goddi

==================== Greetings Peter, I will have to try that test later when I have more time. But I have never had any problem playing any of the souped-up PTE file that have come from Lin or you or the others who have made some of the 'heavy duty' shows. But I don't see why PTE is taking it upon itself to 'change' the bitrate of my video file. It should not compress or un-compress the video. It does not do it with our jpgs. Converting a video to a better 'container' or 'codec' so that it works better within PTE might be ok, but it does not know what I am going to do with it as far as the need to change the bitrate. Why not just put in the ability for us to change the bitrate which would normally be less, not more. Videos that come out of the camera are usually quite high and I would not think there is a reason to increase them. And what is the effect of increasing the bitrate? Does it degrade the image as the compression of a jpg does??? Duno. I hope you can bend Igor's ear and take out the 'Quality' and put in 'Bitrate' as a control. Thanks.... Gary

=========================== Greetings Lin and others, I just did a test using Freemake Video Converter to convert an original MP4 file, size 76mb, bitrate 2609 kbps. Interesting results: Test 1- Converted original file to MP4 container, using the MPEG4 Video Codec, bitrate came out as 2756 kbps. Size came out at 80.3mb. (Larger size probably due to slight increase in bitrate). Test 2- Converted original file to MP4 container, using the H.264 Video Codec, bitrate came out as 2860 kbps. Size came out at 83.3mb. (Larger size probably due to slight increase in bitrate). Test 3- Converted original file using PTE's conversion process to AVI, defaults settings. The original size of 73mb jumped to 336mb. Why? I notice that the PTE converted file's bitrate shows 16060 kbps. So, keeping the bitrate relatively the same, the file size stays relatively the same. The Video Codecs did not have much effect, in this case. But the bitrate does have a major effect. I think this is my biggest problem with the PTE conversion process. I don't know how to control the bitrate. Why would the bitrate jump to 16060 kbps from the original 2609 kbps??? I also ran the original MP4 file through Freemake to convert it to an MP4 and set the bitrate to 16060 kbps and the file size jumped to 246mb. So, I hope that Igor will put in some kind of control where we can select what the bitrate is when the PTE conversion process is used. The 'Quality' setting leaves me cold. Size matters! Gary

============================= Dave, I just looked more closely at those two files, one the original MP4 and the PTE converted AVI file. The only difference I see is that the original MP4 file (77mb) shows a codec of 'H.264' and the PTE converted file (336mb) shows a codec of 'MPEG4'. I will do a test in Freemake. I will convert one with the 'MPEG4' codec and one with the 'H.264' and see what the size difference is. Gary

========================= Xaver, Great. Getting closer to an understanding. The 'container' explanation helps. So it is the Video Codec that is more responsible for the size of the video file. Ok. So then, can you explain what the difference is between the two Video Codecs that I can choose from in the Freemake Video Converter's MP4 container: 'MPEG4' and 'H.264', as seen in the attachment? Thanks... Gary

=================== Dave, I just let it run through with the default settings, 50%. Weird.... Sometimes the converted file is smaller, most times it is bigger. I just can't get a handle on what it is doing what it does, so I don't use it. But I am getting a bit frustrated. None of the replies so far have addressed my real question about selecting the Video Codec for an MP4 conversion in Freemake. Why do I need to select a codec? Which one should I select? What is the effect of one vs. the other? Everyone is dancing around all of the other aspects of a video question, but not my main point. I am sure not too many people have run across this choice except, maybe, those who have used Freemake, and maybe most have never noticed it. I have not seen it in any other video conversion program nor in PTE's converting process. I am just trying to understand what effect these two choices might have with converting a video. Gary

============================== Dave, My original request for info was not referring to Video Output from PTE. It had to do with a choice that I find in the converting menu of Freemake Video Converter. After I have selected the conversion format of MP4, it lets me choose a 'Video Codec' of 'MPEG' or 'H.264'. This is my confusion...what does this mean? What is the effect of one vs. the other? Why choose one vs. the other? As I have mention in my reply to Peter, my goal in converting my video files is to reduce their size but retain quality. Sure, I have tried the PTE Video Converter, but many times it make the file size even bigger than the original size. And I don't know what the 'Quality' choice means. I don't know what it is doing so I just avoid using it. Nor does it allow changing the bitrate, which seems to be the main factor in reducing video file size. Gary Added later: I just did a test and converted an MP4 video file using PTE's converting process. It converted a 77Mb MP4 to a 345 mb AVI. Not acceptable.

======================== Peter, You said you want acceptable quality. I have said the same thing. No argument there. But if I can get similar quality with a smaller sized file, that is what I want to achieve. When I want to upload a video to Beechbrook, I don't want to stretch my welcome with a gigantic file. And, people have complained when the file size exceeds their predetermined limits. Some have lower download speeds then others, so I try to accommodate these concerns. It seems that I have been adding video to my PTE shows a bit more than most and, perhaps, this has not been a noticeable problem for most PTE users, yet. Sure, I can let PTE 'convert' my video files but this process makes them even bigger than the original files. My original question is not a question of to-convert-or-not-to-convert. It has to do with an additional choice that I can make while using the Freemake Video Converter program that lets me choose a 'Video Codec', which gives me the choice of 'MPEG' and 'H.264'. I am wondering which one is better or what the reason is to choose one vs. the other. This is more of a technical question that comes up within this conversion process. I see that there is much discussion about 'MPEG (H.264)', so I don't understand why I can have the additional option to choose 'MPEG' or 'H.264' separately, under the MP4 format. Gary

======================= Dave, I have several cameras that take video: a Nikon D7000 (MOV; 22000kps bitrate; 23 fps); a Nikon AW100(MOV; 14000kbp; 29 fps); and a GoPro (MP4; 15000kps bitrate; 29 fps). Why convert? My main purpose to convert is to reduce the size of the videos I insert into PTE. After much trial and error, I seem to find that if I convert them to the MP4 format AND reduce the bitrate, the file size dramatically reduces and I don't see any loss in quality. I think a bitrate of less than 7000kps seems to be close to a visible loss in quality but that is just my benchmark. I see people say that using PTE's convert process to the AVI format puts less stress on the video processing. That might be true, but I get a larger sized file and I have not seen any problem using the MP4 format with my system. But...a few days ago, at a computer seminar, I tried one of my PTE shows that contain a lot of video and it really was a mess. Very jerky. It was played on the instructors laptop from my thumbdrive. I don't know if it was the thumbdrive or her laptop causing the problem, but maybe her laptop could not handle the higher requirements of the MP4??? Duno. So that is why I convert my video files and I like to use Freemake Video Converter to convert my original video files. I get smaller file size with the MP4 format AND I can reduce the bitrate. But, the Freemake program also lets me choose the 'Video Codec'. But I just don't understand why I would choose one over the other (MPEG vs. H.264). I usually see them together as 'MPEG (H.264). But here, I can choose one or the other when I have selected the MP4 format. Just confused... Gary

=========================== Dave, I took a look but I don't see any 'Video Codec' choices in Custom. I posted the question in the general Forum. Gary

Greetings, There have been many postings about the 'MPEG4 (H.264)' and other terms such as 'MP4', and just 'MPEG4', etc. So, I am not sure exactly what people are really referring to when I try to compare them and understand what the differences are. Then I come across a choice that I can make when I use my Freemake Video Converter program to convert my MOV video files to MP4 format. I don't convert to AVI because the MP4 format seems to always give me smaller sized files. Anyway, my question is, when I select 'MP4' as the format I want to convert to, I then have the choice to choose the 'MPEG4 video codec' (see attached). I have the choice of 'H.264' or 'MPEG4'. Since I see that 'MPEG4 (H.264)' is talked about (a combination of 'MPEG4' and 'H.264'), I am confused as to what video codec should be used or why one would be better then the other. Can someone shed some light on which Video Codec choice is 'better' (in the Freemake Video Converter) when it comes to using it for a video conversion for PTE? Thanks, Gary

====================== Dave, Since you have been talking about "MPEG4", I have a question about this that has puzzled me for some time. I use Freemake Converter to convert my MOV video files to MP4. I don't convert to AVI because the MP4 format seems to always give me smaller sized files. Anyway, my question is, when I select 'MP4' as the format I want to convert to, I then have the choice to choose the 'MPEG4 video codec' (see attached). I have the choice of 'H.264' or 'MPEG4'. I see that you talk about 'MPEG4 (H.264)', so I am confused as to what video codec should be used or why one would be better then the other. Can you shed some light on which Video Codec is 'better'? Thanks... Gary

Igor, Fantastic! Thanks. I have been looking for this capability. Now it is 'undocumented'. Now, if you can let it search for mp4 and avi files, it would be easier to input the video file. But who's complaining. I would guess the new version will make it perfectly clear and easy!!! Thanks... Gary

======================= Greetings Dave, I just looked into "Premiere" and the full version of the 'Adobe Premiere Pro CS6' is about $799. A bit too much for just doing my audio fades. However, I notice that they also have an 'Adobe Premiere Elements 10' for $99.99. More reasonable. I would think it has the audio capabilities. When I have a bit of time, I might download the trial to see. But I had forgotten that I have used the 'Windows Live Movie Maker' to do audio fade-ins/outs. I don't like it because it will save only as a larger sized .wmv but I can convert it to a smaller MP4 using 'Freemake Video Converter' (my go-to trimmer program). So I will wait for Igor to present the next version to see what it will do. I am sure all of these audio facilities that we are looking for are very complex but what an improvement it would be. I will try to modify my 'jarring' portraits. It is hard to get out of an established pattern that I think is 'OK', but you offer some good suggestions. Who knows, maybe I can come up with something that will work and be more pleasing. It is good to get such feedback and try new methods. Thanks... Gary

============================== Snapcam, Yes, it was a good trip. But we were very disappointed in the lack of wildlife in the rest of our two week trip in Costa Rica. This is probably why I put in as many wildlife shots as I did. The crocs were probably saying..."Just another tourist..." Yea, that red flower as a vertical; I see what you mean. Sometimes, after spending a humongous amount of time getting the music to time exactly with all the slides and videos, I hate to fool with it. But, good point. It is never 'done.' Yes, it is easy to add a sound track. But I want to be able to reduce the volume of the sections of the added music tracks so the 'jungle' sound effects can be heard. The current version does not allow for that...yet. And it does not allow to fade-in or fade-out of the sound track of added video clips. Doing it outside PTE is a pain. For example, I wanted to fade-in/out the sound track associated with the landing of the airplane. I had to strip out its sound track from the video clip and make it an individual mpg. And then use Audacity to fade-in the beginning and fade-out the end. Then, I put the mpg back in its own track. If I did not, the video's sound track would have started and ended too abruptly. Gary

========================== Greetings Snapcam, After 100 views, it is nice to get a critique. It is always nice to see how others see your work. I agree that it would have been nice to put in some 'jungle' sound effects and fade out the music. With the current version, I don't think this is an easy process. I am hoping the upcoming version will make such audio adjustments an easy function. One of my hopes is that we will also be able to adjust the volume of the audio in an added video clip, too. I had wished the sky in the toucan shots was better. I just had to keep them in because they are such beautiful birds and not too easy to get close-ups. It was such a wonderful site...you had to be there. I just could not leave them out. I zoomed in on them in O&A and I should have used their higher resolution images. I have been told before that some viewers do not like vertical shots. I take the opposite view. I like them because they break up the monotony of landscape shots. And, many shots just have to be vertical. Suggestions of putting an image behind the vertical to 'soften' the vertical just does not sit well with me...yet. Yea, the crocodile clip was not the greatest. But I liked it because you can see how they can bury themselves in the mud and see mostly only their eyes. I should have taken out the last jerky movement and made the last good part of the video a still image and leave that on for a couple seconds. But having been there...it was an exciting moment for me....up close and personal! I am learning that taking good video is a real challenge! At a certain point of editing a show, I get PTE'd-out and I just have to stop. I know I can go back and fiddle and fiddle with it and it, really, never ends. But that is the great point of getting comments, even though I have only received on comment. Much appreciated... It will keep me on my toes. Gary

==================================== Igor, This is good news. But what I am looking for is to be able to adjust the audio levels of an added video clips. Will this be possible...ever? Gary

Location: Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. Year: June 2012. Aspect ratio: 16:9. Screen resolution: 1920x1080. Videos: Yes. Size of file: 178 Mbs. Run time: 8:04. Manual control (yes/no): Yes. Camera and lens: Nikon D7000 (stills and video), 18-200mm; GoPro Hero2 video camera. Any other info that you can provide: The Tortuguero National Park was a highlight of our two-week vacation to Costa Rica. Hope you enjoy the journey. Comments and critiques are welcomed. http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/ Gary Oddi

======================= Greetings Lin, What I did was remove the entire sound track from the video clip using Freemake Video Converter. Then I put this 13 second video clip in the Slide List. I then recorded a 5.72 second audio portion of the original video with All Sound Recorder Vista. I pulled that short audio section into Audacity to fade-in the beginning and fade-out the end sections. In the 'Add Sound...', I used an 'Offset' of 6 seconds to push it toward the end of the 13 second video. Since in the past I have added short 'sound effects' using the 'Add Sound...' function, and it has always worked. I checked the 'Do Not Interrupt...' just in case the added sound bled over to the next slide. I did not think of your suggestion. I just tried it and it looks like it is working. I put the 5.72 second MP3 in a 'Track 2' with an Offset of 1:05 minutes that put it just about in the same location as I had originally it. Thanks for the suggestion. I am wondering why the 'Add Sound...' did not work. Never had a problem in the past. I like it because it is a bit easier to locate exactly which slide it should be applied to and you can still make adjustments to its Properties. Thanks... Gary

Greetings, There were recent postings concerning the Add Sound Comment not working. I read then but it seems that my problem might be a bit different. I have a video that I have added to the slideshow. I removed the sound from this video, using an external program. I then added a short mp3 sound file to this video. The problem is that the Added Sound Comment mp3 plays only when I play the video in the Miniplayer and only if I start playing the slideshow from this video in the Miniiplayer. If I play the video in Preview, the Added Sound Comment mp3 does not play. More specifics: The video is 13 seconds. The Added Sound Comment mp3 is 5.72 seconds. The Offset for the Added Sound Comment is 6 seconds. I have checked the 'Do Not Interrupt Sound Comment...' I don't have KFSL checked. Any ideas??? Gary

============================= Dave, I am confused. When Xaver mentioned 'speed option', I assumed he was talking about when you select the 'Setting up...' option for the animation parameters. It appears to me that this 'Speed option...' can apply to any of the parameters ( Linear, Accelerate, Slow down and Smooth). However, you seem to be saying that it only applies to Linear and Accelerate. Can you clarify what you were saying??? I am pretty much in the dark about how to use this setting but I'd like to understand what you and Xaver are talking about. Thanks... Gary

======================== Xaver, I have not used the Speed option so I have to leave my suggestion up to those who understand the complications and ramifications of fixing one problem and its unintended consequences. I would hope Igor and the more experienced users, like you, can come up with a fix. Thanks... Gary

======================== Dave, I can't disagree with you. But I was really not sure how to title the posting. All I can say is that the shifting problem happened when I tried a Zoom with Panning. I am not technical enough to figure out all of the other possibilities. But, I would hope that the solutions I recommend will solve all of the combinations of using different settings for PZR. If you can make a change to the title of this posting, please do. Just not sure what the right words are. Thanks... Gary

Greetings, The problem is that I have noticed if you select a Zoom animation (and it includes some Panning), for example, for an image and you only change the Zoom's setting (Linear, Accelerate, Slow Down or Smooth), the animation can cause an unwanted slight shifting of the image during the animation. This problem is explained more clearly with an example in the following posting: http://www.picturest...ng-to-left-bug/ The solution, giving by Lin, is to set the Pan, Zoom and Rotate to the same linearity or non-linearity parameter. This shifting problem is solved if all three animations choices (Pan, Zoom and Rotate) are set to the same parameter (Linear, Accelerate, Slow Down or Smooth). This does solve the problem. My suggestion is the make the default so that when one of the animation (Pan, Zoom or Rotate) parameters (Linear, etc.) is changed for a particular keyframe, then the parameter for each of the other animations are automatically changed to that parameter. My suggestion is to have the parameter for each animation (PZR) linked so that if someone wants the original flexibility to input a different parameter for each of the animations, then the parameters for each animations can become unlinked. I have seen this strange 'shifting' in an image for many years and only recently figured out what was going on. I don't think most users would know that it is important to make the parameters to be the same for each animation (Pan, Zoom and Rotate) to avoid this 'shifting' problem. Gary

====================== Peter, I am not suggesting to not keep the current flexibility. What I am suggesting is that the 'default' should be that when you select one of the settings (Linear, etc.) for a particular keyframe, then the settings would automatically change for all three (Pan, Zoom and Rotate). This would remove the possibility for the 'shift' problem to occur. Lin's solution to set all three animations to the same setting to avoid the 'shift' problem works. I am just suggesting to make this action to be the 'default'. Who would know you needed to do this unless someone told them? But I also said that there should be a way to override this default for those who wanted to retain the flexibility of the current menu's structure. It seems to me that most people would want the results from having all three settings to be set to the same choice as the default. All that has to be done is to have them linked so that a change in one will change the other two. And also have the ability to unlink them to get back the current 'flexibility'. Doesn't this make sense? Gary

====================== Lin, Ok...I did not know if my idea would float or not. Just because it makes sense to me does not mean it would be a good idea. I'll give it a try in the Suggestions forum. It seems to have passed your 'sniff' test. Thanks... Gary