Video Editing Software Tips » Dv Avi

CyberLink MediaShow Espresso 5.5

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:06:06 +0000

Cyberlink have just released their latest version of MediaShow Espresso 5.5. They are also offering a 10% discount as an introductory offer through to the end of January. Just use the coupon code at the end of this post.

This is a powerful little software program from Cyberlink that is solely devoted to converting your video files into your favorite video file format for playback on whatever media player you want to use.

MediaShow Espresso converts videos for playback on smart phones, iPhones, PSPs, Xbox 360s and for direct upload on to YouTube.

One of the attractive points of the program is that you simply choose the preferred media player or medium you are aiming for and let MediaShow Espresso do the rest. It uses a bunch of preset parameters, depending on the output, to maintain the highest possible quality for you without having to go all geek on the process.

MediaShow Espresso 5.5 supports a wide range of devices, including games consoles, smart phones supporting Google Android and Windows Mobile, iPhones, and multimedia phones from leading phone brands.

Devices Supported

There are more that were already supported by the earlier versions so these represent the new ones that have been added. If you are running an older device just check the website to see you are supported if you have any doubts.

Acer: E200, F900, M900, X960

Apple: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Classic

Blackberry: Bold 9000, Curve 8900

HTC: Diamond, Hero, Magic, Touch

LG: GC900, KM900, KU250, KU900R

Microsoft: Xbox 360, Zune

Nokia: E66, E71, N82, N86, N95, 5800 XpressMusic, 6300, 6730C,

Samsung: i7500 Galaxy, i8510

Sony: PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation 3

Sony Ericsson: C510, G900, K810i, W880i, Z770i

Sony Walkman: NWZ-S738F, NWZ-A828

Video File Importing

MKV, RM/RMVB, NEW FLV, AVI, MPEG, MPEG-2, MOV (H.264), WMV, MP4, DVR-MS, .TS, MPG, ASF, M2T, M2TS, MTS, DV-AVI, TiVo, VOB, VRO, MOD, DAT, TOD and WTV (single channel)

Video File Exporting

MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVC, WMV and DivX

CyberLink MediaShow Espresso 5.5 comes with a batch converting feature that allows you to carry out multiple file conversions without you having to be in front of the computer or that can be run overnight when you are not using your computer for other things.

It offers direct uploading to YouTube and fast video conversion utilizing multi-thread conversion processing as well as optimization for hardware acceleration technologies from Intel® Core™ i3, i5, and i7, NVIDIA® CUDA™ and ATI® Stream™.

If you are on the lookout for a high quality video conversion program that is fast and easy to use then MediaShow Espresso 5.5 is well worth taking a look at.

Click this link below to See MediaShow Espresso 5.5 for Yourself

`Media Show Espresso 10% OFF coupon [JANOFFER] expires on Jan 31`

Basic Editing Functions

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:23:51 +0000

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The video editing software you will be looking at for home video editing goes by the name of Non-Linear Editing (NLE).

NLE video editors differ from old video editing techniques due to the entire process being carried out within a computer environment.

The main concept of this, that benefits you the user, is that all editing decisions you make, everything you do to a clip or a project is only a “virtual” change. The original video files are never touched so the process in completely non-destructive.

It is not until you go to the final step of actually creating your finished product is the project turned into the real thing. Even then the original files remain untouched.

The current batch of video editing software for the hobbyist or home user is actually three programs in one. These three main functions are usually integrated into a logical work flow and below there is brief outline of what you should expect to get from a good video editing software program.

The three functions can be generally described as video capture, video editing and finally video rendering. The rendering feature could be said to include DVD / Blu-ray authoring as well.

1. Video Capture / Video Transfer.

Any video editing software you look at if it is of any quality at all, will offer firewire (ieee1394 or for Sony, iLink) transfer of dv.avi footage from a standard definition tape based camcorder. Note carefully that this is the ONLY way to capture or transfer video files from a DV camcorder to a computer at full quality.

All camcorder manufacturers always include a USB cable with these DV camcorders and it is an endless source of confusion for the new user. The USB cable is included with the cam for the transfer of photos from the camcorder to the computer or for low quality streaming video. They NEVER include a firewire cable…I have no idea why!

The USB cable can also be used to transfer video files from camcorders that record in any other format, MPEG2, HDV, AVCHD etc.

If you are using a camcorder to source your original files then these days it is not really a feature you need concern yourself with too much. Good video editing software will accommodate all types of capture / transfer methods.

More importantly at this point is to check the video software can handle your particular file type.

Video Capture Cards.

If you are using a video capture card to transfer video files from your TV to your computer for later editing or transferring old VHS tapes for editing and archiving then this is an area that you need to check carefully.

These capture cards are a source of great frustration for many video editing software users because of incompatibility problems between the card and the video software. The cause of this is not the cards themselves nor is it the fault of the software. The problem here is that there are no rigid technical standards or protocols in place for the way in which they work or interact together.

Video editing software makers try to make their products accept as many types of capture card as they can but it is an impossible task.

If you are going to use this method as the source of your video files then you have two alternatives: Select only video editing software that has been tested and verified as compatible with your card. You can check this out at the software manufacturers website usually.

Alternately you can use the capture software provided with the card for the purpose of getting the footage on to your computer. After that you can simply link the files to your video editing software and edit from there.

2. Video Editing

Any good video editing software should provide at least the following functions and features:

The ability to actually handle the video file types that you have and the ability, within the technical limitations of those file types, to convert them into other video file types.

To join video clips, cut segments from the ends of video clips to shorten them as well as being able to cut out sections from within the video files.

To make at least some adjustment to the audio tracks of the video files as well as add additional audio like voice-over, sound effects and background music to the project. Check for audio file compatibility as well, MP3, Dolby etc.

To apply basic corrective video filters to poorly shot video again taking into consideration the quality and video file type being worked with. Also there should be a good range of special effects video filters available.

To be able to add video transitions between video clips on the timeline to create cross-fades, cuts, fades to black, fades to white etc.

To be able to add titles and subtitles to the projects with good control and a wide range features for creativity.

To be able to overlay additional video tracks to create a “picture in picture” effect and to be able to apply transitions to the overlay tracks.

Handle a wide range of still image formats (jpg, gif, etc) to incorporate them into video footage as well as create slide shows. At this level a pan and zoom feature should be standard so that you can add some motion to your still images as they appear on the screen.

3. Video Rendering / Video Output.

Your use of this final part of the software will depend heavily on what you intend to do with it. But let’s at least go over some of the basic points.

First and foremost it is a good idea to check each type of video editing software to see if it has some kind of function at the rendering stage that inspects the elements you have in your project and can decide which parts need to be converted and which do not. The name of this feature varies from software to software but usually it has a name like “Smart Render, “Smart Encode” or similar. This can be a real time saver and quality saver at the point of outputting to your final video file.

If your intention is to burn either DVDs or Blu-ray discs then you need to check out the authoring options on offer. Make sure there are good options for the creation of menus and the ability to to exercise good creative control over the look and functionality of the menus created.

If you are looking to upload to YouTube or a similar online video sites then the ability to either output in MPEG4 per YouTubes specs is essential. These sites will convert your videos resulting in loss of quality unless you can output to either their exact specs or to a file they prefer. Remember every time a compressed file is re-rendered quality is lost so here you would definitely want an MPEG4 capability as well as the ability to use other codecs like DivX.

The same features for online video sharing will also apply if you are intending to create video files for viewing on computer screens as the same video file formats will apply.

If you are working in high definition right now but do not have a suitable output format worked out yet (another way of saying, “I think I’ll wait until Blu-ray prices drop!) a handy feature to look for is the ability to record your project back to the HD camcorder the originals came from or some other storage device.

Ok! I think that’s about it off the top of my head! In later posts I will be delving a little deeper into some of these points but in the meantime the links below will take you to a range of video editing software I feel comfortable in recommending.

Corel Ulead VideoStudio Pro X2

Cyberlink Power Director 7

Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus or Ultimate

Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9

Adobe premier Elements

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Video Editing Software – Video Formats

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:20:01 +0000

Video File Import and Export Choices

As I mentioned in the first post of this series on how to choose the best video editing software for you one thing to keep in mind during the selection process is, “What is it that I am REALLY going to do with this software?” There is absolutely no point in spending extra money on software that handles all sorts of exotic video file formats because it seems cool to be able to have that capability if you are never going to use it.

Many video file formats available today are owned by software companies and this involves paying a license to use their technology. Paying all sorts of license fees that are included within the video software package that you have no need for makes no sense at all.

Similarly, incurring extra expense for High Definition Video features or Blu-ray features when you you don’t have a Blu-ray burner or player and don’t have a High definition TV or camcorder is just wasting money.

In choosing the correct video editing software for you probably the first point to consider is (realistically),

“What will be the main video format (or formats) of the raw video files I will be importing into the program for editing?”

Secondly,

“What will be the main video file format that I will be producing so as to playback, store or distribute my final productions?

Here is a quick round up of the current video formats you are most likely to be using as input into your video editing projects:

1. Standard Definition (SD)

DV.avi
This is the video format recorded to mini DV tapes on many camcorders. As a format it is still very popular because it is a virtually uncompressed video format and provides the best quality in standard definition video combined with the greatest suitability for editing. The video format itself was developed specifically for this purpose which is why it is so video editor friendly. It requires the least amount of computer resources of all the various video file types.

MPEG2 video recorded to mini DVD either on a camcorder or DVD recorder.
MPEG2 video recorded to an inbuilt hard disc drive on a camcorder or DVD recorder.

MPEG2 was originally designed as a distribution video file type for the DVD standard. It was never designed to be edited so of course as soon as it became available on the original Sony DVD camcorders…everyone wanted to edit with it!

What ensued was about three years of heartbreak and a lot of whining and moaning from the public until the video editing software engineers finally got the format sorted out and presently this is the easiest of the compressed video file formats to edit.

It is reasonably easy on resources but because of the compression involved can be a little twitchy if your computer gets stressed. Provided you don’t keep re-copying and re-compressing the files the quality will maintain pretty well.

MPEG4, H.264, H.263, .MOV, .WMV, .FLV, DivX, Xvid and on and on and on!
This group represents the rest of the pack and all fall under a general heading of highly compressed files most often used for distribution online (YouTube etc.) or for replay on a computer monitor. They produce tiny files and considering the size of the video files they can produce some excellent quality.

The main point to remember with these files is that they were specifically designed to be video distribution formats, the final product after you have used a more video editor friendly input format. There is nothing in their design specs that included how to edit them. So it is important to note that editing with these formats will always be a hit and miss affair and should be avoided if possible. (See the note at the end of this post.)

2. High Definition (HD):

HD MPEG2 recorded to mini DV tape on a camcorder. This format is called HDV and is kind of like MPEG2 on crack! Of all the new HD formats this one has proven to be, by far, the most conducive to video editing.
AVCHD (an MPEG4 variant) usually recorded to inbuilt hard disc drive on a HD camcorder.
AVCHD recorded to DVD on a camcorder.
AVCHD recorded to solid state (flash etc.) memory on a camcorder.

AVCHD in any format and from any device is the baby of the bunch and is currently the bane of the video editing forums. It’s day will come but for now is beset with editing problems and requires huge processing ability from the computer.

On to output formats:

DVD.
This will be in the form of MPEG2 files authored (organized and written) to DVD in standard definition. It is possible to write a high definition video file structure to a standard DVD and have a High Definition player and HDTV handle it however compatibility at present is is not widespread.

Completed projects or edited material written back to the original recording device. E.g. A completed project written back to a tape camcorder for archival purposes in the original format.

High Definition material written to a Blue Ray disc or what is called a “hybrid” disc. This is an AVCHD file and file structure that can be played back on a Sony Playstation connected to a HDTV.

Finally, any of a number of very highly compressed formats for viewing on computers, hand held devices or loading on to internet services such as YouTube.

As an added note here you also need to be aware of the various sound recording and playback formats. If your particular recording device, camcorder or DVD recorder uses Dolby Stereo (AC3) or 5:1 Surround or you wish to output these audio file types, a license for that technology is needed. Check the software to see if it is included in the purchase price or whether it must be purchased as an add on.

A note on video compression.
The term compression when speaking of video files tends to give an incorrect impression regarding exactly what is happening to your files. You would think that what is happening is that your video file is being squashed in some way so as to occupy less space. Nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is that the compression software is throwing away a large part of the original information and it is this point that causes the problems in video editing.

Of course if the software marketers called it video trashing, or data dumping I don’t think, somehow, it would convey the hi-tech sexiness that they are trying to promote!

So, your first task in deciding on what video editing software is suitable for you is to work out what your most common source files will be and what your most common output will be. That represents the core of what you will be using the software for and should be your main focus. After that look through any other formats you may need to narrow down the choice.

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