smooth scaling

[Mike]

Hi,

I've seen a couple of topics in the past few days where VidBlaster was accused of being inferior to ordinary video players due to scaling issues. Most of you know this is not the case, but you need to know what you are doing when choosing resolutions in the video chain.

The frustrating thing is that I can easily fix this by enabling smooth scaling (although I guess you can still mess up by choosing a global resolution that is either not suitable for your source material, or not compatible with your hardware). But smooth scaling also requires a more CPU, especially when you do not choose your resolutions properly and every single step requires scaling. And more CPU usage will also mean more support issues, or even more bad publicity.

I guess it comes down to this: if you are technical enough and know what you are doing, there is no problem. If you are not, it is easy to make the wrong conclusions and discard VidBlaster or worse, create bad publicity. Anyone have any ideas what we can do about this? Or should we even care? If we do add the smooth scaling feature, should it be on or off by default?

Thanks,

Mike

[superroach]

If it were an option, I would prefer it off by default. CPU usage to me is much more critical than smooth scaling.

[wiav8r]

I would prefer it as an option with the default set to off. Would this be a Camera or Program module option?

I currently dont have this problem as all my resolutions match exactly.

BTW If I ever do have problems I will NEVER spread any bad publicity about VidBlaster! You rock Mike!

[Mike]

Scaling, or technically more correct resampling, can happen in almost any module. If you look at Broadcast, where I offer full control, you can see that input, processing and output resolutions can all differ.

[Echo7]

VidBlaster can provide everyone with a viable, affordable and fairly easy outlet to video streaming. I have been using it now for a couple years and find it adequiate for my needs..HOWEVER..the forum has as it's members..
those with a high knowledge of computers, video and programming. When you want to cover the world with a product, everybody should be included in your marketing and the froums you offer. The forum includes VB users, or prospective buyers from gaming youth to actual high funded video production companies. This is where the forum has become a good place to find direction in the use of VB. What appears to be happening is a direction toward the "Broadcast" user and high end user at the expense of those who need much more direction and tutoring. I am a middle of the road user, some minor productions, some major and revenue producing. Somewhere along the line the tutorials, once available, have become highly outdated and of no direction with the many changes in VB. Instead of directing forum users to a link in the forum, why not re-institute the tutorials? I sincerely believe this would give the forum fewer mundane questions for guidence. Just my opinion.

[Mike]

Thanks William. Getting back to the subject, I agree a tutorial about this can be informative. It is however hard to find someone who is capable of making these tutorials, I have tried to find someone many times. There is also the issue of budgets. Besides, in cases like this I always first try to prevent the problem in the first place, instead of (what other companies often do) leave them in and then find a way to explain them to clients.

[ColinJ]

Mike,
As you know, I am a newbie to webcasting and I had no background in video etc. But just a couple of weeks ago I bought VidBlaster and thanks to this great program, I am doing 2-3 hours a week of private web streaming for a not-for-profit organisation as a community service. Fantastic, thank you. But the one area that has continued to escape me is to understand how to get the correct resolutions for each camera input etc. I am streaming to UStream at 640x480 and getting excellent results by the reports but it is more by guess work than real knowledge. I have been using an assortment of webcams (MS Lifecam Cinema), Panasonic HD 3CCD Camcorder, BlackMagic Shuttle, Canon SD Camcorder, Imaging Source USB capture box, VLC screen streaming for Powerpoint input, etc. All seem to have different resolutions when plugged into VidBlaster - 704x576, 720x576, 768x576, 640x480, 768x480 etc. I almost threw away the BlackMagic Shuttle until I realised that it was working fine but I just couldn't mix a 1920x1080 input with other 720x576 inputs etc. What I am doing is just hit and miss. I suspect that there are others like me who do not understand the mysteries of getting the resolutions right especially with an assortment of input devices/resolutions and aspect ratios. I have no idea how I could make them all the same, anyway. There are several places in the software where you can set resolutions and I don't know what to do at each stage. There appears to be nothing in the Help file and little in the forum (or have I just missed it?). If "smooth scaling" is what it sounds to be and would correct for these resolution incompatabilities then I for one would be extremely grateful for such a feature. Alternatively, can someone direct me to somewhere where an old newbie can learn about these new fangled principles!!??

Hope this is helpful!

Once again, thanks a million for VidBlaster. The fact that an absolute beginner can turn out what others seem to think are "professional" webcasts in just a couple of weeks is a testament to a wonderful program. AND, it's FUN into the bargain. Keep on coding :-).

Kind regards,
Colin.

[EdEstes]

Mike,

As a new fan and advocate, I think we should definitely care. While mostly unmerited, you don't need users bashing your product and saying negative comments. Sadly there are likely to be more people having bad experiences since the bar is so low to get in and try VIDCaster. (especially since this is growing space - personal/desktop broadcasting) Unfortunately it doesn't matter if they are right or not...

The problem you face is you have both beginners and experts using your product. Most beginners are going to dive in without reading the vast amount of information here or understand the ramifications of what they are trying to do. They also don't have the patience to learn so they'll walk away and say bad things about the product before they spend enough time to understand it.

Many of the issues beginners have can be detected and they can be warned about the problem. (and even given suggestions to solutions) Programmatically you can detect processor speeds, video card, memory, disk speed, network connectivity, etc. that will result in a bad experience. There is also the option of having beginner/advance modes where users see a limited amount of features as they start out to prevent many of the mistakes from happening.

The big question is do you want to only service the more advance/professional users, or do you want this to be a product that everyone can use? If it's the latter (which I would assume it is since you have a Home version) then more time needs to be put into the wizards and interactive feedback that will educate users while they use the product. (IMHO)

--Ed

[BrandonJones]

Mike,

I think it would be worth your time to produce a few reference videos. Not howtos, but finished video that has been mixed on a "perfectly" tuned vidBlaster machine. I'm still unsure what the capabilities of the product are when it comes to broadcast level video, because I haven't seen any finished video that appears to be broadcast quality (meaning smooth without dropped frames). If customers are getting this type of output from vidBlaster it would be great to see it so I know that I know I'm heading in the right direction with your product.

Thanks,

Brandon