Fan vid creation basics...

[Phoenix]

Is any kind soul brave enough to give me a basic idea about making fan vids, please?

The last time I did any editing, it involved physically splicing tapes ... and before anyone asks, yes, it was inconvenient avoiding hungry dinosaurs.

I have Googled the subject, but the info seemed to mainly work around professional editing software, and I'd like to see if I have any talent for it before I spend a cent.

Anyway, I have the ML DVD set, a good selection of music, something called Windows Movie Maker, and lots of free space on my hard drive. Is there anything else I need to start?

If anyone could tell me anything at all, I'd be most grateful.

[Lilly]

Phoenix -- MovieMaker is a fine way to start. It has its limitations, but it's what I've used for every video I've made. The problem for you is going to be getting usable clips. You can import wmv or avi video files for use by MM, but MovieMaker cannot rip video directly from a DVD. There are programs available to do this, but they themselves can be costly. (When I first started out, I converted iTunes videos to digital tape and imported them using a firewire connection from my digital tape player to my computer. It was incredibly time-consuming and the resultant video image was only so-so.)

Once you do have usable video files available, I recommend creating a new folder for each episode you import. It also helps to have a separate folder for music files. It makes it easier to find things.

After you’ve gotten the pieces to the puzzle ready, then it just becomes a matter of opening a new “project” file and dragging clips to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. If we were sitting together in the same room, I could get you started in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to give a step-by-step tutorial online. Do you have specific questions? If it's easier, feel free to PM me.

[Phoenix]

Thanks, Lilly.

I'll need to look into the software required to get the clips; I really don't want to spend money on something that I may not go on with, though. Right now, I only have one idea for a fan vid.

As for specific questions, I really don't know enough to have any, yet. Experience wise, I'm still back in the dark ages of splicing tapes, so the concept of doing it all on a computer is very odd.

[greenleaf9]

Hey Phee! I use Windows Movie Maker too--it's a three step process for me...I have software that lets me rip clips from the DVD's, and then file converter software to make the video files compatible with WMM, and then WMM itself. Like Lilly said, once you have your video clips loaded into WMM, you can just drag them into the video timeline in the order you want.

The software I use, is "DVD Shrink" for ripping clips, and "Xilisoft Video Converter" for converting the files--I downloaded them for free, but I think you have to pay for them now. DVD shrink costs around 30 dollars, but it's a good, reliable software. I would recommend it. I'm not sure how much the Xilisoft software costs.

Hope that helps!

[helloeeze]

I use DVD decrypter (free download) to rip video files from the DVD. After that it's a trial and error process to figure out how their files correspond to chapters of the DVD because they aren't labeled really. I do it in chunks so the files don't get too big. (There might be a better way to do this but I learned by trial and error and eventually it works)

The files go to a spot on my computer, say, My Documents where I manually change the extension from a .VOB file to an .MPEG by simply retyping and "renaming" the name of the file and extension. Then I upload them to my Corel Video Studio.

I paid 40 bucks for the Corel Video Studio, although it's regularly 80 bucks. I never tried WWM because I heard it was hard to use and froze up. My daughter used both and she likes the Corel better but obviously you don't need it. The Sony Vegas is even more expensive and some of them are several hundred dollars.

You could start with the DVD Decrypter and see if you can get it to do what you want before you purchase anything.

Here is a site to download it. It should work or you could Google another site if this doesn't work.
http://www.dvddecrypter.org.uk/

[Phoenix]

Thanks so much, ladies, (and for the PM's too).

Next stupid question.

How do you go about creating the actual clips you need to make the vids? I've been told that some software just cuts the footage into predefined chunks, but a fan vid maker once told me that she did it manually so she had the exact scenes that she needed.

[Lilly]

How do you go about creating the actual clips you need to make the vids? I've been told that some software just cuts the footage into predefined chunks, but a fan vid maker once told me that she did it manually so she had the exact scenes that she needed.

If you import a file and you end up with one big chunk that you want to break into more manageable sections, you can click on it in your work area and then under "Tools" in the drop-down menu, select "create clips." MovieMaker will break it into smaller pieces, usually at scene changes, but it's not always predictable. It doesn't really matter, though, because you can adjust the clips once you drag them into the timeline by shortening them from either end or even cutting them. You'll have greater control over precise cuts, if you use the magnifier just above the left side of the timeline. You can click it 7 times to make the timeline stretch out and the pieces bigger and easier to work with.

[wollstonecraft61]

I love you, Phee, for starting this. I am learning so much. I, too, am tech-challenged when it comes to vids. Thanks!!!

[eris]

I 2nd the "create clips" tip. Otherwise, you end up with HUGE stretches of film that make it difficult to zero in on specific scenes.

One thing you can do, too -- especially if you're wanting to make vids based on one character -- is to splice all of the footage with that character into a "movie" and save that video as a separate file. Then you can work from that so it's easier to find the pieces with that character in it.

[diane31]

If you import a file and you end up with one big chunk that you want to break into more manageable sections, you can click on it in your work area and then under "Tools" in the drop-down menu, select "create clips." MovieMaker will break it into smaller pieces, usually at scene changes, but it's not always predictable. It doesn't really matter, though, because you can adjust the clips once you drag them into the timeline by shortening them from either end or even cutting them. You'll have greater control over precise cuts, if you use the magnifier just above the left side of the timeline. You can click it 7 times to make the timeline stretch out and the pieces bigger and easier to work with.

Thanks for the tip Lily! Phoenix, I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I did cut up into scenes, "manually". It was a hec of a job though, and I hadn't converted the files at 100% quality then (I just left the default which was 75% I think?). So now I have been converting again at 100%, which I would suggest you do straight away. So anyway now I'm back to huge chunks so I guess I'll try Lily's tip with WMM! I just hope that Premiere won't mind
BTW if you ever go for Premiere (which has multiple timelines and keyframes; I love those!; I don't think WMM does), you might find the resulting files for your edited videos are huge (like, 1Gb for 3 minutes!). I just open them in WMM after I'm finished with them and save them from there, and no more dinosaurs

Oh and BTW I just thought about something I'm adding now: Phoenix do you think it would be useful to you or others if people put links (in the studio?) to you-tube video tutorials about video editing? I found some that really helped me a lot when I first started. Or even tutorials we made ourselves (I made a couple for myself with auto-screen recorder)? For me watching tutorials was way less frustrating and time consuming than just trying to figure things out the "and-what-does-that-one-do?" way. I think I mostly have things for premiere though; I'll have to check.

[wollstonecraft61]

I would love to watch a tutorial. Sometimes watching someone do it is easier than trying to discern what someone is trying to say in text.

[Phoenix]

Thanks for all the help, Lilly, Eris, and Diane. RL rudely interrupted my plans to get the software today and start playing around with it.

Woll, among all the other good things about MLA, we have wildly talented people here who are also extremely generous with their know-how.

Diane, the links to tutorials sound fantastic, thank you.

[Albra]

How do you go about creating the actual clips you need to make the vids?

I don't make the vids yet, but sometimes , if I need it , I've used to use "VirtualDub" for cutting. This is "free" program. Here is a link to download it :

http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net

[diane31]

Thanks for all the help, Lilly, Eris, and Diane. RL rudely interrupted my plans to get the software today and start playing around with it.

Woll, among all the other good things about MLA, we have wildly talented people here who are also extremely generous with their know-how.

Diane, the links to tutorials sound fantastic, thank you.

Ok I'll dig in my archives and find the links within the next couple of days (RL looks busy before then... but... I promise!).

Talking about cheap video software I just picked up Ulead on ebay a couple of days ago for much cheaper than I would have thought a video editing software can ever be. $25, $29 dollars? I can't even remember. I fear they might be a catch though, but curiosity got the better of me (plus SO told me it made good quality gifs). I you want I'll share my impressions when I get it?

edited- to fix typo

[Phoenix]

Albra - thanks for the link. (Anyone with McAfee anti-virus may have a problem with it, though.)

Diane - any info / impressions you care to share are helpful.

It's the early hours of Wednesday morning here, and hopefully (later) today I'll be able to get some software downloaded. Then I'll be back with more silly questions about vid making.