Tutorial: How to record and easily edit a video

[Brainworks]

Today's Lesson is about:

HOW TO MAKE A MONKEY SCREAM
.... no no, that's another lesson.


Sorry Kids -

Today's Lesson is about

Tools of Trade:

First of all, you need an idea, something funny, special - or just a regular 'have fun' video.

If you got that, we take a look at the Resources we need:



There are several tools we can use here - Fraps, GameCam, XFire, WeGame, Taksi, a Video Camera (one you can plug in to your PC/Mac)


Fraps - a really easy to use Program, but big Files when you are recording - 1 minute ~ 1GB (but that is not a big deal. We'll get back later to this "big file" problem).
Another problem with Fraps is the Frames loss you'll get when you are recording.
I highly recommend a DualCore or better. But even when you have not got the it's not a Problem.

Just use the 'Half-size' Mode (but you have to play in 800x600 or 640x480) - but the quality of your videos will be poorer.

If you can play BFHeroes on High/Medium properly you should have no Problems.
You can only record 30 seconds, you can also choose the framerate you want to record with. Record with or without Sound, make screenshots and a (Text)Benchmark.
Fraps is only a trial, you have to register and pay if you want to enjoy the full Program.


GameCam - this Program is better than Fraps but only if you buy it.
GameCam is used In-Game, the Advantage of GameCam is that you've got a small Filesize and no limit with recording and almost no loss of Frames.
The way I've heard it is even if you buy it and use big Resolutions, the Filesize remains small.

The big disadvantage, in my Eyes, is the quality of the videos, because it's just a Trial you can't choose Resolution or Framerate, what you get is a really crappy quality and no Sound. If you can live with that, be sure to try it out.

XFire - It supports over 1000+ Games, has a massive Community and it's totally free, but you have Register. Till now I only heard good things about it.
As in GameCam almost no Frameloss, but big Filesizes (again no Problem)

WeGame and Taksi - personally never tried those two but if you got any any experience with it tell us.

Video Camera - If I had one, this would be the way how I would record my Games. No Frame loss, Filesize and Videoquality and -size depends on you camera and the Quality you're recording with - "HD".

Don't get me wrong it's not putting your camera in front of the Monitor and press Record. It's pluging your Camera into your PC and recording from there. Game Magazines are recording their Game Videos in this way.
If I figure it out I sure will update it here, or If you got some experience in this matter, let us know.

So you see, that was quite a list. What is best, is up to you. I would recommend you to first try those who are completely free.

[Brainworks]

Now the

So now we come to our big Files and to the last and Final part - Editing.

So at first - PLEASE don't use the "Blue Screen with white letters" in your Video - it's ugly and should be banished.
So try to make something original!!!


Our Tool is Windows Movie Maker

Don't let you deceive by it's humble appearence. It is no After Effects, SonyVegas or Adobe Premiere - but you can do some really nice editing with this little program and it's totally free.
For our fellow Mac Users - iMovie is really an easy program to use and it's already installed

So now we are going to take our big files and load them into Movie Maker.
Choose one File (even if you made more - because the editing comes later) and drag it in to you Timeline below, depending on the size of the movie it can take a while.
If he's ready got to your left and choose "This computer" - A new Window pops up where you can choose the name and the Location where you want to save it - aaaaaand Next -

Now we come to the important part - you see three Points, we are going to take the last one (more settings). There you see several headers, we choose for Windows Media HD 720p, below you see the new File Size it shoud something between 1-50 MB, depending on you File.
Publish it and your Ready.

You should now have some Files that you can edit, as you already have seen there are several Options in Movie Maker where you can choose from. You can split, take on Effects, add music, ...


So it's up to you what you're doing with it!!!
Make something great

[Sven]

Good guide =)
I think its very usefull for many people.
But one question, do you maybe know how you get the video (which is in good quality) also in good quality on youtube?
Because if I upload a video to youtube, (and it is a good quality on my pc) and then watch the video on youtube, its a really bad quality



*and i think you should post tutorials here:
http://play.battlefield-heroes.com/forum...hp?fid=110

[Blackwyn]

Good one Brainworks, I use fraps atm. But the filesizes it creates, even takes down my 500GB down to its knees
Going to try GameCam next time.
Oh and just one thing.. could you please get a darker color on the name things.. It's really light on the forum's light background

[Brainworks]

Thanks guys
changed the color

@Sven: it depends on the size of your movie, if you want to upload something in HD, you have to upload it in at least 1280x700-something - but you can find that easily on the FAQ.

Normal sized movies have a High and a low quality mode. You could try to put &fmt=18 behind a movie. But I think Youtube slightly decompresses films.

[ben1066]

what do you think of xfire people?

[ben1066]

xfire wont record battlefield-heroes.

[Brainworks]

Yes he can!

[Malvarlo]

Btw - resolution wise, 720 is "HD ready" (1280x720 for example) and 1080 is "Full HD" (1920x1080 for example) hope this helps people.

[ben1066]

It doesn't work for me

[ben1066]

when i press SCROLLOCK+X if I hover over the record video icon it says disabled yet I enabled it in the settings panel and it works with other games.

[Hinther]

What's best to use, Adobe Premier Elements, or Pinnacle Studio for editing and mixing with recorded videos?

Also, for recording, is TechSmith Camtasia Studio any good?

[Brainworks]

Scrolllock+X? weird combination

Do you have the newest Version?

[ben1066]

SCROLLLOCK+X open the xfire ingame thingy, try it.

[ben1066]

bump.

[Xaviounet]

thanks !

[Brainworks]

I think it's better off in the tutorial section - can a mod move this topic?

[Rochelle]

What ben1066 applies to me too, I can't record on BFH with xfire. If you press scroll lock+x then move your mouse to the bar at the bottom and hover over the video camera (I think that's the icon) then it says video recording (disabled).

[HELICOPTER_AMBO]

No, you cant record in xfire.. this is a beta.. we are under the NDA..
If people could record video with xfire, they can easily upload they're videos to the xfire site (and a lot of people would if they could)
So its been disabled when your playing heroes.
So xfire is not an option

[Rochelle]

Oh so that's why...So which program should I use? My computer isn't that great I've tried fraps and it didn't work out for me (like...12 fps), my computer specs are...

Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
2.0GB RAM
RADEON X300 SE 128MB HyperMemory
146GB HD