Converting my demo

M

Monkeybits

EGO Zealot
Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
1,860
So, I followed all the steps for taking and converting a .dem to an .avi, but I have a problem.

After I enter startmovie, no codec window comes up. The .dem is then happily converted into thousands of .tga images and a .wav file instead of an .avi.

I downloaded and installed K-Lite Codec to no avail. The compression window still does not display when I try to convert.

Any ideas or suggestions?
 
You have to use the avi switch when using startmovie.


"startmovie <filename> avi"
I believe.

Or you could also try "help startmovie" and it should tell you about the switches available.

If your demo is long Source might save over 2GB for the video, and if that happens, the video will be corrupt.

Personally I'd just recommend saving the tga's and then importing them into a video editor.
 
That's my problem, I bet. I was using a filename extension.avi instead of a switch. <slaps his head in the "I should have had a V8" fashion> Thank you, Voided. I'm just that slick. I'll give it a shot tonight.
 
Hmm ... you know, this sounds like the kind of thing that an enterprising clan member might write up into a nice article and post in the writer's forum ...
 
[quote1204136456=Flippy Squirrel]
Hmm ... you know, this sounds like the kind of thing that an enterprising clan member might write up into a nice article and post in the writer's forum ...
[/quote1204136456]

I suppose I could do that, I know a little too much about the source engine and all of it's intricacies.
 
Well, the switch was the issue, but now I have a new problem. The .avi files will not play--they're broken. Any suggestions on which compression to choose to get the best result?

Clearly there's a problem logged in processing, too:
] startmovie test avi
FIXME: DIVX only for now
Started recording movie, frames will record after console is cleared...
] playdemo warpath
Playing demo from warpath.dem.

Team Fortress
Map: cp_warpath
Players: 31 / 32
Build: 3390
Server Number: 7

No pure server whitelist. sv_pure = 0
File 'downloads/db3e1609.dat' requested from server unknown.
Redownloading all lightmaps
AVIERR_BADFORMAT: corrupt file or unrecognized format
 
[quote1204169077=Monkeybits]
Well, the switch was the issue, but now I have a new problem. The .avi files will not play--they're broken. Any suggestions on which compression to choose to get the best result?
[/quote1204169077]

I have no idea about the console error you're getting there, I've never had that.

If that isn't related to the fact that your files won't play, check that you actually have the divx codec. Also, like I said before, if the file is over 2GB it will be broken but I don't think this is your situation.

As for compression, I don't think it matters because it defaults to divx anyways. Or if I'm wrong and it does matter, you should probably choose uncompressed to get the best quality.
 
I'll give uncompressed a shot. My TF2 seems to be especially magical. It's the curse of the monkey.
 
Did you get that to work? I found something similar here: [link=hyperlink url]http://www.softwareweb.co.uk/guide.php?id=5[/link]

OMG do change your resolution to 640X480. I had to leave and stopped it. About 1/3 of the way through my demo at my regular resolution created 82Gb of .tga files. I can't remember how big the .wav file was.

I'm going to try it again, I just haven't gotten to it. I'll probably try again this weekend. :)
 
[quote1204210963=PagaN]About 1/3 of the way through my demo at my regular resolution created 82Gb of .tga files.
[/quote1204210963]

Ha, I managed to do something like that as well the first time I tried to make a video.
I was wondering why my HDD space dropped from 200GB free to around 100GB. :P
 
^ lol I couldn't believe it! It tells you in the tutorial to lower the res. And I was like bah! I have plenty of HD space (which I do). But I was thinking of the steam surveys where most ppl only have like 30Gb or less of free space. Think of the trouble that'd cause lol
 
Well, also consider the size it'll need to be when someone plays it. Heck, if you run your copy of TF2 windowed at a smaller resolution, you'll probably get better results. (Or so I'd guess. I've not tried this.)
 
eewww 640 x 480 will tf2 even go that small?

i would hate to see what that res looks like on my 22"
 
Well, it might not look perfect, but it'd be legible -- I think. I didn't stop to consider how text and such would be rendered at such a small resolution.
 
I'll try everything tonight. If it doesn't work out, no big loss. I thought it would be fun to do some demos of games that are really fun, and different angles for clan events, but if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. If I need to use one, like for evidence of an aimbot or something, I can always post it for download, but I'm after the fun. =)
 
i have an idea of text being about the size of your sig on screen flippy lol

22" monitor 640*480 text 2" tall lol crosshair 4"by 4" rofl
 
Thanks for all the help, everyone. I don't think I want to go to the trouble of the make a million .tgas and a .wav file and convert, and the other method just doesn't work for me--I keep getting that error.

So, it's no conversions for me. But, I'll be honest. Having tried it, and found out how much time it takes just to process into an .avi, I don't think I want to do it anymore. Screenshots are good. =)
 
Aw, well I could always do it for you, I've made a video before for an event we had a really long time ago...

http://edgegamers.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?13241
Found it on page 25 of the general forum. (And yes I seriously looked through all the pages, and then realized about the search feature...)

That was really my first jump into making a video with just fraps, but it wasn't with using demos. Since then I've made a few personal videos using demos.

I'd be happy to convert your demos into highlight films if you like. :)
 
Voided, you're awesome. Thanks so much for being willing. I suspect I probably won't bother to do it now that I know how much trouble it is--if I won't do the work, how could I ask a clan mate to do it for me, you know?

I really appreciate the offer, though. It shows what kind of guy you are that you're willing to go to that much effort to help.
 
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