SynthEditor v0.1.1 Beta - A Video Editor

[Rockas]

Hi there!

SynthEditor is my personnel attempt to make AviSynth available to everyone.



Those who know AviSynth realize that it is one of the most powerful tools in the world of Video Editing applications but it is, also, the most difficult for everyone that don't know what an AVS script is. Even for advanced users it's not easy to write the simplest script without the use of external tools.

I know that there are other tools using AviSynth but I think they are too hard to be used by newbies.

The objective of this tool is to make AviSynth available to everyone since first day but I also want to make it powerful and flexible enough to fill the advanced users needs. To achieve my objectives I'm expecting all the collaboration i can get from you... feel free to request features, suggest improvements help me with sample scripts, filters, effects, etc.

At this point, SynthEditor, only performs simple cuts and encodes mpeg2 using QuEnc for audio (AC3 and MP2/MPA) and HC for video.

Lots of new features are on the way!

Thank you.
Rockas


Please note... this is the FIRST BETA - USE IT CAREFULLY and please use empty folders for tests (just in case, I tried to add warnings every time something is going to be deleted but...)

here's the change log:

14 MAR. 2006 v0.1.0 Beta

-Updated the "Up" and "Down" segments move. Now the selected segment keeps 'highlighted' - my thank goes to communist (doom9 forum) for remembering me about this;

-Added support to "Video(only)Streams" - .m2v and .mpv

-Fixed a bug that related to target frame size on the import dialog - if a target size was chosen before selecting a file you would get an error and program would close;

-When saving a Project, SynthEditor will check if the selected folder contains files... if it does a warning will be shown telling user that those files will be erased - user can choose to continue or not... sorry about your files niiyan (doom9's forum)

-When closing the program will be asked if user wants to erase all the temporary files;

-Corrected a few bugs on the "Save Project" feature;

-Corrected the display of Frame Sizes on some AVI files (Uncompressed and DV) using AvInfo - all the other data is still collected with MediaInfo.exe;

-Added a routine that is supposed to detect frame type (progressive/interlaced) and Field Order, from mpeg files, using DGIndex and an AutoIt script;

-Added the encoding Feature for MPEG Files (ONLY!!!) - on this release you'll be able to encode video using HC Encoder and QuEnc will be used to encode the audio.

Please note: The Encoding feature will work (at this point) with MPEG files ONLY!!! and you can only use HC to encode the Video and QuEnc to encode the Audio.

I'm releasing it as it is so you can test the final sizes accuracy, I'll be adding new Encoders (QuEnc for video, CCE - this one is the pain due versions differences and maybe other by request).

Please... be patient... my free time ain't much so I only had time to test it on the same system(computer) I use to program... that means that everything may be just fine here but it may not even start on your computer

Any doubts... just ask, ok?

Thank you all in advance.

LATEST VERSION HERE: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1489561#1489561

You can get it HERE:
http://homepage.oniduo.pt/ROCKAS/
(I know... it ain't much of a page... simply didn't got the time for more )

[jimmalenko]

Phew !

For a minute there I thought SpectateSwamp had come back

[Rockas]

yes... I heard about him... that's the "why" of my post's title... I thought it would bring attention to my message

[Caple]

I was pretty sure it was him again

[dipstick]

Give us the link so we can check it out.

[daamon]

Yeah, I'm fairly proficient with Premiere Pro 1.5 having cut my teeth on Premiere 6.0 (all self-taught) and still a fair bit of editing - holidays, weddings etc.

I'm also a professional consultant software tester by trade, so it sounds like I should stick my hand up.

I'd be happy to help - provide the link...

[guns1inger]

I've done more than my fair share of testing in my time, as well as editing. Happy to offer a hand if required.

[Rockas]

Thank you all...
I PMed you the link... I don't want to make it public yet... or I would be receiving "millions" (lol) of messages pointing the same bugs

[hexxisoft]

i'll do it.

ploza@instantlink.com

[Richard_G]

I'll give it a go. If it can take 3 separate video/audio streams, display the audio as a waveform to assist in synchronising them and then preview all three simultaneously in separate windows while allowing me to select which stream will be my final output, you've got a winner!

[energy80s]

What I would like to see is a very basic video editor that would simulate a 3 machine edit suite, so that you could have 2 sources of video (with stereo audio waveforms displayed) being able to be cut down to a single master file with facilities to use insert edit video only, audio dub only, and allowing for either straight cuts or simple (user length definable) dissolves. Two preview monitors and one master monitor displayed. Oh and be able to accept any audio video files that you happen to have codecs for and output in basic avi format (again machine installed codecs specific).

But I guess I'm dreaming again. Oh well, back to the Avid!

[Richard_G]

What I would like to see is a very basic video editor that would simulate a 3 machine edit suite, so that you could have 2 sources of video (with stereo audio waveforms displayed) being able to be cut down to a single master file with facilities to use insert edit video only, audio dub only, and allowing for either straight cuts or simple (user length definable) dissolves. Two preview monitors and one master monitor displayed. Oh and be able to accept any audio video files that you happen to have codecs for and output in basic avi format (again machine installed codecs specific).

But I guess I'm dreaming again. Oh well, back to the Avid!

That's exactly what I want, but with 3 sources. Single click straight cuts or, ideally, a half second crossfade. As long as it will accept input and output in Type 1 DV avi, that will do for me.

[Rockas]

@hexxisoft
I'm just fixing some already found bugs and then I'll send a new download link for you.

@Richard_G
well... my application is supposed to detect (using other tools) the audio/video delay and make the output synchronized... but remember... this is only on the first steps... I can add some features to the todo list

@energy80s
The objective of my small app. it to edit Video (AVI and MPEG) sources and output to DVD not to AVI... but as I stated above I can add stuff to the todo list.

[Rockas]

What I would like to see is a very basic video editor that would simulate a 3 machine edit suite, so that you could have 2 sources of video (with stereo audio waveforms displayed) being able to be cut down to a single master file with facilities to use insert edit video only, audio dub only, and allowing for either straight cuts or simple (user length definable) dissolves. Two preview monitors and one master monitor displayed. Oh and be able to accept any audio video files that you happen to have codecs for and output in basic avi format (again machine installed codecs specific).

But I guess I'm dreaming again. Oh well, back to the Avid!

That's exactly what I want, but with 3 sources. Single click straight cuts or, ideally, a half second crossfade. As long as it will accept input and output in Type 1 DV avi, that will do for me.

I'm working on DV AVI sources at this moment... Daamon already found a bug related to them

[Richard_G]

@Richard_G
well... my application is supposed to detect (using other tools) the audio/video delay and make the output synchronized...

I don't mean synchronising out of sync audio, I mean synchronising 3 video streams that were shot simultaneously with each other. That way I have the same thing shot from three angles and can cut between views.

What I want is the same as energy80s but with 3 source windows. Play back the 3 views in three windows and simply click on the one that I want as the final output. Just like a realtime TV studio.

[Rockas]

@Richard_G
well... my application is supposed to detect (using other tools) the audio/video delay and make the output synchronized...

I don't mean synchronising out of sync audio, I mean synchronising 3 video streams that were shot simultaneously with each other. That way I have the same thing shot from three angles and can cut between views.

What I want is the same as energy80s but with 3 source windows. Play back the 3 views in three windows and simply click on the one that I want as the final output. Just like a realtime TV studio.

I don't think that it would be hard to do as long as I understand your request... let me see:
Three movies loaded with the same scene but from three different angles, right?
Then you want to cut or get a slice of angle1 then get another slice from angle 2 and the same for Angle 3 (just an example the order doesn't have to be that)... something like that?
The output will be a mix of all, correct?

Sorry for my english... not my motherlanguage

[gadgetguy]

OK. My curiosity finally got the better of me. I assumed from the title that it was another SpectateSwamp thread and was ignoring it, hoping it would get locked or just go away. But since it has survived a couple days, I couldn't resist a look to see who was feeding his sickness and responding. Imagine my surprise.

I might be willing to help test if it doesn't require making major modifications to my system. Three questions;
What platform does your editing program run on?
What are the system requirements?
Is it dependant on certain software packages being installed, (like Microsoft's .Net)?

[Richard_G]

That's right. I shoot a stage production using 3 cameras to give the three angles. I transfer the footage from the cameras to hard drive and load the three files into an editor. Once there, I have to adjust them on the timeline to get them synchronised (to the frame) so that the lipsync is perfect no matter which shot I am using. What I want is a simple way to watch all three files and select which one I want as the final output. The final output then becomes 10 seconds from stream 1, short crossfade into stream 2 for 15 seconds, then short crossfade into stream 3, and so on.

There are plenty of video editors about that range from the very basic (Windows Movie Maker) to some very expensive high end ones that are capable of hundreds of different effects and transitions (most of which I have no use for). Nothing that I am aware of that can do what I would like.

[Rockas]

I hope it will be able to run on every Windows XP/2000 out there

The system requirements will be the normal for Video Editing

Yes... most of the external tools will be included on the ZIP/RAR files... the only thing needed and not included is AviSynth... I forgot to birng attention on this

[Rockas]

That's right. I shoot a stage production using 3 cameras to give the three angles. I transfer the footage from the cameras to hard drive and load the three files into an editor. Once there, I have to adjust them on the timeline to get them synchronised (to the frame) so that the lipsync is perfect no matter which shot I am using. What I want is a simple way to watch all three files and select which one I want as the final output. The final output then becomes 10 seconds from stream 1, short crossfade into stream 2 for 15 seconds, then short crossfade into stream 3, and so on.

There are plenty of video editors about that range from the very basic (Windows Movie Maker) to some very expensive high end ones that are capable of hundreds of different effects and transitions (most of which I have no use for). Nothing that I am aware of that can do what I would like.

Well... I can work on that but I will ask you for a little patience... first I want to clean up some bugs and at least take care of the encoding part... then I can think about your request... will it be fine if we start with cuts only (no crossfades) for a start?

thanks

[Richard_G]

That's right. I shoot a stage production using 3 cameras to give the three angles. I transfer the footage from the cameras to hard drive and load the three files into an editor. Once there, I have to adjust them on the timeline to get them synchronised (to the frame) so that the lipsync is perfect no matter which shot I am using. What I want is a simple way to watch all three files and select which one I want as the final output. The final output then becomes 10 seconds from stream 1, short crossfade into stream 2 for 15 seconds, then short crossfade into stream 3, and so on.

There are plenty of video editors about that range from the very basic (Windows Movie Maker) to some very expensive high end ones that are capable of hundreds of different effects and transitions (most of which I have no use for). Nothing that I am aware of that can do what I would like.

Well... I can work on that but I will ask you for a little patience... first I want to clean up some bugs and at least take care of the encoding part... then I can think about your request... will it be fine if we start with cuts only (no crossfades) for a start?

thanks

That will be fine, it should prove if it can be done. I appreciate it may need some fairly powerful hardware to display 4 video streams simultaneously (3 sources plus the output), but if it works, I'll upgrade the hardware!

[guns1inger]

Richard_G : There is a set of scripts available through VASST for Vegas aimed at multi-camera editng. I believe it is payware, and haven't played with it myself, but it might be worth a look.

http://vasst.com/product.aspx?id=c8cec3c4-7ec3-43db-8d32-f703f5050400

JetDV's Excalibur also claims multi-cam editing support

http://www.jetdv.com/excalibur/multicam.php

[gadgetguy]

Ok that raises several more questions.
So is this basically a GUI front end for AviSynth?
Does it accomidate AviSynth plugins?
To my knowledge, AviSynth does not handle the audio from Type1 DV-AVI well. Will your editor overcome this problem?
You say all of the required external tools will be included (except AviSynth). What are those external tools, and if they already exist, will your program overwrite the existing copies?
What encoder(s) are you including?

[Rockas]

Ok that raises several more questions.
So is this basically a GUI front end for AviSynth?

Yes... in a simple way (if I can say so) yes... but nothing is simple as it looks - What I'm trying to do is an application that will make the use of several great tools available an easy thing to do - I hope.

Does it accomidate AviSynth plugins?

Yes... In the future you'll be able to use whatever you may want/need to use.

To my knowledge, AviSynth does not handle the audio from Type1 DV-AVI well. Will your editor overcome this problem?

That's exaclty the format I'm working at this point... I'll use AviSynth on the stuff it can handle... I'm working on the stuff it can't

You say all of the required external tools will be included (except AviSynth). What are those external tools, and if they already exist, will your program overwrite the existing copies?

No.

What encoder(s) are you including?

HC Encoder
QuEnc Encoder
CCE
- still working on the audio encoders at this point... using QuEnc you can use it to encode MPA and AC3... for the other encoders I think I'll use BeSweet... I'm opened to suggestions, though.

[Bulldog57]

ye rockas ill test it Give a link so i can check it out.

[gadgetguy]

Well, based on your answers, it looks like it won't have a negative affect on my system so I'm willing to give it a go. What's that link?

[liquid217]

I would like to take a look at it as well.

[dipstick]

I played around with it a little. It worked fine with DV-AVI.

I did encounter a problem with mpegs. Aperrently it works in YV12 colorspace. I don't have codecs that work in YV12, so WMP tried to download codecs and would not give display. I solved this by adding "ConvertToYUY2" line in the Project AVS script in the Temp Folder. This gave me the display and allowed me to edit the mpeg fine. I can understand using YV12 because you will be encoding with one of the free encoders that require that colorspace.

The layout is fine for what it is. It's a little too simple for my tastes though. I prefere to work in a Timeline with multiple overlay tracks like Premiere and Wax2. It does work fine for basic Cut and Paste editing and I'm sure it will get better and more features as you develope it.

Good Luck,


This is what it looks like for those interested:

[Rockas]

Man... I really need to change those colors... they look horrible on a CRT Monitor... they look completly different from the one I have chosen on my TFT

@All
I'm fixing a few bugs and adding the possibility to edit cut point... now I have to change the colors too
I think I can release a new Alpha by tomorrow... sorry for the delay.

[energy80s]

That's right. I shoot a stage production using 3 cameras to give the three angles. I transfer the footage from the cameras to hard drive and load the three files into an editor. Once there, I have to adjust them on the timeline to get them synchronised (to the frame) so that the lipsync is perfect no matter which shot I am using. What I want is a simple way to watch all three files and select which one I want as the final output. The final output then becomes 10 seconds from stream 1, short crossfade into stream 2 for 15 seconds, then short crossfade into stream 3, and so on.

There are plenty of video editors about that range from the very basic (Windows Movie Maker) to some very expensive high end ones that are capable of hundreds of different effects and transitions (most of which I have no use for). Nothing that I am aware of that can do what I would like.

Sounds like you and I have a lot in common. I do know there is a professional system that will do this as a guy in work is using it to edit a commercial DVD from a 3 camera source (don't want to say any more here in case someone in the Beeb is reading this!) but a simple domestic editor would be ideal. Basically take in standard DV avi, edit it and spit it back out again. There are plenty of very good MPEG2 encoders out there, so I wouldn't worry about that part.