adding media troubles

[samsara]

I'm working with VSX6 and for some reason, every time I go to the plus sign at the top to add media to my library, it defaults to creating a folder instead. Yes, I have highlighted either the photo icon or video icon, but still the same problem. I know when I 've used the program earlier I didn't have this difficulty, I simply hit the plus sign and I was taken to my browser to add the desired media. Now I'm reduce to going to File and Insert * into the timeline or library which is a few extra steps I know, whereas the plus icon was faster. Any ideas? Is the only way to add media is through "File"?
As well, for all you videophiles out there, what do you suggest as the best render for quality and size for a video destined for the internet. Am I correct in assuming an mpeg4? Are there any setting I should be considering.

Thanks for all who have helped me thus far on the forum. Invaluable informaiton.

[BrianCee]

The plus sign at the top of that list IS for adding a new library pane - not actually a folder but a new library within VideoStudio it does NOT add media to an existing library.

to add media to a library click on the opening folder INSIDE the library pane at it's very top left corner - this will open a "Browse Media files2 dialogue window which will allow you to browse to and select the files you want to import and then click 'open' to have them appear in your library.

Alternatively RIGHT click on a space in a library pane and choose "Insert Media" and browse and select your files .

Adding media to a library does not put it in any specific folder - media in a library can be linked to several different folders on your hard drive.

The images in a library pane (thumbnails) are not your media - they are simply links to them.

Putting files into libraries has been like this for many many versions now -it is not new

[samsara]

Thanks Brian C. I'm an 'older gentleman' such as yourself, but can get around digital. I'm a composer and have worked with hard disk back in the day when the software waged war against each other inside your computer. I'm just starting to make video productions to accompany my music and songs. You've helped me several times so again, thank you.

Can I ask one more stupid question. If I wanted to show my video on let's say a flat screen HD TV, how would you render your video for best results yet stay within the bounds of a DVD. Of course, I can always stream from my computer.
And how would you render video strictly for a computer monitor through the internet. I know graphics are boiled down from .jpg to .giffs. So, with internet driven material, mpeg4?

Thanks for your attention, Brian C

[BrianCee]

If what you want to do is produce a "standard" DVD which you can play in your ordinary type home DVD player then your only option for that is mpeg-2,

Unless of course you have a Blu-ray player when you have the options of a true Blu-ray disc or a Hybrid dsc (HD on standard disc)

You have not said what your original footage is - I assume HD (AVCHD) of some sort - so streaming that direct to a TV would be a good option especially if you have HDMI ports on PC and TV.

If your TV or DVD player has an SD card slot you could copy your AVCHD files to an SD card and play from that

for computer/web page/youtube I use mpeg-4 in HD if your originals are HD

[samsara]

Thanks Brian, you have no idea how much I appreciate your help.
My video is a blend of video and photos put to my music. My son had spent 10 years teaching and traveling South Asia and I've been sorting through his millions of photos and video to create an Asian Memory for him - he's finally coming home to teach, ah, the bachelor life.
However, last night I rendered as a mpeg4 and was really disappointed with the results. The transitions, less than a second dissolves, tended to blur into the next frame and at times a few photos take difficulty clearing up the resolution. I'm only working with a 1.5 gig computer, and I'm wondering if that's the problem. I work with Vue, a 3D program, and was told I should be using at a minimum 4+ gig processing. Time for a new computer?

[lata]

Hi

As your video footage is relatively old it is highly likely it is standard definition not HD, it may even be 4:3 and not 16:9.
But just to clear that up can you tell us the properties of your video files.
Right click a clip from the timeline or library and choose properties, what are they?

Images, the resolution of the image will impact on their quality, again tell us the properties of those images.

Some HD video uses 1920 x 1080 px, so an image around that size should be suitable.
The aspect ratio of the video will also determine the aspect of your images, otherwise a border will be created when using images.