ULeadVideoStudio 11 Plus usage & video library files

[ConsultKAP]

I am using the ULeadVideoStudio 11 Plus product, and I am new to it. I am importing a lot of video from a Sony Mini-dvd camcorder and trying to edit about 12 hours of video into a watchable DVD-- maybe 1.5 hours. I used the trial download to do one movie OK, but it was only 20 minutes from a 30 min mini-DVD.

BUT, now that I am importing all this video, my hard drive is rapidly
filling --too much data, too little HD space.
Can I store the video and audio libraries & files on
my connected 300 GB external hard drive?? If so, specifics for where (files system) ULead has them stored and how to move them so that the SW can find them?

The user manual PDF from the link on the support page product documents pops up totally blank page on my system. Do you know any other way to get this?

Also, does anyone know if "most" DVD players will play the dual DVD's required to hold long movies-- or should I break this into 2 movie/parts on 2 regular DVD -R's, like a mini-series?

Thanks so much for any wisdom.

[Ken Berry]

Although it is probably better practice to store those libraries and files on another internal hard disk, I am sure that a lot of users use external disks. The only downside is that you have to remember to turn the external disk on before you open VS and the relevant project, VS will not be able to "see" the files and libraries and you will be besieged by re-link messages.

The default VS working folder is on C:\[My] Documents\Ulead Systems\VS11. You can change this in File Preferences to point to your external drive. Note that you will also need to do this in the burning module first icon in the bottom left of the burning screen, which has a separate Preferences link and working folder for burning projects.

Note also that other users would probably warn you that you might need to disable write caching on the external disk. I take their point, and found that I had to do that with external firewire hard disks. However, I have never had any problems leaving it enabled in my collection of external USB hard disks. But it is something you need to bear in mind in case you do run into problems using the external disk.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Just to add, I find it best to create a different capture/working folder for each of my projects.
That way I know where my files are stored. Video Studio names the captured files using a date structure (uvs071230-003.AVI)(30 Dec 2007) for instance, doesn¡¦t really help to identify the files.
I realise you are using a dvd camera, but screen capture/saving image will have the same format.

I have tried using an external drive via Usb with little success, there seemed to be too much of a delay when reading the files. I soon reverted to the internal drive for my project files.

[ConsultKAP]

Thanks to both of you, Trevor & Ken.
I have about decided that life is too short to deal with the time & trouble of making this work with external drives & a bigger badder system for video editing is called for. One of my systems is now 4 years old, which is 100 in computer years, so I will go thru the anxiety of transferring crucial stuff to the new system (I hate trying to keep those browser/e-mail files from getting lost-- like my new ULead PW, etc.).

Good day! KAP