Can someone wield the search engine more effectively than I and deliver the location of the thread regarding theater names? If I recall it was a mighty long thread... multiple pages, and had theater name submissions from members from all 4 corners of the board.

reaper

You have to look in the Archives:

>>> Did you name your Home theater? <<<
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=359330

I did that. I went to the archives and searched for the word "name" and limited it to topics of threads. I got no returns. Thanks for finding it for me. How did you do it?

reap

Darn, the thread did not have the info I was seeking. Does anyone know if Alan Gouger named his theater?

reaper

PM Alan, He'd know;)

Originally posted by reaper
Thanks for finding it for me. How did you do it?

I posted a name I was thinking about for my theater in that thread. In the search I just typed in that name and put my user name as the poster.

Here's another thread:

>>> What's the name of your HT? <<<
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=177875

Yeah... but I was thinking about doing something for him as a bit of a surprise... so that might take some of the fun out of it.

Didn't see any postings by him in there either...

As a teaser for what I'd like to do for him, I rendered this image:

http://img7.echo.cx/img7/3797/alan26ee.th.jpg (http://img7.echo.cx/my.php?image=alan26ee.jpg)

I think it'd be cool to fully animate that with audio and give it to him. It would be a short clip he could play before movies. Do you guys agree that it would be a cool thankyou for running this board?

Some questions:

I can save it out into several movie types commonly found on PC... Quicktime for one example. Would it be worthwhile for me to do this. Do you guys even know if he has a HTPC? Can this or some other format be played or converted to something that will play on a normal DVD player? Will DVD burners read in a Quicktime movie and convert it to normal DVD standard?

Also, at the current size of the image, 1280x720, rendering this movie may take more than a day and result in a quicktime file close to 1GB! Does anyone know of a lower resolution that would still look good when projected? What about half that resolution?

Lastly, should I change the lettering to something else? Since I couldn't find his home theater name, that was the best I could come up with.

reaper

I suggested the "Guano Regal" (anagram for Alan Gouger) - but I don't think he went for it. Apparently bird or bat dung was not the image he was going for. ;)

I'd just PM him and ask if he settled on a name and ask if it is something he'd be interested in incorporating into a demo/preview DVD.

Allright, I guess the surprise thing isn't going to work too well. Unless, maybe he'd be excited to simply get the still image I posted and use that as a startup image on his projector if he can change it out... we'll see, I'll let him know where it is...

reaper

Reaper

Wow this is great. I wasn't expecting anything, it has been a while for my quest so this comes as a surprise:)

Now I want to find a way to print this to clear plastic so I can back light this..sort of a DIY HT sign. Ive seen some of the guys on forum doing this so I have some research to do.

I would think you could make something up for others as well. If we can figure a way to light this with in a sign you may find yourself very busy:)

I think he will find himself very busy by just flashing that sample above.. ;)

reaper
Great idea; however, I think the cat is out of the proverbial bag. I agree that a big thank you is in order to Alan. I have garnered many nuggets of knowledge from those participating on this forum.

Best regards
Don

Alan,

The easiest way to make it a backlit sign is to print it out on an inkjet printer onto clear decal film (available at Staples or any good office supply store). When you print it, print it mirror imaged (i.e reversed) You can then apply the decal to the back of a piece of Plexiglas and will have a nice translucent sign you can illuminate any way you choose.

-Gary.

It depends on how big you want it. If you want it poster size call up a printing company that does screen printing. They might be able to do something for ya and the whole thing should glow nicely.

Or some place like this: http://www.photocommunications.com/trade-show-exhibit-display/light-box-display-backlit-display.html

Find a cheap old slide projector. Make the picture into a a small slide. Then you can make others with trivia or whatever on them. Hide the projector in the back of the room and run the projector before a movie like they do in commercial theaters.

Though, animated would be really cool. Can you do all the animation first and then add the name at the very end? That way, if others want the same thing, it could be less work for you.

The animation is built already... I don't know if I made it clear, but a guy on some blender forums did most of that work. I have just been modifying it to home theater demand. I would simply change the name and click animate and then wait forever until the movie was done. If a ton of people want animations... I may have to modify the blender source and then supply that to people to render the movie on their own machines. If people simply want still images, I can probably do that myself for free for people. I can't imagine I could charge for something like this since it is somewhat someone else's work AND it's an official logo. So, I was just hoping to give it away for friends on the forums...

reaper

OK Reaper, what do you think you'll be chargin' for these puppies? I still need to come up with a theater name, but once I settle, I'll be banging on your door.

Bud

Well Bud,

That's a great offer, but I still feel a little uncomfy charging for this. I don't want to get in trouble with anyone. Would it be odd to just give them away (still images) and toss my paypal address out there in case anyone wants to "donate to my theater" Hehehe?

reaper

I agree Reaper, very awesome!!!I'd be interested as well in the animated version if you PM me a price..

brickie

reaper:

This site http://tombstone.dogcrap.net/tombstone.php

lets you type in messages to appear and then generate things like:
http://www.bobgolds.com/tombstone.dogcrap.net_slash_tombstone.php.jpg

Now you have an additional goal: how to user interface your project at a website. :)

That's quite a goal! Surely would be nice to automate the process. It might be a bit beyond me though... unless I was the monkey behind the scenes manually fulfilling the web based requests full time.. hahaha!

I am rendering an animation right now. I hope it finishes before I leave work and have to shut things down. I am still not sure if the audio is working. If so, I will try to post it for people to see but I am not sure if I should do so on my web page. I'll think about it. I just don't want to get charged out the nose if it gets downloaded 1000 times. :)

reaper

Btw,

if you like the sill image.. I think you guys will love the animation! :)

reap

Just to give credit to the guy who built the original model, his name is blazer003 and can be found on the blender forums. I don't want to claim responsibility for this. He made an awesome model and animation. I am just changing it to please some home theater users. His original use was to create a movie for his church. He also posted a request not to sell the model. So, I just want to reiterate that request. I will try to help you guys and would not be opposed to donations for my time. But I am not requesting money for this.

Animations require large amounts of render time. If lots of people want animations, I may set up the blender model for these people, request that they install blender and post some simple 1-click type instructions that they could then generate the movie on their PC, freeing up some compute time for me and my poor laptop... I feel so bad for him... with his fan running on super high while he generates these movies for us. Haha

reaper

Reaper,

If I could ony send beer in the mail... When I'm ready, I'll let you know, a HT donation would work with me. How much are those Auras? ;)

Bud

I almost jokingly linked to a beer of the month club but then envisioned myself buried in cases and cases of beer... I decided not to do that. :)

Originally posted by Alan Gouger
Reaper

Wow this is great. I wasn't expecting anything, it has been a while for my quest so this comes as a surprise:)

Now I want to find a way to print this to clear plastic so I can back light this..sort of a DIY HT sign. Ive seen some of the guys on forum doing this so I have some research to do.

I would think you could make something up for others as well. If we can figure a way to light this with in a sign you may find yourself very busy:)

Alan,

If interested, my brother-in-law own's a large sign making company in south Florida. He's made banners and stuff for my band and mainly does work on large yachts and stuff like this.

I could inquire and see what it would take, but I'm 100% positive he can print onto clear film like you asked about...

Well, I rendered a movie at 320x180 and produced a quicktime file. Unfortunately, it is 120MB and the audio is not working. So, there is some work left to be done. Also, the render time was nearly three hours.

So, I still need to:

1. Determine what resolution would be good for a DVD
2. What format would be best for creating a DVD. I hear that DVD burning software may be able to read in an avi and convert it to
3. Get the sound working...

reap

I was going to say Reaper an AVI or WMV would be the best bet for high quality work that is going to be projected,but yes file sizes most likely will be HUGE!!But you could easily achieve dvd type resolutions..

brickie

Reaper,

How large is your Blender file? I have loaded Blender and played around with it but had no specific use for it. The learning curve is VERY steep so I haven't done much more than run through a tutorial. If the Blender file is small enough, I would love to play around with it. I can turn on a FTP server if needed. Please PM me if you would have no objection to sharing the Blender file(s).

maddogmc et all,

The original file is hosted here. Enjoy...

http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~mhoecker/Files/FOX.zip

reap

Got a request for another customized version... here is what I came up with...

http://img193.echo.cx/img193/9309/carter8lj.th.jpg (http://img193.echo.cx/my.php?image=carter8lj.jpg)

Enjoy...

reap

You know what... that welcome doesn't look quite right... let me scale that down and re-post...

reap

update: This one looks better...

http://img138.echo.cx/img138/5385/carter4yg.th.jpg (http://img138.echo.cx/my.php?image=carter4yg.jpg)

Tweaked Alans Welcome words a bit too...

reap

http://img64.echo.cx/img64/2421/alan29yb.th.jpg (http://img64.echo.cx/my.php?image=alan29yb.jpg)

Anyone else need help or is everyone blending their own right now? I'll be awake for about another 1/2 hr...

reap

Thanks!

That will give me something to do!

Thanks, reaper. That looks great!

*wanders off to learn something about Blender...*

Here's a first pass attempt at the video... let me know what you guys think. I know it has issues like the text in the middle and the squished size. I can fix those. Enuff for now... sleepy time...

reap

http://reaper.us/test2.avi

Hi Reaper,

Your video is very nice. I've downloaded Blender and the fox.blend file. But it seems not that easy to change it. How to create an AVI seems clear to me (thanks to the docs on blender.org)

Metro

You are correct... it is not "that easy" to change the file. I wish I could say otherwise. But you guys will have to change the text, probably re-center it, probably re-scale it to fit. You may have to shift it up or down. It's not super easy.... but not impossible.

If you select the text on the middle or lower levels and then hit tab; you can re-type the text. You can hit g to move it around or s to scale it after you re-type it. While the text is being moved or scaled, you can hit x, y, or z to lock the scaling or movement to an axis.

You can probably just delete the text on top, copy the text in the middle and move it vertically. To copy text, select the middle text with a right click, hit shift-d and then hit z to confine it's movements vertically.

Then, just edit, scale and move the text into the proper position...

reaper

btw, making the video is relatively simple after that, but including audio cannot be done in blender. You have to merge audio with the avi afterwards.

Try selecting the camera in the 3d window and hitting Alt-a. You should see the animation run in the 3d window as a preview. To create an animation, you will need to click the ANIMATE button under the render section. You may set all the options to your choosing there. It may take a long time... 3->24 hours or more depending on your machine and the resolution/options you set up.

reaper

What reolution should I render the movie? I need to re-do it and need to know. What is DVD resolution? 720x480 right?

reap

Reaper,

That video is very, very cool....

Hmmm...

I can't open the animation in either Windows Media Player or RealPlayer. I get an error stating that RealPlayer is unable to play this content. Media Player, on the other hand, simply doesn't show a picture and tries to play it as a sound file (very quiet, as you can imagine...).

Any suggestions?

Don

It might require a plugin. I was worried someone was gonna say that. I think I encoded it as AVI with the ffdshow compression. I am not much of an expert on all this stuff and was hoping to chose a compression standard that would just work for everyone. Apparently, I didn't do a good job. Suggestions would be appreciated...

reaper

Knowing that you used ffdshow compression, I'll do a little research and see if I can figure it out. I'll post what I find.

(Of course, if somebody already knows, feel free to save me the trouble... :D )

Well... that was easy.

You can download the FFDSHOW package here. (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/ffdshow/ffdshow-20020617.exe?download) (317 kb)

I just ran the executable to install the codec(s) on my computer, and then the AVI worked just fine using both Windows Media Player and RealPlayer.

Don

And... well what do you think?

I'll have to read up on how to select things, but it looks pretty cool. Exactly what I needed to add as a bootup screen to my PJ!

I think it's terrible. If I hadn't seen that, I wouldn't feel obligated to learn how to use Blender so I could do stuff like that. :D

(It looks great!)

Nice Job Reaper!

U guys can ignore the question about DVD resolution. I remembered there is a "NTSC" button in blender that sets it up for you :)


reap

WOW. i gotta learn blender. that intro looks SLICK!

Ok - so I figured out how to change the text, but now how do I save my rendered image. No need for the whole anim, just a simple jpg.

ya.. on the top menu click on "render" then 'render current frame"
a black window will open and eventually will fill with

reaper. how do i transform the word "welcome" to fill in the bottom area?

Try setting the frame to 650... there should be a box in the buttons area with some numbers in it... maybe 350 or so. Change that to 650. Doing this places the camera at the position required to render the one image that I produced for Alan. Ensure that the image format is jpeg. Click around on the buttons until you see that thing. I'd tell you exactly how, but my PC is currently rendering a better avi file for Alan. Set the resolution to 1280x720. Hit F12 or the big button called RENDER. After it completes, put your cursor on the rendered image and hit F3 to save it.

So...

1. Set the frame to 650
2. Set the resoltion to 1280x720 or whatever you want
3. Hit F12 to render it
4. Point in the rendered image and hit F3 to save it...


reaper

Aren't you supposed to be working? Muahahhahaa

latntekky,

I answered that ? in the first post at the top of this page. You will need to scale it. Go up and read that post...

reap

Ooooo.. missed that one.. thx

Yes.... after about 20 hrs of render time, I now have a completely uncompressed animation for Alan at NTSC resolution. It is a huge file. So, I will simply upload the compressed version for you guys to see... I hope to send him a DVD of the animation if he'd like it.

So, Alan, what do you think?

http://reaper.us/Alan.avi

Thanks for hosting such a great board here. We love it. I am glad you like the still image and if you want this video on DVD, it's yours!

reaper

I like it enough that I'm tempted to change my theater name to "Gouger Home Theater" so I can use a copy... :D

LOL!

GREAT JOB!!

Where did you get the sound file for the animation? What format is it in? (2 channel stereo, Dolby, DTS, other?) What do you use to add the sound to the video?

I'm slogging through a Blender tutorial right now. My wife is mad at you... :D :D :D :D :D

Holy crap reap...Thats amazing. How the hell did you pull that off?

Dude, reaper is a freaking machine. Haven't you seen his home theater rendering. He walks into these forums a few months back, while I'm scribbling for months on the back of paper towels trying to figure out my layout and he starts posting renders of possible HT layouts one after the other that each look like about $1000 of work.

So he says "oh it's blender, its not that hard to learn..." and I think - Hey, I gotta learn me some of that! Next stop blender site. Well... after giving up any hope of ever being able to do what he does, I just appreciate the man for the skills he has.

I am VERY computer literate and considered to be "smart", but I can honestly say, I couldnt figure out how to do ONE thing in blender, not ONE. Reaper is very talented and his work can greatly improve your HT building experience.

Originally posted by PExeter
I am VERY computer literate and considered to be "smart", but I can honestly say, I couldnt figure out how to do ONE thing in blender, not ONE. Reaper is very talented and his work can greatly improve your HT building experience.
Fortunately for me, I had some Autocad in my past, so some things worked as I thought they should, and others just took some reading. There is an online help file somewhere on that Blender site that actually walks you through a gingerbread man. Pretty cool.

For me, I was only interested in a jpg to use as a bootup screen for my PJ. Here's how I modified it:
http://www.mropinionated.com/images/theater/LipszycHT2_s.png
This will welcome you as you enter the room!

A big THANK YOU to reaper for putting this together.

just checked out reapers .avi. AWESOME!!! so cool!

Originally posted by DonRC
Where did you get the sound file for the animation? What format is it in? (2 channel stereo, Dolby, DTS, other?) What do you use to add the sound to the video?

I'm slogging through a Blender tutorial right now. My wife is mad at you... :D :D :D :D :D

I found it on the internet via google. It was in mp3 format but I converted it to wav. It is 2-channel. I use software called VirtualDub to add the audio after the video is created...

I have a habit of getting wives angry at me. It's not intentional... I swear ;)

OK guys... I am receiving many requests regarding creating a video for you. Since it takes me 20 hrs to render a video and my PC is useless during that time, I don't see how I can do it all. But I seriously want to share the joy. Here is what I propose...

1. I create a list in this thread of everyone interested in getting a video so we can all keep track of it.

2. I will modify the 3d model as requested

3. Each person interested in getting a video will install blender on their own machine and I will e-mail them a .blend file.

4. I will post simple instructions about how to make an uncompressed avi file given the .blend I provided

5. People will do the 20hr rendering jobs on their own machines

6. I will post and people will follow instructions on how to add the audio using virtualDub

How does that sound?

reaper

Reaper,
"How does that sound?"
Sounds stellar to me... anything I can do to help?

Sure... let's start the list... give me your info. I will put the name and what they want the logo to say... so far I have:

DonRC
Top: Carter
Middle: Castle Cinema
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

mtk67
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Kresic
Bottom: Family Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

Tedd
Top: Welcome
Middle: To Our Home
Bottom: Theater
Request: Video
Status: Done.

Dcostanza
Top: Welcome to
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Paradiso
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.


PAP
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Prior
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model

nelson4u
Top: Welcome To the
Middle: Nelson
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

MWM
Top: Welcome To
Middle: The McRury
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image and Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

albrigsr
Top: Welcome To
Middle: The Mystic
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

jerrodshook
Top: The November
Middle: Sky Theater
Bottom: Welcomes You
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

kmc123
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Cook Family
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image : Done. Video: Sent Model.

Jawhn
Top: MACCAINE
Middle: HOME THEATER
Bottom: WELCOME
Request: Still Image & Video.
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Theendisnye
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Flick
Bottom: Room
Request: Still Image & Video.
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

brodgers
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Rodgers Family
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video.
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

PExeter
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Pearly Gates
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video.
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Mr.Poindexter
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Poindexter
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video.
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

GPowers
Top: Powers
Middle: Hana Hou
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Metro_Ws
Top: Metro
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Hemiksem
Request: Video
Status: Video: Done. Sent Model.

sheidt
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: SRII
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

sheidt
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Wookie Ranch
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

DDassow01
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Dassow Family
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

DIY Guy
Top: Welome To The (No exclamation marks)
Middle: Allport
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

HiDefSooner
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Doghouse
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Video
Status: Video: Sent model.

HK-Steve
Top: Welcome (large)
Middle: to the (smaller)
Bottom: Ces-a-Plex (large)
Request: Still Image & Video

Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

srxman2001
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Buckeye
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Video
Status: Video: Model sent.

chinadog
Top: Welcome to
Middle: Blazing Ridge
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Taiser
Top: Welcome to
Middle: "The Darkside"
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

chinadog
Top: Blazing Ridge
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Enjoy the show!
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

wildhunter
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Blue Note

Bottom: Theatre
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

dwien
Top: WIEN PRESENTS
Middle: CINEMA NOTE
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Clarence
Top: CLARENCE'S
Middle: THEATER
Bottom: ENJOY THE SHOW!
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

carmbruster
Top: Palace
Middle: At the
Bottom: Armbrusters
Request: Still Image
Status: Still Image: Done.

Psylocke
Top: Arruda
Middle: Theatre
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image
Status: Still Image: Done.

Snakehunter
Top: The Bridge of
Middle: Khazad-dûm
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

ion-man
Top: Welcome to
Middle: De Sugarshack
Bottom: Experience
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

jerrodshook
Top: The November
Middle: Sky Cinema
Bottom: Welcomes You
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Scopeboy
Top: Gipson
Middle: Home Theater
Bottom: Welcomes You
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Drew138
Top: Welcome to
Middle: The McLaughlin's
Bottom: Home Theatre
Request: Still Image & Video Blender flie
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

r.byatt
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Byatt
Bottom: Family Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Greg009
Top: GREG'S CINEMA
Middle: SANCTUARY
Bottom: WELCOMES YOU!!
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Bclews
Top: CLEWS
Middle: CINEMA
Bottom: FEATURE PRESENTATION
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

ion-man
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Patrick Family
Bottom: Theatre
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Psylocke
Top: Arruda
Middle: Home Theatre
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

hstewart
Top: STEWART

Middle: HOME THEATER
Bottom: WELCOME!
Request: Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

txbigguy
Top: Welcome to
Middle: The Wink's
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

txbigguy
Top: Welcome to
Middle: The Old Elm
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

mtk67
Top: KRESIC
Middle: FAMILY
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

brotsten
top: ROTSTEN
middle: CINEMA
bottom: ENJOY THE SHOW!
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

curtisG
Top line: GENEROUS
Middle: HOME THEATER
Bottom: WELCOME
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

frankmiester
Top: The Breaston
Middle: Family
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

schaffer970
Top: WELCOME !! TO THE (!! to the stacked)
Middle: SCHAFFER'S
Bottom: GJ THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Arno P
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Fennix Luxor
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

T-Bone
Top: T-Bone's
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Enjoy The Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

frankmiester
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: The Breaston
Bottom: Family Cinema
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

diver90
Top: Waters
Middle: Edge
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

psycho
Top: welcome to/the
Middle: Pilipczuk family
Bottom: cinema
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

RAZ ATACK
Top: WELCOME TO
Middle:THE RAZ
Bottom: HOME THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

MoG
Top: Mowes
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Enjoy The Show
Request: Still & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

euruiz
Top: Welcome to
Middle: the Ruiz
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video Blender file
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

T-Bone
Top: Hance
Middle: Home Theater
Bottom: Enjoy The Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

DenW
Top: WELCOME to the
Middle: BLACK HOLE
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

Ridebreck
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Middleton
Bottom: Miniplex
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.


Allen
Top: ALLEN'S
Middle: HARLAN STREET
Bottom: CINEMA
Request: Still Image & Blender File

Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Allen
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Bone
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Model Sent.

brotsten
WELCOME TO THE
ALDO ROAD
THEATER
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

brotsten
WELCOME TO THE
SNITCHLER
THEATER
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

rsmclay
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: McLay
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

rsmclay
Top: Posa
Middle: Schleuter
Bottom: Wedding
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

killerQ
Top: WELCOME TO
Middle: BORKIN
Bottom: HOME THEATERS
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

notams
Top: WELCOME to the
Middle: GRASSO FAMILY
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

A&M 350Z
Top: WELCOME TO THE (no !!)
Middle: NEWTON
Bottom: HOME THEATER
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

buzz4infinity
Top: Bagley
Middle: Home Theater
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

gansenmind
Top: JOANNA, EDY AND INDY
Middle: WELCOME YOU
Bottom: ENJOY THE SHOW
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

RayJr
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Coronado
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Blender File
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

CPW
Top: The Walton
Middle: Theater Experience
Bottom: Welcomes You
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Geoff Scott
Top: Scottswoode
Middle: Theatre
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

mdputnam
Top: Putnam
Middle: Home Theater
Bottom: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

NFS
Top: Fredrik´s
Middle: x3m
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

juxtapoz15
Top: STORM
Middle: MOUNTAIN
Bottom: CINEMA
Request: Still Image and Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

murphs5150
Top: The Murphy's
Middle: Family Time
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image and Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

sainthalo
Top: 21st
Midle: CENTURY
Bottom: CINEMA
Request: Still Image and Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

dabreeze1970
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Collum Theater
Bottom: Experience
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

suffolk112000
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Schray
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

campster
First line: Camporeale
Second line: Home Theatre
Third Line: Welcome
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

drdk
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Holt Family
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

xris2o0o
Top: WELCOME TO THE
Middle: CLOUGH
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

dllewel
Top: Raven
Middle: Manor
Bottom: Cinema
Request Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

RLReady
Top Line: Suzick
Middle Line: Cinema
Bottom Line: Welcome
Request Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

stew4msu
Top: THE ROYAL
Middle: STEWART
Bottom: THEATER
Request Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Sirata
Top: WELCOME TO THE
Middle: RICH FAMILY
Bottom: CINEMA
Request Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

renetick
Top: WELCOME TO
Middle: R & R
Bottom: CINEMA
Request Still Image
Status: Still Image: Done.

u.p.a
Top: ANDERSSON
Middle:HOME THEATER
Bottom: WELCOME
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

minnegopher
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Haataja
Bottom: Home Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Frank11613
Top: WEXLER
Middle: CINEMA
Bottom: WELCOME
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

T_MINTON
Top: WELCOME TO THE
Middle: MINTON
Bottom: THEATER
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Frank11613
Top: Lake
Middle: Winola
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

mikemog
Top: GNOME
Middle: CHISELER
Bottom: CINEMA
Request: Still Image
Status: Still Image: Done

heman1
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Teatro La
Bottom PARWANI
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

snakeyes1022
Top: Triple
Middle: ~ T ~
Bottom Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Meddie
Top: Black Hole
Middle: Cinema Experience
Bottom: Enjoy the Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

PolarGeek
Top: Welcome To
Middle: TaylorMade
Bottom: Cinemas
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

cyberlink
Top : Welcome to
Middle : home theater
Bottom : Gouda
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

fredbi
Top : Welcome to
Middle : Fred
Bottom : CINEDOME
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

donalarm
Top: Alarms Family
Middle: Cinematic Experience
Bottom: Enjoy the Shows
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Need E-mail.

smiledr
Top: Welcome to
Middle: Emilie's
Bottom: Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

myrddin
Top: DOHERTY
Middle: CINEMA
Bottom: ENJOY THE SHOW
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

E.D.B
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: BROOKS
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Borntobe
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Borntobe
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

Frank11613
Top: Over The
Middle: Rainbow
Bottom: Cinema
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

garykagan
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Kagan
Botom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

YldeSyde
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Fancher Family
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

YldeSyde
Top: Welcome To The
Middle: Sink Family
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent Model.

MikeRich
Top: Sunny Glen
Middle: Cinema
Bottom: Presents
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

delajode
Top: Welcome to the
Middle: Davis Home Theater
Bottom: Enjoy the Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

kweezer
Top: Welcome to a
Middle: Taylored Home Theater
Bottom: Enjoy the Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

smiledr
Top: Welcome to
Middle: Linh's Theater
Bottom: Enjoy the Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

nithos
Top: Farmer's
Mid: Home Theater
Bot: Enjoy The Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Need e-mail.

jmahalek
Top: Welcome to the
Mid: Mahalek Theater
Bot: Enjoy the Show
Request: Still Image & Video
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

r00ster
Top: The Fahey
Middle: FLY-IN
Bottom: Home Theater
Request: Still Image & Video Blender flie
Status: Still Image: Done. Video: Sent model.

Someone needs to be the guinnea pig to get started. DonRC's is ready to go if he gives me his e-mail address. Brickie is officially first in line but must be sleeping this morning. Need to model all other requests...

reaper

I left you a PM.

As I stated in my pm, this exercise has already been great for me since I'm having fun learning Blender AND I have a great still shot. The animation will be great and I'm really looking forward to it - but I'd be ecstatic even if what I already have was all I got.

Thanks!

Don

For all looking for the audio...

http://www.mp3search.ru/album.html?id=25121

I'm in as well, please!

I'd be happy to render for someone else as well if they wouldn't have the HP to do it.

That's a good and generous offer, PAP. :)

Added you to the list...

You guys will have to let me know what you want it to say...


reap

I took a little artistic license with the "Welcome to the" since it was a lot to put on the top. Let me know what you think. Should I lose the exclamation points? Should I put everything on one level? How does it look?

http://img169.echo.cx/img169/1386/nelson6dy.th.jpg (http://img169.echo.cx/my.php?image=nelson6dy.jpg)

reaper

I guess I need to add a couple things to the list. Do you guys just want a still image or a video too? And then I need a complete section..

reap

http://img139.echo.cx/img139/7219/prior3ge.th.jpg (http://img139.echo.cx/my.php?image=prior3ge.jpg)

http://img178.echo.cx/img178/7096/mcrury4dg.th.jpg (http://img178.echo.cx/my.php?image=mcrury4dg.jpg)

http://img228.echo.cx/img228/1797/mystic8wc.th.jpg (http://img228.echo.cx/my.php?image=mystic8wc.jpg)

Reaper, thank you very very much!!:)
It looks great!

You're Welcome... :)

NOTE:

People who want a video need to PM me their e-mail address so I can e-mail the blender file to them.

reaper

Call me stupid.... but to use this video, are most people just planning on changing discs or do you multi-disc players or what? I envision playing this on 1 disc, then having to get up and change to the actual movie. Am I missing something?

OH, I'm interested in the video too. I'll PM you.

http://img251.echo.cx/img251/8287/november7do.th.jpg (http://img251.echo.cx/my.php?image=november7do.jpg)

http://img165.echo.cx/img165/2764/cook22ww.th.jpg (http://img165.echo.cx/my.php?image=cook22ww.jpg)

Dvd changer or a htpc is the way to do this.With the htpc being the most seemless and pro way in my opinion!

brickie

I think I need to update a couple stills with the to the on the top line. While doing Cookfamily, I noticed that the top line was a bit short and it hid the the a bit too much...

updating...

http://img178.echo.cx/img178/2739/prior7xg.th.jpg (http://img178.echo.cx/my.php?image=prior7xg.jpg)

Need to update Nelson too...

http://img164.echo.cx/img164/240/nelson1fg.th.jpg (http://img164.echo.cx/my.php?image=nelson1fg.jpg)

reaper

I'm in as soon as I can come up with a good theater name that sticks with this theater.

http://img20.echo.cx/img20/156/maccaine4wo.th.jpg (http://img20.echo.cx/my.php?image=maccaine4wo.jpg)

http://img212.echo.cx/img212/5878/flick9kq.th.jpg (http://img212.echo.cx/my.php?image=flick9kq.jpg)

Has anyone:

1. Finished an animation with a model I sent them? Could you please post your experience and tell us about the resuls?

2. Printed or projected and image I created for them? Could you please post your experience or show us the printed version? How does it look?

reaper

i finished my model, 15-16 hours rendering for uncompressed file, i modified the one you posted first. I even went as far as encoding to dvd. awesome work reaper!

cant wait to see some jaw dropping when my friends see this.

Does computer speed, RAM, Etc...Determine how long the render takes? I really want to take part in this, but I dont have a name for my theater yet... :(

Awesome report, latntekky. So, have you run the DVD on your theater? How did it look? Got any screen shots or still images to share with the group?

I'd still be interested in hearing reports from someone who used a model I provided. I would feel aweful if I messed something up in them. I feel uneasy sending out so many models with no one reporting if they even work properly.

PExeter,

Yes, it does make a difference. But you can do it on an old computer... it'll just take longer. Good luck with getting a theater name. Hopefully you come up with something before I completely burn out on this offer and give it up. Hahah :).

reaper

I started mine last night around 12:30am.... It's still chugging along. My home PC is in my office and it's painful watching each image being built.... I wanna see the finished product!!!

Someone mentioned startup pictures on a projector in an earlier post. I haven't looked into PJ's that much. Do they have the capability to store a pic file that displays when the PJ is turned on?

Nice work Reaper!

Some of them do, others do not. No one seems to know how to do it on the Sony HS51 but on the Sony HS10 and 20, they had a memory stick slot that allowed you to place an image on there. So, "it depends" is the answer...

reaper

Just a word of advice/warning...

When you guys finish rendering a raw avi file, it will likely be a 300MB file that your PC will not run smoothly. The best thing to do at that point is to grab a copy of VirtualDub and add in the music I posted earlier. Then, as you are dumping out the new file, use compression such as ffdshow. The resultant file will be about 6MB and have the audio. Just don't save over the original uncompressed avi. You will probably want to dump out an uncompressed avi WITH audio for use in creating a DVD. As you can imagine, compressing the video introduces lots of artifacts...


reap

I just gotta say you are doing QUITE a service to the boards by doing this Reap, everyone should be greatful (And donate!) But, My computer is on the faster side, so I was hoping it would go a little faster then 20 hrs. I am trying really, really, REALLY hard to think of a name so I can use your gracious services...few more seconds......hmmm

for those who havent finished rendering the animation and want to know where the end of the tunnel is.. theres 660 frames in the 21 second animation.
(watch them tick away one by one in the dos status window in blender)

Does anyone know if one could convert an AVI file to a TS file? Alan is hoping I can send him a TS file. He claims he can put it on his video server and play the clip before any movie starts. Very cool! Looking around for AVI to TS converters is not being very fruitful just yet.

reap

video_ts file.. kinda a long process, but heres how i did it.
i used
http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_download.html [FREEWARE]
TMPGEnc to convert the AVI file (and add the sound) into a usable MPG. you have to convert it to mpg first before making the dvd video.

in the wizard. just
select "NTSC 16:9" then
"CBR MPEG-1 Layer II Audio (MP2)" in the drop down box
click next

select the video file, (the audio file will auto populate, change that to the audio mp3 file if it doesnt have the audio yet else leave it alone)

under the Aspect ratio select "4:3 525 line (NTSC, 704x480)"
click next
click next again
click next one more time
then click ok.

your file should now be a high quality mpg

last program
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/download/tda16.html
TMPGenc DVD Author [TRIAL VERSION]
click, "create new project"
click "add file" and select the mpg you just made
click "OK" in that window
accross the top, click "Create Menu"
select "No Menu" in the drop down box on the left
accross the top, click "Outut"
check off the box "Create DVD folder"
click begin output

whole process will take 15 mins (depending on PC speed).. and it will make the needed VIDEO_TS files (VOB files)

http://img219.echo.cx/img219/6475/paradiso3gd.th.jpg (http://img219.echo.cx/my.php?image=paradiso3gd.jpg)

http://img8.echo.cx/img8/6893/rodgers2im.th.jpg (http://img8.echo.cx/my.php?image=rodgers2im.jpg)

http://img39.echo.cx/img39/9639/pearly6qc.th.jpg (http://img39.echo.cx/my.php?image=pearly6qc.jpg)

Originally posted by latntekky
for those who havent finished rendering the animation and want to know where the end of the tunnel is.. theres 660 frames in the 21 second animation.
(watch them tick away one by one in the dos status window in blender)

Ugh.... Mine's been going for 13 hours and I'm only on frame 191. I have a 1.5 GHz P4.... I need a new computer.

I believe there are 650 frames, actually. Now do you feel better, Jerrod?

reaper

LOL!

Reaper,
Outstanding still! Thank you. Can't wait to get to work on the animation.

Best regards
Don

Ummm.... nope. I'm up to 209 frame now. Warp speed Mr. Sulu!

Just found this thread.

Reaper:

This is way cool. Love the video, the sound is great. Can i still get in on a video file and the instructions on creating the AVI file?

Looks cool. I wouldn't mind getting something like this in my clip library. I can automate any clips to play prior to starting my film and am building a collection of all the DTS, DD5.1 and THX intros.

Any way I could get a blender file sent to me? I am having some problems changing the text in the FOX file (except the bottom text).

I would like to write:

Welcome to the
Poindexter
Home Theater

GPowers,

Sure... post what you want it to say and PM me your e-mail address.

Mr.Poindexter,

No problem modding it for you. I will do so and post an image. PM me your e-mail address so I can send the blender model to you.

reaper

I hope I am making a valid assumption. Whenever anyone says, "Welcome to the" for the first line, I have been using the model I created with to and the stacked and the exclamation points on top of that. If people hate that, please say so before I create the model for you.

reaper

reaper!! GREAT JOB!! I had to jummp in and join the band wagon of well wishers!!

:D :D

-Sean

I'd still be interested in hearing reports from someone who used a model I provided. I would feel aweful if I messed something up in them. I feel uneasy sending out so many models with no one reporting if they even work properly.

I used the model you provided and created a "quick & dirty" animation. (The only change I made was to change the size of the video to only half its original dimensions - 1/4 the number of pixels - so my computer could make it quickly.) It worked fine, and looks great.

I started the process last night of rendering the full-size animation. If I remember right, I started about 17 hours ago and I just got the report from my wife that it was on frame 370 as of about 10 minutes ago. Assuming the frames each take the same amount of time to render, I'll be done in only... uh... 12 hours or so. :p

I'd be happy to put up a compressed file if anybody is interested in seeing it, but I'm not sure where to have it hosted.

I have not had a chance to project the image yet in my theater because... well... because my theater is still in its formative stages. (I'm almost done with my DIY screen, then need to paint the walls and ceiling. Oh... and I need to buy the projector. :D )

I modified the Fox file a little just to see how it will look, but I don't think the animation will be finished until tomorrow, as I am on frame 6 right now.

As soon as it is done, I will burn it to DVD, take it home and see how it looks, although I would prefer the later one with the stacked "to the" at the end of Welcome. This will just to be a proof of concept, I guess.

http://img224.echo.cx/img224/4803/welcome8mm.th.jpg (http://img224.echo.cx/my.php?image=welcome8mm.jpg)

http://img232.echo.cx/img232/7357/poindexter3fd.th.jpg (http://img232.echo.cx/my.php?image=poindexter3fd.jpg)

http://img200.echo.cx/img200/6862/powers9ar.th.jpg (http://img200.echo.cx/my.php?image=powers9ar.jpg)

Look very nice, Thanks Reaper

I got the Blender files, sound file and a PC ready to go. Were do i find the instruction to render it in Blender? Will they be included with your blender file.

Your are going to make the wife very happy. Our first intro just has the name Hana Hou and no referance to our name. She realy wanted somthing with our name.

Thanks Again

http://img236.echo.cx/img236/7365/metro3bo.th.jpg (http://img236.echo.cx/my.php?image=metro3bo.jpg)

I should have sent some instructions in the e-mail... basically just open the file and click the big ANIM button to generate the video. Later on you will need to use VirtualDub to add audio and optionally compress it...

reaper

*Deeeeep breath*

I think I caught up with the requests. Phew.

Anyone trying to print this or do the light box thing like Alan suggested?

reaper

Just started the Blender Animate process at 6:30 PM Pacific time. So we will see how long it takes.

Thanks

7:30PM
Only got 40 frames in the first hour, the first 10 were done in under 60 sec each, then around frame 20 they were taking 90sec, at frame 38 they are taking 122sec.

7:30AM
After 13 hours I'am at 564 and frames are taking 63sec each, should be done in another hour, no more then two.

8:40AM
Animation process complete. About 14 hours total

Goal: Finished video
Time: 19 hrs 14 minutes
Frame: 335 and counting

A faster computer..... priceless

Ok, lets see if I can have the record time! I will start it in a few minutes..See you tomorrow! Oh, and whoever got the Blender file for the "Welcome to our Home Theater" above can you please PM me if you are kind enough to send that one to me? I LOVE my personalized one, but that one is also cool to have...Thanks.


EDIT: Wow, I think its going pretty good, im doing about 2-3 frames a minute..Ok, NM, its slowing down, maybed because my screensaver... hmm..

if you PM me and send me the generic files for "Welcome to our Home Theater". I will post so all can download.

I'm getting about 60 sec/frame but i'm only on frame 14 right now. P4/3.0 ghz. Reminds me of when I first got into home video editing and it took 24 hours to render a 4-5 minute piece :)

Never thought I'd get the upgrade bug to render home theater intro's faster :)

I also would like the generic "welcome to our home theater" one and I'm gonna try and mess around with the file I was sent too, just for fun.


edit: Hmm, just got a VPU error and recovery. Does this render stress the video card or is just CPU? I've got a heatsink cooled video card (no fan) and wonder if I'm overheating it. It switched me to ATI software render mode so I'm going to have to reboot.

Greg, PM me your e-mail address again and I'll send it to you... for hosting/posting.

Never saw that error before, PAP. Sorry.

reaper

Im not sure what renders stress, but yes, I think its the CPU and the GPU that gets it the hardest...Im running an FX-55, 6800 Ultra, & 2Gigs of RAM and so far so good...I just got done paying off this stupid thing, I thought the least it could do was whip up the render all quick like...guess not.. :)

Originally posted by reaper
Greg, PM me your e-mail address again and I'll send it to you... for hosting/posting.

Done

Anyone trying to print this or do the light box thing like Alan suggested?
I was going to print an 8x10 of it to put in a picture frame and hang, but I couldn't figure out how to export the JPEG. (I thought I could export it with F3, but I get an error when I do that that says I have to first select my format - and I haven't figured out how to do that.)

Don,

I set the file up for animation. I thought you were going to try to print the still I posted for you a while back.

If you want to change it back to being able to save jpgs, you should change SizeX to 1280 and SizeY to 720. Then change aspX and aspY to 1 and 1. Finally, select jpg from the pulldown that currently says avi raw.

The fact that it says avi raw is why you are getting the error message. You generated a still image and are trying to save it as an avi movie file.


reaper

Since you are all probably dying to know, 28 hrs & 50 minutes.... frame 469. I've got a 1.5 GHz P4, 640MB RAM.... My machine used to be as fast as I thought I would ever need....:D

Hey Jerrod. I think I sent you the wrong model. Can you PM me so I can send you the right model and you can just start it over.

Muhahahahahah j/k :)

reap

Originally posted by reaper
Hey Jerrod. I think I sent you the wrong model. Can you PM me so I can send you the right model and you can just start it over.

Muhahahahahah j/k :)


Now that is too funny, reaper!

My friend just finished his theater, so I was wondering if I could get 2 intros and still images? If possible, I like it with the stacked 'to the', but could you do mine without the !! exclamation points?

The first would be:
Welcome to the
SRII
Cinema

The second would be:
Welcome to the
Wookie Ranch
Cinema

Thanks so much for helping everybody out. I will PM you with my email address for the blend file so I can render it on my machine.

Thanks,
Stephen

Reaper,
Got the model, thank you. Started the rendering process last night around midnight, as of 6am I was at 330 frames. Will give you an update this evening.

BTW, I showed one of my daughters the initial animation and she thought it was really cool!

Best regards
Don

Uh oh... I wonder if I actually did send you the file without the proper mods. Can you verify that that the render resolution is 480x720? You're not rendering it at 1280x720 are you? That would make it take very long.

I just want to submit an official apology to anyone to whom I sent a bad model. So far I don't know that it's happened. But I am extremely scatterbrained and probably forgot to set someone's model up for video properly.

I must have missed it, what is the best program to use to merge the audio?

VirtualDub

Just a reminder to everyone that current requests/status are posted here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5626271#post5626271

If you made a request and don't see your name there (after allowing some time for me to place it there), you might want to ping me again. If I have signed you off as done but actually didn't provide something to you, let me know.

reaper

Hey Reaper,

Thanks so much for doing this,

OK,

The render is complete and I have downloaded Virtualdub, can you give some instructions on how to get the audio on this ?

My animation finished rendering sometime last night. I think the total rendering time was around 28 hours.

I added the sound file this morning. It looks fabulous, and sounds good - at least on my computer. This is so cool it's gotten me all motivated (okay... even more motivated) to hurry up and finish my theater so I can show it off appropriately.

Very cool, DonRC! Glad you like it. I'm happy to have a small part in making your HT dreams come true. :) I am looking forward to reactions from friends of those who have created these videos. It'd be neat to hear how you guys wowed your friends with you custom HT intro. :)

reap

Click VirtualDub.exe

File->Open Video File
Select the avi you rendered

Audio->Wav Audio
Select a wav file. (I converted the mp3 I posted earlier to wav with some free mp32wav software I found on the web)

optionally...
Video->compression
Select a compression standard such as ffdshow


File->Save as AVI
type *new* filename (Don't save over your rendered original
Click Save

The optional part will create a small file your PC may handle better. If you are planning to feed it to some DVD creation software, I would not do that. I'd try leaving it uncompressed and letting the DVD authoring software compress it as it sees fit.

reaper

http://img282.echo.cx/img282/3076/srii8sm.th.jpg (http://img282.echo.cx/my.php?image=srii8sm.jpg)

The generic intro that Reaper did has been posted for download at:

http://www.stargateunofficial.com/HT_Downloads.asp

http://img268.echo.cx/img268/9449/wookie8xd.th.jpg (http://img268.echo.cx/my.php?image=wookie8xd.jpg)

http://img284.echo.cx/img284/5210/dassow7ws.th.jpg (http://img284.echo.cx/my.php?image=dassow7ws.jpg)

http://img284.echo.cx/img284/9520/allport2bl.th.jpg (http://img284.echo.cx/my.php?image=allport2bl.jpg)

Originally posted by latntekky

check off the box "Create DVD folder"


Does this mean the box should have a check or should not be checked?

reaper

Reaper.. sorry, it should be checked

this will create the burner ready folders for you

Btw. i have a super sweet 192kbps mp3 file of the intro if you want it

Btw. i have a super sweet 192kbps mp3 file of the intro if you want it

I want... :)

DonRC, all set. .check PM

Well I got through all the steps a finally created a DVD. When playing the DVD the quality was much reduced. All the diagonal lines and edges are now stepped and jagged. So some where in the process i lost some image quality. Any one else have this problem using the process outlined in this thread. I use all the programs as outlined.

Most likely, this happened, when i converted from AVI to MPEG.

Thanks

Did you happen to play the mpeg on your PC? I created an mpeg earlier today and the quality looked quite good despite the fact that the file was much smaller than the uncompressed avi. I have not played it on a normal dvd player or non-PC equipment yet though.

That's a disappointment to hear... I presume you followed the latntekky instructions on making the TS files?

reaper

Just a thought, wouldn't you want to render the ANIM at the resolution of your PJ or better?! 720x480 might be a little low especially after a compression.

You would want to render it at the resolution of your projector or in HDTV - one of the two if you are playing from a PC. If you are using a DVD, then you cannot have a non-DVD resolution and get it to work on a standard DVD player.

I re-booted the PC and then WinDVD palyed the file correctly with no distortion.

Right, I originally started rendering at 1280x720 but then realized I couldn't put that on a DVD.

reaper.

no need to re-render again, 1280x720 is fine, and you wont loose any quality at all (none that you can notice anyways)
i rendered a 1280x720 avi file in blender as well.. TMPGEnc will resize/crop it to 720x480 (16:9)
the difference in the 2 files is that it crops the top and bottom of the video a bit.

let me know if it works

I started... but I never finished. The file I rendered for Alan was 720x480. Looks great to me and it sounds like Greg resolved his issue. So, has anyone tried playing it on a normal dvd player? How about on a projector? Screen shots of it running on a big screen?

reap

heading down into HT now to try and take a few shots.
brb in 10 mins

Tried it on a 42" plasma, we have here at work. But the mini-Mac will not read the DVD-R. :(

Pics
http://www.nuclearcrayon.net/~htmlmecca/hometheater/dsc04432.jpg
http://www.nuclearcrayon.net/~htmlmecca/hometheater/dsc04433.jpg
http://www.nuclearcrayon.net/~htmlmecca/hometheater/dsc04434.jpg
http://www.nuclearcrayon.net/~htmlmecca/hometheater/dsc04435.jpg

WOW.. i just remembered.. i have to paint my ceiling tiles.. =/
well.. guess ill get it done now

Wow looks fantastic. Thanks for taking pics.

Wow, that does look superb! Thanks for the images. Man, this is going to add a nice touch to many home theaters... thanks for the shots. :)

reap

Just got back from a day trip to Michigan. The render is finally done.... nearly 2 days! It is 720 x 480. Now I have to add the audio.....

Mine is done. I am wondering how much juice it would take to render this thing at 1920x1080!

Outstanding Thread Reaper!!!. I converted file to one that I could import into 3d Studio and rendered entire avi in under 1 hr. :D

Had to do a little work with animation and materials but it turned out fantastic!!!

Thanks

Forgot I had to play with lighting also. I rendered across a network of 6 cpus. Does Blender allow you to farm out rendering across a network? Might help members with multiple cpus.

How do you tell how long it took to render? My original rendered overnight and looks like almost all frames were right around a min each. I just resized to 1280*720 to fit my projector and it's taking about 2:30 per frame now. Reaper my man, I think we all owe you one on this.

There has been talk about sending jobs to rendering farms or even doing workload sharing across idle cpus on the net. But I haven't needed it until recently, so I paid it little attention. Don't have much more info than that. Sorry. Even the still images I create for people are starting to approach 15-20mins each as I turn more and more effects on. :)

reaper

Reaper,
You're very talented! Thanks for doing this.
I'll be PM'ing soon!
Thanks, Mo

I am currently in the rendering process and don't dare want to touch my home pc until it is finished. Just in case gliches were to appear as a result of.

In regards to the virtual dub process (I have yet to check the program out) I am guessing that my audio intro has to be the exact sync and timing of the video correct. That being said, do I have an option to fade the audio?

OR:

Can the video run endlessly until say the song is over or is this feasible while maintaining a quality appearance. ie. not jumping from the last frame back to the first. Not sure if I have explained any of this correctly.:rolleyes:

I completed my video last night and showed my wife this morning. Let's just say she was very, very happy and that it's too bad she had to leave for work.

Thanks for all the help reaper!

Reaper,

This is a really great idea! Thanks for being so generous and helping so many people out. I'll have to figure out a theater name that's going to stick and PM you. :)

OK... guys... I have a confession to make. I noticed a tiny aberration in the video yesterday and have trying to decide if I should tell you guys or not. It's easy enough to fix and all the models I sent out yesterday do not have it. But it's quite a small thing and no one has complained, so I don't even know if it's worth mentioning. It's like one of those tiny little bugs. If no one ever mentions it, you'll never notice it. But once you've seen it, it might bother you a bit. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I am re-rendering Alan's video right now. I've been debating about whether I should tell you guys about it. You guys decide. Do you want to know?

If so, I can tell you how to fix it but you would have to re-render your videos to get rid of it, of course. I knew something bad would happen since I have sent so many models out and they were untested... but it's pretty small...

Let me know guys..



reaper

I want to know. Then I can decide whether I care enough to re-render.

I would like to know as well. I've been making some changes to the file and haven't noticed any imperfections.

-Sean

Allright... here goes... don't read this post if you guys don't want to know.

The gentleman who built the original model tossed some 3d text of his name into the model. I'd post images of where you can see it if had my PC with me. But it is at home working on Alan's video right now. Anyways, this text shows up in the video as a straight line because it is so small.

You can see it as the camera pans past the big light that is front and center of the model. You'll see some kind of line that seems to be floating to the left of that light for no reason. Most people would never notice it. But once you've watched the video as many times as I have, you begin to catch small details.

"How do I fix it?"

I believe I left every model that I sent out in a specific view. That view is looking from the camera in the final position of the animation. If you bring up the model in blender and look just to the left of the light at the front of the model, you'll see a little yellow dot. *The light I am referring to is NOT the light very close to the text. It is back far away from the text and close to the path of the camera... but still centered on the model.* That dot is the center point of the text. If you point at it with your mouse pointer and right click it, you will select the text. Then, simply hit the delete button and save the model... perhaps under a different name (Save As) in case you messed up. Then you can click ANIM again and wait another day. So sorry guys... If I had known I would have fixed this upfront. My sincere apologies.



reaper

I saw that in the FOX blender file and fixed it in mine when I was screwing around. I will have to check the file at home to see how big a deal it is. I haven't watched the whole clip yet.

Too bad it isn't so easy to rerender 10-15 frames and drop them in to replace existing frames.

I just saw it. Man, lots of frames had it in it. Too bad. I guess I need to figure out how to select it and delete it so I can rerender the animation.

By the way, the one I saw in the FOX file was different. It was some guy's full name behind the second line of text, I think. I don't recall how I pulled it up, though.

you know what.. i was wondering what that was.. i saw it in mine. when i froze it and zoomed in it looked like text, and i said to myself, this would be a cool place to add a copyright or name.. hehehe
i dont mind that its there at all.. im sure nobody will notice sitting 8' away from the screen

EDIT: i just rezoomed in.. it says "matt hoecker"
hehehehehehehe

That was the name in the text I saw.

Well, you guys seem to be taking it pretty well. I was worried I'd have pitchforks and burning torches at my doorstep after you guys rendered your videos and it took so long. But, like you said, I don't think people would ever really notice it. I just had to be upfront and let people know what it was. That's my personality.

Great job on the intros reaper!

While looking at these I got the idea to try a little post processing effects with a neat product called Particle Illusion. It is a very versatile tool you can use on videos and still shots to add lots of things such as fireworks, fire, smoke, stars, and fantasy objects. You could easily modify your home movies and have a light saber fight with your uncle Ralph (if you have an uncle Ralph). It is lightning fast and a professional grade product.

This is not a free tool, but you can download a 30 day fully working demo of Particle Illusion SE for Windows. That would give you time to play with it to see if it was worth purchasing. You would also have plenty of time to add effects to the theater intro or to other files before the demo expired.

I added some fireworks to the samplel video that reaper posted for Alan Gouger. Here are a couple of still frames with effects added from PI SE.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tomharness/area51/shot1.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tomharness/area51/shot2.jpg

This is a great tool and loads of fun to play with. The Wondertouch site (http://www.wondertouch.com/) also has hundreds of free particle emitters available for download.

You can see a highly compressed ht intro video with fireworks here (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tomharness/area51/htmovieintroPI.wmv) The file is a 2.2 mb wmv file.

I don't see how you could resist playing with this, reaper.

Tom,
That's pretty cool

http://img271.echo.cx/img271/6694/buckeye3vb.th.jpg (http://img271.echo.cx/my.php?image=buckeye3vb.jpg)

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/8741/cesaplex5wy.th.jpg (http://img264.echo.cx/my.php?image=cesaplex5wy.jpg)

latntekky

I followed your steps to create some TS files. I ended up with an empty AUDIO_TS dir and an full VIDEO_TS dir. I decided to try to get these files to run on my standalone DVD player. I checked out some normal DVDs and noticed that these AUDIO_TS dirs and VIDEO_TS dirs are at the top level of the disc. So, I started with a blak CD and burned the VIDEO_TS dir directly onto the disc.

I rushed to my player and tried it out. It thought about it for quite some time before deciding it could not read that file.

Then, I thought, maybe it needs to see that empty AUDIO_TS dir too. So, I added it onto the CD I had just burned and put it back into the player. It still did nothing.

I am thinking that there could be one of 3 problems going on here:

1. I cannot burn these files onto a CD disk and have the player recognize it.
2. I cannot burn these 2 dirs in two seperate sessions as I did and need to re-do it in 1 session.
3. My player is victim to the warning I read during this process that some DVD players NEED a menu system.

What do you think? I am trying to get this data ready for Alan. I don't want to mail him a CD that is useless to him. Do you think he'll be able to grab the VIDEO_TS dir and run it on his video server? MY laptop will run it just fine. Do I need to do something else like burn these files onto a DVD disk? Any help would be appreciated.

reaper

Thanks reaper for my Ces-A-Plex image.

The Wife was totally impressed, Heaps better than my attempt. :D
I Very Much Appreciate the time you have put into it for me.



Cheers
Steve

Reaper you can't burn dvd compliant files unto a a blank cd.You would have to burn them unto a blank dvd-r or dvd=r for this to work.Also you MUST have the blank audio directory for this to work.This would be a compliant dvd.Use Nero to burn this and do it as dvd video.

brickie

So, I basically just need to grab a blank DVD disc and burn both the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS dirs to that disk. Then it will work? Anything about dvd-r or dvd+r, etc?

reap

You're welcome HK-Steve :)

Reaper

heres what you do next.
the files that you created are dvd only files. if you have a DVD writer, open up nero and select DVD from the drop down box on the left.
next select "DVD VIDEO"
nero will automaticallly create the 2 folders for you and all you have to do is select the files inside "VIDEO_TS" folder and drag/drop them into that same folder in nero. Leave "AUDIO_TS" empty, that folder is needed even though its empty.. Reason it needs to be there is because old dvd players look for that folder in order to play a dvd.

burn the dvd and your done.

as far as media. you can use any media to do this. DVD-R, DVD+R, etc.. its all in what your dvd player supports. id stick with DVD-R. it has the widest support out there since it was the first dvd media created.

if you dont have a dvd burner and want to play this from HTPC -----
theres still hope. within WinDVD or PowerDVD, you have the ability of playing files instead of a dvd/cd.. just select the VOB files and hit play.

Originally posted by reaper

I am thinking that there could be one of 3 problems going on here:

1. I cannot burn these files onto a CD disk and have the player recognize it.
2. I cannot burn these 2 dirs in two seperate sessions as I did and need to re-do it in 1 session.
3. My player is victim to the warning I read during this process that some DVD players NEED a menu system.

Reaper,
Just re-rendered the file, inserted the audio file and it looks/sounds great!
I appreciate all your effort, especially since it is taking away from your theater fabrication.

As a token of appreciation, check your Paypal account.

Best regards
Don

Originally posted by Dcostanza
Reaper,
Just re-rendered the file, inserted the audio file and it looks/sounds great!
I appreciate all your effort, especially since it is taking away from your theater fabrication.

As a token of appreciation, check your Paypal account.

Best regards
Don

Outstanding! My first donation!! Very much appreciated, Don. Glad you like the intro. Thank you. It is going straight to my projector fund.

reaper

latntekky,

I have access to a friend's DVD burner but I don't know if he has and authoring software. Would it be good enough to simply copy the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS dirs straight to the DVD-R disc with a simple explorer type program?

Reaper,

If the video fits on a CD and you can't get the DVD piece figured out then you can mail me the CD and I can put on a DVD for you and/or Alan. I could download it as well but not sure if you can host it anywhere.

well. you dont need authoring software on the pc that has the burner
so technically you can take your files and burn it on a normal cd to transport the files.. whatever burner software they use it has to be burned as "DVD VIDEO". dont think it will work as normal DVDRom cd with the 2 folders. i think there may be a special format that the dvd is burned at to achieve playability on standalones.. (dont quote me on that, im not 100% sure)

like albrigsr said.. if you want you can post the files and we can burn it for you. the files themselves are small.. so it will be a quick download

http://img153.echo.cx/img153/3930/blazing9zq.th.jpg (http://img153.echo.cx/my.php?image=blazing9zq.jpg)

Originally posted by reaper
http://img153.echo.cx/img153/3930/blazing9zq.th.jpg (http://img153.echo.cx/my.php?image=blazing9zq.jpg)

Reaper,

Wow, looks great!! Looking forward to seeing it animated. Too cool.

Bud

Originally posted by reaper
latntekky,

I have access to a friend's DVD burner but I don't know if he has and authoring software. Would it be good enough to simply copy the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS dirs straight to the DVD-R disc with a simple explorer type program?
All he needs to have is the burner and some burning software - Nero is a favorite and I believe there is a 30 day trial. Choose DVD and just drag-n-drop your two folders to the creation section in nero. Click Burn and enjoy!

Incredible, this is outstanding Reaper, any chance of getting a still and blender file for "The Blue Note Theatre"? (spelling is correct)

Sure, no problem. But you need to send me a PM with exactly what you want it to say top, middle and bottom and your e-mail address for sending the video model...

reaper

Reaper,

I would like a blender file for the following:

Top: WIEN PRESENTS
Middle: CINEMA NOTE
Bottom: THEATER

Can you email other other files that you have already done. I would like to make a DVD with a couple of these files together.

I will PM you.

Thank you


David

http://img277.echo.cx/img277/7953/blazing25xy.th.jpg (http://img277.echo.cx/my.php?image=blazing25xy.jpg)

I made an assumption you didn't actually want the quote marks on your own home theater name. Hope that was correct...

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/5038/darkside0jg.th.jpg (http://img262.echo.cx/my.php?image=darkside0jg.jpg)

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/7934/bluenote5eg.th.jpg (http://img264.echo.cx/my.php?image=bluenote5eg.jpg)

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/9972/cinemanote4tg.th.jpg (http://img264.echo.cx/my.php?image=cinemanote4tg.jpg)

Originally posted by reaper
http://img277.echo.cx/img277/7953/blazing25xy.th.jpg (http://img277.echo.cx/my.php?image=blazing25xy.jpg)

Now that's what I'm talking about! Great job!

Outstanding, incredible that you would do this for all of us. It is much appricated!

I recall an old Apex DVD player that would let you set your own screensaver background image... that would be perfect with these images!

I'll take you up on one:

CLARENCE'S
THEATER
ENJOY THE SHOW!

Thanks!

OK, so you only want the image, right Clarence?

I'm adding you to the list...

reaper

ya.. i have that apex 1200 dvd player
theres a bios update/hack floating around the net that allows you to change the boot screen.

>> OK, so you only want the image, right Clarence?

I'll take the blender file too to try building the movie

>> ya.. i have that apex 1200 dvd player theres a bios update/hack floating around the net that allows you to change the boot screen.

Yep, I remember the Apex... here's another link for customizing the start image on Sampo players (http://www.area450.com/softwaremods/splash1-createimage.html)

How does this look big guy?

http://img156.echo.cx/img156/2638/clarence6ly.th.jpg (http://img156.echo.cx/my.php?image=clarence6ly.jpg)

I had a friend burn the VIDEO_TS files onto a DVD for me last night. He said he played it on his stand alone DVD player and it looked great with one tiny exception. He said he noticed the ever so slightest hesitation at the beginning of the video. I am suspicious that it was his player preparing the data stream rather than my source. Anyways, I mailed off the data to Alan today. So, maybe he'll post some thoughts or screenshots from his theater with the video running sometime next week. But he's a busy guy... so if not; I'm sure we'll all understand.

reap

Originally posted by reaper
He said he noticed the ever so slightest hesitation at the beginning of the video. I am suspicious that it was his player preparing the data stream rather than my source. reap

I placed 20 seconds of black in front of the 21 sec blender clip. Also added some black and a fade transition to black at the end of the clip. These additional black in and out add a nice touch to an already great intro.

And how, might I ask, did you accomplish this? Was it through your DVD authoring software? I could do it in blender but that might increase the render times. Does 20 seconds seem too long to you? Seems like 5 might have been sufficient... great idea though...

HOLY COW that was fast Reaper...thanks looks great.

Taiser

Originally posted by reaper
I made an assumption you didn't actually want the quote marks on your own home theater name. Hope that was correct...

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/5038/darkside0jg.th.jpg (http://img262.echo.cx/my.php?image=darkside0jg.jpg)

Oops should let the folks know which one is mine :)

Thanks again Reaper!

Originally posted by reaper
How does this look big guy?

http://img156.echo.cx/img156/2638/clarence6ly.th.jpg (http://img156.echo.cx/my.php?image=clarence6ly.jpg) That'll do pig... That'll do. :D

I don't know why that popped into my head, I haven't seen that movie in 5 years. For those who don't get the bizarre quote, I'll also add the more overtly appreciative "Cool! Thanks, reaper!"

LOL! I made a joke a few pages ago in the thread but decided to delete it before any saw it in case it was in bad taste. My co-workers got a huge kick out of it. I am just realizing this story is completely useless. Just trust me... it was funny... ahh shaddup!

Originally posted by reaper
And how, might I ask, did you accomplish this? Was it through your DVD authoring software? I could do it in blender but that might increase the render times. Does 20 seconds seem too long to you? Seems like 5 might have been sufficient... great idea though...

20 seconds gives you lots of space to que up the clip.

When i was using XP Movie Maker to add the audio I just added the clips of black.

Also added a bunch of the coke slide from Steven Good Coke slide thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=444455) to the DVD. So now the DVD has different options like just the intro, 5 minutes of trivia slides then intro, 15 minutes of trivia and then intro, and trivia only.

Sounds nice.... got any screen shots to share?

Anyone happen to print out a still yet?

I printed out and framed a still shot (8 1/2 x 11). It looks great. I think I'm going to hang it up just outside my theater. I'll try to take a picture and share it with everybody - but I'm a lousy photog, so we'll see how that goes...

Don

Okay... here we go. I printed out and framed the shot. It is now hanging up outside my HT (or, more accurately, my HT-to-be). For those that are interested, here are a couple of pictures:

First, just a closeup of the printed picture in its frame on the wall (the bottom shadow looks a little strange because it's mounted across a corner):

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/DonRC/HT%20Pictures/CCCCloseupPicture.jpg

Second, here is a picture from farther back so that you can see the picture in relation to the double doors that are the entry to the theater. (This may or may not be the permanent mounting place for this. I have not yet completed the WAF test. :p )

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/DonRC/HT%20Pictures/CCCPicturewithHTdoors.jpg

Edit: Sorry. Those were really big. You can just click on the links to see the pictures.

That seems to have printed out very well. Do you agree, Don? Looks great in that frame you chose as well. :) Thanks for sharing that with the forum.

reaper

OK guys, doing something wrong. My rendering is complete and I've installed VirtualDub, but can't seem to figure out how to add the mp3 audio. I've downloaded the mp3 into a directory, but do not see the option in Virtualdub to pull this file in. I see it for a WAV file under the Audio tab, but thats it. I know its me, can someone chime in?

Thanks,

Bud

I couldn't find a way to do it either. So, I found an MP3->WAV converter on the web and turned it into a WAV file.

reaper

I'm on frame 15 now... how many total frames are in the rendered animation? 21 secs x 30 fps = ~600?

I don't believe I used this one... but it does look promising...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sox/

I believe there are 650 frames, Clarence.

Can't wait to see the final animation... if I knew you had it all set up to where it literally just needed a single click, I should've started it before going to bed.

My computer isn't a screamer, but it isn't a slouch [2.6 CPU with 512Kb RAM (gee, I thought I added more.... time to shop)], and it's taking a little more than a minute per frame :eek: that's 10+ hours!

Reaper,

Thanks (again). I got the MP3 converted to WAV and created a new AVI. I have not tried to compress the file yet. I ran the AVI and it seemed to play really choppy. Is that because I did not compress the file?

Bud

Yes... the AVI file is so large that most PCs will choke on it. If you kick out a compressed version with virtual dub, you will be able to see an effective preview of what the final will be. I used ffdshow compression for mine and had good luck. Just make sure you don't overwrite your raw AVI that will be used for creating the DVD.

Great, that was it. I installed ffdshow compression and created the new file. It's now about 5.8M. Thanks again!

Bud

If you have Microsoft XP Movie Maker you can add the mp3 audio and compress the avi all in one step.

I used this mp3 to wav convertor:

http://www.software-download.us/mp3-wav-converter.exe

It's free or has a trial period and was really simple.

That seems to have printed out very well. Do you agree, Don?
Yeah, I'm really happy with it. (If anything, it looks a little better in person than it does in the pictures I posted.) I think it's a nice touch to have it hanging just outside the theater room.

Thanks for the compliment on the frame. I thought that frame worked really well for a home theater. (It also had the advantage of only being about $3 at Wal-Mart.)

carmbruster:

http://img288.echo.cx/img288/8720/armbruster2jq.th.jpg (http://img288.echo.cx/my.php?image=armbruster2jq.jpg)

look ok?

Psylocke,

How's this?

http://img288.echo.cx/img288/8518/arruda6rk.th.jpg (http://img288.echo.cx/my.php?image=arruda6rk.jpg)