GENERAL VIDEO EDITING QUESTIONS

Question:  How does a video editing system work ?

Answer:  Video from a Camcorder, DVD, or VHS tape is captured or converted to a "digital video" file and stored on a computer's "hard drive". 

Video Editing programs record the location of the video file and enable a user to "index"  specific plays - usually with information about each play. The index can then be used to quickly "retrieve" one or more plays for playback and to produce cutups. 

Question:  How can I get my video onto a computer ?

Answer:  There are a few ways to get video onto a computer:

1. Capture or transfer video from a digital camcorder to the computer directly using a "firewire" or USB Cable.
2. Capture the video using a capture device that transfers and converts the video to a computer's "digital video" format.
3. Convert the video from a DVD to a format that is suitable for video editing. (...more on working with DVD's)
4. Download the video from a video sharing web site

Question:  What type of camcorder to you recommend?

Answer:  More so than brand, we recommend cameras that connect with "firewire" and use "mini-dv tapes" . Manufacturers include Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Canon and others. Unfortunately these are increasingly hard to find, but there is simply no disputing the superiority of firewire-connected devices over USB connected devices for "serious", as opposed to casual video editing. When a firewire connection is not present on the computer, it can be added with an inexpensive adapter card.

Cameras that connect with a USB cable and store video on hard drives or flash memory can be used with Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut if the video is converted to the .avi format.  This can be done with software that comes with the camera, software available from CompuSports or any retail store, or by plugging the camera into a capture device. Since buying a capture device when a camcorder already can connect to the computer somewhat defeats the purpose of having a digital camcorder, we think the software solution is better and will provide the software to do this when necessary.

Question: What remotes work with your products?

Answer: Our customers have reported excellent results with two general purpose remotes - made for Windows PC's.  

Gyration In Air Remote
Countour Shuttle Pro remote

Question:  Will your products mark the plays for me automatically, or do I watch the plays and mark where they start and end myself ?

Answer:  No, though with the prevalence of DVD's and DVD Camcorders, this is less and less of a concern for coaches each year (at least that's what we hear). Of course, many of these coaches may also like the huge cost savings that can be obtained by skipping the expensive automatic capture.

With our products, you capture or convert your game using one of the methods mentioned above. Then you watch the game and record where you want the video for a specific play to Start and End.

The benefit of our approach is that you can work with a variety of video file types and sources, including "ripped DVD", and with today's trend in video camcorders toward Hard Drive camcorders with USB connections, you may very well end up having to do this with some of the more expensive sports editing products.

Question:  How can I transfer video to a computer from a VCR or DVD ?

Answer: If you need to convert from VHS tapes, a  "capture" device is required. The most common and readily available "capture" products are made by companies like Canopus, ADS and Pinnacle. Firewire capture is better, but we can also recommend USB capture products that we've tested on all versions of Windows, including Windows Vista and Windows 7.

If the video to be edited is stored on a DVD, since most computers include a DVD player/recorder, a type of software commonly referred to as a DVD "ripper" program can be used to convert the DVD video  to a format that works with video editing software. 

...more on working with DVD's

Question:  How can I convert video from a hard drive camcorder so it is compatible with your video editing software ?

Answer: As mentioned above, cameras that connect with a USB cable and store video on hard drives or flash memory can be used with Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut if the video is converted to the .avi format.  This can be done with software that comes with the camera (usually Cyberlink Power Director), software available from CompuSports or any retail store, or by plugging the camera into a capture device. Since buying a capture device when a camcorder already can connect to the computer somewhat defeats the purpose of having a digital camcorder, we think the software solution is better and will provide the software to do this when necessary.

We routinely evaluate, recommend and in some cases support software from established companies that create Digital Video "suites" as well as Digital Media Converters that perform this task . The products that we recommend also can "rip" DVD's and convert video cutups for distribution on web sites and handheld devices such as IPods, IPhones and similar portable digital media players.

Question: How can I get my video cutups "out" to a CD, DVD or Video Tape?  How do I create a cutup that can be uploaded to a web site or put on a flash (jump) drive?

Answer: Video editing systems create "cutups"  by playing a specific sequence of plays and either writing the results to a file (commonly referred to as Exporting video) or directing it to a recording device that is  connected to a video-out or in some cases a "firewire" connector.

The most common approach, at the present time, is to use sports video editing software to create video file "cutups". These cutups are then assembled into a DVD project using DVD "authoring" (creator) software that is often included with a computer or available as a free or inexpensive download.  The same procedure is used to create videos that will be copied to a flash drive or uploaded to a web site.

Once video cutups are assembled in a DVD authoring program, the DVD "project" can then "burned" to a DVD using the computer's DVD "burner".

A less common approach nowadays is to connect an external recording device such as a DVD Recorder or a VHS Recorder to an Video Out or Firewire port. However, since it is no longer a given that a computer will include a "Video Out" connection, and since most computers include DVD "burners" with DVD "burning" software, the use of external recording devices for creating cutups is becoming obsolete.

PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS - EASY-SCOUT PRO

Question: What video editing features does Easy-Scout Professional include and why does it seem to cost a lot less than other video editing systems.

Answer: Easy-Scout Professional enables a football coach to record information about Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams plays in a football game while watching the play at the same time. The information is then available to perform on-screen analysis and print tendency reports.

Easy-Scout Professional's video capabilities include the ability to:

1. Watch digital video while entering scouting data in the same program (Edit Video). 
   
2. "Tag" (or associate) video with a play in a game. Tagging clips while watching video is simply a matter of setting the start and stop points in the video clip and saving them with game data.


3. Record as many data items, such as Down, Distance, Play, Coverage, etc as you desire and go back and enter additional items at a later time.


4. Quickly tag plays by Possession (ODK) and identify plays to be included in highlight and training videos


5. Search for, or "filter" plays from one or more games (and one or more camera angles for each game) and then Play Back the video clips associated with those plays, either one at a time or in a continuous sequence - based on any data item or combination of data items in the Easy-Scout XP Pro system.


6. Create Cutups by either Exporting Video files or connecting a recording device to your computer's video out (S-Video) connector.

Easy-Scout Professional was designed to deliver the basic (essential) video editing features and capabilities and avoid features that add more cost and complexity than utility for the average user. This makes the product easy to learn, easy to use and easy to support, and that is reflected in a price that is easy on the budget.  
                                                                     ....... read more on this topic

Question: Is there a required annual maintenance fee for Easy-Scout Professional like there is for other video editing software ?

Answer:  No. Software maintenance is available as an OPTION.  A full season of support and updates are included when a product is purchased, and we offer maintenance plans that are ideally suited for schools that prefer to budget for upgrades at a fraction of what this costs for similar products. 

Question: What is the difference between Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut?

Answer:  Easy-Scout Professional is a football-specific scouting and video editing program. It combines a full-featured and comprehensive scouting program with a video editing program.

Easy-Cut is a general purpose, customizable sports video editing program that can be used for any sport. It is strictly a video editing program, and does not include reporting capabilities.