GENERAL VIDEO EDITING QUESTIONS

Question: What equipment do I need in order to use your software?

Answer:  A modern computer that runs Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 is usually the only requirement.  Most of our customers use a DVD Ripping or Video Conversion software product like the AVS Video Converter.

Full details are here....

Question:  How does a video editing system work ?

Answer:  Video from a Camcorder, DVD, VHS tape or file that is downloaded from a video sharing web site is transferred to a location (usually one of the computer's "hard drives", where it is available to Video Editing software).

Video Editing software records the video clip settings (Start and End) of the video for each play, and information about each play. The data recorded for each play can then be used to quickly "retrieve" one or more plays for playback and to produce cutups and highlights. 

Question:  How can I get my video onto a computer ?

Answer:  There are a few ways to get video onto a computer:

1. Capture or transfer video from a digital camcorder to the computer directly using a "firewire" or USB Cable.
2. Capture the video using a capture device that transfers and converts the video to a computer's "digital video" format.
3. Convert (Rip) the video from a DVD to a format that is suitable for video editing. (...more on working with DVD's)
4. Download the video from a video sharing web site

* It may be necessary to convert the video to another format before it is suitable for editing on the computer.

Question:  What type of video files are best for editing?

Answer:  AVI files. They offer better control of video playback and more precise positioning for playback and producing cutups than other types of video file formats. Windows Media files can also be used.

Question:  What type of camcorder do you recommend?

Answer:  Nowadays, there are so many different camera formats, we recommend whatever fits a budget.

Video from ANY camcorder can be used with Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut as long as the video is converted to a compatible format.  This may require video converter software unless the camera includes it. 

Question: Do any remotes work with your Video Editing products?

Answer: The Contour Shuttle Express remote delivers excellent results with the latest versions of Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut, and cost a fraction of the cost of Cowboy or Commando remotes.  Other programmable remotes that send keystroke equivalents like ALT-P, ALT-B, etc can be used as well.

Question:  How does your video editing software know where a play begins and ends?

Answer:  While watching the plays in the game on the computer, the Start and End of the play is identified by clicking "Start" and "End" buttons.

Question:  How can I transfer video to a computer from a VCR or DVD ?

Answer: A "capture" device is required to transfer video from a VCR.  "Capture" products are made by companies like Canopus, Pinnacle among others.  Most connect to the computer with a Firewire cable, although some, like the Pinnacle use a USB port.
 
The easiest way to transfer video from a DVD is to use a type of software commonly referred to as a DVD "ripper". Products like the AVS Video Converter  convert DVD (and virtually any form of video) to a format that works with our video editing software.  Alternatively, current versions of products like Cyberlink Power Director, Adobe Premiere, Roxio Media Creator, Corel Video Studio and Pinnacle studio can capture and convert video and save it in an AVI file for use with Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut.

...more on working with DVD's

Question:  How can I convert video from a hard drive camcorder so it is compatible with your video editing software ?

Answer:  This can be done with software that comes with the camera, or with software like the AVS Video Converter.

Question: How can I get my video cutups "out" to a CD, DVD or Video Tape?  How do I create a cutup that can be uploaded to a web site or put on a flash (jump) drive?

Answer: Modern video editing systems create "cutups"  by cutting and splicing plays together and saving to a "new" video file (commonly referred to as Exporting, or Publishing video).

Once video cutups are assembled in a DVD authoring program, the DVD "project" can then be "burned" to a DVD using the computer's DVD "burner".

PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS - EASY-SCOUT PRO

Question: What video editing features does Easy-Scout Professional include and why does it seem to cost a lot less than other video editing systems.

Answer: Easy-Scout Professional enables a football coach to record information about Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams plays in a football game while watching the play at the same time. The information is then available to perform on-screen analysis and print tendency reports.

Easy-Scout Professional's video capabilities include the ability to:

1. Watch digital video while entering scouting data in the same program (Edit Video). 
   
2. "Tag" (or associate) video with a play in a game. Tagging clips while watching video is simply a matter of setting the start and stop points in the video clip and saving them with game data.


3. Record as many data items, such as Down, Distance, Play, Coverage, etc as you desire and go back and enter additional items at a later time.


4. Quickly tag plays by Possession (ODK) and identify plays to be included in highlight and training videos


5. Search for, or "filter" plays from one or more games (and one or more camera angles for each game) and then Play Back the video clips associated with those plays, either one at a time or in a continuous sequence - based on any data item or combination of data items in the Easy-Scout XP Pro system.


6. Create Cutups by either Exporting Video files or connecting a recording device to your computer's video out (S-Video) connector.

Easy-Scout Professional delivers basic video editing features and capabilities. This makes the product easy to learn, easy to use and easy to support, and that is reflected in a price that is easy on the budget.  

Question: Is there a required annual maintenance fee for Easy-Scout Professional like there is for other video editing software ?

Answer:  No. Software maintenance is available as an option, and most suitable for schools.  Since many of our customers are individuals, we offer significant discounts for upgrades that are purchased one time on an as-needed basis.

Question: What is the difference between Easy-Scout Pro and Easy-Cut?

Answer:  Easy-Scout Professional is a football-specific scouting and video editing program. It combines a full-featured and comprehensive scouting and tendency reporting program with a video editing program.

Easy-Cut is a general purpose, customizable, data-driven video editing program that can be used for any sport or for that matter, any application that can benefit from the user of data to categorize, organize, analyze and re-purpose video.  Easy-Cut has tools for calculating totals and can save data in an Excel compatible format, however it does not include football-specific reporting capabilities.