Re: [videoblogging] ASF files in video editors
Frank, this was a wonderful post. I can't thank you enough for such an extensive, clear, and detailed answer to my newbie question. I decided to stick with Showbiz for now since I know someone else appreciates it, too. I wasn't sure how mainstream it was. I'm using the trial version right now, and it expires in 3 days. They are only asking $30 for the full version. Some really bad software came with my camera. Okay, I'm good. thanks so much ;o) Jayme http://raynesworld.blogspot.com/ - Original Message - From: "Frank Carver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 5:07 AM Subject: Re: [videoblogging] ASF files in video editors Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~--> Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the Sweet Life. http://us.click.yahoo.com/A77XvD/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/lBLqlB/TM ~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [videoblogging] ASF files in video editors
Hey, Frank, this is so well written and to my mind, worthy of inclusion in our collective knowledge base. Made a wiki page for digitizing footage, here: http://www.voxmedia.org/wiki/Digitizing_Footage_-_from_camera_to_computer > :) XOXOX, Jan -- "It isn't done alone. Pay more." http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roadnode101/ - Road Node 101 http://fauxpress.blogspot.com - motion http://blog.urbanartadventures.com - sound http://vlogpresskit.blogspot.com - community http://the-hold.blogspot.com - literature . - Original Message - From: "Frank Carver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 5:07 AM Subject: Re: [videoblogging] ASF files in video editors > Wednesday, September 21, 2005, 8:25:12 PM, Jayme wrote: > >> Hi, I'm new to videoblogging. When I first discovered it a few weeks ago, >> I >> rushed out and bought a video camera. I've never had one before, and I >> truly >> rushed into it. Anyway, the output files are .asf, which Adobe Premiere >> doesn't recognize. I've been using ArcSoft Showbiz, and it accepts this >> format. Windows Movie Maker does too, though I hate using that program. I >> want to get Quicktime Pro for Windows, but I don't see that file format >> listed on their website. What's up with that file format, and why does >> this >> cheap little camcorder use such a strange format? Is it because it's >> cheap? > > First of all, you are not alone. There are a _lot_ of small, cheap > cameras that produce ASF, and there are several of us in the > "videoblogosphere" who use such tools. > > ASF seems to be used by the makers of low cost devices because (a) > it's fast and efficient to encode (so it can be done with a lower > hardware spec) and (b) because it is cheap to license. I predict that > there will be a lot more devices producing this format. > > I really think that the makers of "big name" (i.e expensive) software > are missing a trick here. I was considering "upgrading" to Premiere > Pro, from my old version (5.1), but was astonished to find that the > trial version could not load ASF. If you read up on it, everyone seems > to say that it is an "obsolete" format, but there are a few problems > with this. First, it can hardly be "obsolete" if cameras are still being > made that produce it; and second, such software already supports a > load of other "obsolete" formats (such as MPEG1, and a whole bunch of > awful legacy codecs.) > > Still, it's not all bad news. There are actually a variety of low cost > and surprisingly good editing packages available. > > ** Windows Moview Maker (free with WIndows XP) > > I'll skip over this one quickly. It's better than nothing, but not > really very powerful or flexible. If you prefer other software for > your editing, though, it is always possible to use WMM simply as a format > converter, to change your clips to something your software likes a bit > better. > > ** ArcSoft ShowBiz 2 (new USD 99.99, upgrade USD 49.99, often free) > ( http://www.arcsoft.com/products/showbiz/ ) > > You seem familiar with this one, I guess it came with your camera (I > know my copy did): > > I have used this for at least 20 of my videoblogs and once you get > used to it it works pretty well. Its idea of titling is a bit strange > (I have taken to producing my titles in a regular draw/paint program > and importing a JPEG) but for basic cut editing it certainly does the > job. I have found that an effective way to work with it is to create a > new category for each new project in the media panel and drag in (or > browse and add) anything that I might want to use for that video. Then > (making sure that the editing display is in "storyboard" mode) roughly > assemble them in order. I don't worry about exact clip lengths, > transitions etc at this point. Once I have all your clips in order, I > click on each one in turn and adjust the in and out points. The thing > that caught me out here is that the "in" and "out" scissors icons are > only live when (1) the clip has been placed on the storyboard or > timeline, (2) the time pointer is in your selected clip and (3) it is > stopped or paused. Unlike some other software, you cannot trim clips > in the "clip store" before they are placed on the timeline. > > Other software that I have found that works well with ASF includes: > > ** Ulead Video Studio 9 (new USD 99, upgrade USD 49) > ( http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm ) > > This has a somewhat different user interface to most other editing > software, and I haven't spent enough time wit
Re: [videoblogging] ASF files in video editors
Wednesday, September 21, 2005, 8:25:12 PM, Jayme wrote: > Hi, I'm new to videoblogging. When I first discovered it a few weeks ago, I > rushed out and bought a video camera. I've never had one before, and I truly > rushed into it. Anyway, the output files are .asf, which Adobe Premiere > doesn't recognize. I've been using ArcSoft Showbiz, and it accepts this > format. Windows Movie Maker does too, though I hate using that program. I > want to get Quicktime Pro for Windows, but I don't see that file format > listed on their website. What's up with that file format, and why does this > cheap little camcorder use such a strange format? Is it because it's cheap? First of all, you are not alone. There are a _lot_ of small, cheap cameras that produce ASF, and there are several of us in the "videoblogosphere" who use such tools. ASF seems to be used by the makers of low cost devices because (a) it's fast and efficient to encode (so it can be done with a lower hardware spec) and (b) because it is cheap to license. I predict that there will be a lot more devices producing this format. I really think that the makers of "big name" (i.e expensive) software are missing a trick here. I was considering "upgrading" to Premiere Pro, from my old version (5.1), but was astonished to find that the trial version could not load ASF. If you read up on it, everyone seems to say that it is an "obsolete" format, but there are a few problems with this. First, it can hardly be "obsolete" if cameras are still being made that produce it; and second, such software already supports a load of other "obsolete" formats (such as MPEG1, and a whole bunch of awful legacy codecs.) Still, it's not all bad news. There are actually a variety of low cost and surprisingly good editing packages available. ** Windows Moview Maker (free with WIndows XP) I'll skip over this one quickly. It's better than nothing, but not really very powerful or flexible. If you prefer other software for your editing, though, it is always possible to use WMM simply as a format converter, to change your clips to something your software likes a bit better. ** ArcSoft ShowBiz 2 (new USD 99.99, upgrade USD 49.99, often free) ( http://www.arcsoft.com/products/showbiz/ ) You seem familiar with this one, I guess it came with your camera (I know my copy did): I have used this for at least 20 of my videoblogs and once you get used to it it works pretty well. Its idea of titling is a bit strange (I have taken to producing my titles in a regular draw/paint program and importing a JPEG) but for basic cut editing it certainly does the job. I have found that an effective way to work with it is to create a new category for each new project in the media panel and drag in (or browse and add) anything that I might want to use for that video. Then (making sure that the editing display is in "storyboard" mode) roughly assemble them in order. I don't worry about exact clip lengths, transitions etc at this point. Once I have all your clips in order, I click on each one in turn and adjust the in and out points. The thing that caught me out here is that the "in" and "out" scissors icons are only live when (1) the clip has been placed on the storyboard or timeline, (2) the time pointer is in your selected clip and (3) it is stopped or paused. Unlike some other software, you cannot trim clips in the "clip store" before they are placed on the timeline. Other software that I have found that works well with ASF includes: ** Ulead Video Studio 9 (new USD 99, upgrade USD 49) ( http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm ) This has a somewhat different user interface to most other editing software, and I haven't spent enough time with it to really get to grips with it. I do find it extremely valuable for format conversion, though. This is the only software I have on my PC (and I have a _lot_ of software) that reliably allows me to edit/quote from other videoblogs. Most PC software is not good at loading modern quicktime files, for example. As an aside, if you have (or get) a tape-based DV camera, Video Studio has the "killer feature" that as it loads a tape, it detects scene changes (ok, plenty of software does that) and saves each scene as a separate AVI file. This is great, because I am not then tied to using it as my editor, like I am with programs that store scene detection information in a separate (proprietary) format. ** Serif Movie Plus 4 (new GBP 59.99, sometimes offered for less) ( http://www.serif.com/MoviePlus/MoviePlus4/index.asp ) I only got this a few months ago, but I have pretty much shifted over to it from ShowBiz. It's got a whole heap of powerful features, including after-effects-style keyframeable motion and opacity for all clips, and all sorts of precise controls. For an example, take a close look at my recent "talking like a pirate" videoblog ( http://www.makevideo.org.uk/2005/09/19/74/ ) You should notice that the "sea" slowly moves up, down and around during the clip. I d
