How to create a time lapse video using Smart Player (Windows)

How to create a time lapse video using Smart Player (Windows)

To create a time lapse video, the user will need the Smart Player and a program to compile .JPG files to a video such as MakeAVI (freeware):

  1. Open the Smart Player.
  2. Click the Add Files button.
  3. Select the .DAV file to be converted.
  4. Select Export File button.
  5. In the Export File menu, the .DAV file will be listed in the Files window.  Check the checkbox next to the file to be converted.
  6. In the Export Format dropdown, select JPG.
  7. In the Interval section, select the intervals of when JPG files will be created from the video for the time lapse.  For example, in an hour long clip, a 1 minute interval will produce 60 JPGs (60 frames). 
  8. Click the Begin Export button.  Select a location for the .JPG files to be saved.
  9. Open MakeAVI.
  10. Click the Add Files button.
  11. Navigate to the directory where the .JPG files are stored.  Highlight (select) all the files and click Open.
  12. Select the FPS (frames per second) desired.  DH Vision suggests 1 FPS as a starting point.
  13. Click the Begin! button and then select the destination for the time lapse .AVI video file.
  14. Select the Compressor in the File Compression window.  Full Frames (Uncompressed) will create a large file.  If other Compressors are available such as H.264 or MPEG-4, these will reduce file size considerably with minimal impact on quality however will require some configuration and testing (Configure button).  Compressors can be found in codec packs such as K-Lite Codec Pack which is free to download and install.
  15. Click Ok to begin compiling the time lapse video.
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