Video Playback In Monitor

[splatking]

Please help me,
I imported a short .AVI clip from my hard drive from my Flip Ultra video camera. With the screenshot below you can see I performed the render with the green line above the clip in the timeline.
But when I hit play in the monitor area, the video is black and at the bottom you can barely see some of the video playing. The audio works just fine. I can play this clip in Windows Media Player just fine.
I changed the field options to: Reverse Field Dominance and also clicked the Interlace Consecutive Frames.
The Video Rendering is set to: File Format: DV NTSC

I am on Windows Vista, 32-bit OS, 4.0GB RAM. Using Premiere Elements 7

Thanks in advance,

http://www.themav.com/images/elementsimage.jpg

[ATR]

Do you know what type of .avi your Flip Ultra is producing? Not all video with a file extension of .avi is DV AVI, the native format of the Premiere Elements Timeline. Some of the non DV AVI format require conversion before bringing to the Premiere Elements Timeline. Flip camera video can be challenging to edit. Check of this FAQ from the Premiere Elements User to User Forum at Adobe and let me know if that works for you.

I have tried the program suggested. It is free, quick, easy, and often effective in achieving the goal.

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/437535?tstart=0

ATR
(of course, your video card drivers and other drivers are up to date...more on that later if necessary)

[splatking]

Hello ATR,
Thanks for the reply. After much searching late last night on this forum :D:D:D I found a post/topic that gave some good info on the same problem I was having. I found a link to a FREE converter and also I converted the video in WMM and it displayed just fine.
If you have a flip ultra camera like mine, those files are mpeg4/avi and not the dv/avi that elements prefers...:rolleyes:
I can't remember the link to this informative topic but I can repost it when I go home, I am at work right now.

You seem to be very dedicated to helping people ATR so kudos to you for a thankless effort...well, I am sure lots of people on here thank you, but you know what I mean.

I hope to be learning more here and maybe even helping someone with the same speed bumps I have crossed.

One question tho, if I really like my Adobe Elements 7, what would be the type of digital/video camera or video camera that imports preferred file types for Elements so I don't have to convert EVERY video I take.
Any recommendations or camera types within the $200-$400 range?

Thanks again.

[Chuck Engels]

One question tho, if I really like my Adobe Elements 7, what would be the type of digital/video camera or video camera that imports preferred file types for Elements so I don't have to convert EVERY video I take.
Any recommendations or camera types within the $200-$400 range?



Almost any MiniDV camcorder is compatible with Premiere Elements.
In the price range you are looking I would highly recommend the Canon ZR900
http://astore.amazon.com/chuckengelsco-20/detail/B001144JRO

[ATR]

Splatking,

Glad to hear the good news. Congratulations on your fine troubleshooting.

Now about your request for suggestions for a camcorder that offers video footage less likely to have problems when editing in Premiere Elements......

Since the mini DV Camcorders offer a means to obtain video in the native format of the Premiere Elements Timeline, namely DV AVI, it is often recommended as the means to less trouble free video editing with Premiere Elements. Typically, for Standard or Widescreen footage, you would set up a firewire connection for the capture of your footage directly into Premiere Elements (with a project preset of NTSC DV Standard or Widescreen). Whether you use Standard or Widescreen, the frame size is going to be 720 x 480 with a frame rate of 30 frames per second. In the case of Widescreen, a flag is included to stretch the 720 x 480 to 16:9 for display, after encoding.

You need to be very thoughtful about what you have and what you might be jumping into. Let me use as an example, the ad that was cited by another in this thread.

That Canon Camcorder is listed as refurbished with about a 3 1/2 star rating. In one place it says that it comes with a 90 day Canon warranty, but at the end says it has a 1 year Canon Warranty (Parts and Labor). The price may be within your budget and present an offer that you think that you cannot refuse. To save for better or settle for something that might not be cost effective in the long run?

You need to weigh what your needs are against a lot of considerations about the camcorder and its possible servicing.

It appears that this camcorder offers only Standard or Widescreen recording. Although it tries to impress with its statement about "true widescreen", please check out the comments about "true widescreen" in the following online link.
http://www.sandelinmedia.com/widescreen/index.html
Bottom line is that this is not a high definition camcorder, that is, it will record and give you 720 x 480 frame size, not 1280 x 1080, 1440 x 1080, or 1920 x 1080.

Now to get back to mini DV camcorders in general...they can be very useful, but can have their pitfalls. For, example, if you buy one because it records HDV as well as SD, you may have a terrible time (especially with some Canon's) of capturing the HDV into Premiere Elements. If that is the case, most use the workaround of capturing from camcorder/firewire to a program called HDVSplit and then bring the saved split clips from the hard drive save location into Premiere Elements with Premiere Elements' Get Media/Files & Folders. And, if the user has problems capturing DV SD, the most use the workaround of the WinDV program for the initial capture and splitting of the video into clips.

Check out what is out there, new and used, and weigh your goals and options. Read the reviews, try to get a try out before purchase. Do not let a sales person oversell you on the terrific camcorder features/the terrific buy and undersell you on the ability/reality to edit the camcorder's video outside of the camcorder.

I would start looking around for a new mini DV camcorder, but leave an option open for realistic alternatives.

To be continued whenever you want to discuss this further,

ATR

[splatking]

As I mentioned before, here is a link to the topic in this forum that really helped me answer my original post/topic.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48313

In regards to using another video camera besides my Flip Ultra, I found this Canon ZR960 which I like because it has the ability to use a plug-in mic which is better for audio quality for the videos I am wanting to make.

http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=CNZR960

I am off to buy a green screen (chroma key) this weekend and hopefully well on my way to happy video making.
Thanks to Chuck for the recommendation on the other model of Canon.

[ATR]

splatking

Sounding really great with a lot of happy film making in the works.

Please keep us updated on your progress.

ATR

[Chuck Engels]

In regards to using another video camera besides my Flip Ultra, I found this Canon ZR960 which I like because it has the ability to use a plug-in mic which is better for audio quality for the videos I am wanting to make.

Thanks to Chuck for the recommendation on the other model of Canon.

I suggested the ZR900 because it has a jack for an external Mic like the 960. I believe the 960 is a newer version of the 900, excellent choice you won't be disappointed :)

[ATR]

splatking

Just an add on.

Even if I have zeroed in on a purchase, I like to get my hands on the User Guide before purchase to avoid surprises after purchase.

There are other similar sites, but here is one that offers path to User Manual as well as reviews and other information on the Canon ZR960 that you favor.

http://www.retrevo.com/s/Canon-ZR960-Camcorders-review-manual/id/23204bh650/t/1-2/

Let me know if you need any info on shooting for the green screen. There are threads in the forum here on this, but I will round you up some helpful links if you do not already have them.

With a new camera and shooting for green screen, you have some challenging and exciting times ahead. Remember, mini runs first, before the grand project.

ATR

[Chuck Engels]

I always like to check Amazon, they have actual reviews by average people that use the equipment
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-ZR960-MiniDV-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B001OI2ZKA
The reviews look pretty good too.

Cnet is good also
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/canon-zr960/4505-6500_7-33483239.html

[ATR]

Let us not forget, home base at Canon.....

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=SupportDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=227&modelid=18004

ATR