Want to create automatic converter from demo files to videos
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:34 pm
Excuse me for cross posting, but I just want to get attention from people working with Rebirth code base on the subject.
And probably you know about other's attempts in this direction, too.
Basically I want to make a kind of Rebirth "plugin" (in fact, a function) that will play the demo into the video file instead of the screen. I need this because I have a lot of Descent 2 demos to convert (maybe 100 hours worth), and obviously converting them with (F)CRAPS or similar software one-by-one will be very long and tedious process. Another possible benefits are, such a plugin won't block my computer during recording (as it can be run as low priority task) and can be potentially much faster (no need to show frames at 30 FPS, can di it at 200 FPS fro example).
How do you think, is it worth trying? From the brief look, I've run into the following problems, greatly appreciate if you could help me with some of them.
1) Compiling Rebirth under Windows environment. I've read the instructions in the project folder (INSTALL.txt) , still it seems that they are for people who already have their environment set up and have all necessary dependencies.
I installed SCons 3.0 and Python 2.7 but running SCons,gives syntax error in SConstruct file, line 17
print "%s: %s" % (program.program_message_prefix, msg). And I have a feeling, that paths to compiler, linker and scons.bat are not set up correctly by scons installer, too.
2) Is there a way to create and use VS project for compiling Rebirth?
3) Could not find where rendering and demo playing functions are located. The project seems to have no documentation, and file names are not self explaining, too. Maybe if I had VS project it would not be a big issue.
4) Can you point me to the right direction WRT to writing sound into the video and syncing it with video frames (which API to use, some code examples). For example smth like creating a window from a soundtrack and a static picture. Also about how to convert Rebirth sound format to anything that could be written to the video.
I am an experienced software engineer (and have no problems understanding other's code), but had very little experience with video codecs, and NO experience with audio (except using Beep function on my old ZX-spectrum 25 years ago ). Mostly was working with various math, machine learning algorithms, low level optimization and stuff like this. Of course did basic GUI and know OpenGL well enough.
And probably you know about other's attempts in this direction, too.
Basically I want to make a kind of Rebirth "plugin" (in fact, a function) that will play the demo into the video file instead of the screen. I need this because I have a lot of Descent 2 demos to convert (maybe 100 hours worth), and obviously converting them with (F)CRAPS or similar software one-by-one will be very long and tedious process. Another possible benefits are, such a plugin won't block my computer during recording (as it can be run as low priority task) and can be potentially much faster (no need to show frames at 30 FPS, can di it at 200 FPS fro example).
How do you think, is it worth trying? From the brief look, I've run into the following problems, greatly appreciate if you could help me with some of them.
1) Compiling Rebirth under Windows environment. I've read the instructions in the project folder (INSTALL.txt) , still it seems that they are for people who already have their environment set up and have all necessary dependencies.
I installed SCons 3.0 and Python 2.7 but running SCons,gives syntax error in SConstruct file, line 17
print "%s: %s" % (program.program_message_prefix, msg). And I have a feeling, that paths to compiler, linker and scons.bat are not set up correctly by scons installer, too.
2) Is there a way to create and use VS project for compiling Rebirth?
3) Could not find where rendering and demo playing functions are located. The project seems to have no documentation, and file names are not self explaining, too. Maybe if I had VS project it would not be a big issue.
4) Can you point me to the right direction WRT to writing sound into the video and syncing it with video frames (which API to use, some code examples). For example smth like creating a window from a soundtrack and a static picture. Also about how to convert Rebirth sound format to anything that could be written to the video.
I am an experienced software engineer (and have no problems understanding other's code), but had very little experience with video codecs, and NO experience with audio (except using Beep function on my old ZX-spectrum 25 years ago ). Mostly was working with various math, machine learning algorithms, low level optimization and stuff like this. Of course did basic GUI and know OpenGL well enough.