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The most exciting aspects of this new version are its full support for DV, including OHCI device control, and inclusion of the Ligos GoMotion MPEG codec enabling capture, edit, and playback of both MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 formats. GeneralAlthough MediaStudio consists of five distinct programs, there is very effective integration between them. This starts with the Switch menu at the top-right of the menu bar which lists all other programs in the suite. From here you can launch any program from any other, or activate it if its already running. Other programs from Ulead also use this menu, so if you install Cool 3D, or have PhotoImpact for example, they will appear on the menu too. The other major integration tool is the Production Library. This holds all the filters, effects, clip-art, etc. each in their own section, and allows custom settings for any of them to be saved for future use. It also has a Media section for user-created media files of any type. Anything you create in any of the programs can be saved to the library, and then picked up by any program when you want to use it. The full boxed product includes a printed manual of some 350 pages, which is comprehensive and well written. It is more than a tutorial, but is still a readable introduction rather than a reference manual. The online help, which is context-sensitive and extensive, constitutes the reference material. Everything is described, but sometimes rather tersely. The VE bundled version has the same online help, but the manual is only on CD in Acrobat format. Video Capture
Many capture cards include their own capture and replay programs, but there can be advantages in using MediaStudio's own capture program, such as only having to learn one program, and integration with the Production Library and other MediaStudio components. Video Capture now has a plugin architecture for drivers, and will work with any installed VfW or DirectShow drivers. Some cards use their own driver architecture which restricts you to their own tools, but it is now possible for these manufacturers to provide plugins to MediaStudio Video Capture. It remains to be seen which manufacturers will be forthcoming with plugins. For DV use, all you need is a system with a 1394 (Firewire) port, and not necessarily a "capture card" as such. Windows 98 SE and 2000 both support 1394 as a device (rather like USB), and incorporates a DirectShow DV codec and OHCI control drivers. Video Capture recognises the DirectShow capture driver and the 1394 device control driver. You can control and capture from any OHCI-compliant DV camcorder or VCR using only the Video Capture program. With device
control present, Video Capture offers a batch-capture
mode. With this you run through the source tape, marking start
and end points of sections to be captured. A batch list is created
as you do this, then you simply run the list and the chosen
clips are captured to a series of files. Want to Know More? Discuss this news on the Digital Producer World Wide Users Group
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