Cutting clips for visuals.

[pockets23]

Hi, I want to cut bits and pieces from .mov and .avi files (most just a couple of seconds long) for use with resolume 2.3.
I used VirtualDub first but it didn't seem to catch the clips exactly, sometimes a few frames before or after or sometimes a couple of seconds (this could be something I'm doing wrong). But most important when I saved in full processing mode the file size was bigger than the original ( even though the clip was only about 5% of the original length), in direct stream mode the files were smaller but wouldn't play in Resolume.
I have Premiere Pro in college but no idea how to use it. Couldn't even figure out how to extract the bits I wanted. Any help?
Thanks!

[waylman]

select video->direct stream copy and audio->direct stream copy to just copy. you are reencoding the video/audio.

[redwudz]

VirtualDub will only cut on keyframes, which on a AVI like a Xvid can commonly be 300 frames apart. If you select 'File Information' in the file menu, you will see the keyframe or 'I' frame spacing. The little icons with the keys on them are for jumping to keyframes.

As mentioned, if you use the 'Full processing' mode, it will re-encode. The default codec (Set in 'Compression') is uncompressed RGB, which will take up a lot of space. It sounds like you need to re-encode anyway if you want it to play in Resolume.

You could re-encode in DV format, if that program will accept that format. With DV every frame is a keyframe and this makes frame accurate editing easy. You will need to install a DV codec to do this. I use Panasonic DV Codec. Then you would put the DV file back in VD and cut anywhere you want and save as 'Direct Stream Copy' with no further encoding.

And welcome to our forums.