GENERAL VIDEO EDITING QUESTIONS

Question:  How does a video editing system work ?

Answer:  Video from a Camcorder, DVD, or VHS tape is captured or converted to a "digital video" file and stored on a computer's "hard drive". 

Video Editing programs record the location of the video file and enable a user to "index"  specific plays - usually with information about each play. The index can then be used to quickly "retrieve" one or more plays for playback and to produce cutups.

Question:  How can I get my video onto a computer from a camera?

Answer: There are a few ways to get video onto a computer:

1. Capture or transfer video from a digital camcorder to the computer directly using a "firewire" or USB Cable.
2. Capture the video using a capture device that transfers and converts the video to a computer's "digital video" format.
3. Convert the video from a DVD to a format that is suitable for video editing
4. Download the video from a video sharing web site

Question:  What type of camcorder to you recommend?

Answer :  More so than brand, we recommend cameras that connect with "firewire" and use the "mini-tapes" . Manufacturers include Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Canon and others.

Question:  How can I get my video onto a computer from a VCR or DVD player?

Cameras that connect with a USB cable and store video on hard drives are OK, but the video usually needs to be converted to the .avi format in a way that enables it to work with video editing software.

Question:  You mean, if I have a Hard Drive Camcorder, it will not speed things up and make things easier?

Answer:  That's right.   In fact, it might slow it down and make it harder!  This is because most sports editing programs, including many that perform a video capture function inside the video editing software, only work with a firewire connected camcorder (the ones that use the mini-dv tapes typically).  Without a fireware camcorder, much or all of the benefit of capturing within the video editing software is lost.

Question:  How can I get my video onto a computer from a VCR or DVD player?

Answer: If you need to convert from VHS tapes, a  "capture" device is required. The most common and readily available "capture" products are made by companies like Canopus, ADS and Pinnacle.   

If the video to be edited is stored on a DVD, since most computers include a DVD player/recorder, a type of software commonly referred to as a DVD "ripper" program can be used to convert the DVD video  to a format that works with video editing software.

Question: How can I get my video cutups "out" to a CD, DVD or Video Tape?  How do I create a cutup that can be uploaded to a web site or put on a flash (jump) drive?

Answer: Video editing systems create "cutups"  by playing a specific sequence of plays and either writing the results to a file (commonly referred to as Exporting video) or directing it to a recording device that is  connected to either an S-Video or, in some cases a "firewire" connector.

The most common approach, at the present time, is to use sports video editing software to create video file "cutups". These cutups are then assembled into a DVD project using the DVD "authoring" (creator) software that was included with the computer, and then "burned" to a DVD using the computer's DVD "burner". The same procedure is used to create videos that will be copied to a flash drive or uploaded to a web site.

A less common approach nowadays is to connect an external recording device such as a DVD Recorder or a VHS Recorder to an S Video or Firewire port. In order to create cutup tapes and DVD's on an external device, the computer must be equipped with a "port" that can send Video "Out" of the computer. It is no longer a given that a laptop computer will include this type of port (an S-Video connection) and few desktop computers lack this connection. For this reason, and since most computers include DVD "burners" with DVD "burning" software, the use of external recording devices for creating cutups is becoming obsolete.

PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS - EASY-CUT

Question: What is the difference between Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut?

Answer:  Easy-Scout Professional (available on our football coaching software web site, www.compusports.com) is a football-specific scouting and video editing program. It combines a full-featured and comprehensive scouting program with a video editing program.

Easy-Cut is a general purpose, customizable sports video editing program that can be used for any sport. It is strictly a video editing program, and does not include reporting capabilities.