Video editing may be a pain, but thanks to modern technology, most of it can now be automated.
The way we record and watch video is always changing. We used to film for an hour at a time on camcorders to document special occasions like graduations or weddings, but now days we prefer shorter clips that get directly to the point. Fortunately, the tools we use to create and edit movies are more accessible than they have ever been. One reader inquired about the process of converting ancient VHS tapes into shorter edited segments.
There’s always time to go through old VHS cassette stacks. Artificial intelligence advancements have made it easier than ever to edit videos without having to do anything other than upload your recordings. However, you must first have those tapes digitised.
Any VHS editing endeavour must begin with converting those brittle videos to a more contemporary and pliable format. Most individuals would not do this on their own, at least not for a single project. There are firms that will convert your cassettes to digital files if you mail them to them.
However, experiences vary, and if you only have one copy of the material, it may seem too unsafe to entrust it to a warehouse halfway across the nation. Instead, look for a video conversion service in your area. Look for terms like “video conversion” or “photography stores and services” under Yelp’s “photography stores and services” category. They usually charge a price that is proportional to the length of the movie.
Remember to request that the VHS tapes be converted into several tiny segments rather of a single larger file so that they are easier to deal with. See if they can break it down by individual performance if at all feasible. You won’t have to tell them which dancers are your grandkids, and you’ll be able to assess them yourself. This may be more expensive, but it will save you a lot of time. If they are unable to do so, you should be able to locate the shorter clip you need and perform a simple cut from there.
Cropping movie clips is available in most video and photo hosting systems, such as Apple iMovie and Google Photos. There are a lot of programmes and services that can automatically put together films for you with some flair if you want something a bit more polished, but many are designed to work with videos on a smartphone or tablet, so you should migrate your recordings onto those devices.
Apple revealed this week that its iMovie programme for iPad and iPhone now has a new automated option called “Magic Movie.” It lets you pick whatever clips from your phone you wish to edit, then splices them together to highlight the most relevant aspects, such as faces and speech. Google Photos, a cloud storage service, includes a feature that allows users to create automatic films on demand.
Using its face-detection technology, you may even select certain themes or personalities. GoPro, a sports camera manufacturer, provides a smartphone software called Quik that automatically cuts long films or several segments into shorter projects. You may produce one video using the free version or subscribe for $2 per month. Vimeo Create, a video-hosting platform, features a manual editing tool that includes some free templates and more advanced choices for paying customers.
The firm that converts your video can provide a DVD or flash drive backup for you, but I wouldn’t advocate distributing it to family members unless they expressly ask for it. Instead, save the clips to a cloud storage service like Dropbox, Google Photos, or Apple iCloud and send the link through email. They will be more accessible and shared this way.
Another reader inquired about creating videos from the ground up, this time on their computer screen.
Hopefully, you won’t need these movies anytime soon, but I like the concept of producing them and adding some colour to your estate planning, along with a list of login names and passwords. Screen recordings are the videos created by computers and cellphones, and they are a function that most computers and mobile devices have these days.
Because you’re using a Mac, you need first clean your desktop and only show the windows you wish to see. Then launch the QuickTime Player programme. To start a new screen recording, go to “File” and then “New Screen Recording.” This brings up a little window with a few options for recording the full screen or a piece of it. You may move the square around to record whatever you like.
There’s also the option of recording sounds via your computer’s microphone. I strongly advise you to turn it on and describe what you’re doing. I believe your loved ones would like hearing your voice in addition to being useful.
A screen recording button may be found in the Control Center on an iPhone. It’s possible that you’ll need to add it by heading to “Settings,” then “Control Center,” and selecting the green plus symbol next to “Screen Recording.” It will count down for three seconds before beginning to record. When you’re finished recording, click the red icon in the top left corner of your screen.
On many Android smartphones, you can find the screen record button by pulling down twice from the top of the screen. You may also test out applications on Google Play.
Save any films somewhere easy to access for your family, and be sure to add them as legacy contacts on big platforms like Apple or Facebook. If something happens to you, this feature allows authorised others to access your account.
