How do I render an AVI?

When you generate an AVI you should consider what medium (ie CD or hard disc) you want to put it on, and what sort of computer you want to play it back.

The options you have to change are:

• Video Size
• Video Quality
• Video Compression Codec
• Audio Quality

The larger the image size, image quality or audio quality, the larger the final output file will be. If you make these options lower, you will decrease the final output file size, but also decrease the output quality.

Rendering will take a longer amount of time if your output video size, or audio quality is different to most of your source material. As it will all have to be converted frame by frame.

Format conversion can be quite an intensive processing task if you want to maintain full video/audio quality without introducing any artifacts.

Please note that for AVI files, the default video compression codec used is Indeo, but you can select a different one from your computer by selecting 'other' from the 'Video Quality' options.

How do I make an AVI for playback from a CD?

If you want to generate an AVI similar to those found on an enhanced CD pop single then you must be very careful about the size of the compressed video and the codec you choose. As whilst playback from a powerful machine (for example a 1GHz Pentium III) maybe seamless, a modest 166MHz may have problems.

Also, you must use a general codec that is shipped as standard on most operating systems, to guaranty play back (for example Indeo or Cinepak). The standard Video codec used by Virtual Edit is 'Indeo', but you can choose a different codec by selection 'Other' in the Video Quality options.

For best results, the following options give good playback on machines as low as 166MHz for a 25 Frame/second project.

• Output File Type: Standard AVI
• Video Quality: Low
• Video Size: 320x240
• Audio Sample Frequency: 22050 Mono

Alternatively, you could consider rendering a higher quality AVI and use a third party AVI to mpeg1 converter, as it seems that mpeg video files give better performance on lower powered machines.

How do I make a VCD (Video CD) that will play in most DVD players?

VCDs are becoming increasingly popular in the home editing market.

A VCD is basically the for-runner to DVD but uses a standard CD. Fortunately most DVD players will support VCDs. There are two types of VCD, the original (which uses mpeg1 compression) and SVCD (which uses mpeg2 compression). However, VCDs are more widely supported.

Virtual Edit cannot directly output mpeg1 data, however, you could render a high quality AVI and then use a VCD burning tool that supports AVI video data (for example Sonic - MyDVD) to burn the VCD data onto CD.

Alternatively render a high quality AVI and then use a third party mpeg encoder to generate an mpeg file, then use a VCD burning tool that supports mpeg video data (for example Roxio - Easy CD Creator 5 platinum) to burn the VCD data onto CD.

Render options should be:

• Output File Type: Standard AVI
• Video Quality: Premium
• Video Size: 352x288 (PAL) 352x240 (NTSC)
• Audio Sample Frequency: 44100Hz Stereo

How do I make a DVD that will play in most DVD players?

DVDs are much higher quality than SVCDs and VCDs. A DVD uses mpeg2 compression at about 6Mbits/s

Virtual Edit cannot directly output mpeg2 data, however, you could render a DV Type2 AVI and then use a DVD burning tool that supports AVI video data (for example Sonic - MyDVD) to burn the DVD data onto a DVD

Render options should be:

• Output File Type: DV Type2 AVI
• Video Size: 720x576 (PAL) 720x480 (NTSC)
• Audio Sample Frequency: 44100Hz Stereo

How do I make a video file for my website or email to a friend?

Windows Media is a popular format for creating small media files at reasonable quality. These are particularly suitable for websites or emailing to a friend.

When creating a Windows Media (WMV) file you should consider the network connection that your audience will be using to view your media file. As this will define how long it will take for a user to download the media file. The Video Quality options define the data rate and vary from a low rate modem to a high rate LAN connection.

Render options should be:

• Output File Type: Windows Media
• Video Quality: Various
• Video Size: 360x288 (PAL) 360x240 (NTSC)
• Audio Sample Frequency: 44100Hz Stereo

How do I make a MJPEG output for my analogue capture and playback card?

Some people may have an older MJPEG video capture system, in which case you could render a MJPEG AVI and play that out of your MJPEG hardware usually to a composite video signal.

When you render your output media file, select 'MJPEG' in the 'Output File Type' render options.

How do I put a DV project back onto DV or Digital-8 tape?

Assuming that your DV Camera/recorder has an enabled firewire input (DVin), you can record your project back onto tape.

When you render your output media file, select 'DV type1 AVI' or 'DV type2 AVI' in the 'Output File Type' render options.

DV uses either 48000Hz or 32000Hz audio in stereo, so select what you require accordingly.

Then once your output file has been created, you may use the built in DV Playback utility to play the file back to your camcorder. 'Tools->DV Playback'.

How do I put a project onto VHS Analogue tape?

There are three suitable methods of achieving this. First of all some DV Camcorders have a firewire input, which means you can dump your project back onto digital tape (see above). Then, you could plug your camcorder into a VHS recorder and re-record the material.

Alternatively at little expense you can purchase a real time DV to Analogue converter which is an external piece of hardware that sits beside your PC and plugs into your firewire card and gives composite and S-VHS analogue outputs. In this case you should render a 'DV type1' AVI, and play it back through the external DV to analogue converter (see above).