Is there a way for automating video production process..

[OrangeDC]

Dear,

I have a project to produce a video clip for 60 minutes. The video clip has 82 background image, 320 subtitle image with Chroma background, and 320 audio clips.

I’m wondering if there is a production software that can batch these files in XML file or other format and produce the video clip automatically without inserting the clips manually.

The reason that I need to do it via a script or batch file, because I have to do the same project every week but with different audio and image files. So if I can automate the process it’s gonna be great job.

Any hints are highly appreciated.

Sample of the timeline
Audio1.wav 00:00:00 00:00:45
Audio1.wav 00:00:46 00:01:22
…. Etc..

Background1.jpg 00:00:00 00:03:00
Background1.jpg 00:03:00 00:06:00
…. Etc..
Subtitle1.jpg 00.00.00 00.00.03
Subtitle2.jpg 00.00.04 00.00.08
.. etc..

[poisondeathray]

Most NLE's have a "replace" function. If your assets are named the same and in a different folder e.g. file0001.jpg ,file0002.jpg, etc... and the audio clips are the same duration each week - all you have to do is replace the 1st one and all instances will be swapped, preserving all edits/effects/transitions etc...

[OrangeDC]

Thanks Poisondeathray..

Unfortunately, all the files are vary, this is the reason I'm looking for a software that I can feed it with a XML or CSV file which has all the info and get a rendered clip..

[poisondeathray]

Exactly what characteristics vary ? IN/OUT points, names, durations , filetypes ?

If that's the case wouldn't you have to edit XML's weekly ?

[OrangeDC]

The duration of audio file is different from week to week..

Yes, this is the case, and I'll edit the XML file every week, now I want a production software that has this feature..

[poisondeathray]

So are audio & video & subs are loosely related (timing is not important) ? Because by editing XML only , it's difficult to time/sync audio & video & subs . It will be an "arbitrary" edit.

[OrangeDC]

Forget the subs, in my case it's an image not a text, so deal with it as an image that's going to appear for couple of seconds. Sorry for confusing.

So the input is: Audio Files + pictures + timeline for both

Output: file.mp4

[poisondeathray]

So timing is not important? Because manually editing text entries isn't that pleasant

Most pro NLE's have import/export capability for various EDL formats like XML, AAF, EDL, CSV, TXT , etc... But their syntax will be different than what you have outlined

There are 1sec gaps in your audio example (is that a typo) , are there transitions or hard cuts & silence ?

[OrangeDC]

would you please guide me to one of them..

[poisondeathray]

eg. premiere pro , fcpx (mac) , edius, avid media composer

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/video-editors-advanced




If timing is not important , there are scripts that import image sequences, audio & put together a video. e.g. all images have a default duration of "x" seconds

If you want to manually make text edits weekly, maybe putting something in an avisynth script is an option. You can avoid a NLE alltogether

[OrangeDC]

If i want to search in Google for this feature in Premier Pro, what is the keyword that you suggest to search for..?

[poisondeathray]

"premiere pro xml import export" or "premiere pro edl import export"

I dont think this is a good way to go. EDL's are more for transferring projects between different systems and programs. Yes, they save the clips' in/out points, but editing it will be a pain . It's not really an "automatic" process. Someone experienced with an NLE / shortcuts and workflow could probaby edit it faster the normal way and with better timing

A truly automatic solution would be done through scripting, where it would adjust the timing and duration to audio & video total runtime matches. But precise timing to individual events is not possible .

[OrangeDC]

Thank for the info..

BTW, does Premiere supports Scripting..

[poisondeathray]

Not the type of scripting required for an automatic solution

[OrangeDC]

Thank you very much Poisondeathray for your help and patient..

[smrpix]

Is writing a script each week really easier than

grabbing your music and plunking it into a timeline,
grabbing your stills and plunking them into the timeline
grabbing your subs and plunking them into the timeline

exporting?

[poisondeathray]

It depends on what is required in terms of timing. If timing isn't important , then importing is easier than modifing a script

Importing is the easy part. You don't import them one by one, you import them as a sequence (everything is place on the timeline at once). But just "plunking" them on a timeline isn't all you have to do, you still have to "edit" it.

You can import image sequences e.g. import a folder of 82 jpegs, each with a default duration of "x" seconds - but you probably want to edit the timing correspond to the audio and "subs" or pictures or text or whatever it is - at least I would

Experienced editors can easily do a dozen small edits a minute through keyboard shortcuts

[smrpix]

@poisondeathray, totally agree. Also, I bet it's still quicker to trim durations with a mouse on a timeline than to type numbers for each clip.

[Khaver]

What about a batch file that writes an avisynth script for the contents of a folder of image and wav files then renders the script using ffmpeg?