VIDEO4 Widescreen Mode & Youtube Upload Info

[Maxx]

I'm assuming those with VIDEO4s will have heard about the new VIDEO4 firmware update that allows Widescreen (16:9) recording.

There are currently no 'viable' 16:9 bulletcams but RT have now provided the option, via simple (and free for 4-cam enabled users) firmware update to capture and produce widescreen 1024x576 video.

This is done by allowing the user to place the output from cams 2-4 alongside the main cam view or indeed any data or graphic item. RT provide a number of sample layout that users can use and modify.

I havent 'captured" video in widescreen yet but I did do an experiment by placing data alongside the main view and this is posted up on Youtube.

Previously, in order to produce widescreen video I have cropped the top and bottom of a video and slightly stretched it to accomodate the 16:9 aspect, I have then upscaled to 1280x720 and posted to Youtube.

This method did lose a lot of quality however and to a degree restricted the information I could get on screen without it looking cluttered.

I created a Video direct from the Analysis Software and uploaded it to Youtube (at 1024x576). I then upscaled to 1280x720 and reposted the same video. The experiment shows that Youtube does encode at a higher quality when presented with 1280x720 footage of a suitably high bitrate. NOTE: Images below have also lost a little quality due to image compression.

UPLOADED @ 1024x576



VIDEO : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kAd2ujy68


UPLOADED @ 1280x720



VIDEO : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39VW0D6SxA

Maxx

[seand]

The difference is quite striking on the graphics but the moving parts appear to look a bit worse almost as if they are not being de-interlaced. However a very welcome update from RT.

[Maxx]

Sean,

All set for 31st?

What did you mean moving parts? the numerals? or the needle sweep? or the actual video?

I have noticed (and RT are aware and have no idea why) that some colours come up worse than others. Red, for instance is terrible. The 3 colours used, Orange/Green and Blue, all seem to work quite well and are reasonably sharp.

I also latered the fonts used on the sample dashes to COURIER NEW as this creates a much more uniform look to mumerics, like speed and laptimes etc. The numerals do look a little less sharp though than ARIAL which is the default, probably could also do with being a point size larger.

The 3D, 10 camera Ultra HD, GPS Aware, Motion Sensing Frontal Lobe interface version is coming soon so keep watching ..

Maxx

PS. Last bit is untrue, just winding RaceLogic up

[Maxx]

Sean,

Ah, I think I see what you mean. The video image in the 2nd screengrab looks interlaced where the control tower is. It may just be an unfortunate grab but I will look into it.

Maxx

[Maxx]

Sean,

Think it was just a poor capture, I tried to get the same point on the video but could only get .05 close and this looks ok here.



I did have a REALLY close look at various frames in the video portion itself of the 1024 v 1280 vids via and the 1280 is definitely sharper, slightly bettert colours and actually suffers less jaggies than the 1024 version.

Managed to get two frames at identical times. You can see the clearer detail in the rear view mirror and the slighter smoother lines.



Incidentally, I had posted this same footage before, using my usual trick of cropping the 720x576 video to something like 720x480. Then upscaling and "stretching" it be 1280x720 (which would be the equivalent of stretching 720x480 to 720x420)

Here is a similar screengrab. Yes, it's not AS good quality, but consideing what has been done its not too bad I dont think.



The video itself is here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irPo1LyDKHA

Maxx