Making videos with the Dover series: I need some help

[343KKT_Kintaro]

I never learned to make videos but now I'm wondering if I try and start making them. Using BLITZ and Tobruk, obviously.

 

My video card is a GTX 1660 (2019) but my motherboard is 10 years old now (late 2010) with a maximum allocated RAM of 8 Gb.

 

So, making videos with my computer... is this about to cost money? I heard about Fraps (37 dollars?) but I heard that there are free programs too.

 

Well... any advice on that?

[OBT-Mikmak]

OBS Studio is free

[DD_Arthur]

2 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Well... any advice on that?

 

Don't worry about the age of your motherboard.  It won't be a problem.

 

To start with try Nvidia Shadowplay.  Your graphics card will run it really well. If you haven't already got it you'll need Nvidia Geforce experience running to use it.  It also has the advantage of being a very light load on your system whilst it is running and you can upload the recordings to youtube directly with very little loss of visual quality.

 

It's very simple to use.  There are various options but basically it will record whatever is on your screen.

 

This gives you the option to either record your flight directly or you could use the ingame recorder and then use Shadowplay to record from that and switch to external views.

 

There are lots of other recording and editing freeware available - like OBS Studio - which enable you to do more creative editing but to get you started easily and quickly and give you an idea of what can be achieved then Shadowplay is easily the best.

 

Squadron scramble, CLoD multiplayer, Nvidia Shadowplay.

 

Unfortunately things didn't go too well after the scramble.....

 

Edit;  Oh yeah, stay away from Fraps.  It's dated, a BIG drain on your system resources which means poorer quality video and there is better freeware out there.

Edited October 31, 2020 by DD_Arthur

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Ok, so OBS or Nvidia Shadowplay... but not Fraps. Thank you.

 

What about music? How can I put music on my videos? (with a disclaimer at the YouTube description text, obviously).

 

And what about editing? Can I edit sequences, with accurate timings that I'll synchronise with the music, and so on?

[DD_Arthur]

2 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

What about music? How can I put music on my videos? (with a disclaimer at the YouTube description text, obviously).

 

And what about editing? Can I edit sequences, with accurate timings that I'll synchronise with the music, and so on?

 

That can all be done but I'd just try making something simple at first.  Try recording your next online sortie with Shadowplay.  If you're pleased with it try uploading it to youtube.

 

If you want to get serious with editing scenes together then it's time to start using the CLoD ingame track recorder!!!  Have you used it before?  Be prepared to be VERY patient

You should also obtain access to the ATAG external View utility.  You can ask nice Mr. Snapper here;

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1782&page=49

 

Oh yeah;  a video editor to cut and splice together all those scenes;

 

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Thank you so much for all the info, that was lovely. Yes, I already used the track recorder in the game, but once you watch the recording, it doesn't really correspond to what you've recorded in real time. Very odd.

[DD_Arthur]

33 minutes ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Thank you so much for all the info, that was lovely. Yes, I already used the track recorder in the game, but once you watch the recording, it doesn't really correspond to what you've recorded in real time. Very odd.

 

When it comes to 'recording' tracks CLoD, BoS and DCS use the same principle;  in CLoD the .Ntrk system does not record an image. It records the mission as a series of digital coordinates.

When you replay the track the game then re-assembles the mission from this digital information.  

Sometimes - in CLoD and DCS - the game will not re-assemble that information.  Typically in CLoD you might find an aeroplane appears in a different place or even not at all.  

 

However, you could try playing the track again and find the mission is replayed correctly!

 I've no idea why this happens but I can tell you this phenomenon is actually much worse in DCS!   Hence the need for patience....and a pen and paper as the main problem with the CLoD ingame track recorder is the lack of a rewind function.  You can pause the track and then let it play on but having no rewind means if you go past the scene you wish to record you have to restart the whole track.

 This can be....frustrating.  Pen and paper is needed for noting down the time the action starts so you can pause the track at that point and prepare to record it. 

 

This is why the vast majority of CLoD video on youtube is a simple recording of online sorties from the cockpit.   It's just a lot easier. 

 I and many others have urged Team Fusion to at least try and fix some of the functionality the track recorder should have as one of the bast ways to promote any game is through user-made video.   I'm not even sure if it's on any sort of 'to-do' list but they'd be doing themselves a big favour.

 

Early days of the DangerDogz server....

 

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Thank you for the videos, very enjoyable and quite interesting in terms of the evolution of the game.

 

Going back to the difficulties you mentioned, well, I guess I'll have to face them. Apparently, there's no other way.

[Mysticpuma]

10 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Thank you so much for all the info, that was lovely. Yes, I already used the track recorder in the game, but once you watch the recording, it doesn't really correspond to what you've recorded in real time. Very odd.

 

Yep, the trk recorder is broken in the game. Sadly the aircraft jitter and jump around all over the place in replay. The best way to make videos (sadly) is to shoot them 'live' by changing views in-game and then save them either using OBS or Shadowplay.

[ATAG_Flare]

Hey Kintaro,

 

I have made MANY CloD videos over the years. This one for example was made in 2016 and I think it's some of my best work. There are many more on my channel.

 

 

 

My workflow is essentially as follows:

 

1. Fly the mission and record an ingame track file. Mysticpuma mentions that this is bugged but for me 95% of the time it works great - some issues are ship locations sometimes not working properly, jittery aircraft, and once I had bombs staying visible after they had dropped. But usually it works very well.

 

2. I use OBS to record my screen while watching the track. I turn on the recording, then as I watch the track, I pause frequently to change views and set up my next camera shot. I will often go through the track file and record multiple times to get the shots I want, since there is no rewind function.

 

3. Now I have a video file (or multiple) that has short bits of the track playing from the view I chose, and lots of paused moments where I am changing view. I load this file into my video editor of choice (in my case Adobe Premiere - this is a rather premium option but there are other options for cheap or free, I suggest DaVinci Resolve for an amazing free option). I cut out all the silent paused sections of video and then connect all the remaining footage. At this point I'll have a rough cut of all the shots I took, in order.

 

Here though is where you let your creative side shine, I will delete and trim a lot of my clips and match the edit to follow the intensity of whatever music I've chosen. I will also crop or adjust some clips, play around with the audio, add in any extra effects or voice lines, etc. This is very time consuming but it is where your video will go from being a collection of shots into something you can really be proud of.

 

If you watch the video I posted above, I needed 4 different track files - one of the initial german bomber attack, 2 of the Blenheim raid (one had an additional Blenheim flown by a 2nd pilot that was used as a flying camera, then one with only one Blenheim for other external shots where you wouldn't want another plane to be seen), and a final track of the Blenheim returning home. I had set up a multiplayer server and had 2 other pilots helping me by flying the other planes. Then I recorded shots from all those tracks and did the edit, and tracked in the voice lines.

 

I made another movie (Boomer Blitz, on my channel) that had live TeamSpeak audio in the background - however, the teamspeak recording was about an hour long and the video ended up being just ~5 minutes or so, I had to pick and choose bits from the live audio that best matched with the movie I'd made from the edited tracks.

 

One thing to remember is that it takes a long time - I easily spend 2-3 or more hours per each minute of the final product on a video like these. But just keep at it and you'll be surprised at how fun it is. I make these videos for fun, not for views or comments, those are just a bonus.

 

Sorry this got a bit lengthy but there are so many possibilities when it comes to making movies in this sim. I hope I did a decent job of explaining my workflow. Good luck and I can't wait to see what you end up producing!

[343KKT_Kintaro]

2 hours ago, ATAG_Flare said:

Sorry this got a bit lengthy

 

 

You don't need to apologise for spending a so long time being that kind, supportive and helpful.

 

Thank you very much, I'll try to follow your suggested procedure.

 

I didn't know "The Lost Raider" (great video indeed) but I already knew some of your videos, and I really appreciate them.

Sorry : "The FORGOTTEN Raider"...