Singapore Paintball Series 2013 - Leg 2

[daniyal]

Singapore Paintball Series 2013 - Leg 2 - 7/8 September 2013

Was given the opportunity to provide videography coverage for the local paintball circuit.

This time around, I am able to collaborate with a DJ from Sweden. Was given the green in using his song, ABDUKT | dramatique. The first time I listen to this song, I just fall in love with it. The first thing that came to my mind was paintball. I already have ideas on my mind for the next paintball video. That was 3 months ago.

This video purely inspired by the song. Still, it came with its own challenge.

Just as when I thought I hit the jackpot for the “sweetspot” settings for super slow-mo twixtor, it still did not give the perfect results. I was shooting 1/2000 shutter with 60fps and variable ISOs. This time around, I am convince that twixtor can do its magic to certain extent only. If I want the paintballs to fly super duper slow-mo with clarity (literally to see the paintballs flying in full shape), my next cheapest option is the Sony FS700.

After shooting this event, I have so many questions. At the same time, I am fed up with myself because I am still making mistakes which I should not have.

1. Do adding layers of video effects on your footage, will it degrade the quality of your footage ?

2. What is the best export settings for YouTube ?

3. Why the video is not so sharp ?

4. Where were my White Balance controls ? 50% of my footages were kinda blueish.

5. Is my camera not functioning well? How do I know? Is there such thing call camera body servicing like my motorcycle 3 monthly servicing?

I hope anyone who help me with these questions or point me to the right direction. I might have look at the wrong direction all this while.

[video=vimeo;74506558]http://vimeo.com/74506558[/video]

 

[pettypoh]

hi bro,

good to see new works from you

i saw fs700 results - good piece of equipment for slow-mo works

for most of your questions, i also duno the answer, but just to share my export settings for youtube/vimeo
h.264 - i think it's the dvd quality
this export settings thing has always been a big headache for me as well ... take so long then can know whether final video look nice or not, always a trial and error =D

video sharpness - becoz it's youtube? wahaha

i doubt effects will degrade quality of video, but surely will add on to the rendering time and size of the final video < this one i 99% sure =)

btw, have you tried using "light leaks" as a form of transition? might be nice for this video

 

[daniyal]

pettypoh>>> I saw a fellow thread starter in the forum sharing his Sony FS700 video test. AWESOMENESS!!! Twixtor does its job but it has its limitations though. You really need to pick the action where it produces the lesser warping. You need a lot of light. Cloudy sky on that particular weekend doesn't help.

Export settings wise - Been trying out a lot of configurations that I can find from the net and Adobe forum. Still, I cannot replicate the quality like Philip Bloom and Dave Dugdale kinda quality. Is it because the way they capture their footages ? My only rational is the lighting. Some of my footages turns out well but some don't.

Anyway, my settings that I used to export this was
- HDTV 1080 29.94 settings
- VBR Pass2,
- Min BitRate 10 Max BitRage 40,
- Readjust the sizing to 1080 at 59.94 frames and
- Maximum Render depth.
- In total, I have exported 8 sets of different settings. This one produce the better quality.

Sharpness wise - Youtube causes it? I guess so. I have read that Youtube will compress your video into BitRate about 5. When I export in that bitrate, the quality was horrendous. Could not get that sharpness though after I add layers of grading. I am thinking is it my lens, 2 year old camera boy or not enough lighting. Frustrating.

Adding layers of grading will increase the rendering time. With maximum render depth selected, my rendering time is 54 minutes per video.

Light leaks, I have downloaded that but it gives me the feelings of wedding feel and demure. I switch to "Glitch" type. Maybe I could use the light leaks for the next one. Still, looking for ideas on how best I can use the light leaks.

The huge amount of noise in the footages is not helping at all. Can't help it. I need a smoother slow-mo twixtor. I had to shoot at 1/2000 shutter speed. And my ISO was way on the high side.

Thanks Bro for taking the time to watch the video and share your thoughts. Really appreciate it.

Right now, I am revisiting all the "Youtube Video Lessons" that I have watched and to find out where I go wrong.

 

[pettypoh]

Anyway, my settings that I used to export this was
- HDTV 1080 29.94 settings
- VBR Pass2,
- Min BitRate 10 Max BitRage 40,
- Readjust the sizing to 1080 at 59.94 frames and
- Maximum Render depth.
- In total, I have exported 8 sets of different settings. This one produce the better quality.

mine's quite similar but i re-adjusted 59.94 to match output fps i think ... not too sure why the default settings is as such

btw, if you download youtube / vimeo videos and see their data ... i think the "quality" (as in bitrate) quite low, so i've heard some online chatter saying about twice / thrice of those amount is good enough already ... for online viewing

but i have also watched my videos on tv (full hd) and there's quite a big difference in quality from youtube / vimeo

shooting at 1/2000 - shutter > does that help in anyway for slow-mo? i always thought it was just the "capability" of the camera, as in whether able to record 30/60/120 +++ type of fps that will be useful for slow-mo action

the dive at 1:30 > may look even better with really slow slow-mo

 

[daniyal]

pettypoh>>> With regards to export settings. Second to what you have mentioned. From what I understand and read, Vimeo will compress your video into Bit Rate of 5 and YouTube is lesser than that but I could not find the figure. I did export my video with Bit Rate of 5 but the quality when I upload them into Vimeo and YouTube is horrendous if you click on the HD button.

For the past couple of days, I did some tests. It looks much better. As of now, I will export my settings with the Bit Rate of 10 at min and Bit Rate of 40 at max. And my videos I need to increase the sharpness to 30 to have a better results.

Just sharing the quality of video with minimal effects layers. Only Fast Color Corrector and Sharpen.

http://youtu.be/42HtWGFoJIE

Shooting at higher shutter speed will decrease your motion blurness. Of course, you will need to compensate with your aperture and ISO. You can do your own test. I did mine with my ceiling fans. When you slow it down by 50%, the one with higher shutter speed, you are able to see less motion blur. With higher shutter speed, you could reduce the speed of footage up to at least 35% before your video becomes jerky. If you shoot at lower shutter speed, the best reduced speed will be around 50-60% before your video becomes jerky.

I also did read up on couple of videographers video test of slow mo with 550D and 60D. All of them, advise on a minimum of 1/2000. It works! Less motion blur and less warping. You can read a bit more on my mistakes >>> here <<<

01:30..It was a good action shot and I could not agree more with you. But to me, it was not a good composition. I will slow mo it if only I could capture the whole action of him launching the dive. That will be awesome like the ones I managed to capture in the last quarter of my video.

 

[ydetroja]

hey Deniyal
nice video and very good editing too...
i dont know but u must have seen "devinsupertramp" videos on youtube....
and apart from det.....i also have twixtor (torrent but getting big red x while making final video...even its crack...u hv any idea...
and i also come across very good video of twixtor u can also check

https://vimeo.com/27612305

https://vimeo.com/22611216

 

[daniyal]

ydetroja>>> Thanks Bro for your compliments. What do you mean you getting the "big red X" while making final video ?

I am using this video as my guide >>> http://youtu.be/dk_A4R-2SsM

 

[Bamboopictures]

Nice video Nazrin! What NLE are you using?

 

[daniyal]

BambooPictures>>> Premiere Pro and After Effects 5.5 Bro.