Smart Media Cutter

[Kcalb]

I have found it.

[Jack75]

I have downloaded SmartMediaCutter 2.3.4 for windows 64 bits but got a zipfile and no extracting file to my computer so i don't know how to install this device.
i clicked on a file called smart-media-cutter.exe and it failed because a python 312 dll is missing...

Can someone help me ?

I'm a new member aged 75 frpm France

Many thanks

[noemi7]

I have downloaded SmartMediaCutter 2.3.4 for windows 64 bits but got a zipfile and no extracting file to my computer so i don't know how to install this device.
i clicked on a file called smart-media-cutter.exe and it failed because a python 312 dll is missing...

You need to unpack / copy from the archive all files into a chosen folder (anywhere), and preserve structure of the package. All needed files are in the zip'ed package hence no any dll will be missing.

[Jack75]

OK noemi but how can i run the product ?

[noemi7]

Find & click on smart-media-cutter.exe When you open the program, click on a rosette icon which is in the upper right side of it. It's setting where under "General" you can change language to French.

[Bridgy]

OK noemi but how can i run the product ?

Have you got 7Zip or WinRAR installed on your computer, you need a zip tool to unpack the Zipped SMC Folder.

[Alwyn]

Have you got 7Zip or WinRAR installed on your computer, you need a zip tool to unpack the Zipped SMC Folder.

Windows 11 (and IIRC Win 10) have an in-built right-click option "Extract All..." which will open ZIP files (the "Extract All" only appears when you RC on a ZIP file). AFAIK You don't need a dedicated unzipper.

[Alwyn]

Feedback:

1. On first start, the program takes a while to load; suggest a splash screen so we can see that something is happening.

2. Undesirable frame seeking when using the keyboard left arrow key: When you hold the left arrow key down to quickly move through the file, the video display freezes at multiples of 250 eg 1250, 1750 (the playhead keeps going). Then, when you let the arrow key go, the video jumps to where the playhead actually is. In other words, you can't easily speed through the video using the left arrow key. The problem doesn't occur if you slowly single-tap the arrow key (fast tapping makes the video freeze). It's a minor annoyance because the mouse wheel only scrolls in 250-frame increments. I can use the mouse pointer to drag the playhead but it is fiddlier.
Sample file to play with attached.

Otherwise, great job on the smart-cutting. Works well.

[noemi7]

OK noemi but how can i run the product ?

One more option: there is an installation (exe) version available from Microsoft Store.

[Secoast]

Feedback:
2. It's a minor annoyance because the mouse wheel only scrolls in 250-frame increments.

You can set the mouse wheel to single frame scrolling in Settings.

[Secoast]

I’ve also been playing around with SMC for a couple of months now. It’s truly impressive how consistently accurate it is at outputting exactly what you create in the UI. The only issue I have is that I’m not a fan of some aspects of that UI.

Firstly, there are too many buttons. Eleven if you include the three functions oddly placed at the top of the Tools menu. I believe some buttons could be reassigned.

The Mark Out (inc) button should be an option in settings. I can’t see a situation where you would choose to switch between the default Mark Out and the inclusive option. One button that could be optionally set to default, or inclusive would suffice.

Keep Only Selection can be achieved with Invert Cuts, but I would replace both of these with an option to either Cut or Keep Segments in the Export dialogue (see image 1 as an example). I’m editing camcorder footage and keep all my segments. Whilst testing and editing, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve forgotten to Invert Cuts before exporting. This is partly due to preferring to hide the Tools menu whilst editing. I now reluctantly keep it open during editing to avoid this.... I still forget occasionally .

If we went a step further we could Ctrl click the Cut Selection button for Uncut Selection and shift click it to Clear All Cuts. This is how the shortcut keys work. And if you just used the Esc key for clearing selections you could reduce the number of buttons to five. These could then be placed on the Playback controls menu (image 2 shows an example).

I’m currently implementing much of the above approach by using SMC’s shortcut keys. However, I would prefer to work with buttons.

One UI function that is already implemented is the ability to collapse the timeline audio graph. This creates a cleaner timeline for those not editing with audio as a guide. Unfortunately, this currently only functions when more than one audio track exists. Would this be possible to implement for files with single audio tracks?

Of course, I appreciate that much of this is subjective. I would be interested to hear other opinions.

I do think this will eventually be the first program I open to get my clips into a single coherent stream before additional editing, so a big thanks to skeskinen for all his efforts. I look forward to its further development.


[Attachment 92260 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 92261 - Click to enlarge]

[Bridgy]

Firstly, when it comes to the functionality and layout of the GUI, this is a very subjective thing, and everyone will have their own preferences how and what is placed on the GUI by default, so i don't envy any developer having to come up with the ideal GUI to please everyone.

I hated the GUI and some of the internal settings when i started playing with SMC about 6 months ago, a few things have now been changed to my liking, a few things i believe are still in the pipeline, as well as additional features such as implementing a similar Intelligent Recode option similar to VRD (Quality Factor Calculation) where by you don't need to manually set your export Video Quality Bitrate, as well as adding a Titles feature, and an export to other resolutions option as well.

So far i am loving what SMC offers so far, i just hate having to use the manual Encode Settings for doing Full Encodes.

Have you got 7Zip or WinRAR installed on your computer, you need a zip tool to unpack the Zipped SMC Folder.

Windows 11 (and IIRC Win 10) have an in-built right-click option "Extract All..." which will open ZIP files (the "Extract All" only appears when you RC on a ZIP file). AFAIK You don't need a dedicated unzipper.

AFAIK not everyone wants to use the crapware loaded in Windows, some prefer a dedicated Zip tool like i do.

I use a stripped down version of Windows 11 Pro, it does not have that so called built in extraxtion tool, and if it did i would not use it anyway, i prefer 7Zip.

[Alwyn]

You can set the mouse wheel to single frame scrolling in Settings.

Thanks. I'm sure I clicked that cog but it didn't look like it does now! Lots of nifty settings in there. Be good to have a mouse wheel+SHIFT and +CTRL to give us three scrolling speeds then transfer to the arrows when you get really close to the cut point you want.

AFAIK not everyone wants to use the crapware loaded in Windows, some prefer a dedicated Zip tool like i do.

I use a stripped down version of Windows 11 Pro, it does not have that so called built in extraxtion tool, and if it did i would not use it anyway, i prefer 7Zip.

I was simply offering a suggestion for somebody who looks like they're having problems. Why do you feel the need to blast anybody who proposes a different way of doing things than you, especially when the different way it involves less work?

as well as additional features such as implementing a similar Intelligent Recode option similar to VRD (Quality Factor Calculation) where by you don't need to manually set your export Video Quality Bitrate

The whole point of a smart cutter is that NOTHING is changed (except for the recoded parts on each side of the cuts). Any adjustment of any export parameter means the whole file will be recoded. If you want to start changing QRF or Bitrate do a full encode.