Windows Movie Maker 2 Tutorial - Capturing Video

Look How Easy It Makes Video Capturing

Difficulty Scale (Level 1 out of 3)

 

Today you are going to learn how to capture video using Windows Movie Maker. Since I use a PC, it is easy for me to provide a step by step approach to the video capture process. What I am going to do is run the Video Capture Wizard and explain each step of the way. Follow along and get your video into the computer today! 

 

Step 1: Start Up

 

First and foremost, make sure you download the free upgrade to Movie Maker version 2.  Once you have the new version, start up the program by using a desktop shortcut or by using the traditional approach (Start > Accessories > Windows Movie Maker). 

 

  

Step 2: Hook up Camcorder, and Click the "Capture from video device" Link

  

The screen will open and dominate your screen. In the upper left hand corner, notice where it says 1. Capture Video.  Underneath it, click the Capture from video device button. Did it work?

  

In order for this to work, make sure you have taken the following steps:

     

 1. Hook up a digital video camera to your computer firewire card. A firewire cable should run in between.

 2. Turn on the digital video camera and place it into VCR mode.

 3. Now click the Capture from video device button.

  

 

Step 3: Name Your Video Project, Choose a Location for Captured Video Files.

 

You should keep similar footage together, and this next screen will allow you to name your video Collection. Later in the tutorial you will see the importance of this. I named my video project beetle, because it is a short video using beetles and butterflies (how cute). Each clip will get its own name, right now you are naming the entire project. 

  

You can store your video in My Video, which is stored in your My Documents folder, or you can choose an alternate location by clicking the Browse... button. One important thing to note is that you are specifying where your clips will reside. What is extremely important is that you have a good place for your video files (especially if you choose the DV-AVI setting-more on this in step 4).

  

 

Step 4: Video Setting: Choose the Format of Your Captured Videos

 

In the next screen of the Video Capture Wizard, choose the source video clips that you want to work with. The higher the quality, the more disk space it will consume. There's a small help screen available on this page that can help you decide which format you want. If you want the best quality, choose Digital device format (DV-AVI). Choose a relatively small format (aka CODEC) if you don't have much space and if you don't have an extra hard drive. If you aren't sure, choose the top button (Microsoft's recommendation). If you don't like the movie's quality later, you may have to try the second radio button (DV-AVI). See the figures below.

 

  Other Settings you can choose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5:  The Capture Decision - Manual or Automatic

  

No you aren't buying a car, you are deciding whether or not to let the video editing software find all your video clips for you, or if you want to do it yourself. If you select automatic and hit OK, your camera will get rewound and it will start capturing clips right away. Select manual if you don't want to do this right now.

  

You might want to Capture Automatically if:

- the entire tape is filled with similar footage

- you have a lot of disk space

- want it to capture for you (you can go watch TV or read something while it works)

 

You might want to Capture Manually if:

- you don't have a lot of disk space

- you want more control over the in and out points of your clips

- you only need a small chunk of footage from the tape

  

   

Step 6: The Manual Capture Screen

 

If you decided to go with the manual video capture, you will see a screen like this.   Click "Start Capture" to start capturing at the point from where your videotape was left. Underneath the big black box you will also see VCR-like controls which allow you to fast-forward, rewind, and pause to get where you want to start recording.  Capture all of your clips and then click "Finish."

 

Step 7: Done For Now: Your Collection is Made!

 

The Beetle Collection is Made. You you can pull the video clips onto the timeline and start editing. That wasn't so bad was it?