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Download:
0.3.3 xml-Update 2004-06-02 |
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"There is no slow software, there is only slow
hardware."
[unknown coder]
This
guide will help to understand the new concept of using graphs to
create working Avisynth scripts.
If
you are new to Avisynth please visit
the project homepage and get the latest binaries here.
DISCLAIMER: This software is provided as is. You may profit
or not. It may damage your system. There is no support assured.
There are errors. The user interface
is not common.
Use software always at your own risk.
To
achieve a good learning curve things are explained as easy as possible.
Marketing hint: Keep it simple and stupid.
Suggestions
for improvement: vion11[at]innerphase[dot]de
Till now you need some experience in programming to
use AviSynth.That means knowledge about functions, parameters, namespace,
syntax and so on.
With AVE you simply connect icons with lines and when graph is
complete watch the output. Screenshot
The generated script file is ready to render with common video
editing programmes (VirtualDub,
Premiere, After
Effects ....) and mpeg2 encoder.
You want to do visionary things with computer video and
there is no time learning to program - read on!
AVE works together only with windows. It is tested
with win98, w2k and xp. You must have a mediaplayer installed capable
of playing *.avs files.
Search the folder \Examples in your AviSynth installation path
and click on version.avs. Your media player starts the clip and you see
current version information of Avisynth.
If it doesn't work, you have to tell the system explicit what programm
opens *.avs files. Check your manual for that ;-)
Media Player Classic
Try MPC,
it has a lot of other nice features worth to test. This
guide expects MPC opens your *.avs files. To achieve better workflow,
check the key assigning options. (alternate
download)
VirtualDubmod.
For experienced users: To touch all pixels of your output. VirtualDubMod
is VirtualDub
extended not only with a script editor. Use it to convert and compress
your scripts to a running avi.
AVE uses external libraries, they are included in the
setup. However it is not guaranteed, installation works proper. If you
encounter problems install them in your system language from following
download sites.
MS XML Parser
AVE saves your graph as xml. You may open them in your internet browser
and check them. XML is called the ascii of the future.
AVE needs at least version 4.0. Download
Runtime Libraries
AVE is developped with VB6 and you need the runtime installed in your
system language. us/eng is here,
google
for other languages.
Download latest version and follow the installation
routine. After starting AVE from Startmenu a splash screen appears. At
this time AVE looks if it likes your system. When everything is fine,
splash screen closes and you may read on next chapter.
If not the last line says: 'Doubleclick
to continue...' and the amount of errors is displayed some lines above.
When errors are reported and loading
stops last line tells you, what AVE has tried to do. Mostly XML installation
issues. You'll get some advice in this forum
thread or place your question there.
If you're interested: splash screen shows a snapshot of your prefrontal
neurons activity while following the messages.
From now this guide expects no errors are reported and splash screen
is closed.
Yes, in the real world most things like trees, cars and humans are connected to the bottom. AVEditor follows this paradigm and windows stay on their caption bar. Unlike other user interfaces where windows hang and crash.
Moving and sizing the windows
Point your mouse at the , click and hold the left button. Now move around, you got it. That's called 'to drag'. It is used everywhere in this application. Later on you learn 'drag and drop'. (btw. you can release your mouse button now ;)
Same with sizing - use the button. maximizes the window to full screen and back. AVE saves window positions at leaving. Most fun you'll get with two monitors.
Double clicking at caption bar hides all but caption bar. This feature is useful but still experimental. Doubleclick again to unhide.
"I lost control!
Everything is messed up, windows are hidden elsewhere or unvisible and my taskbar &%/?()!!!...." May happen, simple solution at this point - locate file AVEditor.ini, kill it and start AVE again.
Now you are ready to discover visual editing with
graphs. The icons are filter in terms of Avisynth. Think of highly optimized
pieces of code developed to change aspects of your video and audio files.
First you should expand the graph by dragging the filters at a
proper position. Three kind of filters exists depending on the position
of their orange connectors.
A graph has filters, connectors and lines
There is only one filter with no connector at the bottom - the output.
This is the last filter in your graph. It looks like a small TV set and
you cannot delete it.
Other filter have only connectors at bottom. These Filter
send video or audio streams as a signal into the graph. Possible inputs
are avi, mpeg, quicktime, wave, bitmaps and other filetypes. Check the
AviSynth homepage for updates often, the amount of allowed files is progressing.
You have already tested the version filter with your media
player, it sends the information out of itself - no file needed. Other
filters work similar.
Move these input filters at the top of your workplace. The other ones
with connectors at top and bottom stay in the middle. When no lines cross,
you'll get the picture. It looks kind of a tree.
Move them all
You can move filter several at once if you mark them before. Start somewhere
at workplace top left of the magenta colored filter. Open a yellow rectangle
by dragging your mouse over the workplace. Marked filters get a red border.
How to unmark? Drag mouse to top right again.
Auto arrange
To progress your productivity AVE has a build in auto arrange function.
Simply choose a filter from workplace and click at .
Running the graph
This graph you have organized is complete, all filters are connected.
It can run and pushes signal from top to the output. Now click at
and look what happens. Mediaplayer opens, plays a video and music. Congratulation,
your system is now tested and works perfect with AVE.
Before we start from bottom to top, close the objects
window, it is not needed now. Click at . You can open it again same way later. Have a look at the other
small window. Its captions bar tells you the current item.
Click at output (TV set), now you see the properties of the output
displayed - it is the script AVE has written for you. When you click at Mediaplayer
open this script and plays it. Yes, it is magic.
Next filter is called 'Levels', you will find five different values
waiting for your creativity. You can't change the clip value, it is determined
by graph layout. The video part of our example ist quite dark. Change
input_high value to 120 and test again.
Click at to open your internet
browser with local Avisynth documentation and more infornation about current
properties and values.
Optional and experimental: mouse-enabled-value-change
You can drag values as well, try left and right mouse button, move right
'n' left and up 'n' down.
That's all. Checking and changing filter properties is easy.
Frame preview
When window
is open and you click at a filter AVE shows you a frame from the output
of choosed filter.
You may use , ,
to adjust current frame and its
stretching. New frame numbers are accepted by typing.
AVE saves
all your changed properties
in realtime
The graph is broken now und will not run!
Let's connect layer and level filter again. Start dragging mouse on unused orange connector. A orange line follows mouse pointer, release mouse button over second connector. Switching color to red signals 'ready to connect'.
Test again and listen - no more music.
Video and audio have had different length, video loops better now.
Open objects window again and locate three main groups of objects (filters, graphs, userfunctions)
Search LancosResize and Info, place them near output. (drag 'n drop). Try reconnecting lines and splice Info between output and levels. Video resolution is 320x240. Next use LanczosResize and resize video to dvd resolution 720x576.
Now you have full control over graphs, quite easy isn't it.
Remember: a graph must be completed and fully connected to run.
Save parts of graphs by dropping other filter. Everything along the lines up to sources will be saved. Save with icon and name.
Saved graphs appear as items connected to object group graphs. Drop them!
-- if you are new to desktop video find out what colorspace, fourcc,
codec, frames, fields, interlace and fps means
-- drop sources directly from explorer onto workplace
(avi, avs, wav, aveuf, grf, mp3, asf)
-- use keys: r, space, s, m, x, f, i, o,
p
-- change MPCs shortcut keys, example: r for exit
-- open words.avs in folder \testdrop, scoll down and
change title (MakeWordClip("We...."))
-- check out Avisynth plugins
here (plugins = more filters)
-- there are different property sets for loaded
and not loaded filters
-- property sets are saved as xml you may edit them
-- adjust pathes for documentation and plugins in ini-file
-- render different files at once with command line tools (avs2avi)
avisynth.org -- (AviSynth Manual)
shrinkwrapvb.com -- (visual basic and avi processing)
googlegroups.com -- (nice extension to dib.cls)
avi overview -- (works as FAQ as well)
codec central -- (some good docs)
xmlcooktop.com -- (a free and good XML-Editor)
2004-06-02
added assumefps, changefps to functions descriptions
and updated
definition for dissolve.
0.3.3
- frame preview per filter
- auto organize filters
- experimental AVI Export (video only)
- this guide
- better INI handling
