtualDub With AviSynth

When you know how to use the scripting language, you can modify a video file using more methods than you’ll get with VirtualDub alone. For example, you could use AviSynth to add transitions, such as fading, to a video and then use VirtualDub to eliminate any jittering that occurs from the videos having different frame rates when you modified the files.

Since AviSynth does not have a GUI, you need VirtualDub to see the result of the script commands. Just because you create a time-lapse script, it doesn’t mean the script will work without bugs. By downloading VirtualDub, you can find the glitches and make modifications. Some projects will require you to toggle between the two programs until you get the video exactly the way you want it.

On their own, neither VirtualDub nor AviSynth has all the features you might want to edit videos. However, when you merge the features of each program, you can create a set of tools that can handle almost all your video-editing needs.

You don’t have to spend money on an expensive video-editing tool in order to get access to one that has a green screen. VirtualDub, which is a free open source program, has a built-in green screen tool. If you have access to a green screen, you can film one video and then replace the green with footage from another file.

Start With a “Green” Screen

To begin the process, you will need a green or blue screen. You can purchase a special screen or use an inexpensive alternative. Something as simple as a tablecloth or a sheet will work, as long as it has a uniform color, preferably in green or blue. Do keep in mind that any imperfections in your “screen” may cause visual issues.

Dress Appropriately for the Screen

VirtualDub is going to replace the color of the screen and insert a different video in its place. As such, you need to make sure you wear clothing and accessories that are different colors than the screen. Also, take into consideration your natural coloring and characteristics. For example, a person with green eyes may not want to shoot in front of a green screen, as the video-editing process may affect the individual’s eyes.

Add Lighting to the Scene

Working in the correct light can help you achieve a professional look when you use a green screen with VirtualDub. Position your lighting so the screen has even light distribution — you don’t want shadows or glares. Outdoor lighting is a good option if you are trying to save money on equipment costs.

Superimpose the Videos in VirtualDub

Once you have the two videos, it’s time to create the true video. Keep in mind that when you Download VirtualDub it uses AVI files, so both videos should be in this format. Import both videos into the video-editing program. Double-click your video featuring the green screen and select “Green Screen” under the “Effects” option.

When the replacement window opens, select your second video and drag it to the window. If you aren’t familiar with having two videos in VirtualDub at the same time, you’ll need to locate the second file in the video bin. Once you have both videos visible on the screen, click on the color of your screen in the first video. VirtualDub will then remove everything in that color from the video and replace it with footage from the second video.

VirtualDub is not a full-feature video-editing program, like Adobe Premier. However, it does offer some tools, like the green screen, that can come in handy for those who want to create stunning effects on a limited budget.

• Receive MPEG-1 files in programs that do not support the file type,

• Combine video and audio streams into one source, or

• Use the filters in VirtualDub without having to create and save a file.

If you want to use frameserving, you may find the following tips useful.

1. Install the right client to work with frameserver.

One of the most common problems with using the frameserver can occur because individuals don’t know much about the feature. VirtualDub includes the frameserver in its program. What you need to do is find the right client. One option is the AVIFile client. You can find this by installing the “auxsetup.exe” application that came with VirtualDub. To make the AVIFile client more compatible, you can use the directory for “aviproxy” from the binary distribution to enable the proxy mode.

Some users like to work with the VCM client. This can be more difficult to operate than the AVIFile client because the user will need to write a program to use the frameserver with the client. Depending on your coding skills, this could make the VCM client unstable.

2. Follow the right steps to start frameserving.

• Make sure you start VirtualDub in frameserver mode prior to connecting to the client. You can start the frameserving session from the “File” menu.

• Create a signpost and save it under the .vdr extension. If you plan to use the proxy mode, save the file as an .avi extension.

• Wait for the frameserver window to open.

• Open your client application and open the signpost file.

3. Understand how the frameserver will affect VirtualDub.

When you use frameserving, it can shut down certain features that would normally work. You will not be able to use the following options when you are frameserving:

• Audio conversion,

• Compression for audio and video,

• VirtualDub filters that use a lag value in the description,

• Interleaving for the audio, and

• Inverse telecine.

4. Know when to use proxy mode.

In proxy mode, VirtualDub is able to set the AVIFile client as the primary handler for all AVI requests. This is what allows streaming to skip other applications. While this can be useful when you are using streaming, the proxy mode may interfere with other programs even if you are not using the frameserver at the time.

If you get error messages from applications that were working before you engaged the proxy mode, then uninstall the mode and try the application again. Downloading VirtualDub includes a “proxyoff.reg” file that will uninstall the proxy mode.

Being able to skip an application can allow VirutalDub to work faster, which is always a good thing when it comes to streaming. With these four tips, you can start using the frameserving feature.

VirtualDub is a free video editing program that you can download from the Internet. It is an open source project, so you won’t have to worry about it crashing your system with malicious code. Once you have the program installed, you need to decide which family clips you want to merge into a video project for your mom.

Use VirtualDub to Join AVI Files

Whether you have a series of videos from a camcorder or shorter clips you’ve taken on a digital camera or your cell phone, you can merge all these files into a single video. To begin, you’ll want to edit each clip. You can rotate videos that appear sideways or upside down on your screen. Crop out parts of videos you don’t want. Play around with VirtualDub’s editing tools until you like how each clip plays.

Tip: Make sure that each video clip has the same compression type. Otherwise, VirtualDub will not be able to connect the files.

Once you finish editing each file, you’re ready to join the files together. Just follow these steps:

1. Launch VirtualDub.

2. Select “Direct Stream Copy” mode from the “Video” menu.

3. Choose “Direct Stream Copy” from the “Audio” menu.

4. Open your first file. This file will be the first one your mom will see, so make sure you want to start the video with it.

5. Start the file and then select “Append AVI Segment” from the “File” menu.

6. Choose the next video clip to add to the project.

You can repeat Steps 5 and 6 as often as you need to in order to merge all your AVI files into one video. When you have added all the files, you will need to save the document under a filename that you will remember.

The time that it takes to complete this task will vary depending on the number of clips you want to merge into a single file, the length of each individual clip and your computer system. If you plan to merge several lengthy videos, make sure you consider how you plan to present your gift to your mom — some DVDs and email programs limit the amount of data you can add to a single file.

Show Your Mom That You Love Her

Making your mom feel special can be an easy task to accomplish, especially when you give her a personalized gift. Download VirtualDub to convert your random video clips into a movie your mom will watch again and again?

What causes sound stutters with playback?

The first thing to keep in mind is that VirtualDub is not designed as a media player. (You can find several free and open source media players online, though.) That being said, sound stutters often occur when the CPU isn’t quick enough to handle the file. Sometimes, filtering may be an issue.

You may want to see whether you can see all the frames during a slow-motion playback to rule out a filtering problem. One simple solution may be the “drop frames when behind” option. If that doesn’t work, consider downloading an actual media player.

Can I crop a video?

VirtualDub does allow you to crop a video. You can do this at the start of a video filter. Some people will add a “null transform” filter when they don’t want to work with other filters. The cropping technique allows you to click on the video and crop the section you want. The process is also known as clipping. While VirtualDub does allow cropping with filters, it does not support cropping when you are in the direct stream copy mode.

Why are frames cut from direct stream copy mode reappearing?

This error can occur when you delete a frame without deleting the non-keyframes that follow the frame. A non-keyframe has to have a reference frame in order to work. If VirtualDub comes across a non-keyframe, it will revert to using the missing frame in order to process the video correctly. It’s the programs way of trying to correct unintentional errors.

You can identify whether a frame has non-keyframes following it by looking at the time stamp. Frames with non-keyframes do not have a letter following the time stamp; however, keyframes have a “K” following the stamp.

What causes compression problems with audio files in VirtualDub?

VirtualDub relies on third-party compression drivers to handle audio compression. Problems with audio compression usually occur as a result of issues related to the third-party provider. Sometimes, the error may occur because you do not have a certain driver installed on your operating system.

Knowing the answers to some common questions can help you keep calm when you first encounter a situation you didn’t expect while using VirtualDub. Once you know why there is an issue, you can begin taking steps to overcome it.

Locate Filters

When it comes to filters, you have several choices.

• You can add filters from VirutalDub’s database,

• You can use filters from Donald Graft, a developer that VirtualDub recommends, or

• You can use filters created by other developers who offer third-party filters for VirtualDub.

Filters perform different tasks, depending on their coding. While you can add filters from different developers to VirtualDub, it is possible for one filter to interfere with another one installed in the program. You may not know how a filter will affect VirtualDub until you install the filter and run it.

Seven Steps to Add a Filter to VirtualDub

Before you can use a filter, you need to install it with VirtualDub. You can do this in seven easy steps.

1. Save plugins to the appropriate directory. VirtualDub has a folder called “Plugins.” You’ll find this in the same folder as the executable file for VirtualDub. To make sure the plugin is in the correct location, look for the .vdf file for each filter in this folder.

2. Open VirtualDub and select “File.” From the pull-down menu, select the input video file option.

3. Choose “Video/Filters” from the menu options. This will open the dialog box for the filters.

4. Use the “Add” button to open your list of available filters. VirtualDub will automatically search its plugin folder and add any new filters to the list. When you locate the correct filter, click “OK.”

5. Make any modifications you want in the configuration dialog that will open for the filter. Some filters come with a preview option so you can see how different configurations alter the filter. When you’re ready to proceed, hit the “OK” button for the configuration and filter windows.

6. Decide whether you want to modify the filter’s video compression. Make changes before you save the output file.

7. Save your output file in the correct format. This will process the file and apply the filter.

Adding filters to the plugin directory is rather easy to do; however, it may take time for you to learn the benefits of each filter. Until you know the type of effect a filter will have on your file, you should always make a backup copy of your original. That way, you’ll be able to try a filter without destroying the original.

Filters can be a great way to expand the functionality of VirtualDub. With so many options available, you can modify VirtualDub to do tasks that are more complex than the basic program can handle on its own.

Windows 2000

To add the VFWWDM wrapper to Windows 2000, you need to install the following things:

• DirectX 8.0a,

• Any updates for DirectX 8.0a, and

• Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows 2000.

With these installed, you will need to do the following things:

1. Search for “WINNTServicePackFIlesi386vfwwdm32.dll”. You should see this file in the “System32″ tree of the “WINNT” directory. If not, copy the file and add it to this branch.

2. Open “regedit.exe”. This is your registry editor. You will need to locate “msvideo”, which should be in the “Media Resources” portion under the “Control Directory” in your system’s “Current Control Set.”

3. Create the MSVideo.VFWWDM key. To do this, you’ll need to add the following entries.

Name: Description

Type: REG_SZ

Data: Microsoft WDM Image Capture (Win32)

Name: Driver

Type: REG_SZ

Data: vfwwdm32.dll

4. Verify whether the wrapper appears in VirtualDub. If it does not, try adding a drive to the key. To do this, you will need to add the following entries to the “Current Version” branch of the “Windows NT” tree on the “Software” directory.

Name: drivers.desc/vfwwdm32.dll

Type: REG_SZ

Data: Microsoft WDM Image Capture (Win32)

Name: Drivers32msvideo

Type: REG_SZ

Data: vfwwdm32.dll

Windows XP, Vista and 7

The DirectX 8.0 download is older software that many consider obsolete. However, you can still find the download and its updates online. If you have a newer Windows operating system, you will need to install DirectX 9.0. This updated software has several advantages over its predecessor, including the following things:

• Better graphics,

• Increased security,

• Support for multiplayer games, including massive multiplayer ones, and

• Faster frame rates.

DirectX 9.0 replaces earlier versions of the software, and it takes up about the same amount of disk space, despite the new features. Additionally, it fixes glitches and bugs discovered in DirectX 8.0.

Tips for Using DirectX

• You should understand that the software is a systems component. That means you cannot uninstall it from your registry without knowing how to locate and remove programs from the registry. Do not attempt to do this unless you have experience with registry modification. Modifying the registry can cause bugs or fragment your system, rendering some programs inoperable.

• You can find DirectX 9.0 downloads that combine all the programs into one package.

• You should always create a backup copy of your operating system before you modify the registry. This will allow you the option to reinstall your operating system in the event that something goes wrong with the installation. Some computers have system restore points that you can set. If your system has one, set it to save your operating system before you add DirectX.

Adding a wrapper to Windows can expand the functionality of VirtualDub. By following these steps, you can add the necessary software so you can capture video.

Before you run out and spend your child’s college savings account just to create a simple video, check out VirtualDub. This is a great program that won’t deprive your children of their educations, for the simple reason that it is available free of charge. It is part of the open source project that provides free software under the GNU General Public License. Not only is this program free, it will run on just about any average Windows-based machine.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed VirtualDub, you’ll discover many features that you need to create a wonderful video, including cropping, frame-rate specifications, and more. Here’s how to make sure that your audio and your video are in sync with each other.

1. Launch your copy of VirtualDub.

 

2. Select “Open Video File” from the drop-down menu. You will then select the video file that you want to edit. Choose the file and click “Open.”

 

3. Go to the “Audio” tab from the program menu. Then, select the sub-menu option “Interleaving.”

 

4. Enter a value in the “Audio Skew Correction” box. The value will be in milliseconds. Use a positive number if your audio is playing ahead of your video. You will enter a negative number if the audio is trailing.

 

5. Click “OK.” Then, open the “File” menu and click the “Save as AVI.”

Your video will now be synced and ready for more editing. This will make your end product seem much more professional.

Using the free, open source software program VirtualDub can be the perfect tool to help create GIFs from video files. Here are the simple steps:

1. Download VirtualDub here, if you don’t already have it installed. You will be downloading a zip file, so you’ll need a zip extraction utility. Install it using the included wizard and set up features.

 

2. Start VirtualDub.

 

3. Navigate to the “File” menu. Select the “Open Video File” option from the drop-down menu. You also have the option to drag and drop your desired video into the program window.

 

4. Edit your video, if desired. VirtualDub offers many features for editing, including cropping, slicing, changing the frame rate, and much more. You may want to use the frame-rate option to change the speed for your final GIF output. You can do this by going to the “Video” menu item and selecting “Frame Rate.” From this option, you can either slow down or speed up your video.

 

5. Finish editing your video. You can then export to the GIF format. Go to the “File” menu. Select the “Export” option and then click the “Animated GIF” option. The program will ask you to select a destination location for your new GIF. Click “OK,” and your video will start the conversion process.

Your new GIF file is now ready for use as your online avatar. Use VirtualDub to create other GIFs for additional animated sites.