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Step 1
Open Studio 10, and locate the files you wish to use to make your movie. If the files are on a media device, like a camcorder, connect it to your computer either through a fire wire, or a USB media-transfer device like Dazzle. Click the button on the top left area of your screen that reads "Capture." Your screen will change to a monitor window, and a control panel. Click the "Settings" button and input your media source. Then click "Start Capture" and hit "Play" on your camcorder. The software will begin uploading your video, and will automatically sort b-roll into clips based on what is happening on the screen.
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Step 2
Once you have uploaded all the video you wish to use, click the button at the top of the screen labeled "Edit." Your screen will change to an editing timeline, along with a monitor window and a control window with a bin containing all of your clips. You can view each clip by double clicking it, and watching it in the monitor window. Find the clip with which you'd like to begin, drag it to the timeline and drop it next to the symbol of the video camera.
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Step 3
To edit your clip, double click it in the timeline and it will come up inside a window. There are two clips shown. The box on the left shows the in-point of your clip, or the frame where the clip begins playing. The box on the right shows your out-point, or the last frame of your clip. Beneath each box is a counter noting the numerical points of your starting and ending frames. At the bottom of the window is a slider. Drag each end of the slider to the left or right to change the in- and out-points of your clip. When you have finished, click the X in the corner of the window to return to your main timeline. Your clip within the timeline is the edited version. If you wish to use another part of that same clip from your bin, simply drag it into the timeline again and create different in- and out-points.
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Step 4
Continue inserting your clips onto the timeline in the order you wish them to appear, and editing them in the manner above. Once you have completed a scene, it is time to add your transitions. Many times, a simple "cut" from one clip to another is appropriate and no action must be taken; however, in the case of a music video, you may want to "dissolve" from one clip to another. Click the symbol in your tool window that looks like a square with a thunderbolt going through it. This is your "transitions" control window.
You can preview each transition by clicking it and viewing it in your monitor window. Locate the transition you wish to use and drag it into your timeline between the appropriate clips. It may take a few seconds as the program will automatically render the transition in real time. -
Step 5
Once your clips are lined up and the transitions in place you may want to add music. Pinnacle Studio 10 comes with a variety of generic musical pieces that are simple to apply. At the top of your screen, click on the "Toolbox" tab and scroll down to "Generate Background Music." This will open Pinnacle's "SmartSound" window. Each type of music is listed in the box. You can click on "Jazz" or "World" or "Pop" to sample, and then choose how long you wish the music clip to be. When you have found the music you wish to use, click the button that reads "Add to Movie." The clip will automatically be added to your timeline next to the music symbol. If you wish to use your own files, you can input .WAV or MP3 files into your timeline from your hard drive.
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Step 6
Finalize your scene by creating a title under the "Toolbox" tab. Scroll down to "Create Title." To create a title over black, click on "Full Screen" and your title window will appear. Type your title and select the fonts and colors you wish to use. When you are finished, click "OK." If you wish to add titles over your clips, chose the clip you wish to add titles to and click "Title Overlay" from the title creator. Type your titles and select your in- and out-points by dragging them or by using the counters. You can create your final credits in the same way.
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Step 7
When you are ready to output your movie, click the third tab at the top of the screen that reads "Make Movie." This will bring up your movie-making window. Choose your file type. If you wish to make a movie to play over the Internet, you will need to output an Mpeg-1 file. If you wish to make a video to play on your television or output to DVD, choose to make an AVI file. This file is much larger, and will take quite a while to render. Make sure you have enough space on your hard drive to store the movie. Then click "Create File." Studio 10 will automatically render your movie, and save it to your desired location.
