Cinematic Editor and BINK Compression (Tutorial, Help, Instructions)

[jản]

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'Cinematic Editor'
[ Tutorial, Help, Instructions ]

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RAD Tools Bink Converter

[ Click HERE for Bink Converter instructions ]

(1) Download the .bat and .cfg files here.

(2) Extract them into game-dir

(3) edit the .cfg files to type in your replay file and your camera-sets

more problems?:

M2TW Cinematic Editor Video Tutorials, Info and Fan Videos!

~~~

(X) if you have to edit the .bat files right-click on them and press edit.
(or "bearbeiten" in german)

then there is a command line that connects the executables.
for third age total war it has to be:

for the Third_Age_cine-ed_edit.bat:

kingdoms.exe --features.mod=mods\Third_Age @Third_Age_cine-ed_edit.cfg

and

for the Third_Age_cine-ed_render.bat:

kingdoms.exe --features.mod=mods\Third_Age @Third_Age_cine-ed_render.cfg

in this case you have to name the .cfg files to "Third_Age_cine-ed_render.cfg"
and "Third_Age_cine-ed_edit.cfg" to get it working.

///

here is my edited "Third_Age_cine-ed_render.cfg" with the best
results you can actually get (at least i think that).
you only have to fill in your own directorys.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[camera]

campaign_map_smoothing = 1

default_in_battle = default

fov = 75

move = 30

restrict = 0

rotate = 10

#-------------------------------------------

[video]

anisotropic_level = 16

anti_alias_mode = normal

antialiasing = 8

battle_32_bit = 1

battle_resolution = 1024 768

bloom = 1 

building_detail = high 

campaign_32_bit = 1

campaign_resolution = 1024 768

depth_shadows = 2

depth_shadows_resolution = 2

desync_animations = 1

detailed_unit_shadows = 1

effect_quality = highest

gamma = 100 

glints = 1

gloss_mapping = 1

grass_distance = 20000

movies = 0

no_background_fmv = 1

reflection = 1 

reflections = 1

show_banners = 0

subtitles = 0

terrain_quality = highest

texture_filtering = 1

tga_aspect = 1.5

tga_input_scale = 1

tga_reserve_space = 0

tga_width = 2500

triple_buffer = 1

ui_32_bit = 0

unit_detail = highest

unit_shaders = 1

vegetation = 1

vegetation_quality = highest

vsync = 1

water_buffers_per_node = 8

widescreen = 0

windowed = 1


#------------------------------------------- INSERT REPLAY HERE!!!

[replay] 

play = 1

file = C:\Spiele\Mediewal II - Total War\mods\Third_Age\replays\Gondor.rpy

camera = C:\Spiele\Mediewal II - Total War\mods\Third_Age\cameras\Gondor.cameraGroupXml

show_battle_ui = 0

info = 0

#-------------------------------------------

[features]

editor = true

mod = C:\Spiele\Mediewal II - Total War\mods\Third_Age

#-------------------------------------------

[capture_tga]

enable = 1

fps = 60

dir = C:\Spiele\Mediewal II - Total War\mods\Third_Age\video_capture\

#-------------------------------------------

[cine] 

show = 1 

width = 1024

height = 768

capture = 1

avi = 1

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'RAD Tools - Bink Conversion'

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M2TW uses the RAD Compression tool to view BINK (.bik) Videos in game, as the intro and all the cutscenes you see in game. You can use this free codec to compress and convert your Videos that they can be viewed in game, by replace existing or adding new videos.

For the BINK conversion download the RAD Video Tools ('BINK and SMACKER Converter')
(which is available as a free version). <DOWNLOAD HERE>

Here you can find Support and Help for the Converter Settings.

!!!

Always capture your video (CinEd or another Screencapture Software) in the exact
same resolution, aspect ratio (1.0) and frame rate (30fps for M2TW .bik's) you want
to use for your .bik's to increase the quality and to decrease the render time.

and for your video export use uncompressed avi's for best results.

Bink Converter:

Here is an optimal setting i use for my videos:

Spoiler for optimal settings: 

What it does:
( based on footage by archer9 )

original video (compressed .wmv):

Click to view content: 

5.0 data rate and 100% compression:

Click to view content: 

screen-optimized setting (the one from the setting screenshot with contrast, brightness and Gamma settings):

Click to view content: 

binks bad standard settings with date rate compression:

Click to view content: 

[MaxMazi]

Ok, some of you guys in here were complaining that you watched the tutorials on cinematic editor and you didn't understood how to take screenshots with it.
So, i've decided to create a simplified video tutorial for the ones that want to learn that. This tutorial is intended to simplify the operation to the maximum, so, i ask the ones who already have the knowledge of cined not to bash me because i forgot to mention different stuff in this video.
After watching the movie, if someone has a question, feel free to send me a pm, and i will gladly answer.
So here it is. Don't forget to press HD for high definition quality. You can watch it in here, but i recommend to go to youtube (by clicking on the video) and watch in full screen, otherwise you wont see the text. Enjoy.



Here is the link for cined (files are provided by another member, sud commander):
http://s4.transfer.ro/storage/Mediev..._War-41d9b.zip

Here is the link for virtual dub (needed for exporting image sequences)
http://sourceforge.net/project/downl..._mirror=switch

And here are my screenshots with Cined:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Have a nice TATW!

[MaxMazi]

I will quote here Jan's post in the screenshots thread, because i fear that there this information will be lost after the dev's will clear the thread.

okay - i think this could be possible. thereis a console code that saves replays.
i guess this should work for campaign battles.
maybe someone can try this.

the console codes are:

save_battle_replay  /// saves replay
save_battle_replay <name>  /// saves battle replay in file replays/<name>.rpy  

///

How we should use this Jan? After the campaign battle, when the stats appear, we need to open console and type... what?
Thanks.

LE: I guess the command will be save_battle_replay <name>. I will try that and post feedback.

LLE: After the battle if i write in console "save_battle_replay <name>" it shows a error message: Err. Battle can not be saved. So, i guess it's not working . Thx anyway Jan.

[Punisher1024]

I downloaded the cine ed from sud commander's post but the TATW_cine-ed_edit.cfg file doesn't work it says windows cannot open this file because it needs to know what program to open it with. Does anyone know how I can get this to work?

[MaxMazi]

I downloaded the cine ed from sud commander's post but the TATW_cine-ed_edit.cfg file doesn't work it says windows cannot open this file because it needs to know what program to open it with. Does anyone know how I can get this to work?

Yep, open it with Notepad or Wordpad or any text editing application. Choose Select the program from a list and point it to those apps. You will have to start the program with the file that has .bat extension.

[Punisher1024]

I just tried to open it with notepad but it wont let me for some reason. Normaly my computer has a "open with" function but its not doing it for these files.

[MaxMazi]

I just tried to open it with notepad but it wont let me for some reason. Normaly my computer has a "open with" function but its not doing it for these files.

Open with will not appear first time, you need to double click the file, choose the second option "Select the program from a list" and point it to Notepad or Wordpad.

[miniwally]

right click file then click edit

[jản]

save_battle_replay How we should use this Jan?

i don't know - this is a M2TW console command i found in the complete
commands list for the M2TW console. i haven't tried it - but i think this
must work anyhow. maybe someone with more scripting knowledge could
find out how to get this working.

[matt will]

This is just a guess but why not type the battle name i.e if it was in Gorgoroth in 2967 TA then type that.

[I PONDER1024]

This stinks, i got the cine editor and had fun with it, but it reset all my GAME setting and every time i used the cine editor it resets the game settings. I edited the text file of the cine edit and set it to not show banners and it all went down i had to reenstall.

[MaxMazi]

All of this could be resolved only if you set your medieval2.preference.cfg to read only after you set your preferred settings in game options.

[I PONDER1024]

okay ill try that

-----Edit thanks dude, its working

[MaxMazi]

With pleasure "dude"
Remember to untick read only when you want to make some changes in your options and then tick again.

[I PONDER1024]

Maxmazi, i have a question, would it work to take screenshots by just using the snipping tool with vista?

[MaxMazi]

I am not sure about it, so i can't answer this.
But i offer you a better alternative, and that is FRAPS.

With these you can take a shot of what you see on the screen, but it will never be as good as the angles you can achieve in Cinematic Editor.

[sithlord447]

I am not sure about it, so i can't answer this.
But i offer you a better alternative, and that is FRAPS.

With these you can take a shot of what you see on the screen, but it will never be as good as the angles you can achieve in Cinematic Editor.

actually i think he is right as all you do is get your desired picture from the cined the press the snipping tool button and drag the box over your desired picture in fact i think that could save a whole load of time

[faisal1996]

um when i click on Third_Age_cine-ed_edit.bat it starts then crashes every time! and when i click on the other .bat one it goes in a window then it loads and takes ages then crashes! ive followed the instructions!

[MaxMazi]

Please check again if the path to the game is properly written in your files. If you copied the files from someone else it's very possible that the path is not the same as yours

[faisal1996]

thank u i will check

um ive checked. there all in the right directory and it stil crashes

wait no i got it wrong :S it works now