I uploaded a little tool some of you might enjoy.
I placed it in the DVD Copy folder on the FTP.
ftp://upload:[email protected]/
The name is 'VRD5.zip'
It performs a preview of your cuts in edit mode. You can jump backwards and forwards through all of your cuts as well as view the beginning and and of the file. The preroll is setup to play 2 seconds before the beginning and end of the cut as well as 2 seconds from the end of the file.
To get the best effect, you should zoom all the way in on your file. I have included a zoom toggle button as well as zoom in and out.
In addition, the lowest row of button are set up to perform Ad-Detective jump and scans. After you mark the beginning of the commercial segment:
+180 will jump forward 3 minutes and start scanning.
+270 will jump forward 4 1/2 minutes and begin scanning.
-30 will jump back 30 seconds and begin scanning.
Ad Scan justs starts at your current position.
The following navigation controls need to be set as follows to have it work according to the above statements. Tools>Options>Navigation
2 arrow button - 10 seconds
Ctrl Multiplier - 3
Ctrl Left/Right Arrows - Move Next Second
Ctrl+Shift Left/Right Arrows - Move 1 Minute
If you modify your navigation controls from these settings, you can facilitate different intervals.
I used a program called AutoIt.
There is a feature available in the editor SciTE referenced on their web site to record keystrokes/etc. to automate the process. They also have a feature to compile the script to a standalone executable.
The executable is only 206KB for the application I created and no DLLs/.NET are necessary.
The window will continue to float over VRD as you click on the buttons or you can Alt+Tab between the 2.
This is not an official VideoReDo product so please don't write to support.
I placed it in the DVD Copy folder on the FTP.
ftp://upload:[email protected]/
The name is 'VRD5.zip'
It performs a preview of your cuts in edit mode. You can jump backwards and forwards through all of your cuts as well as view the beginning and and of the file. The preroll is setup to play 2 seconds before the beginning and end of the cut as well as 2 seconds from the end of the file.
To get the best effect, you should zoom all the way in on your file. I have included a zoom toggle button as well as zoom in and out.
In addition, the lowest row of button are set up to perform Ad-Detective jump and scans. After you mark the beginning of the commercial segment:
+180 will jump forward 3 minutes and start scanning.
+270 will jump forward 4 1/2 minutes and begin scanning.
-30 will jump back 30 seconds and begin scanning.
Ad Scan justs starts at your current position.
The following navigation controls need to be set as follows to have it work according to the above statements. Tools>Options>Navigation
2 arrow button - 10 seconds
Ctrl Multiplier - 3
Ctrl Left/Right Arrows - Move Next Second
Ctrl+Shift Left/Right Arrows - Move 1 Minute
If you modify your navigation controls from these settings, you can facilitate different intervals.
I used a program called AutoIt.
There is a feature available in the editor SciTE referenced on their web site to record keystrokes/etc. to automate the process. They also have a feature to compile the script to a standalone executable.
The executable is only 206KB for the application I created and no DLLs/.NET are necessary.
The window will continue to float over VRD as you click on the buttons or you can Alt+Tab between the 2.
This is not an official VideoReDo product so please don't write to support.
Dec 2, 2014 - Here's my biggest pet peevs with VideoReDo V4: -Can't edit VC-1. I've noticed text to be a bit. I have been recommended VideoRedo however since the card comes with software I am curious as to how the two compare.
Creating lots of video files has never been a problem in the Media Center world. Thanks to the ‘Record Series’ option, I’ve currently got nearly 1 terabyte of media, a big chunk of which I’d like to edit down and archive elsewhere.
VideoReDo TVSuite is a commercial product that aims to allow ordinary consumers to easily manipulate video (from sources such as Media Center) and export the files to other formats, including DVDs (replete with a basic menu structure.)
Importing Video
The range of import options is substantial. Media Center users will be pleased to see native dvr-ms and wtv support (including support for FreeviewHD wtv files – many thanks to Ian for supplying with me with some BBC HD to play with.) DVD structures may also be imported and there is support for h.264 video. VideoRedo plan to enhance the h.264 functionality in future versions with support for multiple audio streams.
Importing itself is a simple matter of selecting the file (or VIDEO_TS folder, if importing from DVD) and opening it. With DVD import, VideoRedo will convert the main movie on the disk into a single file which requires the user to select the video and audio tracks. Help is given (for example, video files for which there is no audio are hidden) but the process can be daunting for a casual user and it is quite easy to accidentally select the wrong audio track (for example, a commentary.) Some form of preview of the file contents would be useful in a future version.
Editing Video
As covered in my previous article (Using VideoReDo To Manually Remove Adverts) the editing environment is a joy to use. Clearly laid out, and with simple editing tools, there is a surprising amount of power beneath the surface. Making cuts in the video (for example, to remove unwanted commercial breaks) is achieved by selecting a cut, using either of the sliders (one to navigate rapidly through the file and another for fine tuning) or the cursor keys for absolute frame accuracy, and adding the cut to the list (see screen-shot.)
In addition to cutting, audio streams may be selected, the volume of the audio may be adjusted and the synchronisation of audio to video may be altered.
Ad-Detective
VideoRedo TVSuite also features a tool called Ad-Detective, which automatically removes commercials from recorded TV (on demand; there is no automated monitor in the current version, although see below for some options offered by the community.) This tool is not for the faint hearted and, certainly on the Freeview files I tried, it needs some set-up before it will work.
The detection works by spotting scene changes and noting black thresholds (when a frame fades to black before a commercial break.) With some tinkering, I was able to automatically detect most commercial breaks for one broadcaster, but another broadcaster would do things slightly differently and require further modification to the settings. Such is the on-going arms race between broadcasters and ad-removal software!
Exporting
Edited video can be saved back in the same format (preserving functionality such as close captioning in dvr-ms, for example) or exported to a different format (for example, converting a recorded .wtv file to .mp4 for playback on a mobile device such as an iPad or Windows Phone.) The process is quick, painless and results in high quality files, with options specific to the export format available if required as well as compression settings.
In addition to saving direct to file, it is also possible to create a list of files to burn to a DVD or .iso image, replete with a basic menu structure.
Batch Manager
Finally, all edits and saves may be batched up. Since defining the cuts in a video file is invariably quicker than the saving process this tool allows a number of files to be edited and then saved overnight.
Community
The forums at VideoReDo are very active and monitored by support staff. Direct requests for support via email are also quickly and professionally responded to. In addition, the programming interfaces for the VideoReDo are well documented and have resulted in a number of community utilities, such VAP (VideoReDo-Autoprocessor Program) which addresses one of the missing functions in the current incarnation of TVSuite – a folder monitor to automate VideoReDo functions (for example, commercial removal.)
Conclusion
I have to declare an interest at this point – I have purchased a copy of VideoReDo TVSuite myself, so impressed am I with its ease-of-use, stability and all round functionality. I can recommend it whole-heartedly for anyone wishing to manipulate recorded TV files. Three versions are available, and the h.264 version (able to edit .wtv files) retails at $95.99. This may seem steep when compared to the fr
ee tools available, but for me has been money well spent.
ee tools available, but for me has been money well spent.
A trial version can be downloaded from the VideoRedo site.