Video Editing Software and Methods What does “editing” mean? We might mean a) making a programme b) trimming the parts we don’t need, before and after a good session c) splitting a long shot. To do all these you could use an “Edit Suite”. At the ‘high end’ (£££$$$$ requiring really good computers):for Windows: Adobe Premiere for Mac : Final Cut Pro Medium cost (should work on good laptops):for Windows: Adobe Premiere Elements for Mac : Final Cut Express Free with the computer (or downloadable - should work on good laptops) :for Windows: Movie Maker for Mac : iMovies There are simple, free, cross-platform programs that work easily on netbooks:To trim and split you can use “Avidemux”. To connect segments of video “TSMuxer”. To convert large camera files to usable MP4 files, “Handbrake”. For audio editing “Audacity” remains the best, free, cross-platform choice.
Following, here are documents I made a few years ago for students working in the field with limited computing resources. There may be some new options, but all this software is still available.
1 - Editing MP4 video files in Avidemux 2.6 Convert your files as stated in the MTS to ELAN paper.
BUT this is different … Here are some new settings for Handbrake. Note these are in the “Advanced” tab. Make “Maximum B-Frames = 0” There is a drop down menu:-
Frame size “picture settings” same as before 960 x 540
New settings for Avidemux 2.6 Open the MP4, and apply new settings to “Video” and “Audio” for the edit:-
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: AAC
Play the file, pause it, where you want the new file to start, push “A” start it again, pause it where you want the new end and finally push “B”.
Then save, give it a “new name�.mp4:-
There is an encoding window:-
Then it is done. Open the resulting new file in Avidemux to save the PCM.
2 - Joining MTS files “Tsmuxer”
Run the exe file from the folder.
ADD a file:-
“Join” a file:-
Set button:-
“Start Muxing�:-
When it is finished there is a lovely magical ringing sound!
3 - From MTS files – to ELAN This document explains how to convert your MTS files from your HD camcorder to two files; a compressed video file (mp4) and an audio file (wav). It has been found currently, that MTS files do not run very smoothly in ELAN even if the correct codec is installed. So it is best to convert the video files. Where are the MTS files? You connect the camera with a USB cable to the computer. Put the camera into “play” mode. This should start a process in the computer which finds the camera AS IF IT IS A DRIVE.
In this case the MTS files are in STREAM
L:\AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM
Copy all the files to a permanent place for long-term storage – an external hard drive and/or burn to disks. Keep these - always make copies to work with the recordings. Remember that your camcorder records in either just less than 2gb or 4gb sized files – so it splits up long sessions into smaller units. This is so that these files can be shared on ALL types of drive (MAC, NTFS, FAT32).
Handbrake Open “Handbrake” Handbrake converts any type of video file to MP4/M4V. Firstly, to prepare, one time only – go to “tools” menu, choose “options”:-
UN-check the last tick box (it is checked in the picture):-
Close the options window.
Convert to MP4 Choose file:-
When you choose your first file, Handbrake always asks you for the path to the conversion destination (“valid default directory”):-
Find the destination path with “browse”:-
Choose your settings – (you can accidentally change the shape and size of the video, squash, stretch, enlarge and reduce).
Here is a suggestion - half full HD frame (note this also is “web optimised):-
Then click on “Advanced” tab
Press “start� to convert the file. The progress is represented at the bottom of the window.
Then it is finished.
Play the file in VLC – go to the tools menu and check the codecs used and the frame size.
Bulk conversions It is really useful to “save to queue”
So you can make a list of many files you wish to convert – then click on “Encode” and all the files will be converted continuously until they are all done (you can run this overnight).
Creating a wave file from the audio For this, we need to use “Avidemux”. Open a MP4 (or MTS, or any other format video file):-
Next – (if you are using an MP4) it will ask you about which method to use:-
Say “No”.
Then it will ask another question:-
Say “No” again.
Next – set the Audio drop down menu to PCM:-
Then go to the Audio menu in the toolbar and select “save”:-
in the “save as” window write name and .wav “audiosample.wav”
Click “Save” and there is a progress window:-
Then it is done.
ELAN with MP4 and Wave file Start ELAN, Choose “New” Select the video file you wish to use, click on the double arrows in the middle:-
Then select the wave file:-
Then click on “OK”:-
Start using ELAN!
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