beware's DDR background video pack 2013

Is star1R.avi, used in Dancing Stage Euromix2 and DDREXUSA Y.M.C.A, allowed?

ok i will include it.

Fact; I just noticed Ring10 actually spells out DDR.

in which song on euromix 2 is star1r used? it has no Y.M.C.A.

TEST MY BEST.

Are you sure it's not used in DDR Extreme Y.M.C.A? (USA) The last time I checked, it IS. :/

He said "on euromix 2" though.

Well, it's used in TEST MY BEST if DDR Extreme US isn't allowed (probably not, concerning Lady21.avi)

TEST MY BEST -IS- on EuroMIX 2, Cuzco is right on both counts.

the confusion was caused by vagueness. it's used on EM2. without saying which song. so it sounded as if it's perhaps used on Y.M.C.A. on em2 (which makes no sense). so yes it's used in test my best, why wasn't that said right away?


i have not shown anything for a few days now, but i was not sitting still. changes:

- reversed sirens1, it was the wrong way around
- added kangaroo1r, star1r, heart13
- slightly tuned square2, square2a, square4, to have the same framerates among each other
- grid1 was wrong
- improved circle1c and circle1d. they are used by one script, burnin' the floor (blue fire mix), and with the script as is, it is now much more accurate. circle1d is using a formerly unidentified video that just shows this effect.

- AeronPeryton told me that the videos on max cs are encoded from the arcade jpegs, and on max2/extreme cs, they are encoded from the raw/source material, or so it seems, so they are higher quality. i re-ripped the videos to be sure only the minimum of videos still come from max cs (about 10 videos out of 700).

- i was looking to make the videos smaller, and i made a program to test for objective quality (RMS error, which is really a different notation of PSNR) to see how different bitrates compare. then i accidentally ran across a better way to encode the videos: with mencoder's xvid codec. it was said to be better so i gave it a test.

the old way:
ffmpeg (2 pass) -mbd rd -flags mv0 -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag xvid

the new way:
mencoder -ovc xvid -xvidencopts pass=2:trellis:vhq=4:me_quality=6:chroma_me:nochroma_opt:noqpel:nogmc:max_bframes=1:packed:profile=asp5:bitrate=(bitrate)

and it is much better:



i show the spot i choose to encode on.

the red line shows the old way, the green line shows the new way. the new videos are considerably (17%) smaller and have a slightly better quality (4% smaller error). i chose the new bitrate arbitrarily to be a conservative value for smaller files.

note: ffmpeg has a libxvid codec which is higher quality, but the first few frames show a "build up" artefact which is useless for ddr background videos, and it's still less good than mencoder's xvid encoder.

a detailed explanation of the encoding settings i use:

"packed": packed bitstream. fixes "one frame lag" decoder workaround which fixes the seeking problem in virtualdub, and which probably improves timing/accuracy of playback in stepmania. sadly this means the videos are not MPEG4-ASP compliant and won't work on every hardware player but i think this is not a big problem for the purpose.

max_bframes=1: if packed bitstream is used, then this improves compatibility (for example divx 5, maybe some hardware players)

noqpel: disable Qpel, for better compatibility
nogmc: disable global motion compensation, for better compatibility
profile=asp5: limit to advanced simple@L5 profile, which caps the max VBR bitrate, for better compatibility.

nochroma_opt: disables an optimization that aims to improve visual quality at the cost of SNR/accuracy, but on videos that were already compressed before i think this is a bad idea.

trellis, vhq=4, me_quality=6, chroma_me, pass=2: settings that maximize quality/SNR at the cost of slower encoding

The "green" line looks blue to me, kind of like my current icon, which is currently an anthropomorphized kaliedoscope13 ring.

So you can rip any reverse videos from DS EM2? Because I know there are a few others.

yes it's bluish. it's de-facto standard signal/sign "green" which is more colorblind friendly (it's probably still a bit more blue than that but that is no problem, it's simply a color that contrasts with red)

go ahead and name more reverse videos and say which songs they are used in.

next to EM2, i also "allow" any scripts that are on other CS mixes (party collection, festival, etc) for songs that were on japanese arcade mixes before (but lacked a bg script there), an example is test my best, and a lot of 5th mix songs are on festival.

Alright, I know at least 3 (and they are favorites of mine). There might be more.



kaliedoscope12r; Used in STOMP. View it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbJi5KiyWYI You see it right after tunnel5 at the 1 minute mark.



pentagon1r; Used in STOMP again, right at the beginning.



disco3r; Yes, that's right. It's actually possible to tell in reverse. It's used in Aaron's Party (Come Get It). Right here, pay attention to those diamond thingies. Now look at the pixels and ring borders. They go in a certain direction. It'll be like that as long as the original disco3 is played. Now, when the original finishes playing in AP(CGI), they go the opposite. In short, AP(CGI) pingpongs disco3.

i found out that in the previous version of the pack, grid4 was wrong. it's made by combining grid1 and grid2, and i changed grid1 so that made grid4 wrong. grid4 is in fact the same as grid1 (it is grid1a + grid2) now so you can copy it from grid1. the current pack has this fixed.

grid1 has at some point in the past been the long video (grid1a + grid2), but there's versions of it which are the same as grid1a (the short video). in my 2005 pack it is the short version. in max3 (a fan made simulation) it is the short version. so i think someone made grid4 to resolve the ambiguity (grid4 is *always* the long video)

almost all scripts i have (for paranoias) refer to grid1 and expect it to be the long video. my script for HVAM refers to grid4 (and expects it to be the long video, so this is correct)

i think if one needs the long video one should refer to grid4 and not to grid1. and for the short video one should refer to grid1a - one should avoid grid1 completely.

So, as long as it was on an arcade with DDRMAX, DDRMAX2, or DDR EXTREME, a cut/reverse version of it is allowed?

I know a lot in DDR Festival.

go ahead and make a list. video name, song name, and on what mix/game it has that script.

edit: as long as the song has been on any japanese arcade mix, and it has a max-ex style script on any (other) game/mix.

Okay. Here's what I know on the top of my head right now;

(Reverse) (WONDERLAND (UKS Mix), DDR Extreme USA)

[ (Reverse) (WONDERLAND (UKS MIX), DDR Extreme USA)

(Reverse) (DO ME, DDR Extreme USA)

(Cut) (A&B) (DO ME (A&B), DDR Extreme USA, A Little Less Conversation (A), Dancing Stage Megamix)

(Cut) (A) (DO ME (A), DDR Extreme USA)

new update.

heart14: used by DDR festival, cutie honey
ring2r: used by many songs
text12r: used by extreme US: don't clock me (appeared on solo bass mix)
fabric1r, discoball1r: extreme US: wonderland (UKS mix)
feather1r: used by DDR festival: make it better (so-real mix)
girl1a: used by DS megamix: a little less conversation
heat1br, heat1b, girl1b, girl1c, text14a: used by extreme US: Do Me (HIGEO Mix)

blocky: you're being spammy by using my thumbnails excessively. you're also stealing my bandwidth by doing so.

edit:

guidelines for introducing one's own videos for scripts that need it.

the following videos can be introduced safely:

- reverse (r) videos of videos that don't pingpong.
- only the reverse part of a pingpong video, and call it "r" (and not "a") (an existing example is tunnel2r)
- if one needs only the forward part of a pingpong video, it is preferred to script it (repeatedly invoking the video)
- if one needs a video to be pingpong, and it isn't, it is preferred to script it with forward and reverse vids (introducing the reverse vid as necessary)

every other video introduction is potentially unsafe and can clash with other videos and if only one song is going to use it, it should be kept local in a song dir. this means that for any official max-ex style script (from console releases etc), i think with what my pack now covers, few unofficial videos may be needed that are unsafe (most would be reverses, which are safe)

i made these scripts, which are monstrously complex. do me needed a lot of new vids.

script for Do Me (HIGEO Mix):

#BGCHANGES:
31.750=fire1.avi=1=1=0=0,
37.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
39.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
45.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
47.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
48.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
49.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
50.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
53.750=heat1a.avi=2=0=1=0,
54.750=heat1b.avi=2=0=1=0,
55.750=heat1b.avi=1=0=1=0,
57.750=heat1br.avi=1=0=1=0,
59.750=girl1b.avi=1=0=1=0,
63.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
66.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
67.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
70.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
71.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
74.750=girl1c.avi=1=0=1=0,
75.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
78.750=lava1.avi=1=0=1=0,
79.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
85.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
87.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
93.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
95.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
96.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
97.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
98.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
101.750=heat1a.avi=2=0=1=0,
102.750=heat1b.avi=2=0=1=0,
103.750=heat1b.avi=1=0=1=0,
105.750=heat1br.avi=1=0=1=0,
107.750=girl1b.avi=1=0=1=0,
111.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
114.750=text14a.avi=1.1=0=1=0,
115.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
118.750=heat1r.avi=1=0=1=0,
119.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
122.750=heat1br.avi=1=0=1=0,
123.750=symbols2.avi=1=0=1=0,
124.750=afro2.avi=0.5=0=1=0,
127.750=water2.avi=0.6=0=1=0,
139.750=symbols2r.avi=2=0=1=0,
142.750=lava1.avi=2=0=1=0,
143.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
149.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
151.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
157.750=heat1a.avi=1.5=0=1=0,
158.750=heat1b.avi=1.5=0=1=0,
159.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
165.750=fire1r.avi=2=0=1=0,
167.750=fire1.avi=1=0=1=0,
173.750=heat1br.avi=1.7=0=1=0,
174.750=heat1br.avi=1.7=0=1=0,
175.750=light9.avi=0.3=0=1=0,
179.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
182.750=lava1.avi=2=0=1=0,
183.750=DO ME (H.I.G.E.O. MIX)-bg.png;

script for wonderland (UKS mix):

#BGCHANGES:
19.750=dance12.avi=1.63=1=0=0,
27.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
32.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
32.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
33.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
33.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
34.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
34.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
35.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
35.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
43.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
48.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
48.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
49.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
49.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
50.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
50.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
51.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
51.750=fabric1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
55.750=fabric1r.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
59.750=tunnel5.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
67.750=fabric1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
71.750=fabric1r.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
75.750=tunnel5.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
79.750=star2.avi=1.45=0=1=0,
83.750=fabric1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
87.750=fabric1r.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
91.750=tunnel5.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
99.750=fabric1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
103.750=fabric1r.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
107.750=tunnel5.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
111.750=star2.avi=1.45=0=1=0,
115.750=text14.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
117.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
119.750=text14.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
121.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
123.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
131.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
133.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
135.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
137.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
139.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
147.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
149.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
151.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
153.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
155.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
163.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
165.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
167.750=dance12.avi=1.63=0=1=0,
169.750=text14.avi=1=0=1=0,
171.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
172.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
172.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
173.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
173.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
174.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
174.750=discoball1.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
175.250=discoball1r.avi=1.12=0=1=0,
175.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
176.000=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
176.250=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
176.500=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
176.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
177.000=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
177.250=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
177.500=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
177.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
178.000=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
178.250=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
178.500=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
178.750=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
179.000=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
179.250=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
179.500=disco1.avi=1.4=0=1=0,
179.750=WONDERLAND (UKS MIX)-bg.png;

Shortened it to the required ones.

I noticed in the DDRMAX JP CS credits that text30, max2, and scratch2 were used. It's likely text30 and scratch2 debuted on it and they are used in a song in DDRMAX.

Just a little nitpick but as far as these videos are concerned, does Jenny from DDR 4th Mix ever make an appearance besides her faintly visible appearance in the dance.avi and dancers.avi videos?

---

i don't think jenny appears in any more vids.

i am verifying all extreme arcade scripts for accuracy and at the same time adding or fixing videos. i am about halfway doing so.

this is an update of what i have so far.

as always, if you already have the pack you can just download the last "update" zip.

heart3a: file was corrupt
tunnel15: was the wrong way around (started at the wrong looping point)
milk2a: used by extreme: love love sugar
jewelry2r: used by extreme: put your faith in me, extreme: 5.1.1
cube7ar: the reverse part of cube7a (or sped up cube7r), used by extreme: look to the sky
dance11r: used in extreme: air, heaven is a '57 metallic grey
star2a: used in extreme: heaven is a '57 metallic grey, mobo moga