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Introduction to AMVGuide

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VIDEO TUTORIAL 1/10: "Why follow AMVGuide?" ~ [3:33]

How do I use this Guide?

Hello,

and welcome to the "Guide" section of the site.

Before we begin, there are a few orders of business that need to be discussed. First, please be aware that this guide is a perpetual WIP (Work in Progress), which means sections are constantly being updated. As such, if you cannot find what you are looking for, please use the search box at the top of the site; otherwise, you can always try poking around the forums on AnimeMusicVideos.Org



About the Navigation Menu (on the right ☞)

• Un-Visited Sections will appear Light-Blue
• The Section You Are Currently On will be Highlighted-Black/Yellow
• Visited Sections will appear Greyed-Out

For your convenience, there are also « BACK / NEXT » Links on the top & bottom of every page so you can always check which section you came from and what section is coming next. At the bottom of each section, there will also be an area for TIPS and RELATED LINKS. You can usually find useful information there before moving on to the next section.

TIPS: Using the Hotkey combination Ctrl+F on your keyboard is a very powerful way to Find information on a page. To make Visited Links re-appear as Un-Visited Links, simply clear your browser history; or use something like CCleaner. The RELATED LINKS box is for Optional/Advanced info. ☞

RELATED LINKS About this guide Collection of AMV Resources Appendix Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Introduction to AMVGuide)

NEXT: Objectives »

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Objectives

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"Objectives! ~Desu"

Objectives of AMVGuide

Objective 1: Gain Absolute Control of our source footage

Control.

If we truly want to edit our footage the way we want, it helps if we know how to control things like Framerate, Interlacing, Resolution, and anything that will impact image/encode Quality etc...

Some steps may seem like a pain at first, but once you know how to do them, you won't be constrained by the limitations of your editing program. Then you can bend your footage to your will, and manipulate it however you need.

Objective 2: Make Audio AND Video Editing-Friendly

Editing-Friendly Formats.

Be aware that certain file formats/containers are better for making AMV's than others. In our case we will use: UtVideo within .avi (for video), and Uncompressed within .wav (for audio). Once converted to these formats, you generally get:

- Faster Seek-Times for improved editing speed. This allows you to easily scrub the timeline and rearrange clips.
- Truly Frame-Accurate footage allows for precise cuts and accurate rendering; very important for Timing/Synchronization. 
- Improved Stability prevents glitches and program crashes... and you obviously don't want that...

Objective 3: Create the AMV that you want

It's your AMV.

Because in the end, ♫ it doesn't even matter ♫ any advice you get is simply intended to help you create the AMV you want. Never let it turn your AMV into something you don't want.

Remember, you are the creator of your AMV, regardless of who you are making it for, or what you are trying to achieve. Make what you want. And if you are happy with your work, that's usually all that matters. That being said, I would still take the technical advice in this guide more seriously for the reasons mentioned above.

TIPS: Some formats are better for Editing than others Some formats are better for Online Distribution than others Converting Audio is just as important as converting Video

RELATED LINKS A/VTech: Main Page Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Objectives)

NEXT: Requirements »

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Requirements

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"...What do I need?"

Requirements

1. A computer running Windows XP or later (Mac users go here)
2. Lot's of Free Disc Space (20GB to 1TB+)
3. Video-Editing Program - Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas, and Magix Movie Edit are pretty common;
   See: Poll | Wiki | (Windows Movie Maker has limited settings, so it is not recommended)
4. Anime & Music Sources --you know-- the pretty pictures and sounds :D
5. Download, Unzip, and Install The Latest AMVapp (20MB) | About (Google how to Unzip files)
6. Download and Install The CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack)
7. Watch Some Good AMV's

What type of files are these?

VIDEO TUTORIAL 2/10: "File Extensions" ~ [1:23]

What software do I need?

VIDEO TUTORIAL 3/10: "Programs & Tools" ~ [5:08]

The Final "Requirement"

To repeat #7: The best thing you can do to make good AMVs, is to check out some Top-Rated Examples.

I acknowledge that everyone's concept of 'Good' is a bit different, and your work doesn't need to be just like these videos --This isn't about duplicating the work of others-- --and neither is it about feeling shame to avoid copying others either-- This is simply about being aware of what can be accomplished by learning from the past. It's about becoming open-minded. To see things from the perspective of other people; editors and audience alike. And of course... it's about enjoyment too ^__^

As such, things like Requirements, Education, and Learning should never be viewed as obstacles that are in your way. Rather, they should be viewed as things you actively want to experience. If you just keep that in mind, I believe you'll come across a whole world of things that just may surprise you.

TIPS: Try downloading the Trial Versions of various Video-Editors to see what program feels best for you. External Hards Drives are great for extra disc space Showing File Extensions is a good way to distinguish between file types. Example: "AMVapp31.zip" is a .zip file

RELATED LINKS A/VTech: Getting Started The AMVapp Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Requirements)

NEXT: Common Mistakes »

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Common Mistakes

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*facepalm*

Common Mistakes

Please DO NOT do this...

1. So, I can just drag and drop my original footage into my editor right? [+]
Well... you could do that... but it usually leads to more problems than it's worth. I recommend converting to an editing-friendly format first, as outlined in this guide, so you have faster seeking-times, truly frame-accurate footage, and improved stability for less system crashes.


2. So, I can just drag and drop my original audio into my editor right? [+]
see answer to #1


3. My footage has a resolution of 720x480. It's supposed to look like that. [+]
No. Particularly with DVD footage, your player stretches your footage during playback according to the AR (Aspect Ratio) of your DVD. If your footage is 4:3, it is stretched to a 4:3 resolution like 720x540, 640x480, etc. If your footage is 16:9, it is stretched to a 16:9 resolution like ~848x480, 1280x720, etc. You need to make sure your footage is stretched to the correct Aspect Ratio. [The Crop/Resize/Aspect section will address how to do this later]


4. My footage has a framerate of 29.97fps. It's supposed be like that. [+]
Maybe, but probably not. Most animation is done at 23.976fps , with a lot of those frames being duplicates to begin with. In rare cases, your footage will be true 29.97fps. If your footage does have this framerate (most North American DVDs will), in all likelihood your footage was just converted to 29.97fps to meet DVD standards. This means your footage probably has interlacing or extra duplicates added. If you don't fix this, it could lead to a number of problems like jerky motion, and ugly frames. [This topic will be addressed in the Framerate section later]


5. When I'm done my AMV, I just export/compress with my editing program. [+]
Even if your program is capable of doing this, you can get much better results if you export as Uncompressed first (or something Lossless), then compress with another program afterwards (like Zarx264gui). You generally get better quality and smaller filesizes.


6. I want to have clean footage, so I'm going to add all these filters to anti-alias, remove grain, smooth, and derainbow etc. That way I am guaranteed to get the best quality, right? [+]
Bad idea. Only use a filter if your footage actually has the defect you want to remove. Too many filters can make your footage look worse. So you don't want to use them unless you have to.


7. I'll just use my program's default settings. It knows what's best for me right? [+]
Your program can easily get things wrong, like framerate, resolution, aspect ratio, sample rate (audio) etc... it is best to set these yourself; As a rule of thumb, you want to make sure your Source Properties, Project Settings, and Export Settings are all the same.

TIPS: It is best to read this guide in the order shown on the left Feel free to bookmark important parts of this site If you have any tips you want to share, leave a comment ;)

RELATED LINKS Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Common Mistakes)

NEXT: Other Considerations »

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Other Considerations

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"...hmmm...I didn't think of that."

Other Considerations

Here are some things you should probably consider before starting your project.  I'll try to expand on each of these later.  But for now you can check out the RELATED LINKS section.  I strongly encourage you to do so.

1. AMV Concept
2. Anime Choice
3. Music Choice
4. Fit (how well do the two go together)
5. AMV Genre
6. Motivation
7. Your Audience
8. Collaboration
9. File Organization

Read more »

Other *Other* Considerations

AMV Concept Map (circa 2009)
(I suggest downloading and viewing it with an image viewer like FastStone)

[+] Know what you are trying to accomplish

Simply wanting to 'make something cool' is usually too broad of a goal since
there are a million different ways this can be achieved.
Getting specific makes everything much easier to work towards.
Even if you just want to compile a bunch of cool scenes set to a song you like...
...once you say it out loud, everything becomes much more focused.

[+] Flow

Whether it be flow of your audio/video/concept/whatever...
This could mean synch, movement, storyline, or even the setup to a joke... etc.
Whoever is watching should have an easy time seeing the natural flow/progress of your AMV.
(Especially if you have a particular goal in mind.)
ie. This happens, then this happens, then this happens...
There doesn't necessarily have to be a story, but there needs to be some cohesion.

[+] Patterns

Music has many patterns. Keep track of them.
It reeeallly helps if you organize and keep track of the structure of your music in your timeline.
I know some people like doing this as they go along, but if you do this before starting
your project, you can get a better overall sense of how your AMV is going to turn out.
Then, simply tailor your AMV around those patterns:
Dedicate certain ideas of your AMV to certain sections of your song.
Place your coolest scenes at pivotal moments in your music.
It's far easier to conquer many small sections than trying to do everything at once.
It's also easier to determine sections of 'downtime' in your AMV.
AMV's do need downtime... sections to just connect different parts of your video.
If you don't have that, there are no natural raises/falls for your audience to follow.

[+] Predictability/Unpredictability

As much of a paradox as it is, people Expect to be Surprised.
The audience should be able to expect certain things to happen at certain
times based on the flow of your music and visual patterns.
Whatever you do at those moments is where the unpredictability comes in.
... but try not to be so unpredictable that it get's confusing,
and not so predictable that it get's boring either.
To get around this I usually try to "Be Unpredictable in a Predictable way."

[+] Technical Understanding

Know how to use a computer.
Know that certain formats are better-suited for editing; others are better-suited for online distribution.
Know about things like framerate. It helps with timing and frame-accuracy.
Know how to maintain good quality.
Know what you are doing.
It always comes in handy.

[+] Study

Study good AMVs.
Study your own AMVs.
Study your Audience. Put yourself in their shoes. Get in their heads ^o^
Study Contest Guidelines (Requirements? does it fit into a certain category?)
Study your Footage: How did the creators lay out the scene? or make cuts the way they did?
Study Visual Literacy: Color Theory, Cinematography, Comics/Manga, OMG Rule of Thirds, Minimalism etc...
Study Audio: Know the difference between Beat and Melody; Listen to a range of genres; develop good taste. Study Guides. They are everywhere, including the RESOURCES Section.
Then Experiment. Constantly. But budget your time reasonably.
Be Efficient. Smart. Focused.
Practice making full AMVs too, so you are comfortable with the whole process.
(It'll give you a completely different perspective on things.)

[+] Honesty

Be brutally honest about the moments when you think the audience [whoever it is] might be either bored or confused. This could save you a whole lot of embarrassment when you realize what it's like to be on their end of the video.

[+] Workflow

Be aware of how much time and effort you want to dedicate to certain aspects of the whole process; not just the editing. This includes coming up with a general idea of what you want to accomplish in the end; and picking a song/anime with clear connections so you know that the end product is going to work (instead of forcing it to work... which can be very frustrating). Then section off your audio into clear distinct parts that you *know* you can tackle instead of trying to do the whole thing at once. This way, you are being realistic about how things are going to play out in the end. If you spend more time on this part of the process, it will pay off in the next steps when you find and organize clips; and *then* ultimately edit; and revise as necessary. It's all about organizing your Workflow; otherwise you get stuck at certain stages... and get burned out. For more information about this check out my AMV Hierarchy of Limitations.

[+] ...on that note: Work Smart, not Hard

Well okay, sometimes work hard too...
...but don't let AMVs consume your life.
Make clear divisions between work and play.

Read more »

AMV Hierarchy of Limitations

"Narrow down your choices to those that limit you most, so you don't waste unnecessary effort on footage that won't ever make it into your final AMV."

(I find this approach can make your life soooooo much easier when deciding how to start a new AMV.)

Read more »

TIPS: Often, Preparation is key to a good video Studying good AMVs can help improve your own videos Experimentation can lead to great things

RELATED LINKS So You Want To Be A *GOOD* Anime Music Video Editor? AMV Hierarchy of Limitations Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Other Considerations)

NEXT: Flow Chart »

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Flow Chart

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"It's all a piece of cake by the time you are done this guide." Notes [+]     * Make sure File Extensions are showing on your Computer   ** Control things like: Interlacing, Framerate, Resolution, AR, Noise etc... *** Reliable, Lossless, Frame-Accurate; with Fast Seeking-times     † Suggested NLE's: Adobe Premiere (+After Effects), Sony Vegas, Magix...     ‡ Should be a good balance between quality and file size     ¶ All programs are free from the web (except maybe your NLE)

"We're gonna do all that...!?"

Hey now, you've read this far already, so don't let a little flow chart scare you away. Yes, it looks intimidating at first... but realize that you won't be doing all of the steps in the flow chart anyway-- just the ones that apply to the specific type of audio/video you are working with :)

It's not even that bad when you get used to it. I mean, a lot of great AMV editors follow this sort of methodology as second nature, without even thinking about it; where the steps go by so fast that sometimes the method is taken for granted... leaving newbies scratching their heads.

But this flow chart shows everything. And it contains all the main steps involved in the whole process, so don't be scared; it'll actually make your life easier, especially if you combine it with the Quick Steps in the next section.

But if that's still too much work for you, you can always try your luck in the RESOURCES section.

Otherwise, continue on... :P

TIPS: Hover over the chart to jump to a section; but please don't skip sections until you've gotten there first. If you have any questions, use the Public Comment Boxes

RELATED LINKS About this guide My Collection of AMV Links Appendix Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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(DONE: Flow Chart)

NEXT: Quick Steps »

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Quick Steps

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SPEED TUTORIAL: "All Steps Condensed" ~ [10:18]

Disclaimer: The above "Quick Steps" are for those that just want the basics to getting started.

If you want more in-depth information, please read the rest of the guide too.

Quick Steps for Making an AMV "Technically" Correct

A. Download AMVapp (0)

a. UnZip contents (1)(2)(3)
b. Install the following (4):

- avisynth
- avspluginspack
- avspmod
- virtualdub
- utvideo codec (5)

c. Download & Install CCCP

B. Open your footage with AvsPmod (6)

a. If directshowsource() is present, it is preferred to replace with ffvideosource()
b. Make any desired changes (7)
c. Save your script and close AvsPmod (8)

C. Open your script with VirtualDub (9)

a. Video > Compression > Ut Video Codec YUV420 > ok
b. Video > Fast recompress ; Audio > No audio
c. Mark off the Start and End points of the segment you want (10)
d. File > Save as avi... (11)(12)
e. If you want to save multiple clips in a row without waiting for each clip to render:

- File > Queue as Batch Operation > Save as Avi... (or Ctrl+Shift+F7)
- Then once you are ready: File > Job Control > Start

f. Wait for all clips to render, then close vdub

D. Edit your AMV using your Lossless .avi file(s) (13)(14)(15)(16)

See Notes [+]
__________
(0) Be sure to get the latest version
(1) It might be useful to have File Extensions showing-- like "AMVapp31.zip"
(2) Right-click > extract...
(3) At this point, you can delete the .zip if you want...
(4) If possible, right-click > run as admin...
(5) for 32-bit Windows install just x86; for 64-bit Windows, install x86 then x64
(6) Just Drag & Drop; or go File > Open... (Note: for DVD's, you have to:

1. rip the .vob's; 2. index them; then 3. open the .d2v indexes with AvsPmod.)

(7) (possibly optional): remove interlacing, framerate adjustments, crop/resize, cleaning etc...
(8) It may be worth noting that an AviSynth script is nothing more than a text file with an avs extension. So if your computer has File Extensions showing, you could forgo this whole step by right-clicking in Windows > New Text Document.txt > Change the .txt extension to .avs > Open > Type commands > Save
(9) If using ffvideosource, the first time may take a while to create the .ffindex file (don't delete it)
(10) By scrolling the bar and using the two rightmost buttons (Mark In and Mark Out)
(11) You can save the whole video by not marking off Start/End-points
(12) Make sure you have enough disc space (save a small test clip for a size estimate)
(13) Using the Lossless .avi files is the recommended method, but there are two alternatives
(14) Be sure to convert your audio to Uncompressed .wav as well (try Audacity).
(15) Try to set up your project so your input/timeline/export framerates and resolutions all match
(16) Maybe browse through some resources to get your creative juices flowing.

(Remember to Export your final AMV as a big Lossless or Uncompressed .avi and compress it with Zarx264gui afterwards)

To anyone reading this, let me know how things work out. In the end, I would like to create a set of instructions that is short, reliable, and to the point-- so that anyone who wants to create an AMV can, regardless of experience or interest in the technical side of Video Production.

TIPS: Always refer back to the Flow Chart or Menu if you get lost You can also check out my Video Tutorials on YouTube And be sure to check out the Blog from time to time

RELATED LINKS List of AMV Resources Help Improve this Section a-m-v.org Forum

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NEXT: SECTION I: AUDIO »