Editing WMV file

[Terry Pinnell]

I make the occasional brief WMV file using 'movie' mode of my digital
camera. These play on my PC. (BTW, I used to use WMP, but
re-associated WMV with IrfanView a while ago. I'm puzzled why IV
always seems oddly reluctant to start; it normally shows a blank
window, and only after arbitrary fiddling does a moving picture
begin.) Anyway, can anyone please recommend some simple-to-use
freeware that will let me perform some or all of these basic
operations on the WMV file please:

1) Change the orientation, i.e. from landscape to portrait or vice
versa

2) Remove unwanted sections, at least from start or beginning.

3) Edit the soundtrack

4) Convert the WMV to some more universal format like MPG.

 

[Michael Laplante]

If you're on Win XP, the free Windows Movie Maker uses WMV as its working
format.

Don't have a URL handy but a Google will turn it up easily. . .

M

 

[Terry Pinnell]

I make the occasional brief WMV file using 'movie' mode of my digital
camera. These play on my PC. (BTW, I used to use WMP, but
re-associated WMV with IrfanView a while ago. I'm puzzled why IV
always seems oddly reluctant to start; it normally shows a blank
window, and only after arbitrary fiddling does a moving picture
begin.) Anyway, can anyone please recommend some simple-to-use
freeware that will let me perform some or all of these basic
operations on the WMV file please:

1) Change the orientation, i.e. from landscape to portrait or vice
versa

2) Remove unwanted sections, at least from start or beginning.

3) Edit the soundtrack

4) Convert the WMV to some more universal format like MPG.

I was mistaken about the format of my digicam movies. They are MPG,
not WMV.

And I have now learned that the built-in Windows Movie Maker can
handle some of the above requirements. But my version, 1.1, is old.
Have posted separately about that.

 

[Kittie Spit]

Have a look over at www.videohelp.com and afterdawn.com for freeware
that might be able to help you do this.

You MIGHT be able to do some of this with something like VirtualDub,
[Don't think VDub will work with the formats you specify, tho].

Sorry, I don't have any specific recommendations.

 

[Ed]

Have a look over at www.videohelp.com and afterdawn.com for freeware
that might be able to help you do this.

You MIGHT be able to do some of this with something like VirtualDub,
[Don't think VDub will work with the formats you specify, tho].

Sorry, I don't have any specific recommendations.

Could you please quote the post you are replying to? At least quote that
part to which you reply. It gives continuity to the thread.

As it is, it is difficult to know who you are replying to or to what
question you are providing an answer.

Ed

 

[Roger Johansson]

begin.) Anyway, can anyone please recommend some simple-to-use
freeware that will let me perform some or all of these basic
operations on the WMV file please:

1) Change the orientation, i.e. from landscape to portrait or vice
versa
2) Remove unwanted sections, at least from start or beginning.
3) Edit the soundtrack
4) Convert the WMV to some more universal format like MPG.

There are two main ways to edit video.
Both use a frame server program to run the video.
The frameserver is invisible to the user of a graphical UI.
Some use scripting to control the frameserver and
the filters.

Others use more modern graphical interfaces to achieve the same thing.

The best video player is VLC from Videolan.
Virtualdub is a freeware video editing system.

The most basic video format seems to be AVI. You will
often need to convert a video to AVI before you can do
any editing.

Programs like AVI-splitter are useful, as are programs which
investigate videos and tells you what codecs are needed
and if you already have those codecs.
Gspot is such a program.

There are freeware converter programs from and to the AVI format.

I bought a video capture card for my computer many years ago,
connected it to my satellite dish and I could watch tv channels
from all over Europe in my computer, in a window or fullscreen.
I could capture video clips or still images with very high
technical quality, the signal was digital all the way.

The card has stopped working, but I still have the video editing
program it was delivered with, and it is also useful, but
a bit too old.
Some video editing software seems to assume that you have a video
capture card, but will work even without such a card.

Google for "video editing freeware tools" for example.
There are lots of free stuff around.
I just found a freeware soundtrack producer program that
looks promising.
http://www.daly.co.uk/iconic/programs/sp.html

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Have a look over at www.videohelp.com and afterdawn.com for freeware
that might be able to help you do this.

You MIGHT be able to do some of this with something like VirtualDub,
[Don't think VDub will work with the formats you specify, tho].

Sorry, I don't have any specific recommendations.

Roger, Kittie: Thanks, both.

First, I was mistaken about the format. My camera records an MPG file.

I've since made progress, although it has the downside that it uses
another program. I downloaded, installed and used the Rotate facility
in VirtualDubMod, which (unlike MM) *preserves* the aspect ratio. The
program looks very complex to me, but has done what I wanted. However,
the result is an AVI file, not MPG. How do I now convert that back to
MPG so that it can be handled in MM 2.0 please? My limited aim for
this initial 'movie' is simply to merge 3 separate MPG files together,
and maybe add some text.

 

[Michael Laplante]

I've since made progress, although it has the downside that it uses

another program. I downloaded, installed and used the Rotate facility
in VirtualDubMod, which (unlike MM) *preserves* the aspect ratio. The
program looks very complex to me, but has done what I wanted. However,
the result is an AVI file, not MPG. How do I now convert that back to
MPG so that it can be handled in MM 2.0 please? My limited aim for
this initial 'movie' is simply to merge 3 separate MPG files together,
and maybe add some text.

Hi again. I have some observations to share as I've started working
extensively with video myself lately.

I don't know about MM2.O but MM2.1 will work directly with AVIs. If you
don't want to install SP2 to work with MM2.1, I posted a link to a page
yesterday that describes how you can install MM2.1 without SP2.

Although I have successfully used VirtualDub for video work, I find it's
interface rather clunky. It's also "finicky" at times -- it seems to crap
out with large file sizes, for example. Furthermore, it won't work directly
with some file formats. (That's another discussion. . .)

Truthfully, I've searched extensively for easy-to-use video editing freeware
and never found it. This is one of the areas where commercial software is
preferable if you can spring for it. I don't know about the UK, but for as
little as $50 Cdn you can get commercial software that will make your life
MUCH easier. If you can spring for it, go for it. . . I won't discuss
commercial software at length in this NG, but research various products by
Pinnacle, Roxio and Nero.

The other reason commercial software is preferable is for MPEG2 work. If you
want to transfer your vids to DVD for viewing, you'll want them to be in
MPEG2 format as MPEG2 quality is signifcantly better than MPEG1. However, no
freeware that I've found will convert to or work with MPEG2 format.

I quite like MM because it allows you to "roll your own" special effects.
The downside is that it only saves to WMV format and the standard
compression formats result in -- to me anyway -- some undesireable
artifacting (parts of the picture are blocky.) However, through my own
research I discovered ways to save at much higher resolutions so that when I
convert it to MPEG2 I get the best picture possible.

If you go to this site, there's lots of info about MM2 and video work in
general.
http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums/ShowForumGroup.aspx?ForumGroupID=1

Generally, the editing process in MM2.1 goes like this:

1. Pre-process AVIs, MPEGs and WMVs using commercial product. Typically,
this involves cutting out dull stuff from extended videos, importing and
editing DVD clips, etc as MM can't do this or isn't efficient at it.
2. In MM, gather up AVIs, MPEGs, and WMVs.
2. Put together your story, special effects, etc.
3. Save to WMV.
4. Convert to MPEG2 using commercial software.
5. Burn to DVD using commercial software.

HTH

I apologize for my reply yesterday to your query about MM2.0. I gave you
duff info so I hope this makes up for it.

M

 

[Terry Pinnell]

If you're on Win XP, the free Windows Movie Maker uses WMV as its working
format.

Don't have a URL handy but a Google will turn it up easily. . .

Thanks. Yes, subsequently discovered MM, and have upgraded from v 1.1
to MM 2.0 (I can't use the latest, 2.1, as I'm staying with XP SP1 for
time being, following mishaps last time I attempted to install SP2).

See also my reply to Cari.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Hi again. I have some observations to share as I've started working
extensively with video myself lately.

OK, thanks, appreciate all the help I can get!

I don't know about MM2.O but MM2.1 will work directly with AVIs.

Yes, 2.0 does so too. But it seemed a bit quirky on the only occasion
I've tried it so far. But I think I had same behaviour with some MPG
files, so it may not be AVI-related. MM replaced the image with a red
cross, and reported it couldn't find the file I'd just dragged across.
But when I then d-clicked it in the bottom storyboard window and say
Yes to the question about browsing for it myself, it somehow sorted
itself out.

If you
don't want to install SP2 to work with MM2.1, I posted a link to a page
yesterday that describes how you can install MM2.1 without SP2.

Yes thanks. See my reply to Kittie in that thread: I had obtained 2.0

Although I have successfully used VirtualDub for video work, I find it's
interface rather clunky. It's also "finicky" at times -- it seems to crap
out with large file sizes, for example. Furthermore, it won't work directly
with some file formats. (That's another discussion. . .)

I've used it only briefly, to rotate my MPG 90° while preserving its
aspect ratio. But my delight in achieving that modest goal was
short-lived, because I found that when I took it back into MM (to
merge it with a couple of other 10-second 'movies' from my digicam),
it somehow then squashed it again ;-(
BTW, I also find it odd that the orientation of the clips in the
storyboard does not necessarily match that in the monitor view. Is
there some simple logic for that?

Anyway, a few hours ago the fruits of my posting (and extensive
googling!) paid off, in the shape of some wizardry called an XML file.
This was sent to me by Rehan, in the
microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker newsgroup, thread 'Rotating
loses aspect ratio?', message

I'm using it without understanding it, but it seems to add a
correctly-proportioned rotate to MM 2, which is just what I want. (And
which IMO it should have anyway. What use is rotation if it distorts
the image?)

Truthfully, I've searched extensively for easy-to-use video editing freeware
and never found it. This is one of the areas where commercial software is
preferable if you can spring for it. I don't know about the UK, but for as
little as $50 Cdn you can get commercial software that will make your life
MUCH easier. If you can spring for it, go for it. . . I won't discuss
commercial software at length in this NG, but research various products by
Pinnacle, Roxio and Nero.

OK, will do. Maybe you could email me if you have any specific
recommendations? Not that I can see why mentioning a few good examples
here would offend anyone? BTW, I do have Nero, including
VisionExpress, which came with my DVD drive. And also a program called
'MemoriesOnTV' (MoT), which I bought and rather like.

The other reason commercial software is preferable is for MPEG2 work. If you
want to transfer your vids to DVD for viewing, you'll want them to be in
MPEG2 format as MPEG2 quality is signifcantly better than MPEG1. However, no
freeware that I've found will convert to or work with MPEG2 format.

Ah, that's a revelation. I *would* want to transfer stuff to DVD,
(when my rubbish-to-richness ratio improves enough). MoT offered an
MPEG2 extra, which I forked out for. Maybe I could somehow use that...

I quite like MM because it allows you to "roll your own" special effects.
The downside is that it only saves to WMV format and the standard
compression formats result in -- to me anyway -- some undesireable
artifacting (parts of the picture are blocky.) However, through my own
research I discovered ways to save at much higher resolutions so that when I
convert it to MPEG2 I get the best picture possible.

I'd be very interested to learn more about that, once I've mastered
the really basic operations. Your notes below are extremely useful in
that context.

If you go to this site, there's lots of info about MM2 and video work in
general.
http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums/ShowForumGroup.aspx?ForumGroupID=1

I've joined both that and
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/simplyBB/viewforum.php?f=21
Do you contribute to those?

Generally, the editing process in MM2.1 goes like this:

1. Pre-process AVIs, MPEGs and WMVs using commercial product. Typically,
this involves cutting out dull stuff from extended videos, importing and
editing DVD clips, etc as MM can't do this or isn't efficient at it.
2. In MM, gather up AVIs, MPEGs, and WMVs.
2. Put together your story, special effects, etc.
3. Save to WMV.
4. Convert to MPEG2 using commercial software.
5. Burn to DVD using commercial software.

HTH

I apologize for my reply yesterday to your query about MM2.0. I gave you
duff info so I hope this makes up for it.

Sure does, very generously!

 

[Michael Laplante]

"Michael Laplante" <[email protected]> wrote:

Anyway, a few hours ago the fruits of my posting (and extensive
googling!) paid off, in the shape of some wizardry called an XML file.
This was sent to me by Rehan, in the
microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker newsgroup, thread 'Rotating
loses aspect ratio?', message
news:[email protected]

Yeah, his website features a number of creative files for MM. XML is simply
a type of HTML -- that's why you can "roll your own" special effects.
Somewhere on Microsoft's site is a tutorial on how to put together XML files
of your own, if you want to experiment with your own special effects.

I'm using it without understanding it,

It's just a text file. Open it up and study it and you'll start to go
"Aaah."

For us amateurs, Pinnacle is probably the best bet BUT on some of the
forums, you'll read a lot of bad reviews of their products. I haven't
encountered these difficulties myself but YMMV. I use Studio 9 to extract
DVD content and to capture from my old analog tapes with their Dazzle 80
which captures to MPEG2 -- has excellent resolution. I don't use it for
editing extensively except to trim "fat" from some longer clips. All my
extensive editing is done in MM.

'MemoriesOnTV' (MoT), which I bought and rather like.

Yeah, I've played with this one on a trial basis. I eventually bought a
similar proggie called ProShow Gold.

I'd be very interested to learn more about that, once I've mastered
the really basic operations.

See my notes re the tutorial. I haven't done any myself, being the lazy sort
that I am. However, if you cruise the MM forums, you'll pick up sites like
Rehan's where they graciously offer up their filters for free.

Finally, get hold of Microsoft's Photo Story 3. It lets you produced slide
shows with pan and zoom effects, music, etc. much like MoT. These are saved
as WMV format which you can then import into MM. Your final MM will be a
combination of video, and dynamic photos -- very nice. (Possibly you may be
able to do the same with MoT anyway.)

M

 

[Chief Suspect]

=================================

You can't get much simpler than the freely provided MovieMaker
already comes with Win XP. I have easily trimmed off the
fronts, ends, or middle frames out of .WMV files many times.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

You can't get much simpler than the freely provided MovieMaker
already comes with Win XP. I have easily trimmed off the
fronts, ends, or middle frames out of .WMV files many times.

Thanks, agreed. I'm getting the hang of that now. Also, VirtualDub is
another I found.