Media Library very confusing

[richlux]

I'm trying to understand how the Media Library works and it seems very confusing to me. There are parts of it that I can add to and other parts I can't.

I think the Library should be just that, an area that just holds media that I control such as videos, images sound files, etc. There should be a separate area of the program (not part of the Media Library) for both Filters and Transitions since these are actually part of VS and used differently.

That said, what's the difference between an Image or Decoration. Aren't they really the same thing (except I can't add to the Decoration area)? Also, is there a way to remove the Decoration area so I can just put these images with the rest of my Images?

Thanks,
Richard

[sjj1805]

Please view:
Various tweaks to VideoStudio

[richlux]

Thanks, that's great info (even for version 11), but I still think it's confusing to have the Filters and Transitions as part of the Media Library. These aren't media and should be accessed somewhere else (like most other video editing software does). Maybe VS12 will change this?

Richard

[Ken Berry]

You are the first person I recall raising this issue. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But equally, however, others will have different perceptions. For those of us who have been using Video Studio a lonnnng time (me for over 5 years, for instance), and know exactly where to look for transitions and filters, it would be somewhat disconcerting to say the least, to have that suddenly changed.

More to the point, where did you get the idea it was called a "Media Library"? I have always just thought of it as "the Library pane". And to me it is just as legitimate to show collections of transitions and filters as collections of video, images, colors and decorations just as a library of books these days also -- at least here in Australia -- also contain DVD and CD collections! After all, on one semantic reading (if you will pardon the pun), books themselves are tools, just as transitions, filters, and indeed stock video, images and colours, are also tools to be used to enhance a project.

I think we might just have to agree to disagree on this one!!!

[richlux]

I don't know where I got the term Media Library, but you're right, it's just the Library and if I think of it that way, then it makes sense to have everything in it.

I just would prefer to have Filters and Transitions (the "system" items that cannot be changed by me) in a different place and keep the Library for things I can control. I write software for a living and from a usability perspective, putting them all together in the Library gives the impression that they are all treated the same, but they are not since you can't create subfolders under them and you can't add or remove items from them. It's just a UI preference and has no effect on the functionality of the program.

You make valid points and I agree to disagree with you

Richard

[Ken Berry]

I also understand your thinking. At the base of it all, I guess it is just what you get used to...

Just a couple of footnotes about changing things in relation to transitions and filters. You can certainly add new categories of transitions when you use third party transitions. I, for instance, have added a new sub-folder of transitions, which consists apparently of just one transition, called VideoFX. It is in fact a bridge transition which links to the hundreds of transitions in a package called VideoFX by Canopus. I obtained the plug-in to link them to Video Studio (and Adobe Premiere). There are other third party transition packs with similar plug-ins.

You can also add new filters -- at least on the audio side, which I have done. Not sure about video filters per se as I have never done this. But you can certainly buy third party 'video effect' packages with plug-ins for VS which I believe make these effects visible in Video Studio and which I think appear in the video filters section of the Library.

New acquisitions by the library???

[Black Lab]

You can also add new filters -- at least on the audio side, which I have done. Not sure about video filters per se as I have never done this. But you can certainly buy third party 'video effect' packages with plug-ins for VS which I believe make these effects visible in Video Studio and which I think appear in the video filters section of the Library.

Just to clarify, Ken, you can add filters to the Video Filter Library, as I have a Time Code filter installed.

[tommytucker]

I have found several folders in the Ulead program subfolders. Under Editing Style there are Images, Video, Audio, etc...I have imported many of those into the respective Library categories. Also there are subfolders under Samples..similar and those I have imported some. I really like some of this material, but I am wondering if there is more buried around there. I would have never known of those extras to use in projects if I had not been poking around. Also, concerning poking around....if you are looking to keep a music track playing and add cue/chapter points to later move and align your images or video with the beat, you can hit F5 while the music is rolling. Clicking on the chapter bar stopped the music progress and made it frustrating. Any thought on extra content appreciated. Seems like ALL goodies should be easier to find in the VS10+ program.

[MrA]

I have found several folders in the Ulead program subfolders. Under Editing Style there are Images, Video, Audio, etc...I have imported many of those into the respective Library categories. Also there are subfolders under Samples..similar and those I have imported some. I really like some of this material, but I am wondering if there is more buried around there.

The ones under "editing style" are actually made available when you use the "Tools" -> "movie maker" wizard. But yes, to use these without going through the wizard is very useful.

I havn't tried it yet, so, don't try this at home, there should be a .INI file that lists these files as well for VS. What this does is makes the files available in the wizard. So, potentially, you could add your own and they would become visible in the wizard. Poking around, i found the file, but, that was some time ago, and I don't remember what directory that file was in.

[tommytucker]

for clarifying my quest. I will press on!