Video Editing

I've had fraps for a while and have made videos from some gameplay using windows live movie maker (since its free). Problem is that my fraps videos that I take now don't work in live movie maker. The weird thing is that the fraps videos will play in players like vlc. So I've got avi files that work but I have can't use them in any video editor I have (so I can make clips and such)... any suggestions of how to get it to work?

Different video editor?

Best Consumer Video editing programs
-FCP X
-Pinnacle Studio
-Sony Vegas Studio

Professional
-Avid Media Composer
-Adobe Premiere Pro
-FCP 7


I don't see any specific problem I can relate to in movie maker, it might not just support video files of a certain size, or format. You could try reinstalling WMM and see how things go, but there are much better programs out there to make workflow easier. WMM never seemed to utilize itself properly in my eyes.

I've had fraps for a while and have made videos from some gameplay using windows live movie maker (since its free). Problem is that my fraps videos that I take now don't work in live movie maker. The weird thing is that the fraps videos will play in players like vlc. So I've got avi files that work but I have can't use them in any video editor I have (so I can make clips and such)... any suggestions of how to get it to work?

The reason is because Movie Maker isn't made to read files with such a high bitrate that FRAPS records at. Go to one of your unedited FRAPS movies. Right click on it, hit properties. Now go to the Details tab. Look at the Video Total Bitrate. My FRAPS on average records at 933,120kbps! That is INSANE quality, and I even have it on low compression! To put that into perspective, that's roughly 930mpbs. Blu-Ray is made at a bitrate of 40mbps. You're making WLMM scream bloody murder when you try to load those videos. lol. Use a compression tool to compress it to another .avi file, but at a MUCH lower bitrate (if you want it to look near identical to the original, go for around 12mbps) then load it into WLMM and you should have no issues.

well, the first video I checked bit rate on = 1,036,800 kbps... I guess I should compress them like you said Crimson Any suggestions on program to do that? I have a 5770 video card but can't remember how to use avivo to convert video files anymore (used to know but the program has completely changed).

Note: that video was done at 60fps, would 30 fps lower the bit rate? I ask cause I used to be able to open fraps videos in WLMM, I've made a couple need for speed and bad company 2 videos doing so.

Just go on AMD.com and you will find all the info. you need.

well, the first video I checked bit rate on = 1,036,800 kbps... I guess I should compress them like you said Crimson Any suggestions on program to do that? I have a 5770 video card but can't remember how to use avivo to convert video files anymore (used to know but the program has completely changed).

Note: that video was done at 60fps, would 30 fps lower the bit rate? I ask cause I used to be able to open fraps videos in WLMM, I've made a couple need for speed and bad company 2 videos doing so.

How long are all your FRAPS videos? If they're under 5 minutes each, download the trial of Allok MPEG4 Converter. It's my favorite conversion program, and IMO worth the buy if you like it. You can convert any format to any format.

http://www.alloksoft.com/mpeg4_converter.htm

The trial restricts conversion time to 5 minutes per file, and you can't customize the time within the video that you want to record (e.g. you want to start the conversion at 0:30 instead of 0:00. That ability is disabled in the trial). You can select DIVX video for an AVI file, click on settings next to the dropdown box once you have it selected, then customize bitrate and other things. Good luck!

If i was you i go with something simple

How long are all your FRAPS videos? If they're under 5 minutes each, download the trial of Allok MPEG4 Converter. It's my favorite conversion program, and IMO worth the buy if you like it. You can convert any format to any format.

http://www.alloksoft.com/mpeg4_converter.htm

The trial restricts conversion time to 5 minutes per file, and you can't customize the time within the video that you want to record (e.g. you want to start the conversion at 0:30 instead of 0:00. That ability is disabled in the trial). You can select DIVX video for an AVI file, click on settings next to the dropdown box once you have it selected, then customize bitrate and other things. Good luck!

That convertor works perfect. My videos are always cut to 2 minute lengths so the 5 min limit doesn't matter. It took a file from 1 million kpbs to 15 thousand kbps and now it can load into windows live movie maker. I don't think I need to spend money on a video editor since I only do limited video stuff for now, maybe down the road I'll upgrade.

How long are all your FRAPS videos? If they're under 5 minutes each, download the trial of Allok MPEG4 Converter. It's my favorite conversion program, and IMO worth the buy if you like it. You can convert any format to any format.

http://www.alloksoft.com/mpeg4_converter.htm

The trial restricts conversion time to 5 minutes per file, and you can't customize the time within the video that you want to record (e.g. you want to start the conversion at 0:30 instead of 0:00. That ability is disabled in the trial). You can select DIVX video for an AVI file, click on settings next to the dropdown box once you have it selected, then customize bitrate and other things. Good luck!

That convertor works perfect. My videos are always cut to 2 minute lengths so the 5 min limit doesn't matter. It took a file from 1 million kpbs to 15 thousand kbps and now it can load into windows live movie maker. I don't think I need to spend money on a video editor since I only do limited video stuff for now, maybe down the road I'll upgrade.

Yeah it's a handy little tool. I love it.

Actually, I just found this. If you have an AMD graphics card, go to your Catalyst Control Center. Under the "Video" tab, click "AMD Video Converter." You can then compress any FRAPS video down to several presets, including 1080p H.264, 720p H.264, and others, and there's a slider bar you can set to increase the bitrate, with the highest for 720p being 15mbps, and with 1080p, you can make it up to 25mbps, and it also retains your original framerate. The video quality's not that bad actually.