Simviation Forums

This may be in the wrong place, but how or what do you use to convert the videos in fsx to a standard viewable format.
I.E. I've noticed a lot in you tube etc.

sorry if this has been asked many times, I did look around a bit.

Those videos are taken using a utility called FRAPS as the FSX format cannot be converted.

I don't have FSX but I think the video works much the same like FS9.
It is actually no video, FS saves your maneuvres, your vertical and longtitual positions, your engine, flaps, gear states and all the other things.
That means if you play that recording it's not playing a video, it's just redoing all the actions and using the controls you did when recording.
The feature of that is, that when playing the file, you can change the view, zoom in and out, e.g. look out of the VC, also if were'nt at VC when you recorded!

To make a REAL video of this, you must get a screen capturing software, that can capture out of games (many progs can only handle windows, no fullscreen).
An example was FRAPS that eno has called above.

Now what to do?

You have to start the capturing software, let's for now say it's FRAPS, then you should make it's video settings optimal:
First choose your destination folder where the file will be saved.
Then you set a shortcut that isn't currently used by FS, e.g. if you didn't assign it in your FS, you can use [^] or [roll] (The key between Print and Pause).
Now you have to choose your FPS (Framerates): I always use 20, if you's see something real it would maybe not enough, but for FS you don't need more than 20 pictures the second. But never use more than 25!!!!! It will extremly hit your computer performance, and you won't notice a difference as if you used 25!!!
Then you have to choose between full-size and half-size: It's the size (=> the quality) of the video file you'll then have. If your going to save the video e.g. in your "media-library", you should choose full-size. If your only going to upload it to YouTube, half-size will be enough.

Then you start FS, and play the record you already made.
As FS has finished loading, you can start the FRAPS by hitting the assigned key. Now FRAPS captures that what you see on your screen.
To stop FRAPS from capturing just hit the key again.
Now you have a video-file at the earlier specified folder!

But note that when capturing with FRAPS your screen refresh rates (=framerates) will be extremly less.
So if it's not a real flight in FS, but more a slideshow , you will have to set your quality settings of FS down.....
You have to find the best settings for your computer, but the obviosly best FPS-boost is disabling Anti-Ialising (if enabled).