 |
|
OnLine Tour |
|
|
|
|
|
If you already have Studio OnLine, then this section will be of less interest to you. The purpose here is to introduce the program to potential new users. If you have used Studio software before, you will recognise many of the program's features, but there are some characteristics that are unique to Online. This will be a brief tour, to introduce the new hardware, preview the steps required to capture and edit a movie, and explore the output options for your final movie. Connections |
|
 |
This
is the only hardware item required, and included in the kit. It connects
to a USB Port on your computer, and provides one Composite Video input,
and an Audio Input stereo pair. The total length of the lead is just
over 1.5 metres.
The electronics within the module are powered from the USB Port, so no additional mains unit is required. |
The User Interface
|
This is a typical view that you will see when you open the program. The screen is divided into three main areas - The Album. - This is the area to the upper left corner, that looks like a spiral-bound book. There are many 'pages' to this book, that display all sorts of information, from 'stills' taken from each scene of your captured movie, to the various 'transitions' that you can use between clips, and a collection of graphics and sound effects that you can add. Movie Player - This is shown in the top right corner, and contains a screen and transport controls, that enable you to view sequences from your captured and edited movies. Movie Window - This occupies the lower half of the screen, and is the area where you will be working, creating your movie. From time to time, the Album and Movie Window are replaced with other tools and devices, as you will see in a moment - it depends on what mode you are in. |
Capture Mode
|
This is the first step in creating a movie - you have to capture your camcorder footage to the hard-disk. The Movie Window has been replaced by a device called the Diskometer. This enables you to choose where you want the captured movie stored, and the settings for video and audio quality. At the sides of the Diskometer, there are two 'drawers' that can be slid out, to reveal controls that adjust the image brightness, contrast, and saturation, and level meters for the audio. The Album shows the first frame of each scene captured from your camcorder, and is updated whilst the capture process is under way. This is a facility unique to Pinnacle, which they call 'SmartCapture'. This 'automatic scene detection' process significantly eases the process of editing, as you will see in a moment. You can monitor the live video input on the Movie Player during the whole capture process. |
Edit Mode
|
Having captured your movie, and stored it safely on disk, you can now get down to the serious business of knocking it into shape. There are two main views you can choose of your movie as you compose it - the TimeLine and StoryBoard views. Either of these appear in the Movie Window. The TimeLine view shows time horizontally (fully adjustable time scale), and 5 tracks vertically. These are Captured Video + Captured Sound, Overlay Titles, Sound Effects (and voice-overs), and Music. Objects are placed on these tracks by 'drag & drop' method. For example, captured clips or sound effects are 'dragged' from the Album, and 'dropped' on the TimeLine track. Objects can be trimmed and re-ordered on the timeline freely by simple mouse movements, and normal Windows 'cut & paste' methods may also be used. Transitions between clips (dissolves, wipes, etc) are very easy to add. Just drag and drop the required effect from the Album into the join between clips. Titles are composed in an embedded application called TitleDeko, and added on the timeline like any other object. The titles can be full-screen or may overlay your video. There is a huge variety in text effects that you can employ, and transitions may also be used on titles to dissolve and wipe them. You may also add still images as backgrounds. Music may be added from any Windows audio source, and there is also a special embedded application called SmartSound that will generate copyright free music for you, tailored to any length you choose. Voice-overs (narration) may also be added, using an embedded recording tool. All sounds can have their volume levels 'profiled' dynamically during the movie. This allows for some impressive soundtrack mixing to be used. The StoryBoard view is a different way of viewing your movie. Each scene (clip) of your movie is shown in time order, but not to a linear time scale. Transitions are shown as appropriate between scenes. This is a bit like looking at a Motorway Map, rather than a Street Map. It gives you a good idea of the continuity of your movie. However, you will spend most of your time working with the TimeLine. The StoryBoard view on the left also shows the Album open on one of the Transition pages - this is also available in TimeLine view. When editing, the results of anything you do can be previewed in the Movie Player. You have full control over what you see and hear at all times. |
Make-Movie Mode
|
When you are satisfied with your editing efforts, it will be time to 'Make' your movie. In this mode, the Album is replaced with a Control Centre, which gives you control over the way your movie is rendered, and a choice of its destination. You can choose to make .avi, .mpg, and .rm(Real Media) files to your HardDisk, or share your movie over the Internet by uploading a specially optimised file to a server on Pinnacles site, from which friends and family can watch streamed Real Media versions of it. You have control over many of the 'non-shared' formats, such as image size and frame rate, and a choice of codec for .avi files. When the movie rendering is complete, there is a short-cut from here to Window's Media Player to check on the results as others will see them. There is also a short-cut to your e-mail application to send the file directly to someone. |
Example
Movies
|
|
