Working with Digital Video

Video Capture and Conversion Scenarios

Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut are designed to work with video that is "already" on your computer.  Video often needs to be transferred (captured) and/or converted from a camera or DVD to the computer.

The two most common scenarios include

  1. CONVERTING VIDEO FROM A "HARD DRIVE" OR "FLASH MEMORY" CAMCORDER

    Modern video cameras store video on a Hard Drive or "flash" Memory in the camera itself.  Many cameras include with software to convert and prepare the video for use with editing software - usually saving as Windows Media Video (WMV). Alternatively, software like the AVS Video Converter can be used to transfer the video to the computer and convert it to WMV or another format that is suitable for editing.

    Below are two PDF documents that illustrate the steps involved when using AVS with video that is typical of these types of camcorders.  The documents will be helpful if you would like to understand how AVS converts folders of individual files, either to a single file, or to an identical series of clips in a different format.

    Convert multiple clips to a single AVI file

    Convert a folder of clips to a folder of AVI Files
    *This changes the format while retaining the High Definition video quality

  2. CONVERT VIDEO FROM A DVD  

    Video on a DVD always needs to be converted and transferred to the computer in a procedure known as "ripping" a DVD.   The AVS Video Converter can be used for this purpose as well.
     
    When ripping a DVD, the AVS Video Converter can produce an .avi file that is compatible with Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut.

We created a video to illustrates the use of the AVS Converter to convert a DVD to AVI format for editing in Easy-Cut.  Click the link to view the Video.

Below is a PDF documents that illustrates the steps involved when using AVS to convert a DVD. The document is the same material as in the video.

Convert a DVD to a Single AVI File

Windows Movie Maker

The Windows Movie Maker software application was originally part of Windows XP, and later Windows Vista.  It was removed from Windows 7 and since that time has been provided as a free download from Microsoft. It is a very capable program and remains free. We've used Movie Maker for many years and continue to use it for a number of tasks that complement Easy-Cut and Easy-Scout Professional. See below for more details.

Windows 7 and 8 Users  -  Windows Movie Maker was removed from Windows and is no longer "part" of Windows 7 or Windows 8.  It is, however produced by Microsoft and is available as a free download. The "modern" Movie Maker program is part of what is now referred to as Windows Essentials 2012 (formerly Windows Essentials, and before that Windows Live Essentials). 

Since it is most common today for video to be recorded on Hard Drive or Flash Memory Camcorders, most camcorder models come with software that can save the video in a number of formats, including Standard and High Definition Windows Media Video (WMV) file format. Products like the AVS Converter and Windows Movie Maker are recommended as excellent alternatives for converting the video from the format used by most cameras (usually either MPEG2, MPEG4 or for High Definition, AVCHD or MTS) to either the WMV or XVID AVI.

The  documents below provide step by step instructions for downloading and installing Movie Maker from Microsoft's web site, as well as using Movie Maker to Capture Video from older camcorders, Convert videos from newer camcorders, and "ripping" DVD's. 

While there are slight differences between the versions of Movie Maker, the Windows Live and Windows Essentials versions of Movie Maker are quite similar. For all versions of Movie Maker, the basic approach and concepts are largely the same as well.

Downloading Windows Movie Maker 2012 (PDF)

Convert a DVD with Windows_Live_Movie_Maker (PDF)

Convert MP4 Video with Windows Movie Maker 2012 (PDF)

Capture Video with Windows Live Movie Maker (PDF)

Two less common scenarios include:

  1. CAPTURE VIDEO FROM A MINI DV CAMERA (using Firewire)

    Older digital camcorders record to miniature digital video tapes. To transfer the video to the computer, a special connector, cable and sometimes video capture software is required.
      
    EQUIPMENT YOU MAY NEED    :

    - A Firewire card that adds a Firewire connector to your computer.
    - A cable to create a DIRECT connection between your camera and the firewire connector on the computer.

    A firewire capture setup makes it possible to use Windows Movie Maker as well as virtually ANY and EVERY other video editing software to transfer the video to the computer.  

  2. CAPTURE FROM VHS TAPE

    When video is on a VHS tape, older analog video players, or a DVR, the video must be "captured" - i.e. transferred to the computer and converted at the same time.

    EQUIPMENT YOU MAY NEED    :

    - A video capture device (called an Analog to Digital Converter)
    - Video Capture software to convert the Video from Analog to Digital format

When capturing or converting video, video should be saved in one of the following formats:

Standard Definition formats:

720 x 480 .avi (best for DVD)

640x480 Windows Media (WMV)

720x480 Windows Media (WMV)

* High Definition formats

1280 x 720  (XVID HD AVI ) - 720P

1920 x 720 (XVID HD AVI ) - 1080P

* HD Video support is included in Easy-Cut Version.5 when the XVID Video Codec is installed.