making avi clips

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

Newbie question here: how do I select clips out of an .avi file? I'm using Adobe Premier.

Bottom line is I'm trying to make a vid, and I have all the source material in .avi format, and I want to get into those .avis and be able to use Premier to select and edit and move around clips, right?

So what do I do?

Comments

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

Do you have an entire .avi file, for example an episode or do you have it divided into smaller clips? I don't quite understand if you wanna clip or if you just want to do editing.

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

My question's really on how to divide the episode into smaller clips. I've managed to get the thing to let me PLAY the .avi but I don't know how to clip it, or how to get the clips into the blank timeline I have for the vid.

I'm going to try the comment below and we'll see what's what. Thanks!

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

You can do as it's said in the comment below, but I'm not sure it'll be easier that way or clipping it before importing.

The thing is, that when you use full episodes, it takes up a lot of room. If you instead clip everything you want from an episode, you won't have as much space issues, plus it's easier to get a direction for your vid.

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

Hey, so where would I clip the video elsewhere, then? Do I need another program that will allow me to clip .avi files that I could then import into Premier? I was kinda hoping Premier would do both those things for me, and then I could store all the clips somewhere and rearrange them as I see fit in the vid.

How do you clip an episode?

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

Well, I use this program I got free through mail, Powerdirector Pro (30 day trial here (http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/download/download.jsp)), but you can also use Windows Movie Maker, which might not give you the best quality (unless you have version 2, which lets you decide on the size to a much greater degree) but does the job of clipping.

How to clip is different from program to program, but most of the time it's pretty easy to catch how it works, they're deliberately made very user friendly.

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's fantastic. That's JUST what I was looking for. Thank you!

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

:) Very welcome! Glad I could help.

[sarahtheboring.livejournal.com]

I think that was the original question, how to get anything onto the timeline. I didn't understand that when I first opened the program, either. When I first tried dragging something onto the timeline it was like "Eureka!"

You can also drag the file right into the Premiere window, which will put it in the bin automatically, I believe.

Once you have that preview-ish window up, drag from the preview window onto the timeline. Drag drag drag. That part is easy. :)

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

I persoanlly don know but a friend andrastewhite just did a fanvid and should know that answer if ya would ask her, and shes a nice sort so should answer promptly.

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

Hey you. It's meeeee, and I know dear 'Raste well and shall mosey over to harass her as soon as it's day on her part of the world. Good suggestion, thanks!

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

grins was thinking it was youuuuuuuuu
and knows you knew her but then wasnt sure and got confused...lol

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

I do have Windows XP, but not Movie Maker, gorram refurbished patchwork of a computer. *g* But Virtual Dub sounds like a great choice. So far I've downloaded a lot of things that still won't let me clip, and I'm getting antsy.

Thanks so much for the tip.

[altricial.livejournal.com]

ARE YOU MAKING SCRUBS VID??? I AM EXCITED.

[iamsab.livejournal.com]

I am giving it some very serious thought. *g*