Newb question - Long clip

[Dee Dee Warren]

Okay I have a long VOB clip that I want to just grab a few scenes from in PE2. I have the clip loaded up, but how do I edit it down from 23 minutes to just the thirty seconds or so that I want? I know this sounds really dumb but I am brand new and I can't figure it out even with the tutorials I have taken which all deal with very short clips and just trimming off the front and the end (which don't seem to work with this).

[ATR]

Hi Dee Dee,

Have you taken a look at the Trimming Video at http://www.chuckengels.com?
You can find it under the Tutorial tab at the top.

The Razor Tool can work for trimming also, but that is another story.

Please let me know if that helped.

ATR

[Dee Dee Warren]

I will try that next, thanks. The razor tool confuses the heck out of me. :confused:

[ATR]

Dee Dee,

Probably more than you want re: the razor tool and video clipping, but…..

Here are some articles that I had tucked away. Maybe you might like to check them out.

http://www.usfca.edu/its/cit/training/pdf_files/PremElements2_bas_pc.pdf

The following one, you may already have from PE in a Snap book. After clicking the link just below, look at Chapter 6 How to use the razor tool…in that part there is a “press here”. If you do, a video demo pops up (no sound), so you have to watch closely to see what is happening.

http://www.coe.uh.edu/courses/cuin7346/class12/class12.html

This next one is from Steve’s Tips

http://www.videoinasnap.com/source/steve/steve_tips.htm

ATR

[gem]

If I can attempt to sell a book on Chuck's behalf, I would recommend the "...in a Snap" book that ATR mentioned. Honestly, it is outstanding, including cross references throughout. I got it from Amazon and also found Antony Bolante's, "Visual Quickstart Guide: Premiere Elements 2 for Windows" that was selling new for less than $9. Bonante's book is a tad more technical and "in a Snap" would probably be more useful for just beginning (although it is laid out well enough that it will prove useful well into novice use).

As ATR has touched on, you have several options. If you understand how to move your video from Media to the Monitor and then edit from there, you can do several things. Perform your first edit in the Monitor and drag to the timeline and the simple reload the original vob in the Media pane to Monitor again and do your next edit. Drag to the timeline again..etc...etc.

Another choice is to split the original into segments that offer the actual video that you want to use and edit each split as needed.

Good luck.:)

[Dee Dee Warren]

I was getting some great advice at the Adobe forums as well. Here is where I am at, I am cutting down the clips considering using VideoRedo then putting them into mpeg format but they told me I really need to get them into AVI format. However I used Virtual Dub to put the mpeg into AVI or even to go directly from VOB into AVI and it mangled the sound sync. Is there a better program to convert to AVI? If the mpeg is playing fine in PE2 is it really necessary to go to AVI?

And another question, I see that PE2 saves all files as .prel - how does one get one's final project saved in a usuable platform for other programs?

[ATR]

Dee Dee,

Get your project in the Timeline. Go to File/Export NOT Export in the Menus across the screen. After you get to Export in the File/Export route, select Movie and select a saving place. When you look at the Media Panel, you should see the avi file. Drag it to the Timeline for further work if that is the plan.

As for the methods that you were using, I have no experience or knowledge of them. I would need to do a lot of homework.

Also, explore the options that Export (Menus Bar top) gives you.

ATR

[gem]

Dee Dee,

Several things.

From all I can tell PE2 is software that is to be used to complete a project. By saying that I mean that if your intention is to produce something for DVD or the web, then it will do the job very well. Unless I have missed something, PE2 does not export to AVI, which I find to be it's greatest weakness. For most projects, this is not a problem, but I have needed this ability with the work that I do. Fortunately I do have another NLE that enables me to do this.

The .prel file format is to save your project only. This format is exclusive to Adobe and saves only the tasks that you have completed while editing. It does not save the source files. In other words, opening a .prel file only tells PE2 to go find the video files on your computer that you were working with and assemble them as you left them with your last save. All editors work in this manner. If you wish to save a video after editing then you need to "render" it in some type of digital video format (AVI, MPEG, Quicktime etc.).

If you wish to edit VOB files, I suggest that you open each vob file in PE2, edit and then either burn to DVD or render to the video codec (format) of your choice. Again, as mentioned, your rendering choices will not include AVI when using PE2. VOB files are essentially MPEG2 files with instructions included that enable a DVD menu to function. PE2 works best with DV-AVI files and I have experienced audio sync problems when trying to edit MPEG with this software. I have been able to work around this problem, but, as suggested before, try to edit the vob files themselves. If this causes audio sync problems for you, please see this post:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10867

If you do need to reference and try this fix, keep in mind that you can use trial versions of other editors at no cost. Ordinarily a trial version is good for 15 to 30 days of use.

[javier]

Hi
I hope this helps, this is what I would do:
1. open a new project
2. add media ( your clip) you don't have to convert your VOB file to AVI PE2 will accept the VOB file
3. once you have your file in the Media Panel drag it to the Monitor Panel
4. here in the Monitor Panel is where you are going to extract or trim your long clip into smaller segments by setting the In and Out Points
5. right bellow the screen inthe Monitor Panel you have a few control buttons on the left side you have the In and Out buttons, now advance your clip to where you want the 1st segment to begin and click on the In button then advance to where you want your segment to end and click the Out button this will tell PE2 that you only want that part of the clip, now on the Monitor Panel you are going to click on the screen and drag the segment to the timeline, you can repeat these steps to get as many segments as you like
6. after you get all the smaller clips on the Timeline, Edit,Render and Export.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[ATR]

GEM

"Quote from your post: Unless I have missed something, PE2 does not export to AVI,"

When I have a project on the Timeline, go to File/Export, and select Movie, I then have the avi version saved and also in my Media panel. Where did I go wrong in thinking that I am exporting to avi in doing that??? I should add, this option is not available if you use Export in the Menus Bar.

Please clarify. Thank you.

ATR

[gem]

Please clarify. Thank you.

ATR,

You did not go wrong, my friend (and boy do I feel silly). I did miss something....your entire response to Dee Dee.:o To be honest, I stopped by the forum briefly just before leaving for work and Dee Dee's last question of the .prel file type caught my eye. In my haste, I obviously didn't read your response. Indeed my exclamation that PE2 does not render to AVI was not directed at your advice, but rather is an example of my ignorance of PE2's capabilities. As you eluded to, this AVI option is not available from Export on the menu bar, which is where I expected it to be. I believe I've even checked the index of the two books that I have to attempt to render to AVI and could not found any reference (possibly searching with the wrong terminology). I would offer that the File > Export > Movie command string is not as clear as it could be . I do wonder why Adobe did not include this with Export from the menu bar, but perhaps it has to do with the inclusion of the rendered AVI in the Media panel. I am genuinely grateful that you have pointed out this option.


Dee Dee,

I hope you are having success accomplishing what you are trying to do. As I have been advised in this forum and have learned first hand, PE2 works best with DV-AVI files. I would offer that if an added VOB file plays properly in PE2, then proceed with your edit and render based on what you need the end product to be (DVD, AVI, etc). I do believe that if you have any audio sync problems, it will show up when you view a clip or preview from the Timeline.

I previously mentioned the need to "reload" the monitor with the clip from the Media pane if you are doing multiple edits from the same clip. I was mistaken. After editing and dragging to the Timeline, the "Timeline" button that is located at the top of the Monitor pane will be activated. To gain access to the entire clip again select the "Clip" button in the Monitor pane. Proceed with any additional edits and dragging to the Timeline. Javier has described the editing process well.

I certainly hope I did not create confusion. All I can say is that my ignorance is not bliss, but rather embarrassing instead.:o