If you cut commercial with Video Studio 6 please help me

[presto]

I downloaded the demo and I just don't get it. The "split video" button that I think I need is sometimes there and sometimes not. If it is there it is sometimes active and sometimes greyed out (why?). The scant tutorials at ulead are useless.

I just want to cut commercials out of a tv show. This is how I envision the process:

Select point A, Select point B, cut

If you really use this program to routinely cut out commercials please give me the process step by step. I know it is a pain. There is no reason anyone has to do this but honestly I have tried and tried to figure this out for two days. I don't mind programs with a learning curve but what I want to do is so simple and fundamental I don't see why it should be complicated. I must be missing something that is perhaps obvious to others. Maybe I have a blind spot.

I think this would be a good subject for a tutorial in the how to section.

Thanks

[Mirror_Image]

This isn't polished, so here it is roughed out.

The clip has to be selected to enable the cut button, and will be grayed-out otherwise. I usually do this in storyboard view, not in timeline view. Let's say we have a one-minute clip we want to clip into 3 parts, and then delete the middle part.

We would load the clip by going to storyboard mode (for the main track anyway), ad the video and make sure it is selected. Now, go up to preview bar (the lower one with the vertical red bar, not the trim end sliders). Slide that bar till you have the frame you want to cut in the display. You can fine tune it by typing numbers in the counter display right below the preview bar, or else with the "prev" and "next" buttons on the vcr-type controls. I usually ignore the trim bar sliders.

OK, when we have the cut location where we want it, click that "split video" (button with the scissors). Move the preview bar where you want cut #2, fine-tuning it if needed, and split the video again. We now have 3 "clips". Select the middle clip (the "commercial", for this exercise), and hit the delete key (you have an undo button, in case you make a mistake).

It looks better if we fade the clips into each other, rather than having a jerky looking jump at the cut. I prefer the silky-smooth "crossfade" effect, but I'm not sure if that's included in the trial version. In any event, click that "effects" tab at the top of the screen. Look through the effects, find one you like, then drag it down between our 2 clips. You can modify the duration of your effect if you like.

Click the "finish" tab, "create video file", "ntsc vcd", and the save dialog box pops up, saving the project as our new VCD-compliant (or whatever you like) file.

[presto]

I think I have it now. The part that was confusing me was that you have to select the clip in the upper right corner area. Not in the timeline area. Also that you use the preview bar and that the button doesn't show up until you have done those things.

Thanks Mirror Image

(I think this program is a great example of unfriendly programing. It is a like a puzzle. Slide this panel while pressing here and here and the drawer slides open which allows you to put the key in the lock but you must press the key three times or it won't turn...)

[Mirror_Image]

Sort of a Chinese Puzzle Box (no pun intended), isn't it? However, once you get to know each other better, you can do quite a bit with UVS6; it is no Vegas Video / Premiere / MSPro, but it's not $300-$500 either. For $100 (or just $50 for an upgrade from UVS5), it's hard to beat.