Training

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 2:32 pm

I have been using Videostudio products for many years capturing video from an analog source. I have produced some DVD's which are adequate but not great. Finally decided that I need to get properly trained and wondering if the Complete Training DVD available on Seeitdoit.tv is recommended or is there better available?
Also have searched on the forum for library management tutorials for ProX2 without success, is there any basic info available?
Finally most of my captured clips in ProX2 start with a green frame, this makes identifying thumbnail clips a pain as the clip has to be run before the content can be established. Any thoughts?

very grateful for any advice on the above.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:34 pm

Have you looked thru the Video Product Tutorials section of this forum? Most are very good, and they are free.

As for library management, there is not much to it. When you import media, a virtual thumbnail will be inserted into the appropriate library. I say virtual because the actual clip, image, etc. will still reside in the working folder that you designate in Preferences or during Capture.

To keep things organized I make separate libraries for each project. For example, I am currently working on a highlight video for my son's football team. Because I have over 100 clips I made a separate library entitled Football. To do this, while in the Video library, choose Library Organizer. Click on the New button and name it Football. Click Ok, then Close. Now when I click the drop-down button from the Video gallery I will see the generic Video library, plus the new library called Video-Football. Now, when I capture clips I make sure the new library is open and my captured clips (virtual of course) will be deposited there.

You can do this for all the libraries (video, image, audio, etc.).

As for your thumbnails starting with a green frame, I do not have that issue. Maybe you should supply more info regarding what you are capturing from (video cam, still cam, etc.) and how you are capturing it (firewire, analog converter, etc.).

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:10 pm

Thanks Jeff,
Yes I have looked at the tutorials section of the forum and agree that this is an excellent source of information. However I think it would suit me better to have a single comprehensive knowledge base available, where I could target specific issues quickly. Mainly because I use the software inconsistently.
Thanks also for the library information, the problem I have here is that all my clips ( several hundred ) are in the generic folder. is there a quick way to organise them in to sub directories without having to purge the main folder and start again.
Finally in relation to the 'green frame' issue. I am capturing from a Sony video 8 handycam via a Video express composite to USB feed.
Regards
Patrick

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:55 pm

makfli wrote:Thanks Jeff,
Yes I have looked at the tutorials section of the forum and agree that this is an excellent source of information. However I think it would suit me better to have a single comprehensive knowledge base available, where I could target specific issues quickly. Mainly because I use the software inconsistently.
The seeitdoit videos used to be free, and they were usually very good. The makers of them use to post here regularly. Are they worth the price now? I guess only you can determine that.

Thanks also for the library information, the problem I have here is that all my clips ( several hundred ) are in the generic folder. is there a quick way to organise them in to sub directories without having to purge the main folder and start again.
After you create a new library you can simply copy/paste the thumbnails from the generic library to the new one.

Finally in relation to the 'green frame' issue. I am capturing from a Sony video 8 handycam via a Video express composite to USB feed.
Is your model a Digital 8 cam? If so it will have a firewire port, and firewire is the suggested way to transfer, if it is possible. If not, someone else familiar with a Video Express unit may be able to offer more help.
Regards
Patrick

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:57 pm

Patrick wrote:Finally in relation to the 'green frame' issue. I am capturing from a Sony video 8 handycam via a Video express composite to USB feed.

Perhaps the color of the frame reflects your location

Seriously though, I'm sure I have read on this forum that you can move the Timeline curser to a frame that better represents the clip than the first frame and choose that as the thumbnail. I think is was a post from Steve but I will keep searching!

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:59 pm

Sure he could do that, but if you have 100 clips that would certainly be tedious. Hopefully someone knowledeable about Video Express can offer some help.

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:29 pm

Thanks John,
Ho Ho ! Location is more white than green at the moment.

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:41 pm

Black Lab wrote:Sure he could do that,
.

Please tell me how and put me out of my misery. Its driving me nuts trying to drag it up from my memory bank

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:50 pm

1. Click on a thumbnail.

2. Under the Preview Window adjust the Timecode to where you want the beginning of the clip to be.

3. Click the Mark In button.

4. The library thumbnail changes (again, virtually - the real clip is unchanged).

To do that for a couple of clips, no problem. To do that for 100 clips, absolute drudgery.

There must be something the Video Express is doing to the first frame.