Video Deluxe_manual

Transcript

Manual Important note rregar egar ding video deLux e SE egarding deLuxe Please note that this reference manual covers video deLuxe SE (this version) and the more expensive video deLuxe (non SE). video deLuxe SE differs to the more expensive version (non SE) in the following ways: - Plottable effects curves (not in SE version) - Trim mode (also trimmer or trim editor) (not in SE version) - VHS cleaning (not in SE version) - 8 stereo tracks for video, sound and text (16 in non SE version) - Less audio and video FX presets, titles, frames and transitions. - FX rack - no stereo processor or compressor) If you would like to upgrade to the non SE version please contact FastTrak Software Publishing on 01923 495 496 to arrange this or visit www.fasttrak.co.uk for more information. The present documentation is protected by law. All rights, especially the right of duplication, circulation and translation is reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in form of copies, microfilms or other processes, or transmitted into a language used for machines, especially data processing machines, without the express written consent of the publisher. All copyrights reserved. MAGIX® is a registered trademark of MAGIX® AG, video deLuxe™ is a trademark of MAGIX® AG. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Errors and changes to the contents as well as program modifications reserved. © 2002 Copyright by MAGIX® AG. Preface Congratulations on purchasing MAGIX video deLuxe! You have bought a video studio which is not only wellequipped but easy-to-use. It offers all the professional quality video functions you could possibly think of: video recordings, video editing, subtitles, adding a soundtrack, video mixing, cross-fading, special effects, distortions, free from interference, export... Operation with the ”Drag & Drop” features is simple, and there are practical previews for every function. The possibilities are endless: from quick editing of your holiday videos to composing complex multi-media works of art. Anything is possible. For the majority of users, the following applications will be of particular interest: – Transfer videos from VHS recorder, camcorder or digicam to PC and vice versa – Direct recording of TV programs and films via TV card – Creation of Personal Rich Media: home videos from your last party, holidays, something for the kids, wedding memories... – Creation of Professional Rich Media: business presentations, music videos, Internet streaming projects, web cam projects, trailers, documentaries... – Easy Video Creation with automatic scene recognition, cutting and scene index for storyboards – Video Cleaning for video and sound tracks – Add a soundtrack to a film or a video track to music – Presentations for video recorders, camcorders, digicams, laptops, beamers, MS Powerpoint... – VideoM@il direct from the program or Personal Publishing on the Internet This handbook will explain all the functions and features of the program. For a quick start, read the introductory chapters. Specific problems can later be resolved using the reference chapters and the index. Have fun with MAGIX video deLuxe. Your MAGIX team. 3 Table of Contents Preface 4 Package contents Support 11 11 System requirements Installation 12 13 Introduction 14 What is the MAGIX video deLuxe ? Features 15 Tutorial 19 14 Program start with a demo arrangement Orientation Load your own video 21 Add a sound track 24 Processing videos 25 Further use of videos and export Program Desktop Overview Media library Audio content 29 30 30 Video/audio demos MIDI content 27 30 Video and bitmap content 31 31 Content supply Arranger 19 20 31 32 Tracks 32 Play cursor 32 Time line and playback area Scroll bar with zoom function 32 32 Adjusting the video screen and the file manager Time indicators 4 33 33 Table of Contents Bars and Grids 33 Transport control 34 File manager Function 35 35 Directory and file list Preview function 35 35 Deleting, copying and moving files 35 Integrate videos, takes or audio files in your arrangement Loading multimedia files from the Internet 36 36 File management with the help of the file manager buttons 38 Mouse modes 40 Intelligent mouse mode 40 Mouse mode for single objects Curve mouse mode 40 40 Object stretch mode 41 Audio objects prelistening mode Scrub mode 41 41 Context help mode 41 Arranging objects 42 Multimedia files and objects 42 Saving and loading arrangements Alternative object presentations Scanning an audio CD Zooming 42 43 43 44 Set play markers 44 Selecting objects 44 Forming or dissolving object groups Cutting up objects 45 Fine positioning of objects Copying objects Fading objects 44 45 45 46 5 Table of Contents Shortening or looping objects 46 Adjusting brightness / volume Exporting arrangements 46 Video and Bitmap Objects Formats 46 48 48 Load videos and bitmaps Video peripherals 48 48 Digital dubbing from digicams and other sources 49 Analogue video recordings from a video recorder or a camcorder Separate audio from video material Takes (scenes) 52 Automatic scene recognition Arrange videos Video cleaning Video effects Video mix 51 52 53 54 55 55 Borders 55 Shrink and interweave videos Crossfading (Slide FX) 56 56 Trimming videos (fine tuning) 57 Trimming Transitions (with Slide FXs) Subtitles with RTF text objects Video compression 61 Create a video project for the Internet Video export via video or graphics card Video export via TV-out Digital export 59 59 61 62 64 64 Audio Objects 65 Audio formats 65 Load and process audio files Scanning an audio CD 65 65 Add a sound track using audio recording 6 67 50 Table of Contents Adding background music using the Wizard Names of the Sound Pool-Samples Automatic tempo and pitch adjustment Other effects for adding music Mixdown of audio objects 71 71 74 Use video effects Edit 70 71 Adding a sound track using MIDI songs Video effects 68 69 74 75 Rotary control Optical FX Contour Speed 75 75 76 76 Colour FX 76 Symmetry 77 Mix FX 77 Audio effects 79 Use audio effects Effect control 79 79 Normalize/Reduce volume/Set volume EQ (Equalizer) Compressor 82 Echo / Reverb Stereo FX 82 83 Time Processor Denoiser 80 81 84 86 Dehisser 88 Digital audiometer (only Master FX rack) Effect curves 89 90 Dialogue ‘dynamic effects’ 90 Editing the effect curve on the track 92 Editing the effect curve in the dialogue 92 7 Table of Contents Mixer 93 Faders & buttons 93 DirectX audio Plug-Ins Web Publishing Menu File 96 98 New arrangement 98 Load arrangement 98 Save arrangement 98 Save arrangement as Record audio/video 98 98 Play out audio/video Song Wizard 94 104 104 Export arrangement > Video as AVI 104 Export arrangement > Video as DV-AVI 105 Export arrangement > Video as MPEG Video 105 Export arrangement > Video as MAGIX Video 106 Export arrangement > Video as Quicktime Movie Export arrangement > Windows Media Export Export arrangement > Real Media Export Export arrangement > Audio as Wave 106 106 106 107 Export arrangement > Audio as Wave with Codec 108 Export arrangement > Single frame as BMP (JPEG) Save and send as e-mail Publish to Web 108 108 Backup Arrangement 109 Backup arrangement to CD-ROM Write files to CD-ROM Internet Connection 109 109 109 Arrangement properties 109 Settings/Information > Playback parameters Settings/Information > System settings 111 Settings /Information > Audio/Video settings 8 110 112 108 Table of Contents Settings/information > Full screen playback options Settings/Information > CD-ROM Configuration Settings/Information > Arrangement information Settings/Information > System information Exit 115 115 118 119 119 Menu Edit Undo 120 120 Redo 120 Duplicate objects Delete objects 120 120 Select all objects Cut objects 120 120 Save objects as takes Edit Range > Cut 121 121 Edit Range > Copy 121 Edit Range > Delete 121 Edit Range > Insert 121 Edit Range > Extract Group 121 122 Ungroup 122 Mix down audio Set markers Go to marker Menu Effects 122 122 123 124 Video > Video Cleaning Video > Video Effects 124 124 Video > Scene recognition 124 Video > Load/Save/Reset video objects Video > Edit bitmap externally Audio 124 124 125 Audio > Load/Save/Reset Audio effects 125 9 Table of Contents Effect Libraries > Audio effects/Video effects/Slide effects/Title effects 125 Object Properties Menu Window 125 126 Mixer 126 Video > Trimmer 126 Master audio effect rack Standard layout Video monitor 126 126 127 File manager 127 Show arrangement overview 127 Optimize arrangement view 127 Change object presentation Menu Help Contents 128 129 129 Context help Using help 129 129 Display tool tips 129 About MAGIX video deLuxe Online registration 129 129 Web Publishing Area 130 Button Overview 131 Keyboard Shortcuts 132 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics Appendix: Problems and Solutions Index 143 Credits 155 10 137 141 Package contents 1 x CD for installation & multi-media content On the installation CD, you will find the MAGIX music world with the MAGIX video deLuxe installation manager and the media library audio and video files. Manual It is always useful to read the introduction chapters of this manual so that you can start working with MAGIX video deLuxe quickly. However, if you want to explore the program yourself, you can also use the manual and its index for reference purposes. Support Focus Multimedia Limited The Studios Lea Hall Enterprise Park Wheelhouse Road Rugeley Staffordshire WS15 1LH Tel: 01889 570156 Fax: 01889 583571 Web: www.focusmm.co.uk Customer Services Contact: Charis Poynton [email protected]. Tel: 01889 570156 (9.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday) Technical Support Contacts as follows: World Wide Web: http://www.focusmm.co.uk/support E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 01889 583571 Telephone: 01889 570589 (9.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday) 11 System requirements Digital video recording and export (e.g. via DV camcorder) – – – – Pentium II 266 Mhz or better 64 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended) Hard disk with a file transfer rate of 4MB/s OHCI compatible IEEE-1394 DV capture card (Firewire) with Microsoft® DirectX8a Analog video recording and export – Pentium II 400 MHz or better – 128 MB of RAM – USB port or “Video for Windows” or DirectShow compatible video card / TV-card / graphics card MIDI integration To link MIDI files, you will need a MIDI interface or a sound card with a MIDI synthesizer as well as the appropriate drivers (MIDI Mapper). VideoMails Standard e-mail software (Microsoft ® OutlookTM or Microsoft® Outlook ExpressTM) General – Free disk memory 200 MB, for video files GB (5 GB recommended) – Graphics card with a minimum resolution of 800x600, 4 MB RAM, 16 bit high color – 16 Bit sound card with Windows drivers – CD-ROM-drive – Microsoft® mouse (or compatible) – Microsoft® Windows® 95, 98, 98 SE / ME / 2000 / NT 12 Installation 1 Place the installation CD into the CD-ROM drive. 2 The installation program starts up automatically. If this should not be the case, open the File Manager/Explorer and click on the drive letter representing the CD-ROM drive (generally D:\.) Double-click on mworld.exe. 3 The MAGIX music world will now start up automatically. To begin the installation of the MAGIX video deLuxe, click on INSTALL 4 The MAGIX video deLuxe installation program starts. Simply follow the instructions on the screen. Once all the files have been copied to the hard disk, a program group will be created. The installation is now complete. Confirm this with Finish. You can now start the program at any time over the Windows Start menu. 13 Introduction What is the MAGIX video deLuxe ? MAGIX video deLuxe is a complete,, all-in-one,, video studio for your PC: Video Editor, Video Cleaner, Video Recorder, Video Creator, Video Mixer and VideoMailer. You can import audio and video material from many appliances, edit it with a couple of mouse clicks and export it. You can combine any type of media. All files will be shown as standard objects in the arranger. Whether it is videos, photos, graphics, subtitles, voices, sounds, songs or even MIDI files for remote control of your sound card, there is an intuitive and standardized way to process the material. MAGIX video deLuxe offers many technological novelties for the processing of video material. In the file manager, you can split up any video into individual takes, either manually or with the automatic scene recognition. The individual scenes are stored in a separate ”Takes” index. With a double click or with ”drag & drop” you can place any scene on the tracks in the arranger and combine them like building bricks. The Video Cleaning function is another novelty, which allows you to select and modify the individual colours of a film. The high-quality audio cleaning and mastering effects, such as noise reduction, stereo processor, equalizer, compressor or time processor, let you edit the sound track. The media library included on the CD offers a wide range of video clips, animations, photos, noises, sound loops and music. You can combine elements from the media library with your own material or create something completely new. Despite its enormous variety, the program is easy to handle because everything works with ”drag & drop” or a couple of mouse clicks, giving you different results each time you use it. The Wizard technology automatically generates background music or even complete songs. With the music and video mixer you can ”fine tune” all the tracks.. It not only allows you to add external DirectX PlugIns,, but also features a MasterFX rack for professional sound. 14 Introduction Once you have finished your video, you can use it in as many ways as you want. Transfer it back to the video tape or the camcorder, store it immediately on a CD ROM or use it on the Internet: on your home page, as a video mail or on MAGIX web TV. Features Import formats Video, picture and audio files can be loaded in the following formats: GIF, JPEG, BMP, DV Stream, WAV, CDA (audio CD), MP3, MPEG video, MPEG 1/4, MXV (MAGIX Video Format), AVI, MOV (QuickTime movie), WMV/WMA (Windows Media Video/Audio), ASF (Audio Streaming Format). Audio and video recording MAGIX video deLuxe offers various functions for audio and video recordings. You can record analogue sound and video material via sound or video card and digital videos via FireWire interface. With a TV card, you can record via video recorder or directly from the current TV program. Remote controlling your digicam With the MAGIX video deLuxe you can remote control your digital camera. In other words, the functions of the transport control also determine the way a digicam records and plays. Export formats The finished video can be exported,, for example,, to the video recorder via the TV card socket or to the digicam via FireWire interface. You can also export the video directly from MAGIX video deLuxe to external presentation programs such as PowerPoint®-2000, use it on the Internet or send it as an e-mail. Video, picture and audio files can be exported in the following formats: BMP, JPEG, DV Stream (for NTSC or PAL), WAV (also with Codec), MXV (MAGIX Video), AVI, MOV (QuickTime movie), WMV/WMA (Windows Media Video/Audio), RM (Real Media), MPEG 1 and MPEG 15 Introduction 2 (the MPEG 2 encoder by Darim is limited to 20 encodings: if you need more, you can purchase an upgrade). Media library You can use the comprehensive, free-of-license media library for your arrangements. These music, video and graphics files are stored on the two CDs in a clear layout. This makes it easy for you to find the right sounds for your videos or the right videos for your sound material. Or you can use both sounds and videos from the MAGIX video deLuxe media library. File manager with preview function Choose video, bitmap, audio or MIDI files in the file manager and ”drag & drop” them into the arranger. You can watch the preview for all formats. The file manager keeps you in control of all the possible functions. A series of special buttons lets you open up the files with subtitles, audio, video and crossfading effects, border presets and takes. You can also watch the previews for special functions such as subtitles, effect configuration, borders and scenes. Open up the directories one by one and click on the files to get an idea of their content. Arranger with 16 tracks You can edit, cut, fade in and out and add effects to videos, sounds, music, photos, graphics or logos on all of the 16 tracks. Select files from the file manager and ”drag & drop” them into the arranger. The files will be depicted as objects and can be moved around freely. You can mute any track, use it individually or add an effect curve to an individual track. This allows you to control the intensity of effects at any particular moment. All important functions also work during playback: you can move objects and cut and add effects while playing a song or video. Video effects with previews Any video or bitmap object can be modified by an individual combination of effects. You can save these combinations 16 Introduction separately and use them later on for different objects. The configuration and application of these effects works via the video controller or with drag & drop. Just choose an effect from the effects directory and drag it onto an object. With the mix and fading effects (”Slide FX”), you can combine or interweave various recordings and create a complex arrangement. Just drag a Slide FX to the space between two videos. Every video effect comes with a preview which will give you an idea of its content. Sound effects with previews Pitch and pace of a sound track can be modified with resampling, time stretching or pitch shifting after recording. You can produce a sensation of spatial depth with reverb and echo. The equalizer lets you modify the frequency, for example increasing the bass. The compressor is a dynamic volume control which lets you produce a denser and more powerful sound. The Stereo FX processor allows you to adjust the position in the stereo panorama,, while the de-noiser and de-hisser functions give you professional sound quality. The audio effects also have a preview function to give you an idea of how the effect will sound. Subtitles You can load RTF text files to subtitle your videos but it is much easier with the title generator. It gives you free rein to create, edit and position your own titles and title patterns. The title patterns from the CD are stored in the ”Title” directory located in the file manager and feature previews and work with ”drag & drop”. Wizard for adding sound tracks This Wizard creates the right background music for your videos or even a complete instant music clip. All you have to do is choose the length, the music style and the instruments and let the Wizard do everything else. Mixer with DirectX support MAGIX video deLuxe also features a real time 2 way 17 Introduction mixer for DirectX PlugIns effects,, which can be used to mix the tracks in your arrangement. This controls the brightness of visual objects and the volume and stereo panorama of audio objects. MIDI integration With MAGIX video deLuxe you can even load, arrange and play MIDI files. The MIDI remote controls the sound chip of your sound card, external samplers or synthesizers. You can combine and arrange sound files with video and MIDI files. If you want to export your videos with integrated MIDI files, you must first record the MIDI files via sound card. 18 Tutorial This chapter deals with the basic functions of MAGIX video deLuxe with a step-by-step explanation. The systematic description of all program functions of MAGIX video deLuxe appear later in this handbook. Program start with a demo arrangement Install MAGIX video deLuxe and load the program from the Windows® start menu. If you are starting the program for the first time, a demo arrangement will be loaded. Listen to and watch the demo first. Click the mouse on the play button in the transport control below the video screen, or simply use your keyboard space bar for the ”play” and ”stop” functions. When playing, a vertical line called the play cursor moves over the arranger. This indicates the current position. Look for the ”S” and ”E” markers in the ruler bar on top. They indicate the start and the end of the part that will be played. When it gets to the E marker, the play cursor will jump back to the beginning and play the arrangement again (a never-ending loop). Both markers can be moved with the mouse to change the part which Play S(tart) and E(nd) markers 19 Tutorial Vertical scroll bar will be played. Left click with the mouse on the ruler bar to set the S marker and right click to set the E marker. The file manager is located in the upper part of the screen. With it you can access your PC drives and directories to ”drag and drop” multi-media files in different formats into your arrangement. The MAGIX video deLuxe file manager basically works like Windows®Explorer but has some additional functions, which you will learn during the tutorial. The grey field with the first eight horizontal tracks is the arranger. This is where you will place and process all multi-media objects. These objects, located on the tracks of the arranger, can all be processed the same way. Scroll down with the right hand vertical scroll bar to see the rest of the tracks – this works even when tracks are playing! Orientation We need to take a closer look at all the objects in the arranger to get to know how the object- based on the way the MAGIX video deLuxe works. Object handles The length of all objects can be streched by moving the mouse cursor to one of the lower corners of an object. The cursor converts into a stretch symbol and lets you shorten the object to the length you want. The top corners of every object have two fading handles, which can be pulled towards the center for fading in and out. 5 object handles: length, The handle in the top center adjusts the volume of brightness (volume), fade audio objects and the brightness of video objects. Selection For any other modification, e.g. effects, you have to choose and mark the object first. Click on an object to select it. When an object is selected, the three handles on top change to a different colour. If you want to select various objects, keep the shift key pressed during selection. If you move the mouse cursor 20 Tutorial next to an object, you can open up a rectangle by holding down the mouse buton and marking all objects within (”elastic band selection”). Drag & drop from directories The buttons next to the file manager open special directories containing samples, effects and faders. Try opening some directories, such as ”Video FX”, ”Audio FX”, ”Slide FX”, ”Titles” and ”Borders” by clicking on the files. This will show you previews and descriptions on the video screen explaining the function of the file. The content of these directories, e.g. ”Video FX” or ”Audio FX”, can be dragged and dropped onto video or audio objects. Try it a few times and you will soon get the hang of these functions. Context menus Right click on any object and the context menu with all File Manager buttons the effects for this object will pop up. You can also access these effects via effects menu. The context menu for audio objects differs from the context menu for video objects because it offers different effects and options. If you choose an effect from the effects menu or the context menu, a page will open up for you to adjust the effects. Try right clicking on other areas of the MAGIX video deLuxe screen, and in many cases a context menu with many interesting options will pop up. Once you are used to the basic principles of MAGIX video deLuxe, select a new, empty arrangement from the file menu. Load your own video If you have a video on cassette, in your digicam or on your hard disk, you can load it with MAGIX video deLuxe. If not, choose one from the media library (cf ”3. Load videos with the file manager”). 1. Load digital videos from a digicam – Connect the digital camcorder to your PC via IEEE1394 (FireWire) interface and switch on the camcorder. 21 Tutorial Record button Recording dialogue – Click on the record button below the video screen. Select ”Digital video recording” from the recording dialogue. – Press the O.K. button and recording will begin. The video will appear automatically as an object in the arranger. The DV file will be in the MyAV directory on the hard disk, which you can access by pressing the MyAV button in the file manager. – MAGIX video deLuxe can remotely control digital camcorders, i.e. the functions of the transport control determine the way the digicam records and plays! 2. Load analogue videos from the video recorder or camcorder – Connect the video recorder to the video socket of your video, TV or graphics card. Camcorders with a USB interface can be connected to the USB port of your PC. – Click on the record button below the video screen and choose ”Analogue video recording” from the recording dialogue. The analogue video recording should be compatible with any video capture hardware. As there are so many different appliances and drivers around, some users may face difficulties. In the unlikely event of this happening, choose the alternative option ”Video for Windows recording”. – Press the O.K. button and the video will appear automatically as an object in the arranger. The AVI file will be in the MyAV directory on the hard disk, which you can access by pressing the MyAV button in the file manager. 3. Load videos with the file manager If you have your own video files on the hard disk, select and load them with the navigation fields in the file manager. If you have no videos on the hard disk, you can use an AVI video from the media library. Place the second content CD in the CD ROM drive and press the ”Scan CD” button. The index of the CD will be read in. The file manager works like Windows Explorer: double click on the name of a file to open it. Use the arrow 22 Tutorial button to go up to the next level. Click on a file in the list and this file will be played immediately. Videos will be played on the video screen in the top left part and audio files will be played via sound card. This preview function of the file manager allows you to check the material before using it. Choose a video file and drag it (with the mouse button pressed) onto the arranger. When you release the mouse button, the video object appears on the track. Add a sound track ...with the Wizard Now, let’s create some music on the sound track! If you have loaded a video with a sound track, you should mute it to avoid a sound mash while adding a sound track. Click on the ”Mute” button at the beginning of the track that contains the sound material. Now press ”Play” and you should see the video without sound. If you need a sound track immediately, let the ”Wizard for adding sound tracks” do all the work and just watch and listen to its suggestion. This Wizard asutomatically creates musical arrangements from the music files on the CD. Make sure that the MAGIX video deLuxe content CD is in the drive. Then... – activate the Wizard with the ”Wizard” button on the button bar. – choose a music style (e.g. Easy Listening) – deactivate the instruments which you do not want to use by clicking on them in the box of instruments. – choose the length of the song or part of a song in seconds (start by trying with 10 seconds). – click on the ”Create new arrangement” button and the Wizard will automatically create a new arrangement. So far this is just a suggestion. – go to ”Pre-listening” and select ”Play” to listen to the suggestion. If you do not like it, ask for a different suggestion by pressing ”Create new arrangement” again. – If you like the Wizard’s suggestion, click on ”O.K.” and the module will appear on the arranger. – To play the arrangement, hit the space bar or click on the ”Play” button in the button bar. Keyboard Mute Wizard dialogue 23 Tutorial shortcuts are obviously quicker. The arrangement will be played as a loop until you hit the space bar or the ”Stop” button on the button bar. Record parameters Compressor Denoiser 24 ...using audio recording You can record your own voice, sounds, singing, noises or instruments with the record function of MAGIX video deLuxe . First connect the recording source to the sound card. To start the recording session, click on the record field in the transport control or hit the ”R” key. A window with the record parameters pops up and you can choose the default settings. The recording will not start until you click on the ”Record” field. During the recording session, the arrangement will be played so that you can easily adjust pitch and speed, etc. At the end of the recording or when you reach the ”E” marker, you will be asked whether you want to keep your new material. If you keep it, the new material will be placed on the next free track below the ”S” marker. ...using the sound track cleaning MAGIX video deLuxe offers many smooth and intuitively adjustable audio special effects for modifications after the recording session. You can find these effects in the ”Audio FX” directory of the file manager. All the audio effects in the file list feature a preview function, which gives you an idea of how they work. To use one of the effects, drag and drop it onto the audio object you want to modify. Do not forget to deactivate the mute button if it is still activated. Most of the effects also have an effect module which lets you adjust them in a realistic and intuitive way. Open up this module by selecting the effect from the context menu or the effects menu. Feel free to play around with the effect module buttons, faders and sensors, as they are non-destructive and will not harm your sound material. To adjust the overall sound, open up the mixer with the ”Audio Mixer” button in the left lower corner of the screen and then select the ”MasterFX” rack. Tutorial Processing videos Cutting There are many different ways to ”cut up” longer videos into individual takes. This will not destroy the original video as it only sets scene markers, which are actually play instructions. 1. The easiest way to do the cutting is to select the automatic ”Scene recognition” in the context menu. The editor searches the material for prominent movements or colour changes and will find a number of takes, which varies according to your sensitivity adjustment. The takes will then be stored in the ”Takes” directory (which you can access with the button with the same name next to the file manager) for further processing. 2. You can also cut up any video in the arranger by hand: use the lower handles to shrink a video into a take, then you can drag & drop to copy it into the ”Takes” directory. 3. You can cut the video by placing the ”S” marker at the start and end of the take before pressing the ”Cut” button. This will create individual objects, which can be copied by dragging and dropping them into the ”Takes” directory. 4. If, for example, you only want to use a particular take without loading the complete file, you can cut up a longer video in the file manager. Select the video file in the explorer and click on the ”Expl.” button below the video screen. Now the functions of the transport control are valid for the selected video file in the explorer, not for the objects in the arranger. The ”Extra” button allows you to set in and out markers. This way you can copy takes into the ”Takes” directory. Scene recognition “Expl.” button 25 Tutorial The Takes directory is a special directory for the management of scenes, and lets you create complex story boards: first create individual scenes, then drag & drop them from the Takes directory into the arranger. Video cleaning Suppose you want to get rid of the reflection of the sun, which you can see as a clearly visible glaring spot in an otherwise satisfactory video. 1. Cut the faulty part in the arranger to make it an individual object. Place the ”S” marker at the start and at Dialogue “video cleaning” the end, remembering to press the scissors button every time. 2. Select the faulty object and choose ”Video cleaning” in the effects menu. 3. On the video screen in the editor window you can now enclose the faulty part in a rectangle to choose the colour you want to modify. 4. Lower the brightness and the spot gets darker. This will usually improve the video considerably. 5. If the margins of the spot are still bright, move the ”Soft fader” all the way to the right. 6. If you like the result, exit the video cleaning editor by pressing ”O.K.”. If you do not like the result, try with other adjustments, or use the video cleaning function several times: you can only do this if you export the faulty video and load it again after cleaning. Directory “video mix” 26 Video mix You can use special video mix effects for videos, which are placed one below the other: this way foreground and background videos can be grouped and combined in different ways. The difference between foreground and background videos is the motif. Backgrounds are landscapes or animations and foregrounds are persons or objects on a mono-chrome field. For example, if you want to use a dancer on a blue field in the foreground and a lake in the background, then place one of these objects right below the other on the tracks. Now go to the ”Video FX” directory, select the ”BlueBox” effect and drag and drop it onto the foreground video. Tutorial Play the arrangement and the dancer will now dance on the lake! Further use of videos and export Usually videos are arranged and processed for use in other programs or to be exported back to the video recorder or camcorder. MAGIX video deLuxe offers many different export formats that you can select in the file menu. Export video as a file For export, the whole arrangement becomes a single file, which can be stored anywhere on the hard disk. The export file will be copied directly onto the Windowsss clipboard. If you want to use a MAGIX video deLuxe arrangement in Powerpoint® you have to export it as an AVI file first. Then open Powerpoint® and insert the AVI file into the PowerPoint slide with the option ”Insert” . If you want to use the video on the Internet or as a video mail, choose the right compression format for the export (eg RealVideo or QuickTime). Do not worry if you detect jerky movements when playing the video with MAGIX video deLuxe. The file export calculations are independent of the play performance. Due to the complex videos and effects, the PC may start to falter while playing. This will not affect the export file. This is why you should export or mix down complex parts of arrangements to create a single file once you get to the performance limits of your PC. This means less work for the RAM and more free tracks on the arranger. Later on, these parts of an arrangement can be loaded again and can be modified together with the remaining parts. Video export via TV out Video and graphics cards with a TV out socket can export videos directly to external video recorders. The arrangement has to be played in full screen mode when saved with external equipment. Make sure that the TV out 27 Tutorial option in the Windows system control (look for ”Display”) is activated. Then select the option ”Audio/video export” from the file menu. The first option of the video export dialogue will play the arrangement in full screen mode. This can provoke interruptions if the processor cannot process all the information necessary for real time calculation of video effects or crossfading. Instead choose the second option from the dialogue (”Render changes”) which will avoid interruptions. Choose the third option for digital export. This will not give you problems as the data is transferred digitally. Video export via video or graphics card To save your MAGIX video deLuxe video on a video cassette, you will have to export it as an AVI file, usually with a special Codec. Look it up in the video card manual! The video card tools can then be used to save the file on video cassette. 28 Program Desktop Overview Menu Bar: Important editing commands are available on this bar. Tool Bar: Here are buttons for fast access to Videoscreen: Here important commands. video and picture objects and previews are disMouse modes: Here played. you can select different mouse modes. Arranger: All files can be dragged and dropped from the File Manager onto any tracks, then positioned and processed. Time line: the area between the Start (S) and End (E) marker above the first track will be played back. file manager buttons: To simplify file management, there are nine buttons under the file manager for a direct access to important directories. File Manager: On the left is the directory for accessing all directories on the computer and in the Internet. On the right is the file list with all supported multimedia files on the current directory. All files have a preview function and can be dragged & dropped onto the tracks. Scrollbars: The lower scroll bar can be pulled apart and pushed together with the mouse for zooming. 29 Media library You can use the comprehensive, license free media library, with lots of music, video and graphics files for your arrangements. These files are stored on the two CDs in a clear layout. This will make it easy to find the right sounds for your videos or the right videos for your sound material. Or use both sounds and videos from the MAGIX video deLuxe media library. Video and bitmap content – 3D BlueBox and other animations, gimmicks, objects and surprises for any conceivable occasion. – Foregrounds and backgrounds, such as people, big cities, seas, forests, streets, flights, rides... – Opening and final credits, subtitles and other text parts – Effect presets for the effects integrated in the program – 3D fading effects and many more Audio content – Loops as raw material for your songs or for songs created by the Wizard, organised according to instruments (beats, basses, harmonies, melodies). The organization of sound loops is systematic and reflects sound and pitch. For further information see the chapter ”Audio objects”. – MP3 songs – Natural sounds: the sea, forest, rain, big city, bells chiming, pets, kids... – Special sounds such as popping corks, screaming tyres... – Mini jingles and fanfares: acoustic signals for your bombshells – Funny vocals and many more Explore the whole variety of sounds yourself! 30 Media Library Video/audio demos You will find demos for all the important functions such as: – Titles (opening credits, subtitles, final credits) – Fading (normal fading + 3D fading) – Visual distortion effects (turn, mirror, colours etc) – Time effects (slow motion, fast speed, play backwards) MIDI content The media library not only has audio and video files, but MIDI files as well. Unlike audio files, these files contain no sound information but play instructions for the synthesizer chip of your sound card or for external appliances such as samplers. You can arrange them just like an audio/video file. But for video export you have to convert MIDI files into audio files. The sounds have to be recorded via sound card. For further information see the chapter on ”MIDI objects”. Content supply We constantly prepare new content and offer it for download at www.magix.com. Use the FTP download function straight from the program for the free downloads. There are also many supplementary CDs with a wide range of music styles in the MAGIX sound and video pool. And if this is still not enough for you, use the import function and process your own audio and video material. Remember that the sky’s the limit for combinations. 31 Arranger Tracks MAGIX video deLuxe offers 16 tracks for the positioning of objects. In principle, all object types can be placed on all the tracks. If the arrangement should not be long enough, then the lower Zoom Out function in the Arrangement window can be used to extend it. You can mute a complete track by clicking on the “Mute” button or you can play them separately (“Solo”). You can edit special track effects by the FX buttons in the track box. Track box Play cursor Play cursor The cursor is a vertical line which moves from left to right when you play an arrangement. It indicates the current play position and moves step by step over the arranger. These steps depend on the size of the buffer. If you prefer smoother cursor movements, reduce the buffer size in the set-up dialogue (y key). If this causes interruptions or jerky movements, increase the buffer size a little. Time line and playback area Playback area The tracks are divided into measures or by time. This is symbolized by the vertical lines and is arranged by number above the first track. You can switch between various beat or time grids in the movement controls. Basically, the area between the Start (S) and End (E) marker above the first track will be played back. The beginning of the playback area can be set to bar 1 to 10 via the number keys (above the character keys) on the keyboard. Scroll bar with zoom function With the right-hand scroll bar, you move the tracks visible in the window, i.e. the vertical view. With the lower scroll bar, you can scroll horizontally and adjust the visible section of the arrangements to the time base. If you lead the mouse to the edge of the slider, the cursor will change to a Stretch symbol, with which the slider can be 32 Arranger grabbed and stretched or pulled apart. In this way, you can quickly and smoothly zoom in and out. The size of the lower zoom slider indicates which part of the overall arrangements is currently displayed. In the total picture the scroll bar assumes full size. The total picture can be accessed with a double-click on the slider. Adjusting the video screen and the file manager The video screen and the file manager can be both positioned freely on the screen. To position it, you must first switch off the standard layout view in the windows menu before you can move the video screen. To adjust the size of the video screen, click on the video screen with the right mouse key and select the desired size from the context menu or define it yourself (‘user defined’). Please note that larger screens require a greater computing performance! With the TAB key you can change the object presentation. The objects in the alternative presentation are displayed frame by frame in the arranger. The simplified standard presentation saves working memory and improves overall play performance. Video screen context menu Time indicators The time button below the video screen adds a time indicator to the video screen, which will display the current position of the play cursor. There is another time indicator above the first track which is permanently active. Time indicator in the video screen Bars and Grids The sideways expansion of the arrangement is represented by the vertical flow of the tracks. In order to distinguish the flow, you will see a bar line or ‘bar’ at the top, above the first track. The units for the bar can be set in the ‘Arrangement Properties’ in the file menu, e.g. samples, SMPTE, milliseconds or bar units. Furthermore, the arranger screen is placed under a grid. The grid ensures that objects only ‘engage’ at particular points to ensure bar precision. Time indicator above the first track box 33 Arranger Transport control You will find the transport control, which determines the way the arrangement is played, below the video screen. Time/Expl./Extras/Tracks: These are special functions for scene management. The transport control also lets you play longer videos in the file manager and mark individual scenes in advance and drag them to the arranger. For further information see the chapter on ”Video and picture objects”. Play: The Play button in the middle starts the continuous replay of the arrangements. The area between the start and end markers is played as a loop. Stop: The stop button ends replay. Rewind: This button “winds” the arrangement back. That means that the start marker is reset in the tact line. Per mouse-click it jumps one space to the left. Fast forward: This button “winds” the arrangement forwards. That means that the start marker is reset to the front of the tact line. Per mouse-click it jumps one space to the right. To the start: With this button, the start marker is quickly reset to the beginning. Record: With this function, you can make different audio and video recordings. Choose between ”Analogue video recording”, ”Digital video recording”, ”Video for Windows recording” or ”Audio recording”. A dialogue window with the recording parameters pops up after you have made your choice. Time indicator 34 Special functions for scene management Fader for rewind and fast forward Transport functions File manager Function Appearance, set-up and procedure of the MAGIX® video deLuxe file manager are essentially the same as the Windows® Explorer. It serves to access and load multimedia files of all kinds: video files, bitmaps and audio files in the diverse formats, audio CD tracks and even RTF text files. They can be loaded into the arrangement and played, from the fixed disk, a diskette, the CD-ROM drive or directly from the Internet using Drag & Drop. Directory and file list The MAGIX® video deLuxe file manager has a directory list on the left and the actual file list on the right. The directory list serves as a navigator through the directory structure of your computer. Each directory can be opened with a double-click. The parent button within the file manager allows you to access the directory level above. The file list displays all supported multimedia files and the sub-directories of the currently selected directories. Three different displays (List, Details, Large Symbols) can be set by a right click via the file manager Context menu. Large Symbols have the advantage that a frame is displayed for video and picture files, quickly showing the relevant material. However, more time is then needed for loading the directory content. Directory list Preview function All the files have preview functions. Click on audio objects and you get an audio ”preview” via sound card. Video, graphics and text objects will be shown on the video screen. Effects and the special directories ”Takes”, ”Video FX”, ”Slide FX”, ”Audio FX” ”Titles” and ”Borders” also have previews, which will show you their functions. Deleting, copying and moving files File list All files listed in the file list can be selected in Windows® Explorer, deleted or moved by Drag & Drop to other directories or copied. In this way, all objects 35 File manager considered for an arrangement can be collected in a separate directory. All files listed in the file list can be loaded in the arranger by double clicking or dragging and dropping on to any tracks or positions. There they are displayed as objects and can be processed and arranged in a variety of ways. Please see the chapter “Arranging Objects”. Large Symbols Setting in and out points with Extras button Integrate videos, takes or audio files in your arrangement All files listed in the file list can be placed anywhere on any track of the arranger with a double-click or by drag & drop. In the arranger, these files appear as objects and can be processed and arranged. For further information see the chapter ”Arrange objects”. The 4 buttons below the video screen are for selecting and loading individual scenes from longer video files from the file manager. When you press the Expl button, the Play/Rewind/FastForward controls are no longer valid for objects in the arranger, only for the selected video file in the file manager. With the Extras button, you can set in and out points for a scene. Then you can save this scene in the Takes directory. For further information on how to process takes, see the chapter on ”Video and Bitmap Objects”. Loading multimedia files from the Internet The entire Internet is available as a huge resource for sounds of all type, effects, videos and images. You reach the Internet directly from the file manager via ftp. You can sample multimedia files from the furthest parts of the World Wide Web, load them into your arrangement and process them further. The entry ”FTP Connection” is listed at the bottom of the directory list of the file manager. The FTP selection dialogue box opens if you double click the entry. You can enter the name or the IP number of the required server in the Internet. The default settings are on the MAGIX Entertainment server where you can constantly find new sounds and effects. We therefore recommend that you click on it from time to time, and have a look at what’s new! 36 File manager After successfully reaching the FTP server, its root directory appears in the file manager. From now on, working via the Internet will be the same as with your own CD: sounds are loaded for screening and are played back through a mouse click. Drag & Drop integrates the sounds in your arrangement. Depending on the speed of the Internet access, loading may take a little longer than from a local CD-ROM. However, most of the sounds on the FTP server will be compressed sounds (e.g. in popular MP3 or MS Audio format). These sounds require only approx. 5-10% of the transmission time of uncompressed waves with practically full sound quality. Typically, a 2 second loop can be ‘downloaded‘ in 2-4 seconds, so that the delays are really kept to a minimum. Naturally, the FTP download function is not restricted to compressed sounds. In principle all supported media types from the Internet can be loaded, e.g. images in JPEG format or AVI or MPEG videos. The MAGIX® video deLuxe uses a special subdirectory as a cache for the Internet data. This directory can be set in the Internet Settings dialogue box (Menu ”File > Settings/Information”). Therefore, all files are only loaded once and are then available instantly. If you try to force a reloading of all Internet files, then you only need to delete the Internet cache subdirectory! A successful FTP connection is naturally dependent on access to the Internet. For this purpose, your PC must connect via a modem or ISDN card with a provider such as T-Online or AOL. If providers such as TOnline, AOL, Compuserve etc. are using their own access software, then we recommend establishing the Internet connection first and then establishing the FTP connection with MAGIX ® video deLuxe . Dialing takes place automatically when establishing the FTP connection for Internet access points that are directly accessed via a correctly installed Windows FTP network. An example of this would be the so-called ”Call by Call” accesses to the Internet such as that of Mobilcom via the telephone number 01019 01929 (Username and password of your choice). 37 File manager File management with the help of the file manager buttons To simplify file management, there are nine buttons under the file manager. Parent: With this button you can move one directory level up in the File Manager. Scan CD: Clicking this button once reads in the CD that is currently in the CD-ROM drive. In the case of data CDs, all directory and file formats supported by MAGIX video deLuxe are displayed in the file manager. In the case of audio CDs, all tracks appear in the file list. My AV: This button opens the ‘MyAudioVideo’ directory, which is automatically created on program installation. According to the presetting, arrangements are exported to and saved in this directory. Takes: This button opens the ”Takes” directory, which is a special directory for individual scenes from longer videos. All the takes, which the automatic scene recognition can detect, are stored in this directory. The drag & drop function for moving objects from the arranger to the Takes directory enables you to use the arranger to neatly cut up videos into individual takes. For further information see the chapter on ”Video and bitmap objects”. Video FX: In this directory you will find all the video effects for use with videos and bitmaps. Just drag & drop the effects onto videos or bitmaps in the arranger! Selecting the video controller from the effects menu or the context menu will let you see all the effects you have put onto the selected object. For further information, see the chapter on ”Video effects”. Audio FX: This is where you will find all the effects for use with audio objects. 38 File manager They can be dragged & dropped onto audio objects in the arranger. You can activate and deactivate effects in the effects menu or the context menu and then do the fine tuning with a realistic effect module. You can combine any number of effects! For further information see the chapter on ”Audio effects”. Slide FX: This directory houses the special effects for fading. They are ”independent” objects, which have to be placed between the two video objects you want to blend. For further information see the chapter on ”Video and picture objects”. Titles: This button accesses the titles directory that is set up on the fixed disk on installation. This contains the various RTF files that you can pull onto the tracks and use for video subtitles. In order to open the title editor for subtitles, click on an RTF object in the arranger with the right mouse button and edit your subtitle. Further information on subtitles and use of RTF text objects can be found in the chapter “Video and Bitmap Objects”, section “Subtitles and Text”. 39 Mouse modes MAGIX video deLuxe provides various mouse modes that can be selected via the Mouse Mode window. This guarantees that all steps can be performed more quickly and safely. Intelligent mouse mode This is the preset mouse mode, which is useful for most pieces of work. With a left mouseclick you can select objects and move them by keeping the button pressed. This will move all objects at the same mouse position in other tracks as well as the selected object. If you just want to move a single object, use the ”Mouse mode for single objects”. To select various objects, hold down the shift key. All objects can be crossfaded, looped and shrunk with the 5 handles. For further information on this topic, see the chapter,, ”Arrange objects”. With a right mouse click you can open the context menu, which contains the most important effects and adjustments for the object you want. If you have activated an effect curve with the FX button at the beginning of a track, you can select and move the curve handles. Double-click on a curve to create new handles. Key: Alt + 1 Mouse mode for single objects Generally speaking, this mode works just like the ”Intelligent mouse mode”, but only moves the selected object. Key: Alt + 2 Curve mouse mode This mouse mode is especially intended for the drawing of volume and effect curves. If it is activated it is possible to draw in a new course for the curve on a track with activated effect curve simply by pressing the left mouse 40 Mouse modes key. Clicking on a track without activated effect curve deactivates this special mode. Key: Alt + 3 Object stretch mode This special mode is used to adapt the length of objects. Audio objects are stretched or compressed by means of time stretching at the bottom handles. While in standard mode, objects are either played in a loop during stretching, or the portion of material played is reduced during compressing, stretch mode allows the entire object to be played either slower or faster. Video objects can also be accelerated or slowed down by means of the bottom handles. Key: Alt + 4 Audio objects prelistening mode In this mode, an object can be played separately (‘prelistened to’) without the other tracks having to be muted beforehand. Key: Alt + 5 Scrub mode You can listen to the spot in an arrangement at which the mouse is currently located in this mouse mode by pressing the mouse button. The replay cursor therefore follows the mouse movements. Key: Alt + 6 Context help mode In this mouse mode, clicking on any area of the video deLuxe immediately provides access to the corresponding section in the Context Help. Key: Alt + 7 41 Arranging objects In MAGIX video deLuxe you can jointly and uniformly load, arrange, edit and export different multimedia file formats. This chapter describes the basic way of working with multimedia objects. This includes video objects, graphics, audio objects and midi objects. Later chapters will describe the peculiarities of the respective formats. All object editing is virtual, non-destructive, and is calculated in real time during playing. The multimedia material is thus not destroyed (non-destructive editing); any change can be cancelled with the multi-stage undo function (ctrl + z). You can experiment to your heart’s content without having to fear that you will change or damage the original material. Multimedia files and objects You can pre-listen to (or preview) any multimedia file supported by MAGIX video deLuxe in the file manager by clicking the file name with the mouse and dragging it into the arranger while keeping down the mouse key (drag & drop). If you release the mouse key, the files are represented and positioned as objects on the tracks. With the TAB key you can change between two ways of representing the object. The alternative representation mode is particularly useful for a faster representation of video objects: Objects are no longer represented in the arranger frame by frame, but in a simplified manner. This saves working memory and improves the overall performance. Right clicking on the object opens an object menu with the most important editing functions, which are available for the respective object. Saving and loading arrangements ‘Arrangement’ designates all the objects situated in the arranger (video, graphics, audio, MIDI, graphics) together with their positions and fades as well as length, volume, brightness settings and effects. Arrangements can be saved and reloaded as MVD-files via the file menu. When loading arrangements, you 42 Arranging objects need to be careful that all objects used by the arrangement are available in the respective directories. It is often advisable to use the function “save arrangement to...” (Menu file). If you do so, the entire arrangement including all its objects and effects is written into a definable directory on the hard disk and can be loaded from there without problems. Alternative object presentations Audio objects are shown in waveform, which tells you something about the type of audio material you are dealing with. Where you can see something, you can also hear something. Video objects are represented by individual frames. With the TAB keys you can choose between various object presentations. The simple presentation mode is particularly helpful for the quick presentation of video objects. Here the object presentation does not require frames, leaving you with more RAM available, and a better overall performance. Mode 1:1 frame Scanning an audio CD Being able to load music directly from an audio CD is a very practical File Manager function. In principle, this occurs exactly the same way as transferring Wave files into an arrangement: – Insert audio CD into the CD-ROM drive on the PC – Set the File Manager to the new CD with the ”Scan CD” button – The individual CD titles appear on the screen – A simple mouse-click starts the playback of the CD title for sampling purposes – If you use Drag & Drop in one track of the current arrangement, then the CD title will be digitally scanned and copied to the hard disk. – The audio object appears in the track and can be played back or edited as usual immediately. The scanned CD titles can be used later, similar to normal audio objects, e.g. with fades, audio effects or in the mixer. Mode 2: max. frame Mode 3 43 Arranging objects Zooming Zooming with the scroll bar With the right-hand scroll bar, you move the tracks visible in the window, i.e. the vertical view. With the lower scroll bar, you can scroll horizontally and adjust the visible section of the arrangements to the time base. If you lead the mouse to the edge of the slider, the cursor will change to a Stretch symbol, with which the slider can be grabbed and stretched or pulled apart. In this way, you can quickly and smoothly zoom in and out. The size of the lower zoom sliders indicates which part of the overall arrangements is currently displayed. In the total picture the scroll bar assumes full size. The total picture can be accessed with a double-click on the slider. Set play markers Play markers The ”Editing” menu lets you set a play marker at the current position of the S marker. The markers are numbered one after another and can be called up with the number keys. This allows you to get to a particular position of a longer video immediately, without scrolling and searching. Selecting objects To edit or delete objects via the menu, you first of all need to select them. To do so, you simply click on the object to be selected. The handles of selected objects turn grey to show that the accompanying object has been selected and can be edited via the menu functions. Several objects are selected by keeping the Shift key pressed. Any object editing, such as cut, move, effect assignments, etc. apply jointly to all selected objects. A fast way to select several objects is to click on the track next to the first object and to pull up a rectangle while keeping down the mouse key. All objects within this rectangle are selected (rubber band selection). Forming or dissolving object groups Any object can be combined with others to make up a group, to avoid the objects being unintentionally moved in relation to each other. Form/ dissolve group Then you will only need to click on one object of a group 44 Arranging objects to select the entire group. To form or dissolve groups, use the buttons in the tool bar or the corresponding commands in the ‘edit’ menu! Cutting up objects Any object can be cut up. Every one of these object parts turns into a completely independent object. To use this function, you select the option ‘cutting up objects’ in the ‘edit’ menu or you click on the scissors button in the mouse mode bar. The mouse pointer turns into a pair of scissors and you can cut up the object in as many smaller objects as you like with a click of the mouse. In order to join objects together again at a later stage, you highlight the individual parts and select the command ‘forming group’ that joins the selected objects together to a group. Fine positioning of objects It is often necessary to position objects very precisely, for example to avoid the rhythm from going awry or to avoid pauses or crackling at the transitions. In MAGIX video deLuxe every object engages at the edges of other objects so that a clean transition is guaranteed at all times. Apart from that, the arranger uses a grid that lets objects engage at definable positions. The grid is adjusted in the file menu. Copying objects It is very easy to copy objects to quickly create larger arrangements. First of all, the objects to be copied need Copy to be selected. Then you activate the copy button in the button bar. A copy of the object, which can be moved to any position with the mouse, appears right next to the original. You can even speed up this process if you click on the object to be copied with the mouse and at the same time keep pressing the Ctrl-key. This generates a copy, which you can immediately drag to the desired position. By the way, object copies take up virtually no additional working memory! 45 Arranging Objects Fading objects Fade handle With the handles on the top left and right, it is possible to fade an object in or out. By fading objects in and out onto different tracks, it is possible to carry out crossfades between different objects. The length of the cross fading can be directly regulated with the handles. Shortening or looping objects Length handle Objects are ‘cut’ virtually by ‘compressing’ them with the mouse. ‘Pulling’ them to the right can stretch them, and then the object is played in a looped manner until the play cursor reaches the end of the object representation. In this way it is possible to very quickly create an entire drum track from one single drum loop or to create a long video from a short video sequence. Guide the mouse to one of the bottom corners of the object until the mouse pointer turns into a stretch symbol. Now you can stretch or compress the object until it has reached the desired length. Adjusting brightness / volume Brightness (volume)handle With the volume/brightness handle in the top center of the object you can change the volume of audio and MIDI objects or adjust the brightness of video and bitmap objects. If several objects are played in parallel, it is possible to individually adjust the volume or brightness ratios between objects in this manner. The volume and brightness ratios between tracks are adjusted in the mixer. Exporting arrangements You have various possibilities for exporting, which are all independent of the performance of the system. In other words, the video file to be exported will always be calculated correctly, even if the system starts faltering during the replay. For further information on exporting to video cassettes and digicams, see the chapter on ”Video and picture objects”. 46 Arranging Objects Export as a file If you are satisfied with your arrangement, you may want to export it as an audio or video file. In the file menu, you will find the following formats and compression procedures for audio and video export: – Audio: WAV (Wave) – Video: AVI, DV-AVI, MPEG Video, MOV (QuickTime Movie), WMV – Audio or video: Windows Media, RealMedia – Picture formats: BMP, JPEG You will find more detailed information on video export in the chapter ”Video and picture objects”. Export into external programs with ”Export arrangement” After exporting a file into one of the formats, the file will be stored automatically on the Windows® clipboard. From there it can be imported to any external program that supports the chosen format with ”Processing > Insert” (Ctrl-V). Export as e-mail attachment With the option ”Save and send as an e-mail” in the file menu, you create a file in Windows Media format. At the same time, the mail program will be activated and the file will be attached to an e-mail. This means that you can compress and send any arrangement straight from the program. 47 Video and Bitmap Objects Formats MAGIX video deLuxe allows you to import videos in AVI, DV Stream, MOV (QuickTime Movie), MPEG 1/ 4, MXV, Windows Media Video and bitmap graphics (BMP, JPEG, GIF) into any MAGIX video deLuxe arrangement. All arrangements with video objects can be exported as video files in AVI, Real Video, QuickTime and Windows Media formats. You will find picture and video files included on the installation CD. You can also use your own files or record your own videos in MAGIX video deLuxe . Load videos and bitmaps To watch the preview, click on a file in the file manager. You will see the video or the bitmap on the video screen. If you want to use the complete video in your arrangement, click on the video or bitmap file, keep the mouse button pressed and drag the file to one of the tracks in the arranger. If you prefer to use parts of a video, apply the automatic scene recognition and use the ”Takes” directory. Press the play button to see the whole video and picture material with all effects in real time on the video screen. Video peripherals Analogue appliances MAGIX video deLuxe works with any USB cam, graphics, TV or video card, which is compatible with VfW (Video for Windows) or DirectShow. This way you can use analogue sources such as VHS recorders or analogue camcorders. For example, you can use: – TV cards by Hauppauge, Terratec, Miro and ATI. – Graphics cards with video-in such as ELSA Winner or Erazor, ATI All-In-Wonder and others, – Video cards such as Miro DC-20 etc. – USB cams by Intel, Logitech, Creative Labs etc. 48 Video and Bitmap Objects Digital appliances MAGIX video deLuxe also supports the processing of DV (digital video) data. In this case, a digital video recorder or camcorder with IEEE-1394 interface (also known as iLink or FireWire) and an IEEE-1394 host adapter compatible with OHCI for your PC is required. Some examples for digital cards: Pinnacle Studio DV (tested), Exsys EX-6500 (tested), Dazzle DV go (tested), OrangeLink PCMCIA (tested), Terratec Cameo 400 DV, Hauppauge DV-Wizard Pro and various generic cards. Some examples for digital camcorders: Panasonic DV-1, Sony PC-100, Sony TRV-900, JVC GR-DVL 109, Canon MV-200. Digital dubbing from digicams and other sources First of all, connect the digital video appliance (e.g. a digital camcorder) to your PC via FireWire interface. Then select the option “Digital video recording” from the file menu and choose a directory for the file, which will be stored in DV format on the hard disk. The dubbed video will appear automatically as an object in the arranger. Remote control (Video Preview): Here you can preview the video you want to record. Use the transport control of MAGIX video deLuxe for remote controlling the digital camcorder. In other words: The transport control determines the way the digicam records and plays. If your hardware doesn’t support this function the buttons of the transport control (underneath the video screen) can’t be used. Options: Here you can select some options (“Record audio”, “Preview Audio”, “Video” and “Detect Scenes”) for your recordings. Preview for recorded files: Right beneath the options you can see a list of the video files which have already been recorded (one single frame and the length for each video file). You can delete unwanted files with the Delete key. 49 Video and Bitmap Objects Record controls: With these three buttons (record, play and stop) you can control the recordings. The record button starts the playback of the video device and the recording of MAGIX video deLuxe simultaneously – if your hardware supports this function. If not you have to start the recording first and then the external playback device. Title: Here you can set a title and choose a directory for your recording . Timecode: Every digital recording has an included timecode. In this section of the dialogue you can use the timecode for setting multiple start/end markers for your recording. You can use this feature as often as you want, in order to record only the best takes of your video. Just “scroll” through the video with the help of the preview monitor, set all the start and end markers and start recording! MAGIX video deLuxe records only the selected takes. Device options: Here you can select the options for your digital video card. Hint: Be sure that there is enough free memory on your hard disk left! Analogue video recordings from a video recorder or a camcorder The analogue signals from the VHS recorder or camcorder have to be converted into digital signals first. This works almost the same way as an audio recording with the sound card. The analogue stream of signals will be measured in very short, regular intervals. The resulting sets of numbers can be processed by the PC. The resolution determines the precision of every single measurement and the frame rate determines the frequency of measurements. The more often and the more precise the signal is measured, the higher the quality of the digital video will be. Of course, the necessary capture performance and the need for free RAM also increases. 50 Video and Bitmap Objects The video is digitized either by the camera (USB camcorder), the graphics card (e.g. ELSA Winner), the TV card (e.g. Miro PCTV) or the video card (e.g. Fast AV-Master). Camcorders with USB sockets can be connected to the USB interface of your PC. Video recorders and other devices can be connected to the video-in socket of the video, TV or graphics card (usually RCA or S-VHS socket). If your card also features an audio socket, you will need to use it for recording and replaying the sound track, otherwise sound and video of longer pieces could diverge. To record analogue videos, use the option “Analogue video recording (DirectShow)”, which you can select from the file menu or activate with the record button. Analogue video recording with DirectShow should be compatible with any video capture hardware. As there are so many different appliances and drivers around, some users may face difficulties. In the unlikely event of this happening, choose the ”Analogue video recording with VfW” (Video for Windows) option. Usually you will need no other adjustments. If you encounter problems in the form of ”drop frames”, you should lower the resolution or the frame rate. The videos are stored in MXV format, which is limited in length. The maximum capacity is 4 GB, or approximately 90 minutes. Of course the arrangement itself can be longer. However, in this case you will have to split up the videos you want to process in MXV format into two objects. Separate audio from video material Videos with a sound track will appear on the arranger as two objects (audio object and video object) if you have selected in the file menu the options “Adjustment/information” > “Audio/video adjustments” > “Extract sound from video”. The two objects automatically form a group. If you want to process the audio and video material separately, select the function “Dissolve group”. Now you can replace the audio or the video track, or process them separately. Finally you can re-join the tracks with the “Export arrangement” function. 51 Video and Bitmap Objects Takes (scenes) You can split up your videos into takes, either while loading or later, in the arranger. Scene markers will be set instead of cutting the original video into pieces. Then the individual scenes will then be copied into the “Takes” directory, where they can be used as individual objects on the tracks. You can use this directory in two ways: to drag scenes from the directory to the tracks or to drag & drop new scenes into the takes directory. This way you can create complex story boards: first cut the scenes for your video, then arrange them on the tracks. Below the video screen you will find 4 buttons (“Time”, “Extras”, “Expl” and “Tracks”). These buttons let you choose and load scenes from a longer video while still in the file manager. Push the Expl button first. Now the transport functions Play/Rewind/FastForward are no longer valid for objects in the arranger, only for the selected video file in the file manager. With the Extras button you can set in and out points for a scene. The selected scene can than be stored in the Takes directory. Automatic scene recognition From the effects menu you can call up automatic scene recognition, an editor that searches for prominent colour or movement changes in a video. All the scenes encountered will be listed in the dialogue and given markers, which you can see in the ruler bar on top of the first track. The automatically created “time stamps” of digital video devices, which mark the moment when the device was turned on and off, will also be marked as scenes. You can check any scene in the dialogue list and can also shift or erase scene markers. The zoom button gives you a closer look at the spot in the arranger where the selected scene begins and the previous one ends. Adjusting the sensitivity of the scene recognition will result in a different number of encountered scenes. The dialogue also lets you decide whether the video 52 Video and Bitmap Objects should be cut between scenes or whether you want to store the scenes in the Takes directory. Arrange videos You can adjust the size of the video screen and choose where to place it on the screen. If you want to change its position, deactivate the standard layout view in the window menu, then move the screen. If you want to change its size, click on the screen with the right mouse button and choose a size from the context menu or define a new size. Bear in mind that bigger screens may affect the PC’s performance. The “Time” button below the screen lets you activate a time indicator, which will always refer to the current position of the S marker. Video and picture objects are processed just like any other object: you can move them with the mouse, use the fade in and out functions in the top corners or adjust the brightness with the center top handle, and so on. There is also a separate trimmer window for the fine tuning of video and bitmap objects. You can use the scrub mouse mode to quickly locate a certain spot in a video. Activate this mode in the mouse mode bar and position the mouse pointer on a video object with the mouse button pressed. Depending on the mouse position and speed, the video and all its effects will be played on the video screen. Video cleaning Select this option in the context or effects menu to call up the editor to correct faults in your video material. The video cleaning function affects the whole object. 53 Video and Bitmap Objects In the dialogue you can mark a problematic colour with the mouse, and it will then be modified by the cleaning function. The slide controls will affect all parts of the video with the same colour quality as the selected area. The ”Reset selection” option allows you to mark a new colour area with the mouse. Suppose you want to get rid of the reflection of the sun, which you can see as a clearly visible glaring spot in an otherwise satisfactory video. 1. Cut the faulty part in the arranger to make it an individual object. Place the “S” marker at the start and at the end, remembering to press the scissors button every time. 2. Select the faulty object and choose “Video cleaning” in the effects menu. 3. On the video screen in the editor window you can now enclose the faulty part in a rectangle to choose the colour you want to modify. 4. Lower the brightness and the spot gets darker. This will usually improve the video considerably. 5. If the margins of the spot are still bright, move the “Soft fader” all the way to the right. 6. If you like the result, exit the video cleaning editor by pressing “O.K.”. If you do not like the result, try with other adjustments, or use the video cleaning function several times: you can only do this if you export the faulty video and load it again after cleaning. Video effects All video effects work in real time and can be dragged and dropped from the “Video FX” directory to video and picture objects in the arranger. 54 Video and Bitmap Objects Generally speaking, you can combine as many effects as you want (e.g. BlueBox for mixing plus colour changes plus double speed effect). Call up the video controller from the effects or context menu to edit the effect combinations. For further details on video effects and adjustments, see the chapter “Video controller”. Video effects in the directory “Video FX” Video Mix This term refers to mixing various videos playing simultaneously. The video objects you want to mix have to be placed one below the other in the arranger. Add a special video mix effect to the lower video, which determines the parts that will be transparent for the upper video. The background video object always has to be placed in the upper track. For example, if you want to put a dancer on a landscape, place the landscape on track 1, the dancer on track 2 and activate the BlueBox effect for the dancer. For further information on video mix effects and adjustments, see the chapter “Video controller”. Borders Foreground Background Call up the “Borders” directory with the “Borders” button to the left of the file manager. The directory contains bitmap patterns for the borders of videos, which are just like picture-frames that can be modified by video mix effects. Drag them to the lowest track of the arranger and select the BlueBox or GreenBox effect to make the blue or green space in the middle transparent for the upper videos. This way you can see the objects of the upper tracks of the arranger in the field. You can use the lower handles to adjust the size of the borders to fit any length of the video. Bear in mind that you can also achieve interesting effects by inserting and discarding borders within a video. Shrink and interweave videos You can shrink videos in the video screen, for example to show a different video in the remaining space. Click on the monitor and open up a rectangle with the mouse 55 Video and Bitmap Objects button pressed. The video from the monitor will shrink to the size of the rectangle. If you have two videos on top of each other, you can shrink the video and add the stamp effect to see the upper video in the remaining space. Crossfading (Slide FX) Subdirectories in the directory “Slide FX” The Slide FX function modifies the transition between subsequent videos. Videos have to be placed one behind the other in adjacent tracks of the arranger. After correctly placing two videos, click on the Slide FX button next to the file manager. Now the Slide FX directory appears in the file list. Click on any Slide FX object to activate the preview. Generally speaking, a Slide FX object has to be placed between two video objects to create a crossfading effect from video 1 to video 2. If a Slide FX object is placed parallel to just one video and there is no other video object on the adjacent track, the crossfading effect will produce a transition from the video to black. Video object 1 Drag & Drop on a “harsh” transition Video object 2 The easiest way to ensure a smooth transition between two videos is the following: place the two videos on different tracks so that the end of one connects to the beginning of the other. The tracks must not be more than two tracks apart. Next, select a Slide FX and drag it to the border between the two videos. The two video objects and the Slide FX object will automatically combine and result in smooth crossfading. SlideFX Try this various times and see what happens! The second video will jump to a different track and move forwards a little bit. The Slide FX object will be placed on a track between the two video objects and the second video will fade in smoothly. After using the automatic crossfading function, the three videos will be placed on three adjacent tracks. Make sure you have enough space for this operation. 0The three objects then form a group and can be moved together. Finally, you can modify the crossfading action by moving an object within the group. 56 Video and Bitmap Objects Drag & Drop on a middle track You can also locate Slide FX objects between two video tracks and adjust the length of the crossfading action with the object handles or with the trim window. Create your own Slide FX, e.g. with Alpha Keying MAGIX video deLuxe gives you the chance to create your own special crossfading effects: just produce a video with any kind of transition from black to white. Select the “Alpha” effect from the video controller for these videos and then you can use them as a Slide FX. Alpha Keying uses the brightness of an Alpha Keying object to crossfade from one video to another. The Alpha Keying object should be placed directly between two videos. Instead of the black parts of the Alpha Keying object you will see the upper video and instead of the white parts you will see the lower video. Grey parts are permeable for both videos and will produce a mixture. In multi-coloured parts, the brightness of the colours will be measured to control the crossfading action. Copy your Alpha Keying videos and any other videos, which are used to control the crossfader, into the Slide FX subdirectory. Trimming videos (fine tuning) You can call up a trim editor from the context menu of video and picture objects. The editor lets you position the object handles very precisely. You can also move the video material within an object, for example to adjust the transition from one video to another without moving the objects themselves. In the middle of the trim window you will find a schematic depiction of the selected object with its handles. Trimming of object length and fade: You can shift the length handle and the fade handle of an object with the arrow fields in the corners. Fine positioning of an object: With the double arrow in the middle, you can move the whole object. All changes in these fields are also represented in the corresponding handles of the video objects in the arranger. 57 Video and Bitmap Objects Fine positioning of picture material: You can also move material within an object, for example to correct crossfading without re-grouping the objects in the tracks. Use the two arrows in the lower third of the presentation to do this. Adjust objects behind the selected object: In order to avoid a mess when moving an object, the trim editor also offers options to shift only the selected object or all objects which follow it as well. Choose between the ”Mouse mode for single objects” or the ”Intelligent mouse mode”. Replay functions Mouse modes Replay function: The trim window offers special replay functions either for the individual object or for the object plus the arrangement. – The left button activates normal replay for the arrangement. The picture processing may falter if the processor is overloaded with data. In this case use one of the remaining play buttons. – The middle play button activates the smooth ”frame by frame” replay. – The right play button activates the calculation of all adjustments before initiating the replay. This procedure guarantees a safe and smooth replay action. The fast forward and rewind functions move the S marker on the ruler bar. This way you can make precise adjustments to the transition between two videos. 58 Video and Bitmap Objects Trimming Transitions (with Slide FXs) You can individually fine tune initial and final sequences of two videos when crossfading them with the two monitors in the trim window. Subtitles with RTF text objects MAGIX video deLuxe has a function that makes inclusion and processing of titles very simple. The basis is the directory Titles, which is found as a subdirectory in the MAGIX video deLuxe Program directory. You access it via the “Titles” button under the File Manager. You will now see a prepared Title RTF file. To include and process a title in your project, do as follows: – Select the RTF file and pull it with drag & drop to a track in the Arranger. There it will be displayed as an RTF text object. – The Title Editor opens automatically. You can re-open it later by double click (or by right mouse click in the Context menu under “Title Editor”.) – The Title Editor is essentially a small text program, with which you can enter text and format it as you wish. Write the text for your video subtitle and format, 59 Video and Bitmap Objects – – Video object with RTF text object – – – 60 as you want. You can enter text, type style, type size, colour, type cut etc. directly in the Title Editor. You can specify several dynamic animations for the text, e.g. get the text to wander from left to right across the picture. To set your text on the video screen, you use the scroll bar on the Title Editor’s text window! You can choose a section from the RTF text object or freely position the type vertically. The ”Video Test” button delivers a title preview at any time on the video screen. If the “Mix all tracks” option is activated, the title will be accompanied by the complete background video, including all effects and overlays. The White Box Effect is automatically activated for the newly created title object. That means that all pure white picture sections are transparent for the overlying video tracks. Title texts or graphics in any other colour on the other hand will be imprinted on the video picture. If you have selected a very light or white text colour, you then have to switch between the White Box and Black Box effect. The Title Editor preview section contains both selection fields “white background” (White Box effect is activated) and “black background” (Black Box effect is activated). Now close the Title Editor and pull the RTF text object onto a track under a video track. Adjust the length of both objects to each other with the length tab and play the passage. As the White Box Effect is pre-set for the RTF text object, you will see the video running behind your text; the white text background has disappeared. Now one can naturally apply all of the other MAGIX video deLuxe effect functions available to the title, e.g. fade in and out with the object tabs; crossovers using crossover effect plug in etc. You can generally also access every other RTF file and pull it into the Arranger; you should note, however, that the RTF files that are converted to Bitmap files in MAGIX video deLuxe need lots of storage space. The smaller the RTF file the better. Video and Bitmap Objects Video compression Digital video processing on the PC is comparable to audio processing. Video, as an analogue medium, has to be digitized before the PC can process it. But video processing makes incredibly great demands on the hardware if you want to achieve good quality. Modern PCs have to work with compressed video data in order to achieve a sensible performance, as opposed to the digital audio data, which is only compressed for saving memory and data rates. Compressed video data is usually stored in AVI format, which stands for ”Audio and Video Interleaved”. MAGIX video deLuxe is able to process AVI files directly. So-called Codecs are used for the compression of video data. The amount of data depends on the compression ratio: a normal video has approximately 2 MB per second, which still equals a compression ratio of 1:10 compared to an uncompressed video with 20 MB data flow per second. High-quality video systems use a compression of 3 or 2, resulting in up to 10 MB data flow per second. Even uncompressed videos are being processed. MAGIX video deLuxe is also able to process such high-resolution video data. MAGIX video deLuxe works with uncompressed video data, so all effects, mixes, etc are processed in the highest possible quality. Some projects with several videos or real time effects may falter more than smaller videos. But this will not affect the final result, as the export of a video happens ”frame by frame”. Create a video project for the Internet In the menu ‘File > Export Arrangement’ MAGIX video deLuxe offers the formats RealVideo, Windows Media and Quicktime Movie as Internet video formats . When you select one of these options, the current arrangement will be converted to the chosen format. The Internet video formats differ from normal AVI files in two ways: – Streaming capability: Modern Internet browsers can play RealVideo, Windows Media and to a limited extent also Quicktime videos even during the 61 Video and Bitmap Objects downloading process, whereas normal AVI files must be completely downloaded prior to the start of play. – Lower data rate: the Internet formats are optimised for the lower data rates used by Internet access types today. A dialogue therefore appears on export, in which you can enter the data rate for video play, e.g. via a 28,000 Baud modem or via ISDN. If you use Windows Media or Quicktime videos for the Internet you will have to select suitable codecs and a small pixel resolution to set up the lower data rate necessary. Video export via video or graphics card To record videos created with MAGIX video deLuxe on video cassette, you have to export the arrangement as an AVI video, often with a special Codec that you will find in your video card manual. Use the video card tools to record this file onto a video cassette. Trouble-shooting checklist If you encounter problems, check this list: – In the AVI export dialogue you must adjust the video size to the size required by the video system. As the resolution of the first video of your project determines the preset value, the size is usually correct. If you use videos with different resolutions in your project, you must adjust the correct size manually, for example 768*576 for full screen, 720*540 for PAL devices and 640 *480 for NTSC videos – The frame rate (number of images per second) has to correspond to the video system, for example 25 frames/second for PAL video and 30 frames/second for NTSC video. – The video compressor must be identical to the video card compressor. Usually the name, which contains MJPEG and the card name, identifies the video compressor. – The data rate and the compression ratio must match your system. The lower the compression, the higher the video quality and the memory required. This is 62 Video and Bitmap Objects – – – – – – – – – the general rule: a normal video in S-VHS quality requires approximately 2 MB per second, or 120 MB per minute. The drive where you want to store the target video should be a fast and large capacity hard disk suitable for media-applications to guarantee a replay session without interruptions. Modern EIDE and SCSI hard disks with a capacity of various GB, are usually wellprepared for these operations. If you export a video from MAGIX video deLuxe, your system media player will start automatically and video replay will be set up. The current Microsoft Msediaplayer uses a technology which is usually able to replay most video formats without faltering. This Mediaplayer is also included on the MAGIX video deLuxe installation CD, so you can use it even if your system has an older version. Some video cards include video players especially designed and optimized for the hardware. In this case, close MAGIX video deLuxe, load the video in this video player and start the replay. Make sure you have connected everything correctly: Video-out of the video card to video-in of the video recorder Audio-out of the video or sound card to audio-in of the video recorder Video-out of the video recorder should be connected to a monitor or TV-set, so you can make sure that the video recorder receives the correct signal and records. Set the video recorder to the external port to which you have connected the cable, for example AV1 Check whether the mediaplayer actually exports the sound material via the video card export device. If not, you must adjust the video card driver: go to ”System > Multi-media > Replay > Favorite device”. If necessary, you can also activate the button ”Use only favourite device”. Set the sound control for the video (if you have one) to a level where the maximum audio signal from the PC equals the maximum level without overmodulating. 63 Video and Bitmap Objects – Now set the video recorder to pause before recording. – Start the replay on your PC and deactivate the pause on the video recorder at the same time. Now the replay should work. A further suggestion: the first replay of a new AVI is often erratic, as the PC still has to work on swapping and caching. Stop the replay after a few seconds and start it again. This time the replay should be smooth and uninterrupted. Video export via TV-out Video and graphics cards with a TV out socket can also export videos directly to external video recorders. The arrangement must be played in full screen mode when saved with external equipment. Make sure that the TV out option in the Windows system control (look for ”Display”) is activated. Then select the option ”Audio/video export” from the file menu and save the video with a video recorder. The first option of the video export dialogue will play the arrangement in full screen mode. This can cause interruptions if the processor cannot process all the information necessary for real time calculation of video effects or crossfading. Instead choose the second option from the dialogue (”Render changes”) which will avoid interruptions. Digital export Choose the third option for digital export. This should not cause any problems because the data is transferred digitally and, therefore, the quality will not be affected. The arrangement can then be exported via FireWire interface to a digicam. 64 Audio Objects Audio formats MAGIX video deLuxe loads and processes audio files in the following formats: WAV, CDA (CD audio), MP3, MPEG 1/4, ASF and WMA. You can export audio files in the formats WAV and WAV + Codec (e.g. MP3). Load and process audio files All importable audio files can be accessed via File Manager and previewed (audio) by a click on the file name. After listening to a few sound files, select one you want to work with and move it to the arranger window. To do this click and hold on to the name of the sound file while dragging it into the arranger window. A rectangle the size of your selection will appear. The sound file will be loaded into the arranger at the position you release the mouse button. You can repeat this process as many times as you like to build your arrangement. To play two or more sound files simultaneously, place the new sound file in a separate track. You can remove sound files from the arrangement by pressing the delete key! To play your arrangement, press the space bar! Your arrangement will be played from the first to the last sound file. By moving the “S” and “E” arrows located at the top of the arranger window you can adjust the points that playback begins and ends. This can be helpful when you want to listen to a specific section of a long or complex arrangement. Tracks from audio CDs can also be integrated by Drag & Drop method into the arrangement. Edits, fine positioning, volume adjustment, fading in and out, are processed using the object tab directly in the Arranger. Please see the chapter “Arranging Objects”! Scanning an audio CD Being able to load music directly from an audio CD is a 65 Audio Objects very practical File Manager function. In principle, this occurs exactly the same way as transferring Wave files into an arrangement: – Insert audio CD into the CD-ROM drive on the PC – Set the File Manager to the new CD with the ”Scan CD” button – The individual CD titles appear on the screen – A simple mouse-click starts the playback of the CD title for sampling purposes – If you use Drag & Drop in one track of the current arrangement, then the CD title will be digitally scanned and copied to the hard disk. – The audio object appears in the track and can be played back or edited as usual immediately. The scanned CD titles can be used later similar to normal audio objects, e.g. with fades, audio effects or in the mixer. Scanning CD tracks via recording dialogue A special program routine is used to scan audio CDs in the CD ROM drive, where the audio data is expected in digital form by the CD ROM drive. Some CD ROM drives do not support this mode (it appears as an error message) or only support it with difficulty (results in audio objects with cracking, etc.). In such cases, the CD can also be ‘scanned‘ using a recording (Refer to the Chapter entitled “Movement control”, “Audio Recording” section). The CD titles are then simply played back from the CD ROM drive and are re-recorded by the sound card. Recording from the CD must however be set first in the menu “File > System settings”. To ensure trouble-free recording of the CD titles via Dialogue Recording, the audio output on the CD ROM drive must also be connected with the sound card input. This should commonly be the case with today’s multimedia PCs. If not, this is easily done with a small cable inside the processor. Tip: If “Scan CD tracks over record dialogue” is activated, then song parts can be transferred into an arrangement, without having to load the entire audio track! 66 Audio Objects Add a sound track using audio recording You can record your own voice, sounds, singing, noises or instruments with MAGIX video deLuxe . First connect the recording source to the sound card. To start the recording session, click on the record field in the transport control or hit the “R” key. Choose the default settings from the recording parameters window which pops up. The recording will not start until you click on the ”Record” field in the parameter window. During the recording session, the arrangement will be played so that you can easily adjust pitch, speed, etc. At the end of the recording, or when you reach the ”E” marker, you will be asked whether you want to keep your new material. If yes, the new material will be placed on the next free track below the ”S” marker. Add a sound track to individual scenes: In this case, set the S and E markers to the start and end of the scene and start recording. To add a sound track, you can also use the following feature: “Ducking” (reducing the sound volume): If you want to add a commentary or other sound material to a video in which you have already leveled the sound volume, activate the option “Automatic reduction of sound volume of remaining audio tracks”. This will automatically reduce the volume of audio objects in the arranger during the recording session (”ducking”). A volume curve controls the whole process, produces the fading in and out effects and guarantees consistent overall volume. 67 Audio Objects Dub audio material from a hi-fi system: Use the Line-out or Aux-out sockets of the amplifier where fitted. Connect them to the (usually red) socket of the sound card. Most hi-fi amplifiers have RCA sockets and most sound cards have mini stereo plugs. You can get a suitable cable with two RCA plugs and a mini stereo plug in specialist stores. If the amplifier does not have sockets (other than the loudspeaker ones), use the headphone socket for recording. This will usually require a cable with two mini stereo plugs, and will let you use the headphone socket volume control. This connection, however, does not give the same quality. We recommend you use the Line-out sockets where possible. If you want to dub cassettes from a tape deck, you can connect the tape deck Line-out sockets straight to the sound card. If you want to dub LPs, you should not connect the turntable directly to the sound card, as the phono signal has to be amplified first. In this case, you can only opt for the headphone socket or use an external preamplifier. Adding background music using the Wizard You can arrange your own background music or let the Wizard do it for you. 1. Activate the Song Wizard with the “Wizard” button or via the file menu. 2. Select a music style (e.g. Easy Listening). 3. Select the instruments that you want to use. Blue under names in the instrument selection box mean that the particular instruments have been chosen. If, for example, you only want a rhythm section with drums and bass, deactivate the other instruments with a mouse-click. 4. Enter the desired length of the song or song part in seconds. You will always achieve a suitable musical result. 5. Specify whether a Wizard should create a completely new arrangement, attach a new part to an existing arrangement, or add new elements to the existing blocks. At your discretion, the Wizard will 68 Audio Objects automatically add new sound blocks to the tracks in the Arranger – initially only “virtually”, i.e. it is only a suggestion. 6. Listen to the suggestion by pressing, “Play” under “Preview (audio)”. If you do not like the result yet, you can create other arrangements, song parts or enhancements by pressing the appropriate interfaces in the “Arrangement Options” of the Wizard Dialogue. 7. If you agree with the Wizard’s suggestions, click on “OK”. Then the blocks will be added to the existing arrangement. A click on “Terminate” ends the Wizard and returns to the original arrangement status. Names of the Sound Pool-Samples The name of each sound file gives you detailed information about its content. bass_a01.wav bass Name a Type of groove 01 wav Tonality/Pitch Extension You can tell which sound files work well together by their names. For example: sound files with the number 01 sound good together. String section, trumpet, singer or keyboard, it doesn’t matter. You can create melodies by combining various combinations of numbers. e.g. bass_a01 bass_a04 bass_a02 bass_a03 For some interesting harmonies try combining different instruments using the same order. e.g. keys_a01 keys_a04 keys_a02 keys_a03 The type of groove the sound file has is expressed by a letter. A possible combination could be: 69 Audio Objects bass_a01 bass_b04 bass_a02 bass_c03 The pitch remains the same while the rhythm changes. Here are several combinations to get you started: T1: drum_01 drum_01 drum_01 drum_01 T2: bass_a01 bass_c03 T3: keys_a01 keys_b03 T4: guit_a01 guit_d03 bass_b04 bass_a02 keys_a04 keys_a02 guit_c04 guit_b02 There is no such thing as a bad combination. If you like it then it‘s good. Automatic tempo and pitch adjustment Automatically adapting Waves to BPM: If this mode is activated (in the Menu “File > Settings/Information > Audio/Video options”), MAGIX video deLuxe already attempts to automatically adapt all samples to the actual song tempo while it is being loaded from the File Manager. This occurs via Time-Stretching and succeeds particularly well with loops in the new MAGIX-Series, where the original tempo is entered in each Wave file. Naturally, the original tempo of the loops and the song tempo should not vary too much; otherwise you will not be able to expect perfect results! Automatically adapting Waves to tone levels: If this mode is activated, MAGIX video deLuxe automatically adapts samples from various soundpool CDs to the current sound level in the arrangement. Since the sample name and therefore the harmonic organisation of the sounds applies individually for every style type, it is possible that two samples from two soundpool CDs that both have the harmony code of 01 will have differing sound levels. Such differences will automatically be modified within Auto-Pitch mode. This occurs through Pitch-Shifting but only succeeds in new MAGIX series loops, where the original sound level 70 Audio Objects is entered inside every Wave file. Naturally the original sound level of the loops and the sound level in the arrangement should not differ too much, otherwise you cannot expect perfect results! Other effects for adding music The MAGIX video deLuxe special effects are designed for modifying sound and adding sound tracks. You can produce a sensation of spatial depth with reverb and echo. The equalizer allows you to modify the frequency, for example lifting the bass. The compressor is a dynamic volume control which lets you produce a denser and more powerful sound. The Stereo FX processor allows you to adjust the position in the stereo panorama while the de-noiser and de-hisser functions give you professional sound quality. As all effects have preview functions and work in real time, the effects menu or the right mouse button on an audio object create the ideal environment for creative sound production. For further information on the individual options, see the chapter on “Audio effects”. Mixdown of audio objects If the arranger becomes full and you start to lose control, if you are running out of RAM or if you just want to “summarise” your production, you can use the mixdown function to convert the audio arrangement into an audio file. Just click on the mixdown button in the button bar or select this function from the ”Processing” menu. You can choose a name and a place for storing the mixdown object. The default directory is “MyAV”. Storage of the audio arrangement will take up more MB of the hard disk, but requires no RAM. The mixdown effect also optimises the volume automatically. Even if you use the mixdown function several times, you will not lose audio quality. Adding a sound track using MIDI songs MAGIX video deLuxe can load, arrange and play back MIDI files just as easily as Wave files, video or bitmap files or software plug-ins. 71 Audio Objects A few words about MIDI: MIDI files do not contain the final sound like Wave files, only the note information. This has to be played back by the synthesizer chip on the sound card. This has several advantages: 1. MIDI files need a lot less memory than Wave files. Therefore, more MIDI files fit on a CD-ROM. 2. MIDI files can be adapted to any beat (BPM) without affecting the sound. Only the playback needs to be changed. 3. Similarly, MIDI files are very easy to transpose to another pitch – as a result, a section in a song does not have to be saved in several different keys. The version in C major is sufficient – it can then be transposed to any key by simply clicking on the right mouse button. The disadvantage of MIDI files: The actual sound is not yet final; it is only produced when it is played back by the synthesizer chip on the sound card. As a result, high quality sound card or external synthesizers sound completely different and better than normal sound cards. It is therefore definitely worth using a good sound card or external sound generators in your MAGIX video deLuxe! 72 Arranging MIDI files Proceed as follows to integrate MIDI files in an arrangement: Search for a directory containing MIDI files with the File Manager at the left edge of the screen. Click on a file – it will be played back immediately so that you do not need to guess which file you want to load. Now drag the required file into the arrangement – that’s all! An object will appear in which the MIDI notes are shown by dots. The high notes are dots in the upper section; the lower notes are the dots further down in the lower section. You can even see the striking intensity of the notes. The louder the note is played, the brighter it appears on the screen. MIDI objects can be moved around, the volume can be modified (middle handle) or fades (in or out) can be added (top right and left handles) in the same way as for audio, video or synthesizer objects. Audio Objects The Element Bar lets you “open” an entire track instantaneously from a MIDI loop. If you do not hear anything on the MIDI file, check the MIDI replay device in the Playback parameter window (P key or Menu “File > Settings > Playback parameters”). Your sound card driver or your MIDI interface must be set here! MIDI interface and external sound generator Naturally, MIDI objects can also be played back over a MIDI interface onto external synthesizers, sound models, etc. Initially set FX to 1.0. The timing between MIDI and audio can be balanced later if you notice a drift between the two. This is normally only important for very slow arrangements, where the sample rate on the sound card is not precise enough. The MIDI drivers can be set in the Playback parameter window (P key or Menu “File > Settings > Playback parameters”). Convert MIDI files to audio files If an arrangement is to be exported, for example as a video, all MIDI objects must first be “transformed” into audio objects, if they are to be considered for export. They contain only pure access information for the sound production. To do this, the MIDI sound producer (e.g. soundcard) output has to be connected with the soundcard input. Now the MIDI file can be played and simultaneously recorded again via the record function. The result is an audio file that can be processed and exported normally, together with other multimedia files. 73 Video effects There is a video control page for individual video effects, and for mixing two videos together. You can also control effects with curves, which can be applied to complete tracks. Please see the chapter ”Effect control with curves”. Use video effects Drag & Drop The video effects are stored in the ”Video FX” directory, which you can call up with the corresponding file manager button. All video effects feature preview functions and can be dragged & dropped onto video and picture objects in the arranger. Video controller You must select a video or picture object before you can call up the video controller via the effects menu or context menu (right mouse click on the object). The starting image of the video is displayed on the video screen in the video controller. With the play and stop button you can either play or stop the video object. This causes the entire object to be played in a looped manner in the arranger together with the background video, in so far as you have set a mixing effect. 74 Video effects You can forward or reverse the video with the position slider. You can try out any effect and effect combination; only once you click on the OK button will the video controller be closed and the current setting be adopted for the selected video object. Clicking on the X button will close the controller without the settings being adopted (abort). Edit The edit button opens a console, which you can use to edit the video. With ‘zoom’ you can reduce the entire video, while ‘position’ allows you to shift the originally centered video in any direction. In this way it is possible to superimpose several videos by setting the mixing effect ‘stamp’ for the respective bottom video (see below). Rotary control It is possible to rotate the image with the large rotary control, which you will find on the right below the video screen. A double click returns it to the neutral twelve o’clock position. Optical FX In this section you will find several optical effects. Sensor fields You can intuitively influence sensor fields with mouse movements, the colour of the graphics and the respective effect setting changing in dependency on each other. Whirlpool: The image is twisted in an S-shape. Motion: Moving parts of the image are intensified and alienated. Echo: The moving images create an optical ‘echo’; previous images stand still and gradually turn paler until they completely disappear. Fish-eye: The perspective is distorted as if the image was viewed through a fish-eye lens. 75 Video effects Mosaic: The video is composed of different images and resembles a mosaic. Soften: A soft-focus image is shown. Lens: The image is dynamically distorted at the edges. Blur: The image becomes blurred. Sand: The image is depicted in a granulated manner. Erosion: The image is alienated by means of small rectangles and resembles a ‘patchwork’. Dilate: The image is broken down into cell-like elements. Emboss: The edges are strongly embossed. Contour The image is reduced to its contours in two sizes (3x3 or 5x5). It is possible to either select vertical or horizontal contours. Speed The playing speed can be adjusted with the sliding control. In the minus range, the video is played backwards. If the playing speed is increased, the object length in the arranger is automatically shortened accordingly. Colour FX In this area it is possible to change the colours. Substitution: On the basis of the rainbow scale, the red, green and blue portions are exchanged. This quickly results in surrealistic landscapes or green faces! Shift: Colours are increasingly reversed. Blue colours turn red, green ones appear purple. 76 Quantize: Depending on the setting, colours are either rounded up or down so that the overall number of colours is reduced. This results in effective grids and patterns. Video effects Colour controls: Just as for any monitor, the focus, brightness, contrast and colour intensity can be adjusted individually for every object by means of the four sliding controls. Symmetry In this section you will find the video effects for the breaking down of images. Mirror V/H: The object is mirrored vertically or horizontally – it appears the wrong way round or upside down. Flip V/H: The upper or left half of the object is flipped to the bottom or to the right. Kaleidoscope: the left upper corner is mirrored horizontally and vertically. Mix FX In this section you will find the mixing effects you can use to mix together two videos to make up the background and foreground. The video, which is to serve as background for the currently selected object, must be situated on the track above the object. For all mixing effects which are situated in the light blue range of the mix FX, special adjustments can be made with the two slide controls. Mix: This button mixes the two videos together. With the aid of the fade handles, very soft cross fades can be achieved between the partially overlapping videos. Stamp: The currently selected object is ‘stamped’ into the video on the track above the object. This is of course only possible if the bottom video only takes up part of the image, as otherwise only the bottom (currently selected) video would be visible. As a rule, the object first has to be reduced or moved by means of the edit functions (see above). Transparent: The video becomes transparent; the video on the top track shining through. 77 Video effects Black/blue/white/green box: The selected video covers up the video on the top track; all black/blue/ white/green areas appear transparent. With this option it is for example possible to ‘place’ a person who has been recorded in front of a blue background into any type of landscape. Alpha: This video effect uses the brightness of a video to control a cross fading effect between two other videos on neighboring tracks. These additional videos should then be situated directly above and below the alpha-keying object. In all black passages of the alpha-keying object, the top video is faded in, in all white passages; the bottom video is shown. Grey passages are permeable for both videos and create a mixture of the two. In the case of coloured passages, the brightness of the colour is used for control purposes. 78 Audio effects MAGIX video deLuxe is full of audio special effects, which can be applied gradually and intuitively to process sound tracks after recording. You can adjust the overall sound in the mixer window by calling up the ”Master FX” rack. You can also control effects with curves, which can be applied to complete tracks. Please see the chapter ”Effect control with curves”. Use audio effects Drag & Drop The audio effects are stored in the ”Audio FX” directory, which you can call up by clicking the corresponding file manager button. All audio effects feature preview functions and can be dragged & dropped onto audio objects in the arranger. Effects from the effects or context menu The majority of effects also have an effect module, which allows you to adjust them in a realistic and intuitive way. First select an audio object. Feel free to play around with the buttons, faders and sensors,, as they are nondestructive (i.e. the sound will be calculated in real time during replay) and will not harm your sound material. Test it out with the presets first . Master FX rack ”Master FX” gives you audio effects for the overall sound. You can open the Master FX rack from the mixer window. Effect control The effects are controlled in the conventional way by the use of slider control, turning knobs, or buttons or alternatively using graphic sensor fields. Sensor fields Sensor fields can be intuitively used with mouse movements, the colour of the graphics and the respective 79 Audio effects effect setting change according to the mouse movement. For every effect, 2 settings are simultaneously used with the sensor fields (e.g. echo delay and feedback). Power Every effect device in the rack can be separately switched on and off. Reset Every effect has a reset button that restores the effect device’s initial default. In this state, no computing performance is used and no effect is calculated into the sound. Preset Each effect device is equipped with a selection of tried and tested pre-settings that you can select by use of the drop down menu. Bypass Some effects are equipped with a bypass button, which bypasses the effect device. The bypass button offers you the opportunity of directly comparing the neutral, unedited sound of the audio object with the effect setting you have chosen. A/B Similar to the bypass button, the A/B-button also compares two settings with each other. If you have selected a pre-setting for the effect and afterwards make manual changes to it, you can compare the original preset sound with the new settings by means of the A/B-button. Normalize/Reduce volume/Set volume These functions, located in both the effects menu or context menu, control the sound volume for individual objects, just like the object handles in the arranger. With the mixer you can also control the overall volume, or the volume for each individual track. The ”Normalize” function raises the volume of an object to the maximum without overmodulation. 80 Audio effects Key: Shift + k (normalize) Shift + l (reduce volume) EQ (Equalizer) The 10-band equalizer subdivides the frequency spectrum into 10 areas (‘bands’) and equips them with separate volume controls. This way it is possible to create many impressive effects, from a simple boosting of the bass to complete alienation. In particular if low frequencies are boosted too much, the overall sound level is heavily increased which may lead to distortion. In such a case, the overall volume should be adjusted downwards with the use of the ‘master volume’ control situated at the bottom centre of the effect rack. Slider control: Every one of the 10 frequency ranges can be separately boosted or turned down with the 10 volume controls. Link bands: With this button, the frequency ranges are combined with each other in a flexible manner, so that an artificial sounding and over emphasizing of individual frequency ranges are avoided. Touch screen (right EQ section): This is the ‘sensor field’ of the EQ. Here you can draw any type of curve with the mouse that will be immediately translated into a corresponding control setting on the left side of the EQ. Key: Shift + h 81 Audio effects Compressor The compressor is basically an automated, dynamic volume control: loud passages turn softer while soft ones turn louder; the overall sound becomes uniform and impressive. A compressor can be put to good use for bass recordings and vocals, but also as master effect in the mixer for subsequent editing of the overall sound. Editing is carried out ‘foresighted’ just like in high-quality studio appliances. There are no peak over-modulations or other artifacts, as the algorithm can never be ‘surprised’ by sound level peaks. Ratio: This parameter controls the strength of compression. Threshold: Here you can set the threshold below and above which compression takes effect. Attack: Here you can set the time the algorithm takes to react to increasing sound levels. Short attack times can create a ‘pumping’ sound, as the volume is quickly reduced or increased correspondingly. Release: Here you can set the time the algorithm takes to react to falling sound levels. Echo / Reverb Reverb Reverb supplies a high-quality reverberation that can be defined closely with ‘room size’, ‘time’ and ‘colour’ and mixed into the original sound with ‘mix’. 82 Audio effects Room size: This control button controls a room simulator that calculates the reverb effect in dependency on the room size. If the control is turned completely to the left, it sounds as if the audio object has been recorded in a tiny room, turned completely to the right, one can listen to the object as if it had been recorded in a cathedral. Time: Here the length of the ‘reverb trail’ is determined, i.e. the fading phase of the sound. Colour: Here it is possible to control the type of reverb – rather dull than high-pitched or vice versa. Mix: This control determines the mixing ratio between the unedited original sound (‘dry’ signal) and the reverb portion (‘wet’ signal). Echo The echo effect is defined even closer with ‘delay’ and ‘feedback’ and calculated into the original sound by means of ‘mix’. Delay: Here, the period of time between the individual echos can be determined; the more you turn the control to the left, the faster will the echo’s follow each other. Feedback: Here the number of echo’s can be adjusted. Turned completely to the left, there is no echo at all; turned completely to the right there are virtually endless repetitions. Stereo FX With the Stereo FX processor, you can treat the alignment of the audio material in the stereo balance. If 83 Audio effects the stereo recordings sound spongy and undifferentiated, an extension of the stereo base-width can often provide a better transparency. Band-width control: Here you can adjust the bandwidth between mono (on the extreme left), unchanged band-width (centre), and maximum band-width (“wide”, on the extreme right). Reducing the band-width can raise the level. In extreme cases – when the left and right channels include identical material and the band-width control is pushed to the extreme left on ”mono” – the result can be a level rising of 3 decibels. Raising the band-width (values of 100) diminishes the mono compatibility. Volume control: Here you can adjust the volume of every single channel and, thereby, adjust the whole balance. The attenuation of left and right is displayed under the control buttons. A centred recording can later be moved to the left or right of the stereo balance. Stereo meter: This provides a graphic display of the phase relation of the audio signal. You can use it to review the orientation of the signal in the stereo balance and the effect of the stereo enhancer. In order to get a maximum stereo compatibility the displayed graphic should be close to a diagonal line. Otherwise some of the frequency ranges can eliminate each other, when the stereo signal is played on a mono player. Karaoke-Presets: You can choose the karaoke function from the presets of the stereo-FX processor. All frequency ranges where you usually find vocals are erased. In this way you can create your own karaoke CD and sing along with the song! Time Processor This effect device changes the object’s speed and/or pitch. 84 Audio effects Pitch: This control changes the pitch independent of the object’s speed (‘pitch shifting’). Speed: This control changes the speed independent of the pitch (‘time stretching’). The object is as it were compressed or stretched on the track. Tones/BPM: These fields are used to numerically enter the pitch or speed change. MAGIX soundpool files are already equipped with information regarding pitch and speed, which makes them particularly suitable for numeric entries. Other sound files can be automatically determined with the find function. Setup: This button opens a setup dialogue, by means of which it is possible to select different procedures for pitch shifting and time stretching. The beat marker procedure is particularly suitable for drum sounds with single, clear amplitudes. The procedure searches the files for existing beat markers or automatically sets beat markers before speed and pitch are recalculated. During recalculation, the intervals between the beat markers are taken into account above all, which results in sound distortions keeping within limits and the ‘punch’ of beats not being lost. The files of the newer version of MAGIX sound pools are equipped with beat markers from the beginning and are particularly suited to the beat marker procedure. In the setup dialogue you can select whether the new beat marker procedure is to be used for all files or only for files, which are already equipped with beat markers or even not at all. In addition, it is possible to select a simplified resampling procedure, where the pitch can only be changed in dependency on the speed, similar to 85 Audio effects the ‘pitch’ controls of record players. This procedure uses the least computing time. Denoiser The denoiser is especially useful for eliminating longlasting disturbing noises, such as: a humming in the main connection; hissing; noises from sound cards, disturbance noise from ground circuits; interference from audio equipment with high microphone outputs (record-player); impact noise; or the rumbling of records. The denoiser requires a sample of the pure disturbance noise. Some of the typical sounds are at your disposal. Another possibility is to create a noise sample yourself. You need a short sequence of the music, where only the disturbance noise can be heard. Noise Level: Here you can precisely adjust the entry threshold of the disturbance noise’s clearing function. If the values are too low, it will result in insufficient noise reduction and it will contain artefacts, such as disturbing sounds or ”chipping.” If the values are too high, the result will be too flat. We suggest that you take some time to experiment and obtain the best adjustment. Noise Reduction: Here you can adjust the balance between the original signal and the cleared signal. Draw the disturbing signal about 3-6 decibels in order to preserve the natural sound of the material. In the case of humming, we recommend complete clearing. 86 Removed Noise: To test whether or not a noise has been removed satisfactorily, you can play back the part of the music cleared by or filtered by the Denoiser. (This is for test purposes only.) Audio effects Bypass: The Denoiser includes a Bypass Button that avoids the Denoiser effect. With the Bypass Button, you can compare the neutral, untreated sound of the audio object with the chosen effect’s adjustment. Noise Sample Section In the ‘Pick’ function, a Noise Print is generated. A short sample from the actual play position is taken as a noise sample. The noise sample should not contain any music or other parts of the desired signal - just the pure disturbance signal. The play position can be shifted with the transport bar to search for a suitable position while the sample section is open. When the play position is situated between two objects, no noise print can be generated. A failure message appears. Play: You can listen to the noise sample to test it. Auto: When this switch is activated, the duration of the noise sample is automatically adjusted. Length: The duration can be adjusted in milliseconds when the ”Auto” switch is turned off. Save: Store the created noise sample in the Noise Print Sample Directory. Then it will be available as a new noise sample in the noise sample preset selection list. Noise Sample Presets: Choose a noise sample from the Noise Print Sample Directory. When the noise sample has been created by the Pick function, the item Noise Print appears in the directory. Play (Preset): You can listen to the chosen noise sample. Artefacts on Cleaning Effects If you adjust the Denoiser too high, it can result in a metallic chipping sound, or an ”artefact” sound. Due to its synthetic character, this will have quite an impact on your ears. Usually, this happens only in especially difficult cases. 87 Audio effects To obtain the best results, follow these suggestions and instructions: – First choose a Preset from the Selection Menu. There you will find several types of disturbance noises. – Be careful with the ”dosage” of the effect—less is more. Adjust it until you cannot hear any of the disturbing noises, otherwise artefacts can appear. Key: Shift + r Dehisser The Dehisser eliminates regular ”white” noise, typically produced by analogue tape recordings, microphones, pre-amplifiers, or converters. Noise Level: Set the Dehisser’s input threshold as precisely as possible. Low settings result in incomplete deletion of the hissing. An incomplete deletion of the hissing produces artefacts and should be avoided. High settings produce dull results. Useful signals (e.g. the blow of a wind instrument) that are similar to hissing are also filtered away. If the level of the hissing is low, the setting is no problem. Noise Reduction: Here you can set the attenuation of the hissing in decibels. Often it makes sense to reduce the hissing by only 3 to 6 dB in order to keep the audio material sounding natural. Removed Hiss: To test your results, you can listen to the filtered-away part of the music prior to downloading or burning onto a CD. (Remember this is for test purposes only.) Key: Shift + w 88 Audio effects Digital audiometer (only Master FX rack) A digital audiometer, which supplies separate level control indicators for every channel for the 10 frequency bands, is situated below the sound warper on the master FX-rack. This device is used for orientation purposes, e.g. for selective equalizer editing. 89 Effect curves Apart from the object-based audio and video effects and the global audio effects, MAGIX video deLuxe offers the possibility of using dynamic track effects which are controlled via freely definable curves. Track effects are globally switched on and off for every track by means of the FX button in the track boxes. An illuminated FX button indicates that the track effects are active. Dialogue ‘dynamic effects’ Selecting and editing track effects is carried out via the ‘dynamic effects’ dialogue which is opened by means of the FX button in the track box. Here you can activate different effects in order to have them controlled by a definable curve. All effects are arranged according to groups; activated effects are ticked and are separately listed in the bottom part of the dialogue. The bottom part of the dialogue lists all the audio and video effects, which are currently activated and which can be adjusted via an accompanying curve. A curve which is placed on top of the track is generated for every selected effect. The higher the curve, the stronger the effect. The effect curve can be edited both in the arranger itself and in the ‘dynamic effects’ dialogue. As for clarity’s sake not all effect curves on the tracks can be displayed simultaneously, you can select in the ‘dynamic effects’ dialogue which one of the active effects is to be visible as curve on the track. To do so, you click on the active effect, which appears at the bottom part of 90 Effect curves the dialogue and the effect curve delete is displayed in the arranger. Once you have done so, the name of the effect is displayed in the track box and the effect curve is displayed on the track. Invert envelope The current curve is mirrored on the horizontal 0-axis. Delete envelope The current effect curve is deleted. Rhythmic envelope This option creates a so-called ‘envelope’ for the control of effects. It ‘envelopes’ the audio files on the track in different ways. In this manner it is possible to directly control effects by means of the music. After you have called the option ‘rhythmic envelope’ in the ‘dynamic effects’ dialogue, a selection dialogue appears where you can define the shape of the envelope more closely. Beat-based: With this option, the shape of the envelope – and thus the effect portion in the video – follows the beat of the arrangement. Four different basic shapes are available for the beat-based envelope: 2 saw tooth shapes, rectangle and triangle. These shapes are regularly run through in dependency on the beat and control the intensity of the activated effect. On the left side of the dialogue you can adjust whether the basic envelope shape is to be run through once per eighth, quarter, half or whole note. Options: This takes you to an additional dialogue, which determines in which way and how strongly the envelope is influenced by the beat. Scan envelope: As an alternative to the beat-based envelope, the volume course of an audio track can be used an envelope for the video. Loud passages create strong video effects, while quiet passages create weak 91 Effect Curves effects. In this way, a drum loop can for instance control the distortion of a dancer. Normalize first: With this function, the level of the audio object is normalised first before the object is scanned to create an envelope. (See also ‘audio effects’, section ‘normaliser’ in this regard). Editing the effect curve on the track – The curve can either be edited by means of individual handles (in standard mouse mode) or by means of free drawing of the effect curve (in curve editing mouse mode). – New handles can be added to the curve in standard mode with a double click, existing ones can be deleted with a double click. – All handles can be moved with the mouse in a horizontal and vertical direction. At the same time, the intensity of the accompanying effect changes during playing. Editing the effect curve in the dialogue Standard mode: If the arrangement is not played, it is possible to use a slider to create and vertically move a point of the effect curve at the start cursor’s position. During playing, an effect curve can be created with the help of the slider by creating a handle at the respective position of the play cursor, depending on the slider position. Drawing mode: If you move the slider in the dialogue, a curve which follows the slider movement is drawn on the track between start and end marker. 92 Effect Curves Mixer MAGIX video deLuxe includes a real-time mixer with a master effects section that allows one to mix all the tracks in an arrangement professionally. Faders & buttons Every channel has its own volume or brightness fader. As a result, the volume can be lowered quickly and accurately, to add more bass or to fade out a video that is just playing. This fader also acts on any linked MIDI files. The stereo position for each track can be defined with the Pan controls. The total volume can be re-adjusted with the master controls. This does not affect the MIDI files, so that a balance can be achieved between MIDI and audio. If the MIDI objects are too quiet, increase the setting of the respective track controls and reduce the master control! Double clicking on each of the controls resets it to the passive basic setting, in which no processor output is needed. The mixer is simply opened with the M key or via the button bar (also: “Window > Mixer” menu). The master controls can again adjust the overall volume – without affecting MIDI files, so that MIDI and audio files can be aligned. If the MIDI objects are too quiet, raise the position of the corresponding track control and reduce the master control! 93 Mixer The Master effect rack controls the overall sound. Please refer to the ‘Audio Effects’ chapter for details on master effects. DirectX audio Plug-Ins The MAGIX video deLuxe supports DirectX audio PlugIns. These are generally effect modules such as acoustics, equalizer, etc. which can be manufactured by a range of companies. Thanks to the standardised DirectX interface, it is possible to link all these Plug-Ins to the mixer in video deLuxe. This greatly expands the spectrum of the possible audio effects and extends to the Plug-Ins used in the professional sector! The DirectX system must be installed on your PC prior to using the DirectX Plug-Ins – a manual installation is only required on rare occasions. Generally, DirectX is already available through the Windows installation. If your processor does not have the DirectX System installed on it, you can find a DirectX Installer on the MAGIX video deLuxe CDROM! The DirectX Plug-Ins must naturally also be installed first. But this depends on the Plug-In you are using. Effect Plug-Ins in the Mixmaster Clicking on one of the DirectX buttons in the Mixer opens a pop-up menu, from which you can select the required Plug-In. All the audio data can be conducted through the plug-in as an Insert effect in the mixer master. A mastering tool such as an equalizer or a loudness maximiser plugin would therefore be a good idea here. Effect Plug-Ins on the AUX paths As the AUX 1 effect path: A freely selectable section of every mixer channel can be routed to this effect path via the AUX 1 Send controller. The total of all the AUX 1 sections are conducted through this Plug-In and the results are mixed in by the master control. It may be a good idea to use an acoustic plug-in here. Then a trace of the acoustics section can be added to every track with the AUX 1 controls! 94 Mixer As the AUX 2 effect path: A freely selectable section of every mixer channel can be routed to this effect path via the AUX 2 Send controller. The total of all the AUX 2 sections are conducted through this Plug-In and the results are mixed in by the master control. It may be a good idea to use an echo plug-in. Then a trace of the echo section can be added to every track with the AUX 2 controls. 95 Web Publishing Web TV 96 It is very easy to publish your own videos on the Internet so that they can be immediately viewed by Internet users all around the world. A requirement for this is that your computer is equipped with a normal Internet access – modem, ISDN or DSL. As soon as you have created a good video with MAGIX video deLuxe, you can ‘upload’ it with the aid of the webpublishing wizard. If you have exclusively used material from the CDs provided with the MAGIX video deLuxe for your song or video, your song/video will immediately appear on the Internet. If you have also used other material, e.g. your own recordings, your song/video will first be checked to verify that everything is ok from a legal point of view – it can thus take a few hours before your song goes on-line. It is not permitted to upload material, which is protected by copyright, e.g. music from commercial CDs. Once you have completed a successful arrangement, you should first of all save it with the function ‘file > save as’. Then you press the web upload button below the file manager. The first window of the ‘publishing wizard’, which guides you through the process, will open up. You must consent to the license regulations shown before you can continue the process. On the second page you need to enter your name and a name for your song so that it will later be possible to search for it on-line. Apart from that, it is useful to classify your song in one of the styles (genres) specified, so that people who would like to listen to the songs can select their favourite style. Then you still need to give your e-mail address in case there are any queries or someone would like to give their opinion regarding your song. Your name, the song name, genre and e-mail address constitute important information to integrate your song into the web publishing area, and this is why they must be completed correctly. You can decide for yourself Web Publishing whether you want your e-mail address to be visible on the Internet or not. On the next page you need to specify for which download speed your song from the Internet is to be optimized. The presetting is 56 kbit/second, which is the correct value for most modems and ISDN-cards. The setting should be set to 28 kbit for slower modems, but of course the quality will then suffer somewhat. The best quality can be achieved with the setting 128-kbit dual channel ISDN and those who have a fast Internet connection can experience your song at the best quality. The best thing to do is of course to activate all 3 speeds, which creates and uploads 3 versions of your song, thus ensuring that a correct one is available for every Internet connection. On the third page you can now still specify whether a pure audio file is to be created (i.e. only sound and no image) and whether you want the created file to be displayed first before it is uploaded. Now you continue with the ‘complete’ button to compress your arrangement to the selected format and to upload it to the MAGIX server. To do so, you have to establish the Internet connection as soon as you are requested to do so. And that’s all – your web browser will now open with the MAGIX web publishing area where the genre you have chosen is already selected and you can immediately see and play your video. 97 Menu File New arrangement A new MAGIX video deLuxe arrangement is created with this menu item, with 16 tracks. More tracks can be added via the menu “Edit”. Sample objects from the list of files on the left edge of the screen can be pulled into this arrangement with Drag & Drop! Key: Ctrl + N Load arrangement A previously saved MAGIX video deLuxe arrangement is loaded with this menu item. Please note that the object files for the arrangement must also be available! MAGIX video deLuxe will look for the sounds and videos that were used first in the path where they were located when the arrangement was saved. If they are not found there, then MAGIX video deLuxe will look for the objects in the same directory as the arrangement itself. Key: Ctrl + O Save arrangement The current arrangement is saved under the existing name. If no name has been selected, then a File requester opens, where the path and name can be defined. Key: Ctrl + S Save arrangement as This opens a file requester where you can define the path and the name of the arrangement that is to be saved. Key: Shift + S Record audio/video A window with the different recording types will pop up. The record button from the transport control offers the same options. 98 Key: g Menu File Digital video recording (DV) This activates the dubbing of digital videos in DV format, e.g. from a digicam via FireWire interface. First of all, connect the digital video appliance (e.g. a digital camcorder) to your PC via FireWire interface. Then select the option ”Digital video recording” from the file menu and choose a directory for the file, which will be stored in DV format on the hard disk. The dubbed video will appear automatically as an object in the arranger. Remote control (Video Preview): Here you can preview the video you want to record. Use the transport control of MAGIX video deLuxe for remote controlling the digital camcorder. In other words: The transport control determines the way the digicam records and plays. If your hardware doesn’t support this function the buttons of the transport control (underneath the video screen) can’t be used. Options: Here you can select some options (“Record audio”, “Preview Audio”, “Video” and “Detect Scenes”) for your recordings. Preview for recorded files: Right beneath the options you can see a list of the video files which already have been recorded (one single frame and the length for each video file). You can delete unwanted files with the Delete key. Record controls: With these three buttons (record, play and stop) you can control the recordings. The record button starts the playback of the video device and the recording of MAGIX video deLuxe simultaneously – if your hardware supports this function. If not you have to start the recording first and then the external playback device. Title: Here you can set a title and choose a directory for your recording . Timecode: Every digital recording has a timecode included. In this section of the dialogue you can use the 99 Menu File timecode for setting multiple start/end markers for your recording. You can use this feature as often as you want, in order to record only the best takes of your video. Just “scroll” through the video with the help of the preview monitor, set all the start and end markers and start recording! MAGIX video deLuxe records only the selected takes. Device options: Here you can select the options for your digital video card. Hint: Be sure that there is enough free memory on your hard disk left! Analogue video recording You need a graphics or video card to digitise a video. Camcorders with a USB port can be connected to the USB interface of the PC. Video recorders and other devices can be connected to the video socket of the video, TV or graphics card (usually with RCA or S-VHS sockets). Many cards feature video-in and video-out sockets, usually as RCA and S-VHS sockets. Connect the video source to the video-in socket of the card (e.g. for importing video material from a camcorder). If your card also has an audio socket, use it for recording and replaying the sound track to avoid slipping of sound and video in longer pieces. For further information on video capturing, see the chapter “Video and picture objects”. Before the actual recording session begins, a recording parameters window will pop up, allowing you to select adjustments for the recording session. As the sub-dialogues of the video recording dialogue are determined by the specific video card, the following options can only serve as examples: Video Device options: This button opens the dialogue containing the settings for the video device. Audio Device: Here you can select the audio device (soundcard). 100 Menu File OK: The recorded video/image is inserted into the arrangement at the first available track. Preview: If preview has been activated, the current image at the video input is immediately shown in the designated preview section. Capture options: Here you select the frame rate and the resolution of the video. Capture controls: With “start” and “stop” you start and stop the video recording – very simple. Title: Here you can set a title and choose a directory for your recording . Auto-start: Here you can set a clock hand input for the recording – like a video recorder. Video for Windows recording Analogue video recording with DirectShow should be compatible with any video capture hardware. As there are so many different appliances and drivers around, some users may face difficulties. In the unlikely event of this happening, choose the ”Analogue video recording with VfW” (Video for Windows) option. All sub-dialogues in the video for windows record dialogue are specifically for the video card used! The following options can only serve as examples: Device: Here you can set the video card for recording. Video Source: This button opens the dialogue containing the settings for the video source (e.g. defining video input (Video in, S Video in), video standard (PAL, NTSC), colour correction (brightness, contrast) Video Format: This button opens a dialogue containing the settings for the format of the video to be generated (e.g. resolution, hardware codec if available, data format or colour scheme (e.g. RGB, 16 bit/24 bit)) 101 Menu File Video Display: Here you can set the features for the video preview (see below). Video Compression: This button opens the system dialogue for the selection of a codec (see “Export Arrangement”) Frame rate: Here you can determine the frame rate of the video to be created. Depending on the video card, the actual frame rate will vary somewhat. File Name/Browse: Here you can enter a file name including the path for the file to be generated. Audio Options: Here you specify whether audio is to be recorded as well. You can choose between a mono and a stereo audio recording. OK: The recorded video/image is inserted into the arrangement at the first available track Preview: If preview has been activated, the current image at the video input is immediately shown in the designated preview section. If “Preview” is switched off during a recording, the preview window shows the image that had been recorded last, when you switch it on again. The performance of the video recording will of course improve if the preview is switched off, as the time required to depict the actual frames is eliminated, i.e. the frame rate which can actually be achieved increases. A realistic value is 320*240 pixel at 25 fps, but this also depends on the codec. Capture Frame: Creates a BMP file of the video image that is currently at the video input Capture Video: Starts the video recording and creates an AVI file. The recording can be aborted with a mouse click or with the ESC key. 102 Record Audio With the record function there is no problem recording Menu File your own sounds such as vocals, sounds or instrumentation directly in the MAGIX video deLuxe . If you have activated the option “Scan audio CDs via recording dialogue”, then you will be able to record audio tracks and integrate them into the arrangement (otherwise they will be dragged onto the tracks from the File Managers with Drag & Drop). You can listen to the existing arrangement during recording, so it will be easy to maintain the tempo and the key. The sound card you are using will however need to be capable of “Full Duplex”. To start recording, click onto the audio recording field. The Recording Parameter window where all the preliminary setting for audio recordings can be set then opens. Audio track dumping: This option reduces the volume of the other tracks to avoid overmodulation when all tracks are played. With the ”Configure” button you can specify how much the volume is reduced and how long the crossfading period should be. After recording, you can modify the crossfading action with the fade handles of the object. The track volume can also be modified ”manually” later on in the mixer. Normalize: This option brings the material to the maximum volume after recording. Nevertheless, you should try to raise the volume of the sound source to the maximum without overmodulating in order to get the best possible sound quality. The peak meter from the recording dialogue will help you with this. Monitor: This button activates the addressing display Dev.: The sound card for recording must be selected here. Record: Recording starts with this button. Stop: This button stops the recording process. The material can still be edited. 103 Menu File OK: Closes the record window and transfers the recorded material into the arrangement. Key: r Play out audio/video This function gives you the option of playing the arrangement and saving it with a digicam or an analogue video recorder. Digicams are usually connected to the FireWire interface and analogue video recorders to the TV-out socket of graphics or video cards. Analogue export must be done in full screen mode. The first option of the video export dialogue will play the arrangement in full screen mode. This can cause interruptions if the processor cannot process all the information necessary for real time calculation of video effects or crossfading. Instead choose the second option from the dialogue (“Render changes”) which will avoid interruptions. Choose the third option for digital export. You will not encounter any problems because the data is transferred digitally. The “Adjustments/information” option of the file menu lets you select the resolution of the export video. Key: h Song Wizard With the help of the Wizards, several audio objects (Loops) of the standard-delivery samples can automatically be arranged as songs or song parts, without having to pull each single one out of the File Manager onto the given track. Please refer to chapter “audio objects” for details! Key: w Export arrangement > Video as AVI When you export as an AVI video file, you can set and configure the compression codec as well as the size and frame rate of the AVI- video to be created. 104 Key: Alt + a Menu File Export arrangement > Video as DV-AVI Exports the arrangement in the DV coded AVI format (PAL or NTSC). Key: Alt + b Export arrangement > Video as MPEG Video MPEG stands for “Motion Picture Experts Group” and is a very efficient compression format for audio and video files. The MPEG 1 encoder is unlimited. 20 free encodings are available for the MPEG 2 encoder. Key: Alt + c Encoder upgrade: For the upgrade of the QDesign® encoder you just select the option “Upgrade” in the convert dialogue. Now your personal ID code will be shown. You only have to send it to MAGIX and you get your unlock code. Just enter it in the respective dialogue field, confirm it, and encode, encode, encode, encode ... To upgrade by Internet, phone, fax or mail: Europe (UK): Phone: +49 (0) 5741 3455 0 Fax: +49 (0) 5741 310 768 Mail: MAGIX AG, Borsigstrasse 24, 32312 Lübbecke, GERMANY US: Phone: 310-656-0644 Fax: 310-656-0234 Mail: MAGIX Entertainment Corp., 11400 W. Olympic Blvd. #450, Los Angeles, CA 90064 Please don’t forget to provide the following information : – Key word: Qdesign-Upgrade – ID code – Address – In case of payment by credit card: Credit card number and date of validity – In case of payment in advance: Stamped transfer bill – In case payment by cheque: Signed nonnegotiable cheque 105 Menu File Export arrangement > Video as MAGIX Video MAGIX Videos are stored in MXV format, which requires less memory than normal AVIs but gives a similar quality. Key: Alt + d Export arrangement > Video as Quicktime Movie Exports the arrangement in Quicktime format. Key: Alt + e Export arrangement > Windows Media Export This is the Internet format from Microsoft. It makes the continuous playback of audio or video files through the Internet possible. However, for this format you will need to use a suitable codec that prevents file rates from getting too high for an on-line playback. Key: Alt + f Export arrangement > Real Media Export This is a format specifically optimized for Internet purposes. It reaches a very high compression rate, and the sound quality is noticeably lower. However, this format is very useful if e.g. audio on-line has to be played through the Internet (Streaming Audio). After selecting the file name you can choose the bit range of the transferring speed (Modem, ISDN etc.). This should still play audio files without interruption. Audio settings/video settings: Here you can select presetting for the quality of the audio or video material. With the ‘enhance’ button you can open an additional dialogue for the compression. In the enhanced video options you can select the number of frames per second (‘fps’) – the lower this value, the less data is transferred resulting in poorer image quality Clip information: Here you can enter information 106 Menu File regarding the author, name of the video, etc., which is displayed during playing on the real player. Clip meta information: Here you can enter keywords for search engines. If the real video clip is loaded to a home page, search engines with the aid of these keywords can find it. Video preprocessing: Here, the field ‘2-pass encoding’ is of particular interest. It helps to achieve a better quality by compressing audio and video separate from each other. Apart from that, it is possible to select different filters. Video size: Here you can set different video sizes between 160x120 and 720x576 pixel. Target groups: Here you select at which band width the video is to be created, i.e. on which data line it can be played (‘streamed’) in real time. The setting you select here may possibly restrict the other selection possibilities, as a file for a 28k-modem cannot be generated in high quality. Multirate file (real server): The streaming of videos requires a server application that must have been installed on the server from which the video is to be played (‘streamed’) in real time. If this application does not exist, only a download is possible. ‘Real server’ is a server application which makes it possible to stream videos in real video format. If you activate this option, you can create a multi-rate file that basically contains several videos of different band widths. It is thus possible to select several ‘target groups’. Key: Alt + g Export arrangement > Audio as Wave The audio material is exported as a standard Wave file. This is the standard format for further use on PCs running in a Windows environment. These files are not compressed and contain the full quality of your arrangement. 107 Menu File Key: Alt + h Export arrangement > Audio as Wave with Codec This menu item allows you to export Wave files with any audio compressors such as ADPCM, MPEG and others. First you must select a file name; a list with the Codecs installed on your system will then appear. Select the required Codec here, e.g. Microsoft® ADPCM. With some Codecs, a certain compression rate can then be selected. ADPCM reduces the required memory space of your Wave files by a factor of 4 while still retaining very good sound quality. Other Codecs such as MP3 can achieve compression factors of up to 12 with good sound quality. Key: Alt + i Export arrangement > Single frame as BMP (JPEG) Exports the image, which is at the current S-marker and which is displayed on the video screen, as BMP or JPEG file. Key: Key: Alt + m (BMP) Alt + n (JPEG) Save and send as e-mail This option generates a compressed file in the Windows media format. At the same time, the respective mail program is activated and the previously generated file is added as an attachment to an open message. Any type of arrangement can thus be compressed and sent without any intermediate steps. Key: Shift + u Publish to Web Opens the web-publishing wizard, to publish the arrangement as Windows media file in the web publishing area. Read the chapter on ‘Web publishing’ in this regard! 108 Key: Shift + v Menu File Backup Arrangement With this menu item, you can save a complete MAGIX video deLuxe arrangement including all the samples that were used in a directory. This is especially useful if you want to pass on or archive such an arrangement or if the samples are located on several CDs and would need to keep changing CDs constantly during loading. All the effect files that you have used will also be saved in a directory together with the other samples. A file requester opens, in which you can define the path and the name of the arrangement that is to be saved. Key: Shift + e Backup arrangement to CD-ROM This option allows you to burn the arrangement together with all the associated files onto a CD-ROM. A CD-R writer must be connected to the system and a blank CD inserted in the drive. Key: Shift + f Write files to CD-ROM With this option you can store all currently selected files onto a CD-ROM. In MPEG 1 format you can store approximately 74-80 minutes of video material and in MXV approximately 30 minutes. Key: Shift + g Internet Connection You reach the Internet directly via ftp. You can sample multimedia files from the furthest parts of the World Wide Web, load them in your arrangement and process them further. See chapter “File manager” for more details. Key: Ctrl + w Arrangement properties You can reach all the “Settings/Information” dialogues via the arrangement properties. 109 Menu File Volume: Here you can indicate by how many dB the volume on every track should be lowered. Lowering the volume is necessary to avoid over-addressing of the 16 Bit (0 dB). The level the volume must be lowered can often be reduced if the material is not fully addressed. However, you may risk clipping loud passages. Key: e Settings/Information > Playback parameters This menu item opens a window in which you can set the following replay parameters. Sample rate: The Sample rate defines the playback speed for wave audio objects. The sample rate you use depends on your sound card (some sound cards even allow changes in the sample rate during playback). This parameter is useful if you want to listen to your arrangement in slow motion in order to localize possible problem areas. If you divide the sample rate by two, then the wave audio objects can be played back an octave lower (twelve half tones). Wave device: This option defines which sound card will be used to play back the Wave audio object. This is extremely important if you have several sound cards installed in your computer. Wave/Direct Sound: Here is where you can set whether the standard Windows drivers will be used for the sound card or if the DirectSound system, which must however be installed on the processor, is to be used. If this should not be the case, a DirectSound installation routine can be found on the MAGIX video deLuxe program disk. MIDI device: The MIDI-Device is used to define which sound card or MIDI interface will play back the MIDI objects. Many sound cards have a built-in MIDI interface, which is accessed from a joystick connector on the back of the card. To use it you need a MIDI adapter. One end plugs into the joystick socket and the other terminates 110 Menu File in MIDI plugs or sockets, which you connect to your MIDI equipment. There are also several dedicated MIDI interfaces available. Many are on plug-in cards that are fitted and installed into the PC just like a sound card. There are also external MIDI interfaces that connect to the PC’s printer port or serial port. Autoscroll: What is shown on the screen automatically scrolls once the cursor reaches the right end of the screen when Autoscroll is activated. This is especially advantageous for the editing of longer arrangements. Scrolling uses up processor time due to the recalculation of the screen representation. This can interfere or interrupt playback, depending on the capacity of your system (processor, graphic card, and screen resolution). If this should be the case, you should deactivate Autoscroll. ? button: This button can be used to reach the Replay options window, which offers information on the current sound card. Key: p Settings/Information > System settings Directories (Import/Temporary 1, 2/Arrangement): The paths for the directories into which the MAGIX video deLuxe should create files can be set here. These include importing/exporting wav files, creation of temporary files for mix, effect files and complete arrangements. Buffer settings: To facilitate easy playback of complex arrangements, MAGIX video deLuxe creates a data buffer in the working memory into which the current data areas are loaded in advance. Therefore, the entire arrangement with all the tracks and effect settings is not calculated, but the calculation is performed on a step-by-step basis. Multi-track audio buffer/Preview buffer: You can define the size of the buffer that will be used for playing back the entire arrangement or for screening of Waves 111 Menu File in the File Managers. The buffer number refers to the number of buffer updates per time unit, i.e. the step size of the advance calculation.The following applies as a rule of thumb: For waiting and loading times that are too long, the buffer number and size should be reduced; the buffer size should be increased for intermittent or incorrect real-time calculations of effects. As perfect playback is generally more important than a fast response time, the buffer size for Intermittent operation should be increased to 16384 or 32768. The possible number of buffer updates used is between 2 and 10. Use RAM for wave files smaller than (kbyte): If the file is larger than this setting, then it will be written into the temporary MAGIX video deLuxe directories on the hard disk and will then be loade from tere into RAM during replay. The Temporary directories are also defined in the “File > System settings” dialogue box (see above). Settings /Information > Audio/Video settings All the Settings Options relating to videos, audio wave files and audio CDs can be found in this sub-menu. MIDI drivers are set in the Playback Parameter window (p key or “File > Settings > Playback parameters”). Automatically adjust Waves to BPM: Wave files can be adapted to the tempo of the arrangement in various ways. The MAGIX video deLuxe can use common ‘Timestretching’ or an improved process (Beat Marker Timestretching). This does not change the beats (i.e. the deflection of the amplitude in the waves) and only processes the spaces for time and key changes. This ensures e.g. that the beats do not have to suffer a loss of power even if drum samples are drawn out by using Time-stretching. Automatically adjust Waves to Pitch: Pitchshifting can be used to automatically change the pitch of waves. For this purpose, the samples used must contain the corresponding information concerning the key / pitch, similar to the samples in the MAGIX 112 Menu File soundpool CDs. Then the pitch in the arrangement will correspond with the pitch information in the initial samples in the arrangement. Only for waves containing beat markers: Patched Waves are normal Wave files to which additional information, e.g. concerning the key, tempo in BPM or beat markers have been added. MAGIX soundpool CDs contain such wave patches and have access to beat information. Such files are especially suitable for beat marker timestretching. For all waves: Improved timestretching can also be applied for all Wave files. In this case, the beat markers are automatically searched and set. Beat marker timestretching however requires a sequence containing clear beats or especially drum or percussion recordings. Load CD tracks via record dialogue: If this option is activated, then audio CDs can be recorded via the Record button in the movement controls. During Drag & Drop from the File Managers, the Record windows opens from which recording can be started. This option can be used if Drag & Drop does not function perfectly via the File Managers or only the first bars of an audio track are to be used in an arrangement instead of a complete track. When doing this, please note that the digital track data for the digital – analogue transducer in the CD-ROM must initially be converted into analogue signals and that these must subsequently be converted into digital data by the analogue-digital transducers in the sound card. Depending on the quality of the transducer used, this can lead to losses in quality. Extract sound from videos: If an AVI video contains both video and audio data, then you can extract the audio track from the AVI video with this function. The audio track is then positioned on the first track of your arrangement as a Wave audio object. It can be edited or replaced at will or can be joined together again with the picture track using the command File > Export 113 Menu File arrangement. If the option “Calculate only altered frame” is selected, then the picture material remains unaltered and only the sound track will be replaced. (In the case of the complete recalculation, losses in picture quality due to decompression and re-compression can occur). Preview waves while the arrangement is playing: With this option you can choose to play the arrangement and search for more sounds at the same time. Click on an audio file and the pre-listen function will be mixed with the audio tracks of the arrangement. Volume handle in the middle of an object: Deactivating this option sets the volume handles to maximum, so that the object volume can only be reduced. Automatically adjust videos to BPM: If the BPM information is available, then this option can be used to automatically create a video in which the rhythm and picture sequence are synchronised. During this, all the frames in the video are not played back, but frames are left out during playback, depending on the BPM setting. A video with a high BPM setting becomes noticeably faster: it “dances” to the rhythm. The tempo can be adjusted in the movement controls prior to every new arrangement. Otherwise the arrangement will use the BPM tempo of the first sample that was loaded. Video priority: Normally, audio objects have priority during playback. In the event of an overload in the processor due to excessive effects, the video output can be shaky, while the sound plays on crackle-free. If you do not want this, the priority of the video over the audio output can be set here. The video output is renewed following every audio buffer, but this can lead to interruptions in the sound. In return, you do achieve a better video screening quality. Preview with audio and playback controls: The video preview, started by a simple left click on a file in the explorer, is displayed as usual on the video screen, this 114 Menu File time including the available audio data and controllable via a play, pause and stop button. Automatically copy exported video and audio to the clipboard: All exported files will be copied to the Windows clipboard. You can paste them directly into other programs (Ctrl + V). Decoder precision arranger: You can adjust the resolution here, but only for DVs in the arranger. If the replay starts stumbling you should reduce the resolution. This does not affect the quality of exported videos. Render decoder precision: This resolution refers to the calculation of DVs (“rendering”). For best results you should select “High resolution”. Key: a Settings/information > Full screen playback options These options refer to the resolution of the export video. They depend on your monitor and the graphics card. The bit-resolution defines the colour depth: the higher the bit rate, the more precise the colour reproduction. Key: Ctrl + b Settings/Information > CD-ROM Configuration This option opens a CD Manager from which tracks on audio CDs can be selected and loaded fully into the arrangement. In addition, the CD-ROM can be configured or selected from several drives. If the Drag & Drop of audio tracks from the File Managers causes problems, then this option can be selected. Here the tracks can be scanned in various ways, i.e. they can be grabbed. Alternatively, you have the option “Scanning CD tracks via recording dialogue” from the “Audio/video settings” menu (see below), where the tracks can be played back from the CD drive and can then be re-recorded via the sound card. 115 Menu File The CD Manager allows the importing of audio data with most SCSI and ATAPI-CD-ROM drives and CD writers. If necessary, make enquiries with Technical Support on which drives are suitable. The complete data import occurs at the digital level, without any losses in sound quality. HD-Wave projects can be created as WAV files and can therefore also be loaded in other audio programs without requiring conversion of the format. Reading Audio CD tracks Proceed as follows to import audio CD tracks: 1. Select the required CD-ROM drive if you have more than one drive installed. 2. Click on the “Track list…” button. 3. Select the required title in the track list (with the key combination Shift or Alt and the cursor keys). 4. Click on “Copy selected track(s).” 5. Select a file name for the resulting WAV file or the HD Wave project and click on OK. 6. The audio material will now be copied from the CD drive to the hard disk. A progress display provides information on the status of this step. 7. Close the track list and the drive list. One or more new objects containing the audio material from the CD will appear in your arrangement. The Drive List dialogue box Track List: This button opens the Track List dialogue box for copying one or more tracks. Configuration: This button opens the Configuration dialogue box, where various Special Settings, SCSI-IDs etc. can be set. Reset: Resets the standard drive settings. Add. Drive: Creates a new drive entry into the list for which Special Settings are still necessary. Clear Drive: Deletes the selected drive from the list. Save Set-up saves the current drive list and all the configuration data in a *.cfg file. 116 Menu File Load setup: Loads the current Drive List and all the configuration data from a *.cfg file. The Track List dialog box Copy selected track(s): This button starts the audio copying process. All the selected tracks are copied into a WAV file or a HD-Wave project. A new object will be created in the current VIP for every track. Play: Start audio replay of the first selected track in the list (for test purposes). Stop: Stops replay. Pause: Pauses replay – can be resumed later with Resume. Resume: Resumes replay if replay was stopped previously with Pause. Select all tracks: All audio tracks are selected, in order to copy the entire CD, for example. Track markers can also be set with Shift or Alt and the cursor keys. Using Ctrl and clicking on the mouse can mark several tracks. Deselect all tracks: All markers will be undone. The Import Audio Dialogue The Import Project Dialogue is displayed after selecting the Copy Selected Track(s) Option. Here you can determine the name and destination index for the audio file. Audio tracks (CD audio files) will be imported in the pre-setting as WAV files. However, depending on the installed Codec, they can be changed during the import phase to a compressed format such as an MP3. All you need to do is click on the Format Settings Button in the Import Project Dialogue. The CD-ROM Configuration dialogue box Drive name: The name of the drive can be entered here. This is useful if several entries are used for the same physical drive. 117 Menu File Host adapter number: The number of the SCSI-Host adapters (usually 0) is entered here. SCSI ID: The SCSI-ID for your CD-ROM drive can be entered here. Pay attention to the correct ID number, you will not be questioned if an error is made here. SCSI LUN: Sets the SCSI LUN parameters, normally 0. Alias: The name of your CD drive manufacturer can be entered here. Copy mode normal: Copies the audio data without any software correction. Copy mode Synchronization sector: Copies the audio data with a special correction algorithm. This is especially useful as many CD drives have problems readdressing a specific position accurately, which can lead to crackling. Burst Copy: Optimises the speed of the disc copying process; no software correction will be used. Sectors per cycle: Defines the number of audio sectors that are to be read from the audio CD in one read cycle. The larger the sector size the faster the copying process will be completed.However, many SCSI systems have problems with more than 27 sectors. Sync Sectors: Sets the number of audio sectors that will be used for software correction. The larger the number, the better the correction will work, but it will also be slower. Key: Ctrl + r Settings/Information > Arrangement information An information window with the following entries can be reached via this option: 118 Menu File Name: This is where the name of the current arrangement appears. Path: This is where the path for the directory on the hard disk is shown, in which the arrangement has been saved. Created: Shows the time at which the arrangement was created. Last change: Shows the time of latest save. Number of Objects: Shows the number of all objects in the arrangement. Here, stereo audio objects count as 2 objects. This means that virtual objects are also counted! Files used: Shows the names and paths of all multimedia files used in the arrangement. Key: Ctrl + j Settings/Information > System information Information on the current date and time appear in this Information window, in addition to the number of files that have just been opened, the total size of the memory in the system and the size of the memory used by the MAGIX video deLuxe. In short, a list of all available drives and their available memory capacity. The memory area used by the MAGIX video deLuxe should never be larger than the physical RAM in the computer, as otherwise the performance will drop drastically during replay as a result of swapping Key: Ctrl + i Exit Closes MAGIX video deLuxe. Key: Alt + F4 119 Menu Edit Undo 10 commands can be undone, including object and cursor manipulations. If you don’t like the result of a change in your arrangement, the Undo function will take you back to the previous arrangement. Key: Ctrl + z Redo Redo lets you reverse the last Undo command. Key: Ctrl + y Duplicate objects This menu option lets you copy all selected objects. The copy appears next to the original and can be moved easily by holding the left mouse button (drag and drop). Key: Ctrl + d Delete objects This menu option lets you delete all selected objects from the arrangement. To highlight or select more than one object, use the “Shift” key while you click with the mouse. Key: Del Select all objects All objects in the arrangement will be selected. Key: Ctrl + a Cut objects You can cut up a selected object at the S marker position. If you have not selected an object, all objects will be cut into pieces at the S marker position. Later on, if you want to re-join the pieces of an object, select “Build group” to join all selected objects to a group. 120 Key: Ctrl + x Menu Edit Save objects as takes The selected objects are saved in the takes directory. For further information on processing takes, see the chapter on “Video and picture objects”. Key: Ctrl + f Edit Range > Cut The area between the start and end markers is cut from the current arrangement and placed on the Clipboard. This section can then be re-inserted elsewhere. Key: Shift + del Edit Range > Copy The area between the start and end markers in the current arrangement is copied to the Clipboard. It can then be re-inserted elsewhere. Key: Ctrl + Ins Edit Range > Delete The area between the start and end markers is deleted from the current arrangement and is not placed on the Clipboard. Key: Ctrl + Del Edit Range > Insert The contents of the Clipboard are added at the position of the start marker in the current arrangement. Key: Shift + Ins Edit Range > Extract The area between the start and end markers is retained, all the material in front and behind it are then deleted. Use this option to extract only a section from an arrangement and to continue working on this piece. Key: Ctrl + p 121 Menu Edit Group This menu option lets you group all selected sound files together. As soon as one sound files of a group is selected, all sound files of the group will be selected in order to edit them simultaneously. Key: Ctrl + l Ungroup All selected sound files become independent again. Key: Ctrl + m Mix down audio This option joins all audio objects in one audio file. The sound material will only occupy one track of the arranger and will hardly affect the RAM but will occupy approximately 10 MB (in stereo) of the hard disk. This will give you more control over the arranger and more space for further objects. MAGIX video deLuxe automatically normalizes the audio file, i.e. the loudest part of the wave audio object is identical with the highest figure of the 16 bit resolution. This guarantees the same sound quality, even if you repeat the mixdown procedure or you combine the mixdown file with other wave audio objects again and again. The mixdown function is very helpful if you want to go on using the mixdown object. For the final AVI or WAV (or any other multi-media) file, which is designed for burning a CD or for use on other PCs, use the ”Export arrangement” submenu options from the file menu instead of the mixdown function. Key: Shift + m Set markers This option lets you set play markers at the S marker position. You can then use the following option to go directly to these markers. Key: 122 Shift + 1/2/3 Menu Edit Go to marker This option shifts the S marker to the position of the play marker on the ruler bar. This means that you can jump quickly from one spot in the video to another. Key: 1/2/3 123 Menu Effects Video > Video Cleaning Calls up the colour control editor for processing video tracks. For further information, see chapter ”Video and picture objects”. Key: Shift + x Video > Video Effects Calls up the video controller for selected videos or bitmaps. For further information, see chapter ”Video effects”. Key: Shift + y Video > Scene recognition Calls up the automatic scene recognition, which “cuts up” longer videos into scenes for storage in the Takes directory. For further information, see the chapter ”Video and picture objects”. Key: Shift + z Video > Load/Save/Reset video objects You can save the current effect combination of a video object separately and use it on other objects later on. Or turn off all current video effects, if you got confused. Key: Ctrl + Shift + a (load) Ctrl + Shift + b (save) Shift + c (reset) Video > Edit bitmap externally Graphic files (BMPs or JPEGs) from the arranger can be post edited in an external graphics program. The selected image file is loaded automatically and, once editing has been completed, is used in the video deLuxe instead of the original material. Key: 124 Alt + p Menu Effects Audio For information about the audio effects see chapter “audio effects”. For information about the “automatic track damping” function see chapter “Menu File”, “audio recording”. Audio > Load/Save/Reset Audio effects You can save the current effect combination of an audio object separately and use it on other objects later on. Or turn off all current video effects, if you got confused. Key: Ctrl + Shift + C (load) Ctrl + Shift + D (save) Shift + d (reset) Effect Libraries > Audio effects/Video effects/ Slide effects/Title effects See paragraph “File management with the help of the file manager buttons” in chapter “File manager”. Object Properties This function displays all the information about the currently selected object, e.g. file name, position on the hard disk, tempo, etc. The Object Editor also offers the possibility of defining the foreground and background colour of every object in the arrangement. Key: Ctrl + e 125 Menu Window Mixer With this option you can display or conceal the real time mixer. The eight volume controls allow you to adjust the volume of each track. In the case of AVI and bitmap objects, the volume controls are used in the same manner as in a video mixer to adjust the mixing ratios between the tracks and the video or bitmap objects. With the two controls for the overall volume, you adjust the volume of the wave output signal. As they have no influence on the volume of MIDI objects, they can be used to adjust the volume ratio between wave and MIDI output signals. You will find further information, especially with regard to the integration of effect plug-ins, in the chapter ‘Mixer’. Key: m Video > Trimmer Calls up the video trimmer, which will help you fine tune the position and the handles of a video object. For further information, see the chapter “Video and bitmap objects”. Key: n Master audio effect rack Here you can open or close the master effect rack. You can also use the ‘master FX’ button in the mixer window for that purpose. Key: b Standard layout With this option you can switch back and forth between the arranging view with or without video manager, where 126 Menu Window the file manager only takes up a narrow strip at the left screen margin, and the standard view. The arranging view maximises the number and/or size of visible tracks in the arranger. In addition, you can switch off the video screen to obtain even more space for arranging (see below). If the video screen is switched on in arranging view, it can be freely positioned on the screen. Key: l Video monitor With this option you open and close the video window. At the same time, the file manager is placed at the screen margin in the shape of a narrow strip. Key: v File manager With this option you can conceal the file manager or make it visible again. Key: f Show arrangement overview With this option you can display an overview of the entire arrangement on the video screen. It is particularly suitable for long and complex arrangements to prevent you from losing track. Key: Shift + a Optimise arrangement view The zoom level is set to 100% so that you can see every object and the entire arrangement apart from that; the S- and E-markers are set to the beginning or end, so that it is possible to play the entire arrangement. Key: Shift + b 127 Menu Window Change object presentation With the TAB key you can change between two ways of representing the object. The alternative representation mode is particularly useful for a faster representation of video objects: Objects are no longer represented in the arranger frame by frame, but in a simplified manner. This saves working memory and improves the overall performance. Right clicking on the object opens an object menu with the most important editing functions, which are available for the respective object. Key: 128 Tab Menu Help Contents Issue this command, to display the main help screen. From here you can jump to help on certain commands or step-by-step read through instructions. Key: F1 Context help Use this command to get help on any part of MAGIX video deLuxe. By pressing the Context Help button in the tool bar the mouse indicator will become an arrow with a question mark. More detailed information on the subject will appear when you click on any menu or button in one of the two tool bars. Using help Use this command to access online-help. Display tool tips Tool Tips are small information windows that open up automatically if the mouse pointer stops briefly on a button or some other area. They provide information about the button’s function. These information boxes can be switched off or on with this option. About MAGIX video deLuxe Here you will find information regarding the copyright and the version number of MAGIX video deLuxe. 129 Menu Help Web Publishing Area Use this command to access the MAGIX web publishing area. See chapter “Web Publishing”. 130 Button Overview 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1: New arrangement 2: Open arrangement 3: Save arrangement 4: Store backup copy 5: Undo 6: Redo 7: Cut objects 8: Duplicate objects 9: Delete objects 10: Build group 11: Ungroup 12: Optimize arrangement view 13: Audio Mixdown 14: Setup 15: Playback parameters 16: Wizard Ctrl + n Ctrl + o Ctrl + s Shift + e Ctrl + z Ctrl + y Ctrl + x Ctrl + d Del Ctrl + l Ctrl + m Shift + b Shift + m y p w 131 Keyboard Shortcuts Play Functions Start / stop Restart from S marker S marker to start E marker to end 1 frame back 1 frame forwards 5 frames backwards 5 frames forwards Set play marker Go to play marker spacebar backwards home end cursor key left cursor key right Ctrl + cursor key left Ctrl + cursor key right Shift + 1/2/3 1/2/3 Arranger view Switch-over object presentation Zoom in Zoom out Play arrangement full screen General view of arrangement Optimise view Zoom 1s/5s/1 min/10 min/ Zoom between S and E markers Total arrangement Scroll to previous object edge Scroll next object edge Scroll to S marker Scroll to E marker Tab Ctrl + cursor key up Ctrl + cursor key down q Shift + a Shift + b Ctrl + 1/2/3/4 Ctrl + 7 Ctrl + 8 Ctrl + 9 Ctrl + 0 Ctrl + home Ctrl + end Scene management in file manager (Extras”) Set in point Set out point Go to in point Go to out point Play from in point to out point Store take i o shift + i shift + o Ctrl + k Shift + t Trimmer Play frame for frame Render before playing 132 f r Keyboard Shortcuts Exchange step width (between 5 and 1 frames) Ctrl Trimmer mode “Simple Object” Change mouse mode Shift object to left Shift object to right Shift object content to left Shift object content to right Fade in toucher to left Fade in toucher to right Fade out toucher to left Fade out toucher to right Object start to left Object start to right Object end to left Object end to right , F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 Trimmer mode “Over-blending” Shorten left object at end + Extend over-blending Lengthen object at end + Shorten over-blending Content of the right object from front Content of the right object from back Shift start of transition to left (extend transition to front) Shift start of transition to right (shorten transition to front) Shift end of transition to left (shorten transition from back) Shift end of transition to right (shorten transition to back) Shift rear object forwards Shift rear object backwards Shift transition forwards Shift transition backwards F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 Mouse modes Intelligent mouse mode Mouse mode for single objects Alt + 1 Alt + 2 133 Keyboard shortcuts Curve mouse mode Object stretch mode Audio objects prelistening mode Scrub mode Context help mode Alt + 3 Alt + 4 Alt + 5 Alt + 6 Alt + 7 Menu File New arrangement Load arrangement Save arrangement Save arrangement as Record audio / video Record audio Play out audio / video Song Wizard Export arrangement as AVI Export arrangement as DV-AVI Export arrangement as MPEG Export arrangement as MAGIX Video Export arrangement as Quicktime Movie Export arrangement as Windows Media Export audio as Real Media Export audio as Wave Export audio as Wave with Codec Single frame as BMP Single frame as JPEG Save and send as e-mail Publish to web Backup arrangement Backup arrangement to CD-ROM Write files to CD-ROM Internet connection Arrangement properties Playback parameters System settings Audio/Video settings Full Screen Playback Options CD-ROM configuration Arrangement information 134 Ctrl + N Ctrl + O Ctrl + S Ctrl + s g r h w Alt + a Alt + b Alt + c Alt + d Alt + e Alt + f Alt + g Alt + h Alt + i Alt + m Alt + n Shift + o Shift + v Shift + e Shift + f Shift + g Ctrl + w e p y a Ctrl + b Ctrl + r i Keyboard Shortcuts System information Exit Ctrl + i Alt + F4 Menu Edit Undo Redo Duplicate objects Delete objects Select all objects Cut objects Save objects as takes Cut range Copy range Delete range Paste range Group Ungroup Mix down audio Set Marker Goto Marker Ctrl + z Ctrl + y Ctrl + d Del Ctrl + a t Ctrl + f Ctrl + Ins Ctrl + Ins Ctrl + Del Ctrl + Ins Ctrl + l Ctrl + m Shift + m Shift + 1/2/3 1/2/3 Menu Effects Video Cleaning Video effects Scene recognition Load video effects Save video effects Reset video effects Edit Bitmap externally Normalize audio Automatic track damping Equalizer Dynamic Processor Echo/Reverb Stereo processor Timestrech/Resample Denoiser Dehisser Load audio effects Save audio effects Reset audio effects Shift + x Shift + y Shift + z Ctrl + Shift + a Ctrl + Shift + b Shift + b Alt + p Shift + k Shift + l Shift + h Shift + j Shift + n Shift + p Shift + q Shift + r Shift + w Ctrl + Shift + c Ctrl + Shift + d Shift + d 135 Keyboard shortcuts Object properties Ctrl + e Menu Window Mixer Trimmer Master Audio FX Rack Standard Layout Video monitor File manager Show arrangement overview Optimise arrangement view Change object presentation m n b l v f Shift + a Shift + b Tab Help Contents F1 136 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics In order to understand the processing of Digital Audio and Video on a PC better, we need to clarify a few terms and procedures. Audio Analogue Audio Analogue Audio means sound and audio signals that are represented by constant factors like air pressure (for sound) or voltage / electric current (in simple electric devices). These analogue factors can be edited by simple electronic equipment like Mixers, amplifiers and tape recorders but for PC-based editing, analogue Audio has to be digitized (Analog -> Digital change). This conversion is usually done by a AD 9 audio-to-digital converter chip on the sound card or with external converters, DAT recorders, digital Mixers, etc. Digital-Audio In contrast to analogue Audio, the audio signal is transformed into discrete scales. Every scale corresponds to a certain number (sample) that can easily be processed by a computer. Previous sound cards could only digitise with 8 bit resolution - in between maximum and minimum levels only 256 “stepping scales” were possible. This results in a relatively low interference interval of around 48 dB. Today‘s sound cards and external converters work with at least 16 bit resolution or sample resolution of more than 65000 “stepping scales” and have an outstanding interference interval of 98 dB - more than most sound sources offer. Bit-Resolution The quality of AD and DA conversion differs nowadays mainly by the bit resolution of the used converter. In general this means - the higher the bit resolution the better. A 16 bit resolution should be the minimum standard to work with. If you use converters with more than 16 bit, you will only be able to generate an optimised 137 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics 16 bit signal from a 20 bit converter. This contains the majority of the higher quality for example sound reproductions from the 20 bit converter (e.g. dithering, noiseshaping, super-bitmapping etc.). Sample rate When digitising audio material, the value of the analogous .wav forms are measured and recorded at a rate of several thousand times per second to see which values the signal produces. The more this happens the more exact the .wav form can be reproduced digitally and thus higher frequencies can be achieved. Generally, higher frequencies can be measured up to half as fast as the sample rate - that‘s why the recording industry as well as MAGIX video deLuxe usually work with a scanning rate of 44100 Hz (44100 samples per second). With such a high sample rate a signal resolution up to 22000 Hz is guaranteed - even higher than the human ear can hear. If you are working with a reduced sample rate in order to save memory, you may notice a slight decrease in the highest frequencies. For example, with 22 kHz sample rates only frequencies of up to 11 kHz can be processed. Video Digital video processing on the PC is essentially comparable with audio processing. The analogue medium video must first be digitised before it can be processed in the computer. The roll of the analoguedigital conversion and the reverse, is played here by special video-IO cards, e.g. Fast AV-Master or MiroDC20, DC-30 etc. However, video processing does present disproportionately high demands on the hardware if good picture quality is wanted. To process video files reasonably on today’s PCs, they must be compressed – unlike digital audio, where compression leads only to reduced storage space and data rates. Compression Compressed video data is typically stored in AVI files. 138 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics AVI stands for “Audio and Video Interleaved”, i.e. combined picture and sound. MAGIX video deLuxe processes such AVI files directly, other data formats such as MPEG or Quicktime can be imported by MAGIX video deLuxe. So-called codecs are used to compress video data, generally there are 2 different applications for video on the PC: – Video with low resolution (e.g. 320 * 240 pixel) for replay on the PC itself, e.g. for illustration of multimedia titles or dictionaries on CD-ROM. These videos can be reproduced on today’s multimedia PCs with the full frame rate of 25 pictures, within MAGIX video deLuxe several such video streams can be mixed in real-time and with added effects. Currently standard video codecs for this format are Intel Indeo 3.x to 5.x, Cinepak and MPEG-1. Such videos need relatively little processing time and storage is one to five times that of pure audio data, e.g. 10 to 50 MB per minute. – Video in full television resolution (e.g. 768*576) for processing on PC and replay on videocassette or to be coded for high resolution digital videos via MPEG-2. These videos are typically delivered with special video cards with Motion-JPEG compressor chips and can be played from the PC without additional hardware in full frame rate. Playback of processed videos and transfer to video recorder is therefore only possible via the video card. Depending on the compression rate, significant data rates are required – a reasonable video starts at about 2 MB per second, which still corresponds to a compression of about 1:10 compared to uncompressed video with 20 MB per second throughput. High-quality video systems work with a compression of 3 or 2 – producing up to 10 MB per second for a video stream. Even uncompressed video is now processed by High-End systems. MAGIX video deLuxe can also process such high-resolution video data completely, therefore you should aim to use a high performance computer with Pentium II or above. 139 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics Within the MAGIX video deLuxe the video data is processed uncompressed – all effects, mixes etc. are executed in top quality. However, calculation of realtime effects takes about 4 times longer than for videos in 320x240 pixel resolution – it is possible that replay of a project with several videos or real-time effects can ”jerk” more than in small videos. This does not impair the result though – for video export, frame by frame is calculated. As the time needed for decompression and re-compression for high-resolution video can be considerable, the option Calculate Only Changed Frames in the dialogue Video Options is particularly useful. Then only those frames are unpacked and repacked where picture data has been changed, e.g. changed fades, longer passages without effects etc. can be copied quickly from the source to the target video. 140 Appendix: Problems and Solutions Installation process is interrupted If the installation process interrupts, but all paths have been specified correctly, it is usually an indication of either a defective installation disk or your hard disk simply doesn´t have enough space left to install MAGIX video deLuxe. MAGIX video deLuxe needs at least 100 MB of hard disk space for proper installation. No sound while playing If you do not hear any sound, but the cursor still moves through the project, you will need to check the following possibilities: – The wrong driver in the Play Parameter Window (“p”key) has been chosen – No Windows driver has been installed for your sound card. – The volume setting in your sound cards mixer program is set too low. – Faulty connection of the speakers or the amplifier to the sound card A good idea is to check audio playback apart from MAGIX video deLuxe. If there is any doubt about the proper sound card setup, use the Windows Media Player to test the sound card. Load a WAV file in the Media Player and play it. If you are still having problems, check that the driver for your sound card has been properly installed. Can’t open waveform device MAGIX video deLuxe informs you that the audio outputs of your sound card have been opened by another program, e.g. voice commander, media player, etc. Close these programs and try loading MAGIX video deLuxe again. Can’t play this wave format This message appears when you try to play a wave format that is not supported by your sound card. 141 Appendix: Problems and Solutions Because MAGIX video deLuxe requires a 16 bit sound card, the use of 8 bit cards causes this message. Another reason for this message is that your card doesn´t support all sampling rates available in MAGIX video deLuxe. To check the capabilities of your sound card use the standard sampling rates such as 44 kHz, 32 kHz, and 22 kHz. Short interruptions during playback After starting playback, especially when working with HD Projects and MMMs, you might encounter short dropouts. This usually means that your system (processor or disk) is too slow for the adjusted buffer size and sampling rate. Try the following steps: – Raise the buffer value for RAM, HD or VIP in the dialogue window by selecting Setup under the Edit menu. Higher buffer values will increase overall performance, but it will also slow down cursor movement and requires more RAM memory. – Increase the buffer number. This also requires more memory. – If it still doesn´t work, then you must reduce the sampling rate. Reduce it from 44.1 to 22 kHz. In most cases the audio quality is still sufficient. Can’t stop playback If you can start playback by pressing the Spacebar but are unable to stop it your system might have become too busy with data processing. The only way to stop playback is by pressing the “ESC” key. Media files are not in sync Should you encounter delays while playing media files in sync with your digital audio you can adjust the playback by specifying a correction factor. Select FX under the menu Project, Media Link. (See the description in the Menu chapter of this manual). 142 Index A A/B 80 About MAGIX video deLuxe 129 Add a sound track 23 Add a sound track to individual scenes 67 Add a sound track using audio recording 67 Add Drive 116 Adding a sound track using MIDI songs 71 Adding background music using the Wizard 68 Adjust objects behind the selected object 58 Adjusting brightness / volume 46 Adjusting the video screen and the file manager 33 Alias 118 Alpha 78 Alternative object presentations 43 Analogue appliances 48 Analogue Audio 137 Analogue video recording 100 Analogue video recordings from a video recorder or camcorder 50 Appendix: Problems and Solutions 141 Appendix: Some Multimedia Basics 137 Arrange videos 53 Arrangement properties 109 Arranger 29, 32 Arranger view 132 Arranger with 16 tracks 16 Arranging MIDI files 72 Arranging objects 42 Artefacts on Cleaning Effects 87 As the AUX 1 effect path 94 As the AUX 2 effect path 95 Attack 82 Audio 125, 137 Audio > Load/Save/Reset Audio effects 125 Audio and video recording 15 Audio content 30 Audio Device 100 Audio effects 79 Audio formats 65 Audio FX 38 Audio Objects 65 Audio objects prelistening mode 41 143 Index Audio Options 102 Audio settings/video settings 106 Audio track dumping 103 Auto 87 Auto-start 87 Automatic scene recognition 101 Automatic tempo and pitch adjustment 70 Automatically adapting Waves to BPM 70 Automatically adapting Waves to tone levels 70 Automatically adjust videos to BPM 114 Automatically adjust Waves to BPM 112 Automatically adjust Waves to Pitch 112 Automatically copy exported video and audio to the clipboards 115 Autoscroll 111 B Backup Arrangement 109 Backup arrangement to CD-ROM 109 Band-width control 84 Bars and Grids 33 Beat-based 91 Bit-Resolution 137 Black/blue/white/green box 78 Blur 76 Borders 55 Buffer settings 111 Burst Copy 118 Button Overview 131 Bypass 80, 87 C Capture controls 101 Capture Frame 102 Capture options 101 Capture Video 102 CD-ROM Configuration dialogue box 117 Change object presentation 128 Clear Drive 116 Clip information 106 Clip meta information 107 Colour 83 Colour controls 77 Colour FX 76 Compression 138 144 Index Compressor 82 Configuration 116 Content supply 31 Contents 129 Context help 129 Context help mode 41 Context menus 21 Contour 76 Convert MIDI files to audio files 73 Copy mode normal 118 Copy mode Synchronization sector 118 Copy selected track(s) 117 Copying objects 45 Create a video project for the Internet 61 Create your own Slide FX, e.g. with Alpha Keying 57 Created 119 Crossfading (Slide FX) 56 Curve mouse mode 40 Cut objects 120 Cutting 25 Cutting up objects 45 D Decoder precision arranger 115 Dehisser 88 Delay 83 Delete envelope 91 Delete objects 120 Deleting, copying and moving files 35 Denoiser 86 Deselect all tracks 117 Dev. 103 Device 101 Device options 50, 100 Dialogue ‘dynamic effects’ 90 Digital appliances 49 Digital audiometer (only Master FX rack) 89 Digital dubbing from digicams and other sources 49 Digital export 64 Digital video recording (DV) 99 Digital-Audio 137 Dilate 76 Directories (Import/Temporary 1, 2/Arrangement) 111 Directory and file list 35 DirectX audio Plug-Ins 94 145 Index Display tool tips 129 Drag & Drop 74, 79 Drag & drop from directories 21 Drag & Drop on a ”harsh” transition 56 Drag & Drop on a middle track 57 Drawing mode 92 Drive List dialogue box 116 Drive name 117 Dub audio material from a hi-fi system 68 ”Ducking” (reducing the sound volume) 67 Duplicate objects 120 E Echo 75, 83 Echo / Reverb 82 Edit 75 Edit Range > Copy 121 Edit Range > Cut 121 Edit Range > Delete 121 Edit Range > Extract 121 Edit Range > Insert 121 Editing the effect curve in the dialogue 92 Editing the effect curve on the track 92 Effect control 79 Effect curves 90 Effect Libraries > Audio effects/Video effects/Slide effects/title effects 125 Effect Plug-Ins in the Mixmaster 94 Effect Plug-Ins on the AUX paths 94 Effects from the effects or context menu 79 Emboss 76 Encoder upgrade 105 EQ (Equalizer) 81 Erosion 76 Exit 119 Export arrangement > Audio as Wave 107 Export arrangement > Audio as Wave with Codec 108 Export arrangement > Real Media Export 106 Export arrangement > Single frame as BMP (JPEG) 108 Export arrangement > Video as AVI 104 Export arrangement > Video as DV-AVI 105 Export arrangement > Video as MAGIX Video 106 Export arrangement > Video as MPEG Video 105 Export arrangement > Video as Quicktime Movie 106 Export arrangement > Windows Media Export 106 Export as a file 47 146 Index Export as e-mail attachment 47 Export formats 15 Export into external programs with ”Export arrangement 47 Export video as a file 27 Exporting arrangements 46 Extract sound from videos 113 F Faders and buttons 93 Fading objects 46 Fast forward 34 Features 15 Feedback 83 File management with the help of the file manager Buttons 38 File Manager 26, 35, 127 File manager buttons 29 File manager with preview function 16 File Name/Browse 102 Files used 119 Fine positioning of an object 57 Fine positioning of objects 45 Fine positioning of picture material 58 Fish-eye 75 Flip V/H 77 For all waves 113 Formats 48 Forming or dissolving object groups 44 Frame rate 102 Function 35 Further use of videos and export 27 G General 12 Go to marker 123 Group 122 H Help Contents 136 Hint 50, 100 Host adapter number 118 147 Index I Import Audio Dialogue 117 Import formats 15 Installation 13 Integrate videos, takes or audio files in your arrangement 36 Intelligent mouse mode 40 Internet Connection 109 Introduction 14 Invert envelope 91 K Kaleidoscope 77 Karaoke-Presets 84 Keyboard Shortcuts 132 L Last change 119 Length 87 Lens 76 Link bands 81 Load and process audio files 65 Load arrangement 98 Load CD tracks via record dialogue 113 Load setup 117 Load videos and bitmaps 48 Load your own video 21 Loading multimedia files from the Internet 36 M Master audio effect rack 126 Master FX rack 79 Media library 16, 30 Menu Bar 29 Menu Edit 120, 135 Menu Effects 124, 135 Menu File 98, 134 Menu Help 129 Menu Window 126, 136 MIDI content 31 MIDI device 110 MIDI integration 18 MIDI interface and external sound generator 73 Mirror V/H 77 148 Index Mix 77, 83 Mix down audio 122 Mix FX 77 Mixdown of audio objects 71 Mixer 93, 126 Mixer with DirectX support 17 Monitor 103 Mosaic 76 Motion 75 Mouse mode for single objects 40 Mouse modes 29, 40, 133 Multi-track audio buffer/Preview buffer 111 Multimedia files and objects 42 Multirate file (real server) 107 My AV 38 N Name 119 Names of Sound Pool Samples 69 New arrangement 98 Noise Level 86, 88 Noise Reduction 86, 88 Noise Sample Presets 87 Noise Sample Section 87 Normalise 103 Normalise first 92 Normalise/Reduce volume/Set volume 80 Number of Objects 119 O Object handles 20 Object Properties 125 Object stretch mode 41 OK 101, 102, 104 Online registration 129 Only for waves containing beat markers 113 Optical FX 75 Optimize arrangement view 127 Options 49, 91, 99 Orientation 20 Other effects for adding music 71 P Package contents 11 Parent 38 149 Index Path 119 Pause 117 Pitch 85 Play 34, 87, 117 Play (Preset) 87 Play cursor 32 Play Functions 132 Play out audio/video 104 Power 80 Preface 3 Preset 80 Preview 101, 102 Preview for recorded files 49, 99 Preview function 35 Preview waves while the arrangement is playing 114 Preview with audio and playback controls 114 Processing videos 25 Program Desktop Overview 29 Program start with a demo arrangement 19 Publish to Web 108 Q Quantise 76 R Ratio 82 Reading Audio CD tracks 116 Record 34, 103 Record Audio 102 Record audio/video 98 Record controls 49, 99 Redo 15 Release 82 Remote control (Video Preview) 49, 99 Remote controlling your digicam 15 Removed Hiss 88 Removed Noise 86 Render decoder precision 115 Replay function 58 Reset 80, 116 Resume 117 Reverb 82 Rewind 34 Rhythmic envelope 91 Room size 83 150 Index Rotary control 75 S Sample rate 110, 138 Sand 76 Save 87 Save and send as e-mail 108 Save arrangement 98 Save arrangement as 98 Save objects as takes 121 Saving and loading arrangements 42 Scan CD 38 Scan envelope 91 Scanning an audio CD 43, 65 Scanning CD tracks via recording dialogue 66 Scene management in file manager (”Extras”) 132 Scroll bar with zoom function 32 Scrollbars 29 Scrub mode 41 SCSI ID 118 SCSI LUN 118 Sectors per cycle 118 Select all objects 120 Select all tracks 117 Selecting objects 44 Selection 20 Sensor fields 75, 79 Separate audio from video material 51 Set markers 122 Set play markers 44 Settings /Information > Audio/Video settings 112 Settings/Information > Arrangement information 118 Settings/Information > CD-ROM Configuration 115 Settings/information > Full screen playback option 115 Settings/Information > Playback parameters 110 Settings/Information > System information 119 Settings/Information > System settings 111 Setup 85 Shift 76 Shortening or looping objects 46 Show arrangement overview 127 Shrink and interweave videos 55 Slide FX 39 Slider control 81 Soften 76 151 Index Some examples for digital camcorders 49 Some examples for digital cards 49 Song Wizard 104 Sound effects with previews 17 Speed 76, 85 Stamp 77 Standard layout 126 Standard mode 92 Stereo FX 83 Stereo meter 84 Stop 34, 103, 117 Substitution 76 Subtitles 17 Subtitles with RTF text objects 59 Support 11 Symmetry 77 Sync Sectors 118 System requirements 12 T Takes 38 Takes (scenes) 52 Target groups 107 Threshold 82 Time 83 Time indicators 33 Time line 29 Time line and playback area 32 Time Processor 84 Time/Expl./Extras/Tracks 34 Timecode 50, 99 Title 50, 99, 101 Titles 39 To the start 34 Tones/BPM 85 Tool Bar 29 Touch screen (right EQ section) 81 Track List 116 Track List dialogue box 117 Tracks 32 Transparent 78 Transport control 34 Trimmer 132 Trimmer mode ”Over-blending” 133 Trimmer mode ”Simple Object” 133 Trimming of object length and fade 57 152 Index Trimming Transitions (with Slide FXs) 59 Trimming videos (fine tuning) 57 Trouble-shooting checklist 62 Tutorial 19 U Undo 120 Ungroup 122 Use audio effects 79 Use RAM for wave files smaller than (kByte) 112 Use video effects 74 Using help 129 V Video 138 Video > Edit bitmap externally 124 Video > Load/Save/Reset video objects 124 Video > Scene recognition 124 Video > Trimmer 126 Video > Video Cleaning 124 Video > Video Effects 124 Video and bitmap content 30 Video and Bitmap Objects 48 Video cleaning 26, 53 Video Compression 61, 102 Video controller 74 Video Device options 100 Video Display 102 Video effects 54, 74 Video effects with previews 16 Video export via TV out 27, 64 Video export via video or graphics card 28, 62 Video for Windows recording 101 Video Format 101 Video FX 38 Video mix 26, 55 Video monitor 127 Video peripherals 48 Video preprocessing 107 Video priority 114 Video size 107 Video Source 101 Video/audio demos 31 Videoscreen 29 Volume 110 153 Index Volume control 84 Volume handle in the middle of an object 114 W Wave device 110 Wave/Direct Sound 110 Web Publishing 96 Web Publishing Area 130 What is the MAGIX video deLuxe ? 14 Whirlpool 75 Wizard for adding sound tracks 17 Write files to CD-ROM 109 Z Zooming 44 154 Credits This manual and the software described within this manual are copyrighted. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual or the described software may be copied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any selectronic medium or machine-readable form without prior consent of Magix AG. The Software "Video DeLuxe" is copyrighted. Reproduction and redistribution of the program is strictly prohibited. Copyright © 2001, Magix AG. All rights reserved. 155