HOW TO: Save clips from .avi then paste/merge them together and compress.

[SierraDump]

I am a total video newbie when it comes to CREATING my own video files out of videos I take with my camcorder - and I don't really know the lingo so I am hoping you all will get the just of what it is I am trying to do - it seems simple in my mind but may in fact be a lot harder than I first thought (after reading several posts here in the forum while searching.)

I recently had the chance to purchase a SAMSUNG "helmet cam". It is basically a memory stick camcorder (it takes memory pro sticks) that has an extra EXTERNAL lens that you mount to your helmet so you can get action shots on the fly... I work at a ski resort and have recorded several videos that I now want to e-mail to friends/family.

HERE IS HOW I GET MY VIDEO:

I go out and turn the helmet cam on record and take a few runs down the ski slopes - the whole time the camera is recording everything (the lift ride up, the brief trip to the slope, and then the run down the slope). When I am done I end up with ONE long video file (.avi 4cc=SEDG) about 200mb and maybe 20-30mins long.

MY GOALS:

* Using that 1 long video file I would like to take certain CLIPS out of it - and then combine all those clips back together to make 1 finished movie file.

* Then I would like to take that 1 movie file that I make out of the clips and compress it so I can e-mail it to friends/family.

Seems easy enough but I am having many problems.

My camcorder records in AVI format. The 4cc code=SEDG ; which is a SAMSUNG specific MPEG-4 variation. I can take the RAW samsung files and, using a 4cc Hex Editor, change the file to 4cc=DIVX which then allows me to open/edit the files using 3rd party software (i.e. premiere pro, ulead, etc...)

HERE IS MY PROBLEM:

Being a complete newbie I am a bit overwhelmed with all the different formats and file extensions. Shamefully I admit that while I seem to have some grasp on the concept of what it is I am trying to do - I just don't know where to begin!!!

I guess I have a few questions?


* What program is best used for making my clips out of my 1 RAW video file.(the file off the camcorder)
* What program is best used for combining the clips back together to make the final movie file?
* What program is best used for compressing my final movie file so I can share it on the web?

ADDITIONALLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT FILE FORMATS I SHOULD BE USING? Divx, WMV, etc...

Since my camcorder gives me .AVI (mpeg-4 variation) files - does that mean I can not compress them anymore?


MY SETUP:

CAMCORDER:
* Samsung SC-X105L
* Output Video = .AVI (4cc="SEDG")-But I can convert this to 4cc=DIVX for use in 3rd party programs.

COMPUTER:
* P4 3.0 ghz
* 1.0 gig ram

[kschang]

Personally, I'd advise you to buy a simple video editing package, as you will likely be using it a lot more once you get a handle on the camera and its abilities and all that.

Something like Adobe Premiere CS, ULead Video Studio, and such should do quite nicely. Or look through the stuff available here in Tools, download an editor should allow you to manipulate the stuff. Just make sure it can load the file you got.

[SierraDump]

Thank you for your advise. I actually do have Ulead Video Studio and Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5.

I haven't played much with Ulead but do know the main HOW TO of Premiere Pro. This is actually where my problem started (couldn't import video files), but once I fixed that I found that Premiere, after only using 30 secs of the 2 minute 100mb file AND dropping the audio, actually made the final video LARGER than the FULL original video that I only used clips from... I started with a 100mb .avi file and after I used premiere to make a divx file - it came out at 996mb!!! (only 30 secs) AND THE QUALITY IS HORRIBLE - WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL 100mb...


Okay so I have done alot of research here and it looks like I need to change the codec that I encode the new clip with? Do I go into the options/settings for the codec and change them there? Because when I click SETTINGS on the codec screen in Premiere - IT OPENS A 3rd PARTY (i assume the codec mnfctr) SOFTWARE WINDOW with many settings...

IM GUESSING THATS WHERE I NEED TO FOCUS?

Can anyone suggest what the BEST codec to encode to is?


THANK YOU!

[npereira]

Best thing, get AVI changer and in the FourCC codec used: enter DX50

Your file will play on Windows Media Player if you have DIVx codec installed.

I just got my SC-X205L and had the same issue. Fixed now.