How to increase brightness in avi videos?

Skybird · 08-31-06, 03:16 PM

Whatever I download is waayyyy too dark, 60% of the movies are usualy pitchblack, but in all three players where I tried them in, colour, contrast and brightness controls are locked.

Konovalov · 08-31-06, 04:57 PM

This is a great question. I have come across problems like this also. Anyone have any ideas?

Perilscope · 08-31-06, 05:22 PM

VirtualDub does it with the "filters".

http://www.virtualdub.org/

Skybird · 08-31-06, 07:43 PM

It is done via editing the original data? Does this mean that these videos are intentionally recorded so dark that even setting a gamma of 2.0 does not allow me to see more in the dark fields (but lesser in the lighter fields, if there happen to be any)?

I avoided AVI captures in the past, and if it is like this, then I can live very well with avoiding them in the future as well.

Perilscope · 08-31-06, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

It is done via editing the original data?

If the brightness is blocked, of course you need to re-encode the video with higher brightness if you want it higher.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

I avoided AVI captures in the past, and if it is like this, then I can live very well with avoiding them in the future as well.

So be it... what can I say, they put the word "capture" because it can do that to, but it's mainly a powerful linear video editing tool. By the way, VirtualDub does not install, you just click on the EXE, so no harm done if you do not like it or too intimidating for you, you just toss the folder in the trash and that's it.

Skybird · 09-01-06, 02:08 AM

Yes, I just meant I find it so stupid to intentionally record movies that damn dark that one cannot see anything. Player software has brightness controls, like a TV. Why intentionally locking these controls? Stupid. It's always the case with AVIs. It's never the case with WMFs.

Wim Libaers · 09-05-06, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

It is done via editing the original data? Does this mean that these videos are intentionally recorded so dark that even setting a gamma of 2.0 does not allow me to see more in the dark fields (but lesser in the lighter fields, if there happen to be any)?

I avoided AVI captures in the past, and if it is like this, then I can live very well with avoiding them in the future as well.

It may be a difference in monitor settings. If the one who recorded the movie has monitor settings that are pretty bright, he might turn the gamma down a bit. Then you may have a monitor set to pretty dark settings (and on some old monitors, any setting will be pretty dark, I've worked with one such bad monitor where most videos look 50% black, while looking fine on a less abused monitor - that was an extreme case though, the only one I've seen that was this bad).

Skybird · 09-05-06, 06:14 PM

as I said somewehre above, the brightness difference is far too big as that it could be explained with miniotr settings due to different technical quality, drivers, or ambient light. Guessing by what was said here about codecs, I think it has something to do with missing codecs. I realized that two movies were adjustable in WMP after I had that collection of codecs installed. I meanwhile deinstalled that player for it collided with my security settings and firewall - and gone is the adjustability of the very same movies.

Gizzmoe · 09-01-06, 10:19 AM

Goto Audio and make sure that "Direct Stream Copy" is selected.

Then go to Video/Compress, select Xvid, Configure

Profile @ Level: Advanced Simple @ L5
Encoding type: Single Pass
Target quantizer: 3
Quality preset: General Purpose
Click Other Options, set "FourCC used" to DivX.

If you want to change wmv or MPEG2 files you need VirtualDub-MPEG2:
http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/stable/

Or play the videos with BSplayer (comes with K-Lite), you can change the brightness and other things in Video/Color Controls.

Skybird · 09-01-06, 11:33 AM

Okay, I'll try that and blindly follow what oyu typed - I have no idea what it is that I am switching on that way.

tycho102 · 09-01-06, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Whatever I download is waayyyy too dark, 60% of the movies are usualy pitchblack, but in all three players where I tried them in, colour, contrast and brightness controls are locked.

You have to change your movie engine. In Windows, that means you're going to have to enable VMR9 to change things. I have no idea how to get that done with Windows Media Player. I think you have to enable VMR9 support for your video card, and then WMP will use it automatically.

Skybird · 09-01-06, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycho102

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Whatever I download is waayyyy too dark, 60% of the movies are usualy pitchblack, but in all three players where I tried them in, colour, contrast and brightness controls are locked.

You have to change your movie engine. In Windows, that means you're going to have to enable VMR9 to change things. I have no idea how to get that done with Windows Media Player. I think you have to enable VMR9 support for your video card, and then WMP will use it automatically.

Hä?

However, with Virtual Dub I found out now how to increase brightness - it is shown in the right of the two parrallel monitors, the left shows the original. But I did not find out how to save the manipulated version via the save-option. I tried that four times now, but the newly created AVI always was the old dark one.

The help file does not really elp to enlighten me. It's not really intuitive. Wwhat must I do?

Perilscope · 09-01-06, 03:09 PM

A bit me, a lot Gizzmoe, gave you all the info you need to do so.

Here I made a quick HowTo in pictures ;-)

Load your video, than click on VIDEO and after FILTERS

After that choose ADD as shown below

After that you need to save it, Gizzmoe above gave you the setting to compress it nice nice! Thought I do not use Divx, I use Xvid.

Read the info, I know it;s hard a bit, but it is worth it, this program ROCKS!

Gizzmoe · 09-01-06, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perilscope

Gizzmoe above gave you the setting to compress it nice nice! Thought I do not use Divx, I use Xvid.

I also do and I gave him the settings for Xvid! Only the FourCC (the video codec identifier in AVI files) was set to Divx, that has the effect that the player uses Divx to decompress the video. I assume that more people have Divx installed than Xvid, they couldn´t play the Xvid video if the FourCC was set to Xvid. Xvid OTOH can play both Divx and Xvid files. So whenever you wanna share your video with lots of people it´s better to use the Divx identifier.

Perilscope · 09-01-06, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

I also do and I gave him the settings for Xvid! Only the FourCC (the video codec identifier in AVI files) was set to Divx, that has the effect that the player uses Divx to decompress the video. I assume that more people have Divx installed than Xvid, they couldn´t play the Xvid video if the FourCC was set to Xvid. Xvid OTOH can play both Divx and Xvid files. So whenever you wanna share your video with lots of people it´s better to use the Divx identifier.

I understand what you mean Gizzmoe, and you are right, less problem for the majority.

It's only that I am "over" protective of XviD. I think you know the story behind XviD and Divx back then, when the two split apart. I chose to follow XviD, and whenever I can I put forward XviD. But like you said for the majority its better the Divx FourCC.

08-31-06, 03:16 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	How to increase brightness in avi videos? Whatever I download is waayyyy too dark, 60% of the movies are usualy pitchblack, but in all three players where I tried them in, colour, contrast and brightness controls are locked. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-31-06, 04:57 PM	#2
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	This is a great question. I have come across problems like this also. Anyone have any ideas? __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

08-31-06, 07:43 PM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	It is done via editing the original data? Does this mean that these videos are intentionally recorded so dark that even setting a gamma of 2.0 does not allow me to see more in the dark fields (but lesser in the lighter fields, if there happen to be any)? I avoided AVI captures in the past, and if it is like this, then I can live very well with avoiding them in the future as well. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-01-06, 02:08 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Yes, I just meant I find it so stupid to intentionally record movies that damn dark that one cannot see anything. Player software has brightness controls, like a TV. Why intentionally locking these controls? Stupid. It's always the case with AVIs. It's never the case with WMFs. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-05-06, 06:14 PM	#8
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	as I said somewehre above, the brightness difference is far too big as that it could be explained with miniotr settings due to different technical quality, drivers, or ambient light. Guessing by what was said here about codecs, I think it has something to do with missing codecs. I realized that two movies were adjustable in WMP after I had that collection of codecs installed. I meanwhile deinstalled that player for it collided with my security settings and firewall - and gone is the adjustability of the very same movies. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-31-06, 05:22 PM	#3
Perilscope Sonar Guy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montréal Posts: 399 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	VirtualDub does it with the "filters". http://www.virtualdub.org/

09-01-06, 10:19 AM	#9
Gizzmoe Silent Hunter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 3,668 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Goto Audio and make sure that "Direct Stream Copy" is selected. Then go to Video/Compress, select Xvid, Configure Profile @ Level: Advanced Simple @ L5 Encoding type: Single Pass Target quantizer: 3 Quality preset: General Purpose Click Other Options, set "FourCC used" to DivX. If you want to change wmv or MPEG2 files you need VirtualDub-MPEG2: http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/stable/ Or play the videos with BSplayer (comes with K-Lite), you can change the brightness and other things in Video/Color Controls. Last edited by Gizzmoe; 09-01-06 at 10:38 AM.

09-01-06, 11:33 AM	#10
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Okay, I'll try that and blindly follow what oyu typed - I have no idea what it is that I am switching on that way. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-01-06, 03:09 PM	#13
Perilscope Sonar Guy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montréal Posts: 399 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A bit me, a lot Gizzmoe, gave you all the info you need to do so. Here I made a quick HowTo in pictures ;-) Load your video, than click on VIDEO and after FILTERS After that choose ADD as shown below After that you need to save it, Gizzmoe above gave you the setting to compress it nice nice! Thought I do not use Divx, I use Xvid. Read the info, I know it;s hard a bit, but it is worth it, this program ROCKS!