How you can Help Us know how to edit your tapes

Many of our clients bring us their tapes that want more than just a straight copy of the tape. They want to edit out parts and make a shorter video.

Here is a way to create and Edit Decision List (EDL) to help us edit your tapes. This way, you will save substantial funds when creating your project.  We also take stills from your tape to make a "photograph" from it.  This way is also used to tell us the part of the tape we should capture a frame.

The EDL is created by rewinding your tape to the beginning. Then setting the counter on your VCR to all zeros 0:00:00 (hour: minutes: seconds:) You would reset your counter to zero's for a base line of real time. (Do NOT use a counter that counts laps as this counts differently for each VCR).  Where do you find the counter if it's not on the lighted display on the front of the VCR?  It will be on the menu screen. Use your remote to find it. If you still can't find it, go on-line to the manufacturer's web site. Type in your model number and find the owners manual on-line. It will tell you how to find your units counter.

Once you have zeroed the counter, either play or fast forward to where you want us to copy the footage. For example you would put in the start time and end time.

 

Start Time               End Time         Brief Description

0:04:23                0:12:04              Two boys playing in sandbox. End when one puts shovel in bucket

0:16:55                0: 25:23             Girl in red dress playing with dog. End when girl smiles

and so on to make a complete list of all the start times and end times.

You can also make such a decision list for stills of the video. Rewind the tape as stated above. Be sure to zero the counter. Then find the spot on the tape where you would like a "still frame" lifted from the video to create a "photograph" Write down the time on the real-time counter.

0:05:01 Boy with blue ball

0:34:35 Boy with cat and toy mouse

1:02:45 Baby in bassinette

 

We then will capture the best in-focus "still" around this exact time. You will receive still frames on a CD for you to take to a place like Target, K-mart or Wal-mart to have prints made.

 

This page is still under construction. Call me with any questions so I know how to clarify this page better. Thanks!