Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

[Mandos_2k]

Hi,

today I noticed that the BattleRecorder records singleplayer matches only with a low demo-file quality and vehicles aren't moving smooth. Is there a way to increase the quality? :)

I know how to change the demo-file quality for multiplayer games, but haven't found anything for the singleplayer.

Has anyone an idea to help me out with that? I'm working on a little movie (like so many around here, hehe) and need a few combat scenes with lots of infantry.


cheers
Mandos_2k

[Sir. XaliaS]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

This would be so useful for those scenes that actors just can't do, especially around vehicles.
I'm looking into this too atm.

[Coi]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

one word....battlelauncher all hail senap :P

[Mandos_2k]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

tbh I haven't tried BL yet as it takes hours to render even short demo-files. But wouldn't BL create the same animations/movements for all vehicles as those when watching the demo? I don't think that BL can compensate the roughly 35mb of missing informations (high quality files have a size of about 40mb, but all files I recorderd during any singleplayer game are just about 3mb).

Have you tried to render a low quality SP demo-file with BL that is just a few mb big Coi? If the outcome is really as good as a high quality file it would be ok too. :)

[imported_John-Paul]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

I'm going to look into this, too. The quality just isn't up-to-scratch due to the diminished number of engine events recorded with the lower settings. Hopefully solving the problem is just a matter of wading through some files and eventually finding a value that can be tweaked.

Then again, I'm worried that the lower quality is a necessity because of the strain on the CPU during single-player games (having to contend with all the bots, for example). Perhaps increasing the default quality level would dramatically impact the game's performance during the recording process.

Only one way to find out, of course. I'll add another post to this thread if / when I manage to work it out.

EDIT: Okay! I've done some reading and here's the embarrassingly simple solution:

Start your single-player game and press the tilde key '~' to bring up the console. Type:

sv.demoQuality #

For the #, just select a number between 1 & 10 for your Quality Level (10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest). Press the '~' key again to close the console, then simply record your demo files as per normal.

I've already tested it and it works perfectly. By default, demos recorded in single-player have their quality setting at 1. Not surprisingly, there's a huge contrast when you boost it up to 10.

Now, I'm going to celebrate by eating some hot cross buns.

[Jacky]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

I'm going to look into this, too. The quality just isn't up-to-scratch due to the diminished number of engine events recorded with the lower settings. Hopefully solving the problem is just a matter of wading through some files and eventually finding a value that can be tweaked.

Then again, I'm worried that the lower quality is a necessity because of the strain on the CPU during single-player games (having to contend with all the bots, for example). Perhaps increasing the default quality level would dramatically impact the game's performance during the recording process.

Only one way to find out, of course. I'll add another post to this thread if / when I manage to work it out.

EDIT: Okay! I've done some reading and here's the embarrassingly simple solution:

Start your single-player game and press the tilde key '~' to bring up the console. Type:

sv.demoQuality #

For the #, just select a number between 1 & 10 for your Quality Level (10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest). Press the '~' key again to close the console, then simply record your demo files as per normal.

I've already tested it and it works perfectly. By default, demos recorded in single-player have their quality setting at 1. Not surprisingly, there's a huge contrast when you boost it up to 10.

Now, I'm going to celebrate by eating some hot cross buns.

Thx a lot, its really helpfull :):)

[Mandos_2k]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

Thank you John-Paul!

I've tried to edit some files which contained the x.demoQuality entry but none of them changed it. I'll try out your console command too asap! :)

[Sir. XaliaS]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

Kudos to you John, I owe you all a good bot movie.

[imported_John-Paul]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

My pleasure, guys!

As soon as I came across this thread, I was keen to work it out. Over the last few days, I've been having fun making little modifications to Karkand's single-player server.zip file and considered recording some new footage but the quality was an issue for me, too.

Mandos_2k, in response to your PM, I noticed the console command on the list here (although it was one of many commands without a clearly-defined use):

http://www.totalbf2.com/game/console/

I'm now keen to investigate some of the others, too. In the meantime, I'm glad each of us can start recording some high-quality action featuring bots. Time-permitting, I'll post some video footage of my new "Karkand Defensive Shield" in action! Here are some pictures:

[Sir. XaliaS]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

^
LOL, that could make a great war movie spoof, or part of one.

"The MEC forces have just one last defence"

[Darkstar10]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

if you are a big movie maker, battlelauncher is almost a must. No matter how long it takes, the quality is unbeleivable and thats what u want people to watch.

[imported_John-Paul]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

Well, I'll do some more experiments with Battlelauncher soon but I've got to say, I'm pretty happy with the results I can get via Fraps. Lots of people assumed "Khalid's Surprise" was filmed and rendered via Battlelauncher. I figure if Fraps footage can come across as being on par with something rendered the hard way, I might as well continue doing it the easy way. :)

[Darkstar10]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

Lots of people assumed "Khalid's Surprise" was filmed and rendered via Battlelauncher.

IT WASNT?!?! i want ur computer then because my battlelauncher doesnt even match your fraps, thats amazing

[Mandos_2k]

Re: Singleplayer and BattleRecorder demo-file quality??

Thanks for the link John-Paul. I tried the console command and It worked perfectly fine for me. :) btw: Your "Karkand Defensive Shield" screenies look pretty nice. What will your project be about? A joy-frag-bot-slaughter video, a story telling movie? Or something else? Looks promising!