Small Clip Processing Advice

[northlodge]

HI All -

I produce videos of dog agility from trials. Each run produces a clip of 35-75 seconds. To these "raw" clips, I typically add fade-in and fade-out and a title identifying the run, the handler, the dog, and the event. It is preferrable to keep each run as a separate clip so that they can be combined later into different compilations depending on the client's wishes.

A single trial will produce 28-40 runs or clips to be processed. To date, I have created a template with a title that must be modified for each clip and I must drag each clip in and apply the fade-in and fade-out.

Is there any way to more effectively automate this process?

For example, would there be a way to process all runs for "Susie and Spot" with a standard title and fade-in and fade-out without having to load each clip into a template and manually make the modifications each time?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Eric

[Gorf]

Name the AVI files sequentially and drag them to the production library. They need to go in the storyboard under the "project tray" tab.

Right click the first oe and select "Add all to timeline". From there, it's all self-explanatory.

[northlodge]

Name the AVI files sequentially and drag them to the production library. They need to go in the storyboard under the "project tray" tab.

Right click the first oe and select "Add all to timeline". From there, it's all self-explanatory.

Sorry if I was unclear. The desired end result is to have small individual MPG files for each run with a title on the beginning and a visual fade-in and fade-out.

That is, if I have raw clips of "Susie and Spot" for run 1, run 2, and run 3, I want the results to be individual MPGs for 1,2, and 3 but processed to have titles, fade-in, and fade-out. And I'd like to do this in some automated way so that I don't have to drag each one into a template, make the changes, and then export again to MPG.

I should also mention that I'm bringing the files in from a DVD cam so they come into to MSP8 as MPG files to begin with.

Thanks for your help,
Eric

[GeorgeW]

To help with the Fade in/out -- does your camcorder offer that function when you are making the recording? That might cut out the need to manually add the fade in/out (but that also assumes each clip is used in its entirety). Not sure how to automate the addition of a title (with different words I assume) before each clip though...

Regards,
George

[andrewc]

There is a sort of faster way:

Select a default crossfade of 'fade to black'

1) Overlap each clip which will fade to black then fade next clip in
2) Add the titles and create the video
3) In MovieFactory load the video and cut it into each clip
4) Select all the clips and select export fast MPEG

It's not automatic but it saves a lot of time, there are other tools out there that may be more suited to your needs.

[sjj1805]

Perhaps you could use the Smart Compositor Designer Tool.
Just a suggestion.

The way I see these Smart compositions is that they are pre-prepared sequences where you can simply drop in alternative videos and so on.

Obviously I cannot see the clips you are dealing with and so it may or may not be feasible.

[andrewc]

Just one other thought:

If you want it fully automated, you could use a script driven editor like AVISYNTH.