How to Create Movie Clips

With the explosion of inexpensive and easy-to-use camcorders, many consumers are trying their hand at making movies. They shoot video and use editing software such as Windows Movie Maker to turn the raw footage into movie clips. A movie clip is a short piece of video that is captured onto the computer for editing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Camcorder Connecting cable Video editing software such as Windows Movie Maker.

1. Shoot one or more scenes using your digital camcorder. When you're finished, attach the camcorder to your PC by connecting the cable from the camera's output port to the computer's input port. These ports are usually USB or FireWire.

2. Turn on the camcorder and, if needed, rewind to the beginning of the video you want to capture.

3. 
   Windows Movie Maker

   Run the software for capturing the video. This example uses Windows Movie Maker, which shows tasks on the left and movie clips in the "Collection" box on the right.

4. 
   Choosing a device

   Specify the video capture device by clicking on the "Tasks" button and choosing "Capture from Video Device." Choose the device from which to capture video. This example uses "Sony DV Device." Click the "Next" button to display the "Name" dialogue box.

5. 
   Naming the video

   Enter a name for the video and the folder in which to capture the video. This example uses the name "Landscapes" and stores the files in "My Videos." Click the "Next" button to display the "Video Setting" dialogue.

6. 
   Video quality

   Set the video quality. This example uses "Best Quality for Video Playback on My Computer." Click the "Next" button to display the "Capture Method" dialogue.

7. 
   Capture method

   Choose whether to capture the entire video automatically or to capture short clips manually. With the former, which is recommended, the computer creates a new clip each time it detects a scene change. With the latter, which offers more control, you have to start and stop the video for each clip you want to capture. Click the "Next" button to display the "Capture" dialogue and begin transferring the video.

8. 
   Capturing the video

   Make sure the "Create Clips When Wizard Finishes" checkbox is enabled. If you're capturing the video automatically, wait until the transfer is complete. Otherwise, click the "Stop Capture" button to finish. (The program asks you to confirm the stop.) In either case, a dialogue box shows you the progress of the transfer as files are created and added to the "Collection" box.

9. 
   Movie clips

   Edit the clips as needed to create your movie.

References

• Capturing video