GENERAL VIDEO EDITING QUESTIONS

Question: What equipment do I need in order to use your software?

Answer:  A modern computer that runs Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, and is equipped with a DVD "burner" is often enough (we offer one product for the Mac - Playmaker Pro). Many of our customers like using the DVD Ripping and Video Conversion software that we recommend (and support) as well.

Full details are here....

Question:  How does a video editing system work ?

Answer:  Video from a Camcorder, DVD, or VHS tape is transferred to the computer's "hard drive", where it is available to Video Editing software. Video Editing software records the location of the video file(s) and enables 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 and highlights. 

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

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 video files are best for editing?

Answer:  Almost in every case, AVI files, but a word of caution here that AVI is like a "box" in which to store video, and the video inside can be in a couple of formats.   The common thread is that the .avi "box" or container, affords better control of video playback and more precise positioning for playback and producing cutups.

Question:  What type of camcorder to you recommend?

Answer:  More so than brand, we recommend cameras that connect with "firewire" and use "mini-dv tapes" .  Unfortunately these are increasingly hard to find, and most camcorders now connect with a USB cable and store video on hard drives or flash memory. 

Video from any camcorder can be used with Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut as long as the video is converted to a compatible format.  This can be done with software that comes with the camera, software available from CompuSports or in many retail stores, or by plugging the camera into a capture device.

Question: What remotes work with your products?

Answer: Our customers have reported excellent results with two general purpose remotes - made for Windows PC's.   They cost a fraction of the cost of Cowboy or Commando remotes !

Contour Shuttle Pro remote

Question:  How does your video editing software know where a play begins and ends?

Answer:  While watching the plays in the game on the computer, the Start and End of the play is identified by clicking "Start" and "End" buttons.

Question:  How can I transfer video to a computer from a VCR or DVD ?

Answer: A "capture" device is required to transfer video from a VCR.  "Capture" products are made by companies like Canopus, ADS and Pinnacle among others.  Most connect to the computer with a Firewire cable, although some USB capture products are available. 

The easiest way to transfer video from a DVD is to use a type of software commonly referred to as a DVD "ripper" to convert the DVD video to a format that works with video editing software. 

Question:  How can I convert video from a hard drive camcorder so it is compatible with your video editing software ?

Answer:  This can be done with software that comes with the camera or software like the AVS Video Converter. The video can be saved to a single .avi file for each game after copying from the camera. or each clip can be converted to an AVI file for use with Easy-Cut.

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: Modern video editing systems create "cutups"  by cutting and splicing plays together and saving to a "new" video file (commonly referred to as Exporting, or Publishing video).

These cutups are then assembled into a DVD project using DVD "authoring" (creator) software that is often included with a computer or available as a free or inexpensive download.  The same procedure is used to create videos that will be copied to a flash drive or uploaded to a web site.

Once video cutups are assembled in a DVD authoring program, the DVD "project" can then "burned" to a DVD using the computer's DVD "burner".

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.