Smart Compositor

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:51 pm

As a very new user of MSPro 8, I just can't get a fix on the purpose of Smart Compositor. I have read the pdf file about it and it really doesn't explain what its for in easy to understand, newb language. I have searched for info on this forum, but cannot find an explanation.
It talks about creating templates, but doesn't give an explanation of what the purpose of the template is.
So many instructions for software seem to assume that the reader knows almost as much as the writer and they leave out basic, beginner, dummy explanations and instructions.
Please excuse my ignorance and thank you for your patience!

krwzmann · Post by **krwzmann** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:30 am

I like using the smart compositor templates as 10-15 second intro sequences for the DVDs I author. With the built in templates, you can plug in your own pictures / videos / music and it makes for a pretty good 'wow' factor when someone pops in their dvd. Enjoy!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:22 am

Ormond

The smart compositions are ready made collections of picture in picture style videos. You can also add other things like overlays, pan and zoom effects, video filters sound fx etc.

Instead of spending an age creating something on the timeline, you can create a sequence of events once then save them as a smart composition.
Later, in another video project you can re-use this creation and simply exchange the video/sound clips from that original sequence with different video/sound clips.

I have also created a further 6 which you can download by looking at the following post.

http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=10841

Regards
Steve J

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:58 am

Thanks guys.
OIC, thats what it does.

Steve J,
I did notice those 6 items that you created, but wasn't sure exactly what to do with them.

That brings up another question -
Is it possible to do Picture in Picture with MSPro 8?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:18 am

It certainly is and this is one of the major reasons why I upgraded from Video Studio 9 to Media Studio 8.

Although you could create several Picture in Picture effects in Video Studio 9, to do so you would have to add a PIP, render, add another PIP and render again, and keep doing so until you have all your PIPs in place.
This is because Video Studio has one Video track and one overlay track.

With Media Studio you can have up to 99 video tracks, so you could do several PIPs all in one go.
To see what I mean take a look at the third post in this link
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=10841
where you will see a screen shot.

The coloured boxes are "placeholders" which you replace with either videos, or you can use still images (and create a slideshow) - that particular screenshot was a snapshot of moving videos, they start off small and grow into positions side by side. They then shrink away again.

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:39 am

Wow! This is getting better and better all the time.

Thanks Steve. I will download and install your creations and have a play around with them to see how they work, so I will know what some of the possibilities are.

Its just great to have access to such generous people who are willing to help others learn stuff!

(I see you have one of my favourite things "Pro Show Gold"! I love it.)

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:48 am

I have searched the user guide and the Ulead site for help on how to make a new Smart Composition and cannot find much info.

1. Do you start with an existing composition and modify it, then save it as a new one?

2. Can the length of time of an existing composition be changed?

Thanks!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:22 am

Ormond Williams

Think of a Smart Composition in the same way that a Macro works in other applications. In most progams a Macro repeats your various keyboard presses and mouse movements etc.

The Smart Composition collects together whatever you have placed on your timeline(s) including video/audio filters, moving paths overlays etc.

It then saves that timeline in such a way that a user can quickly replace your videos and sounds with their own, but any moving paths, overlays, filters etc are preserved.

To alter the length of a video/ audio, as far as I can tell you can only do this by
1. Making your video/audio replacements.
2. Insert onto timeline.
3. Double click the Smart Composition which is now on the timeline.
This 'opens it up' so you can do further editing such as changing the duration of various items.

If you want to make and share a composition they can get a bit big.
The workround to this is do not use video or stills for your pictures.
Use simple solid colour blocks. This keeps the file very small, each of the 6 I created was no larger than 90KB.

The user will be replacing these colour blocks with their own pictures or video.

If for demonstration purposes you want a user to see certain videos or stills from the sample libraries, just add a note when you post the composition to this forum.

Come on Guys and Gals these are very interesting and rewarding little projects to knock up and then share amongst the group!

Regards
Steve J

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:43 pm

Steve,
Thanks! I can see how the Smart Composition works, but I don't understand where I need go to make one.

1. Is it made in the Smart Compositor from the insert menu? I can find no way to make one from here!

2. Do you make the whole thing in the timeline then export it to a smart compositor file somehow? I can find no reference in the "save as" section to save it as an "exe" or any other way that looks like it is related to smart compositor.

3. In another topic there is a reference to a "Smart Compositor Creater" I have downloaded and installed this, but can't find any reference to any sort of "creator", only the smart compositor that is listed in the insert menu.

4. Am I missing something? (Apart from a few brain cells! ;o)) ;o)) )

5. Is there any illustrated tutorials available for creating a smart composition "for dummies"?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:24 pm

Ormond Williams wrote:Steve,
Thanks! I can see how the Smart Composition works, but I don't understand where I need go to make one.

1. Is it made in the Smart Compositor from the insert menu? I can find no way to make one from here!

2. Do you make the whole thing in the timeline then export it to a smart compositor file somehow? I can find no reference in the "save as" section to save it as an "exe" or any other way that looks like it is related to smart compositor.

3. In another topic there is a reference to a "Smart Compositor Creater" I have downloaded and installed this, but can't find any reference to any sort of "creator", only the smart compositor that is listed in the insert menu.

4. Am I missing something? (Apart from a few brain cells! ;o)) ;o)) )

5. Is there any illustrated tutorials available for creating a smart composition "for dummies"?

Ormond
After creating everything on the timeline at the top of the screen second option from the left "Project"
under this you will find "Design Tool"
This is the smart compositor creator. It will firstly check what you have on the timeline to ensure it will convert and then will come up with a series of screen prompts to guide you through the process.

Regarding Illustrated Tutorials, please bear with me on this one as I will endeavour to make this a tutorial project in the near future.
I have only just been appointed as the Moderator of the Tutorials Forums and at the moment have quite a bit to do getting the Tutorials Section 'Personalised' the way I would like it. I want it to be an interesting and useful Section to our members.

To create a Smart Compo Tutorial the way I would like it will take a bit of work and I do not want to do a rush job.

Please continue to post here any further problems as this will assist me when I begin to create the tutorial.

Regards

Steve J.

Ormond Williams · Post by **Ormond Williams** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:41 pm

Thanks Steve!
I didn't find that anywhere in the user guide or the website. Either I'm blind or it wasn't obvious or it wasn't there.

People who are new to a software package quite often have difficulty because certain aspects are not obvious to them.
People who write instructions often leave out important basic information, or provide it in a place that is not easy to find, perhaps because they are too familiar with the software.
I'm sure that you will do a great job in the tutorial area. I have gained a lot of info from the help that you have supplied! The images you provide have been excellent and make learning a whole lot easier.
Thanks again.

Downstairs Video · Post by **Downstairs Video** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:43 am

Ormond,

I agree with you. It is not obvious were to create the smart compositor file. It took me quite some time to find it and work it out. The location and wording is not natural or as logical as the creators think it was. Logical for them maybe, but as for me ... I also took a while. BUT it is a great tool when you find it!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:33 am

An alternative to creating a Smart composition is to create a DVP file.
They work in much the same way and for simpler effects are easier to produce.

Here is an example
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=12185

Steve J

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