Movie Marker 2

[Alan]

2 questions:
1. I transfered a VHS tape to DV camera. Did automatic
capture and put on storyboard. When played, there is
a "skip" between transitions from one clip to another.
What am I doing wrong?

2. I run Win XP Pro and keep it up to date via Windows
Update, but am not sure if I am running MM2 as the title
bar makes no referrence to the version. In Help/About it
states:
Microsoft Windows Movie Maker
Version 5.1 (Build 2600xpsp2.030422-1633 : Service Pack
1)
Windows Movie Maker Version 2.0.3312.0.

I am thinking that the last line is the most reliable but
frankly I find MS way of indicating versions in this
application confusing.

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

You're right in how you read the version info. It's the latest.

Are the skips between clips in the preview, or also in a saved movie?

PapaJohn

 

[Alan]

The skips occur when I transfer the clips to the
storyboard and then play it in the screen in the upper
right hand corner. I have not yet put in transitions or
done anything to edit the movie because the movie is an
hour and a half (my wedding video)and I figure there is
no reason to spend all that time editing if I cannot get
the first 10 minutes to play error free. To the extent
that I have these clips in the storyboard and can bring
it up again after closing, it is saved. I go to
File/OpenProject. I have NOT clicked on
File/SaveMovieFile. I don't know if that is what you
mean by "saving" the movie. I have "saved" the movie
project, but not the movie. I am not sure I know the
difference. Wouldn't I save the movie after I finished
editing it?

I know you can shorten clips by dragging them so I made
sure I hadn't inadvertently dragged any clips. I did,
however, try to drag them to lengthen them, to no avail.
I have a Dell Pentium 4 2.4GHz with a 128DDR ATI Radeon
9700 Pro w/ TV-out, if that helps any.

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Yes, you have it down.

Previewing drops information as needed so you can see it in real time. The
dropped info wouldn't be dropped in the final movie, which should play back
completely and smoothly.

I suggest testing the full process. Save the first five minutes as a movie,
using the best quality for the computer, and play it back to see how things
look and play.

PapaJohn

 

[Alan]

I will try the process you suggest. Just to be sure I
understand, you suggest that I create another project,
separate from what I have now, and include the first 5
minutes, or at least the clips where I am having the
dropout, to see if it will play smoothly as a saved
movie.

Thank you very much for your assistance. You have been
extremely responsive to my questions and very helpful in
explaining this stuff to a movie newbie.

alan

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Yes - but a quick a dirty - fast put-together of a project. Starting with a
copy of your current project file (saved as a test project file) would work
fine. Just delete most of the stuff from it.

 

[Alan]

I put together the first few clips...clips where I was
having dropout (where I was missing the first 1/2 second
or so of the clip or last 1/2 second of the previous
clip...I can't tell) and saved a movie per your
suggestion. Played the movie and found it still had the
same drop out that the project had. This led me to
question whether or not the original video was flawed. I
played that again and found there was no drop out.
Unforetunately I cannot check the original video to DV
dub as I recorded the second half of the DV tape over the
first half.

If, in fact, this is not a common problem, I can only
think of possibilities, but each has arguments against.
I could have fiddled with the camera or VHS machine
during the original VHS to DV dub, though I can't recall
doing so. Indeed, I got it going and left the room as I
recall. Or perhaps the quality of the original VHS has
to be in such a condition so as there are clear breaks
where MM2 can stop the clip and start another. Or it may
be in the quality of my video. Any suggestions?

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Maybe you can email me a copy of the project file for the short one you have
as a test. Or even the MSWMM file for the full version, so I can see better
what the project looks like.