Using Ulead Video Products for MPEG/AVI/DV Editing

Life Technology
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I decided to learn something new, so I have been working with some of the ULEAD software (Multimedia Pro, DVD Movie Factory, Video Studio etc) to learn about video editing.

But this is not as simple as editing sound files (wav or mp3), and I am now totally confused.

My learning project is this: I have downloaded a number of episodes of FUTURERAMA (great show by the creator of The Simpsons). They are either in AVI or MPEG format.

I have inserted these into the TIMELINE, using the insert video clip option, and then I have tried to edit out the commercials.

But this is where I have been running into problems. The help files talk about trimming and cutting (Cut by Position and Cut by Cue) but I just cannot seem to get it right.

My b/f thinks that this is because these ULEAD packages only work when editing Digital Video files, and not compressed Video files such as MPEG or AVI.

He reckons that ULEAD should be used for editing and enhancing original camcorder DV files, and then it is used to convert them into various formats suitable for playing on a PC, VCD or DVD player.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

In particular:

Can I edit MPEG files using Multimedia Pro?

If not, can I convert MPEG files with Multimedia Pro, into a format that Multimedia Pro can work with?

If not, what software do I need for this? Is there anything available that will convert (Decode) MPEG? Or is there a MPEG editor that will do this?

If Multimedia Pro does work with MPEG files then how do I use the trim bar to cut out scenes I don

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Hi,

I will forward your question on to our video gugru here at Ulead. I’ll ask him to post here. I think that Ulead MediaStudio Pro and other Ulead video software should handle AVI and MPEG just fine, but I want to make sure. I specialize in digital imaging.

Best regards,

Jeremy
Ulead Systems, Inc.

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quote[quote]My b/f thinks that this is because these ULEAD packages only work when editing Digital Video files, and not compressed Video files such as MPEG or AVI.[/quote]

Dude, I did the book for version MediaStudio Pro 5 and let me tell you after working on the product for so long, I know for a fact that program can not only handle all that, it will make your morning coffee for you and walk the dog. With the right video card (i.e. one that’s stable and does what it’s advertised to do), you can do George Lucas kind of stuff (with VideoPaint) – well, if you’ve talent and a loooooooooooooooooot of time on your hands.

Probably you’ve a problem with your video card or your video codecs. FWIW, dv software is notoriously twitchy.

FB

P.S. IF you’re using a daboutie version of the software, then that might be where your problems are coming from too.
P.P.S. If you are using a daboutie version of the software, don’t. Ulead engineers make little enough money as it is, so why steal from them? (I’m not saying you are, this is a just a generalized plea to stop software piracy.)
P.P.P.S. I’m not a shill for Ulead. Danielle Liao is Satan’s left tit, as far as I’m concerned.

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Hi,

OK, my video expert is too lazy to post himself, so he wants me to post his reply for him:

"MSP can edit MPEG video in the timeline. This guy just needs to trim in the Souce window, or directly on the Timeline itself. Tell him to look up “Trim in the Source Window” in the help file.

FYI Because a MPEG files IBP structure has to be recalculated, editing in MPEG can be slow and requires a faster processor."

Hope this helps.

Jeremy
Ulead Systems, Inc.

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I recently tried an alternative that cost me bugger-all (i.e. nothing). Go to this link:

http://www.dvdripguides.com/dvdrip1b.html

Download the software and follow the instructions. It’s a pretty straightforward way of getting DVD onto VCD.

It worked for a luddite, so it should work for anyone else.

Cheers,

Babou.

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Thanks for the help Jeremy.

I am slowly coming to grips with the software and I have burned my first VCD, a compilation of MPEG files with a title page and some transition effects.

I still have problems with the trimming or cutting. I find the on-line manuals and help files quite hard to work with, everytime I think I understand it and try to apply it something goes wrong!! But that seems to be the case with most software packages of this size.

I have found a great page on editing MPEG and AVI files Nicky Pages

I downloaded the shareware software package TMPGEnc (also mentioned on the DVDrippGuides - thanks babou), and cut, edited and rejoined my mpeg files within 5 minutes.

The NickyGuides page is very easy to understand, and uses lots of screen captures to show the novice which buttons to push.

I then imported the new MPEG files into MSP and jazzed it up a bit.

A roundabout way of doing things, but it gets the job done until I sus out the rest of the MSP functions.

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[QUOTE]Originally posted by John:
[QB]I decided to learn something new, so I have been working with some of the ULEAD software (Multimedia Pro, DVD Movie Factory, Video Studio etc) to learn about video editing.

Hi John!

I do a lot of work with Ulead Media Studio Pro and other Ulead products.