Splitting videos - one more time, with feeling ...

[ohernie]

Ok, the good news is my Sony CX-160 will record for 6 hours so it's perfect for jam sessions and gig feedback.

The bad news is it doesn't break the mts video file into the usual 2gb chunks .

I can split the file into song length clips - no biggie - but ...

Any good / fast way export the clips en masse?

If I can't do it directly, is there a way to do it by using the pre-render or any temp files?

TIA

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by ohernie ..The bad news is it doesn't break the mts video file into the usual 2gb chunks.

According a manual I looked at for the Sony CX-160 "the camcorder automatically divides an image file that exceeds 2GB or larger, and saves the parts as separate files. All image files may be shown as separate files on a computer..."

Are you saying that your camera is storing the files in its memory and/or on the removal memory card in larger segments than 2GB?.

Any good/fast way export the clips en masse?

Does the PMB software supplied with the camera not see the camera internal memory, and external memory card as bulk storage when the camera is connected to the computer with the correct USB cable, and if so, can't you just copy the files from that directly onto your hard drive.?

Have you tried reading the removable memory card in a card reader?

[ohernie]

Weird. Once you install the software, Sony gives you two ways to import. Don't know which method I used but I just checked the files from a live music two camera shoot experiment. The files from the Sony, which was the the stationary camera that ran for entire sets, have file sizes of 3.9, 4.3 and 5.7 gigs. It *is* possible that they are split in the camera and the software is combining them on import.

I can transfer the files from the camera to my computer, import them into MoviePlus X5 and split them without a problem.

My need is to bulk export the split clips from MoviePlus quickly, typically as mp4 (YouTube) or mp2 (DVD) files, with as little involvement on my part as possible. I want to end up with clips of each individual song so I can distribute them to the appropriate musicians. Hopefully they'll use the clips as feedback or promo.

If all goes well I'll be doing this on a weekly basis. The jam sessions themselves will probably run about five hours. I can't do this if I have to spend another five hours generating videos.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by ohernie .. It *is* possible that they are split in the camera and the software is combining them on import.

The way I read the manual, the files in the camera should be limited to 2G and "All image files may be shown as separate files on a computer, however the files will be handled properly (joined?) by the import function of the camcorder or the PMB software, and also the playback function of the PMB Portable software".

I can transfer the files from the camera to my computer, import them into MoviePlus X5 and split them without a problem.

MoviePlus editing, and that includes splitting clips is non destructive. It does not change the original source material. So any changes you make only take effect in the exported files. That means new video files (which in your case case are different format) that have to be rendered. Some export formats take less time than others and how much grunt your PC has is a factor. I know of no way round this.

You could of course simply download the camera using the software supplied with it, and send the others un-edited copies of the source files.

One thing you could perhaps investigate is what happens if you turn record on and off on the camera between individual musical items. It may be that the PMB software would place individual files on the PC for each item, thus removing the need to edit.

[ohernie]

Originally Posted by Greyfox One thing you could perhaps investigate is what happens if you turn record on and off on the camera between individual musical items. It may be that the PMB software would place individual files on the PC for each item, thus removing the need to edit.

That is the case but the problem is I'm either running the jam session or playing. I know from experience that asking someone else to do it will be an exercise in failure. This is why I picked up a camera that I could afford to outfit with a 32gb SD card and a 7 hr battery. I may have to do a lot of editing, but I won't miss anything.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by ohernie That is the case but the problem is I'm either running the jam session or playing. I know from experience that asking someone else to do it will be an exercise in failure. This is why I picked up a camera that I could afford to outfit with a 32gb SD card and a 7 hr battery. I may have to do a lot of editing, but I won't miss anything.

7 Day Shop is (or was?) a good source for 32GB SD cards. But always carry spares: We've had the "lock" slider break off some large capacity SD cards, which made them unusable... permanently locked.

[ohernie]

That's nice, but 1) I have already purchased a 32gb card and 2) it doesn't in any way address my original question.

I'm going to assume that there is no way to bulk split a video into smaller clips via MoviePlus.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by ohernie That's nice, but 1) I have already purchased a 32gb card and 2) it doesn't in any way address my original question.

Originally Posted by ohernie I'm going to assume that there is no way to bulk split a video into smaller clips via MoviePlus.

Surprised you should think that.

A couple of weeks ago, I had to split an eight-hour 1080p HD timeline into a set of four DVDs.

[ohernie]

Yeah, but based on what has not been said in this thread, it was not en masse.

You most likely set DVD sized endpoints, set chapter points, created a menu, rendered, burned, then repeated that process three more times. That meant four large renderings during which time you could at least get a cup of coffee.

I'm talking about splitting a video into 40+, 3-10 minute clips, a task that done your way will tie me tightly to my computer longer than the five hour length of the original video.

Yeah, I'm getting frustrated - I keep stressing "en masse" and "bulk" but nobody seems to understand what the words mean.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by ohernie Yeah, but based on what has not been said in this thread, it was not en masse. You most likely set DVD sized endpoints, set chapter points, created a menu, rendered, burned, then repeated that process three more times. That meant four large renderings during which time you could at least get a cup of coffee. I'm talking about splitting a video into 40+, 3-10 minute clips, a task that done your way will tie me tightly to my computer longer than the five hour length of the original video. Yeah, I'm getting frustrated - I keep stressing "en masse" and "bulk" but nobody seems to understand what the words mean.

MoviePlus is an interactive NLE program. It does not have a public scripting or macro facility.

You might have more luck with something like: AviSynth or perhaps VirtualDub.

[ohernie]

No - MoviePlus is whatever Serif decides it should be.

Given the existence of YouTube they may well decide to include bulk clip exporting in future versions, just as they have already incorporated YouTube upload support.

What I was asking was whether they included the bulk splitting as part of the current package, or if there was a workaround. The answer, which I should have gotten long ago, is a simple "no".

Thank you.

<Smiley with a gun to it's head>

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by ohernie Given the existence of YouTube they may well decide to include bulk clip exporting in future versions, just as they have already incorporated YouTube upload support.

Why bother? Many of us are now allowed to upload "unlimited length" videos to YouTube.

...although I need a very good reason to watch anything longer than a couple of minutes.

[ohernie]

Because then it becomes a disaster. Have you ever been handed a single video DVD - no chapters - of an hour long senior no-talent show and tried to find a particular performance again using a progress bar where 1/8" = 5 minutes?

[MikeR]

Originally Posted by ohernie Because then it becomes a disaster. Have you ever been handed a single video DVD - no chapters - of an hour long senior no-talent show and tried to find a particular performance again using a progress bar where 1/8" = 5 minutes?

I understand your frustration and suggest that you put your suggestion here. Even if en-masse exporting cannot easily be achieved it might be possible to incorporate export by chapter name.

[Greyfox]

ohernie,

Google "AVOne Gold RMVB ASF Converter". It claims to have batch capability and to be able to "Split a large video file into several small mpeg file to burn on CDR"

I haven't used it, and I'm not sure whether it will allow manual splitting into random length clips, which would appear to be a requirement of your application, nor whether the batch capability applies to export of the split sections, but maybe worth a look.