Help using getting started in studio 9, book

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:58 pm

Hi Folks,
I had loads of problems with 10+ initially understanding the library system, then getting audio to play in 'clip' mode, then insert editing in overlay track. But, somhow I managed to edit 50 min of my daughters wedding, (despite finding I had vsp; avi; and mpeg files on timeline, which I don't think is correct? ) So, burning was a nightmare but I finally managed to make a rough prototype dvd, and half a dozen coasters!
obviously I did not understand the various tutorials I picked up here!
So I bought and downloaded this US book and cd by Charlie Hills as recomended by videoman.
The problem is I want to learn from the cd tutorials, but I cannot get them to download to my library as instructed. It keeps saying unable to open, incompatable file format. (strange, I was getting this message when trying to open saved vsps on my wedding editing material, perhaps because I had backed up the edits to my C drive as well as my external 'editing 'H drive, as recomended in tutorials ?)
I notice the cd tutorials properties are NTSC and in the UK we are PAL. I followed the directions line by line on page 141 but I am stuck, do I have to convert the project folder to PAL ? thanks for any comments SS2

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:27 pm

Hi SS2

You have to copy the ¡¥projects¡¦ folder from the disc to your Hard Drive
Have you done that.?

Using Video Studio create a new Library Folder for each format, Video--- Image---Audio

For the first one Create a Cookies page under the Video library

Select the ¡¥load video¡¦ folder icon, browse your hard drive for the ¡¥cookies¡¦ folder.
View the folder in Detail mode, arrange the list as ¡¥Type¡¦.
You will be able to easily identify the file types, select all Mpeg Video files.

They should load to the library

When loading Image Files, only select JPEG Image types
Trying to load a video to the image library will fail.

There is no reason to change the format from ntsc to pal, the program will work ok, at least for the tutorials.

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:12 pm

Hi Trevor, thanks for quick reply. Yes, I have copied to a folder on 'my docs' called 'projects' and put all the 'project stuff' within another folder called 'projects folder'.( But, there are other folders, with adobe; pdf files and readme in them but no ref in the book to what to use these for, so I thought best to keep separate).
I carfully followed the 9 actions listed but the folder didn't seem to open as described in text (ctrl/a)but somhow I opened it (I am not good with computers !) and managed to get 'transitions' (the only folder with mpeg in it) into library, as the first step was to select mpeg files. but when I tried the next step 'image' I was not sure what was 'image' in the folder, there were about 4 sub folders to choose from. Also the book says to create a cookies for each new step but is this not duplication ? what are cookies ?

Anyway whatever I choose the box comes up 'unreadable file format' and nothing happens. The book is a bit complicated at this point, having to repeat 9 steps but substitute at 3 and 8 each time. it says it will 'complain' thats ok ??? but it is not, it don't work after that ! It also says 'not all projects will have all file types....as if I am not confused enough, I may be some days getting through this stage!
There is no mention in the book about identifiying detail mode or jpeg files, it's a bit light on this aspect, (concidering it's pitched at a newcomer to computer editing) so I will have another look following your tips.
So far ulead is giving me loads of grief but I suffered worse with pinnacle 9, so I am determined to get my thick head around this programme! thanks SS2

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:04 am

You're sure taking a lot on at once.

With video editing, and as Charlie states in his book, you need to have a basic understanding of using computers. That means how to copy file, that an image file(jpg, jpeg, bmp, bitmap, png are just a few types of image files) is different than a video (mpg, mpeg, dv, avi, wmv are a few video files).

Hey I suggested you get this, so I'm gong to attempt to walk you through it. Once you get an understanding of the basics, you'll be off and running..

1. The Adobe Folder on the Getting Results disc, just contains the Adobe PDF reader program. You probably already have this installed so don't worry about it.
2. There's the file called grp-vs9.pdf on the disc. In reading your post you must have figured this one out. It's the book. He offered it in 2 forms, download, and printed.
3. The readme files are just simple text files, that open with Notepad, and contain some basic information. You can choose to put these with the rest of the stuff in you My Documents, where you created the folder for the projects.

Now the rest of the stuff
4. Charlie states in the book to just create a folder on your hard drive, to copy the contents of the disk into that folder. This is what I done...

I created a folder called Getting Results VS9. I dragged the Projects and the Transitions folders into this, and the grp-vs9.pdf (book). It does not matter because you are going to link to the video and images from within VS, which will remember where the video files, images, and audio files are located.

5. You may need to change the Read-Only Attributes for all these files and folders. Charlie explains how to do this. Just right-click on the projects folder (the one under your My Documents, not the disc), select Properties, and uncheck the box beside Read Only. You may get a prompt asking if you want to change it for all the files and subfolders too. Choose yes, this will remove the Read-Only attribute from all the video, image, and audio files, so you can use them in VS.

6. In VS, with the Library manager, create a new Video Library, call it Cookies. Now as Trevor stated select the Load icon, change the File Type (drop down menu at the bottom of the pane) to MPEG, navigate to the folder in your My Documents where you created the "Getting Results" folder, and find the projects folder called Cookies. Select all the files showing, which should be MPEG files, click Open. VS will now load all those files into your Cookies video library.

7 Now just repeat the process for each of the Project folders, Fish, nightvision, exercises and so-on. Do the same for the Images, and the Audio. However for the Images you will need to create (like the Cookies video library), an Image Library for the images, and an Audio Library for the audio (music and sounds).

Each one of the folders under the Projects folder should contain MPEG files. If not then you did not get a good download or did not produce the disc properly. The folders should contain the following file types: JPEG Image, Movie file (mpeg), Ulead VideoStudio Document (VSP), and Wave Sound (wav).

To view the details of a folder on your PC, look across the top of the window, for an icon that resembles a rectangle with a bunch of smaller rectangles on it. Hovering your mouse over the icons will give you a tool-tip telling you what each icon is. This one should say Views. Click it and change the view to Details. Now you can see all the different file types in that folder. You will need to do this for each folder.

Hope that gets you started for now.. Anymore questions let me know. You may PM me for further if need be.

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:12 am

Hi Ron, thanks for reply, I was just off to bed! You are right I am trying to sprint with my shoe laces tied together at the moment, given my computer dyslexic abilities!
I have been trying for months to edit the Daughters wedding video, first on Pinnacle 9 (stuffed files all over the place and crashed) then tried a 'trial' elements 2 (quite complicated !), finally got ulead 10+.
To make it more difficult the material comes from a mini dvd, a sony tvr355 digital 8 and a hi 8 camcorder!. However with your previous encuragement I did manage to cobble together 50 min of watchable footage for Christmas day! So tomorrow I will try out you detailed guidance. Thanks again for taking the trouble to list it all out for me, Ted

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:29 pm

To make it more difficult the material comes from a mini dvd, a sony tvr355 digital 8 and a hi 8 camcorder!.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Video editing, especially for a beginner, is complicated enough. But to try to throw together a video from 3 different sources, you may have bitten off more than you can chew for your first project.

No more cliches!

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:46 pm

Hi Jeff, thanks for comments, well maybe I got lucky... no for sure, ulead is more stable than flakey pinnacle.
I captured the 8mm via my sony 355 digital 8 camcorder so it probably converted the analouge hi 8 to digital (I hoped it would and I was lucky!) I believe ulead 11 has a bug that prevents this ?
Anyway I have with videoman's kind guidance now (I hope !) downloaded the learning files from Jimmy Hills book so perhaps the second half of my wedding project will be easier!
I am still confused how I managed to get vsp files and AVI files on my time line ? I thought in editing you only worked with vsp's. Nevertheless it did render ok. Ted