System Requirements - Easy-Scout XP Professional

 

Operating System

MS Windows XP Home or Professional, Service Pack 2 or 3
MS Windows Vista (All 32 Bit Versions)

For Vista, Home Premium or Ultimate is recommended

Disk Space and Memory Minimum 50 Mb Free Disk Space (excluding Video files)
Windows XP : 512 MB Required, 1 GB Recommended
   Windows Vista: 1 GB Required, 2 GB Recommended

* IMPORTANT NOTE: Disk Speed and Transfer Rates are important when working with certain types of video files. Choose hard drives with speeds of 7200RPM or faster when possible.

Video "Card" RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED

Desktops : "Dedicated" (separate) video card - minimum 128MB Video Ram
Laptops:   "DISCRETE" (as opposed to integrated) video memory or card - minimum 128MB Video Ram

Disk Storage for Video

Disk space requirements vary by video file type and quality used.

Allow between 1 and 12 GB per game. Video files can be very large, depending on the type of Video File that is used. Easy-Scout Professional works with Windows Media files (WMV), DV-AVI (if captured with Windows Movie Maker) and DIVX.

An external disk drive is useful but not required for storing video files that may be used in combination to produce cutups and highlights. The recommended capacity of an external disk drive is 120 GB or higher.

* IMPORTANT NOTE: Disk Speed and Transfer Rates are important when working with certain types of video files. Choose hard drives with speeds of 7200RPM or faster for best results.

DVD's can be used to store video files "offline", though we recommend that this is done in a "data" DVD format rather than standard DVD format. 

Converter or Capture Device or Digital Camcorder

Digital Video can be  "captured", or transferred to the computer for editing using a variety of methods and formats. 

Today's Digital Camcorders are equipped with either USB or  USB and Firewire connectors. For best results, choose a camcorder that records to "mini-dv" tapes, which will usually have a "firewire" connector (assuming the PC that will be used also has a firewire connector). When possible, choose a Digital Camcorder with a firewire connector.

Digital Camcorders that record on a DVD or Hard Drive either write to DVD or transfer video with a USB connection. They usually come with software that will convert the video to one of the formats that is compatible with Easy-Scout Professional. Avoid this type of camera if possible for best results and maximum flexibility.

To capture Video from a VHS tape (or similar Analog source), an Analog to Digital conversion is necessary. This is most commonly done with a "converter box" or Video Capture card, however some camcorders can do this also.  We can recommend a number of capture devices depending on the type of connection used by a PC and the type of video that needs to be captured.

Printer Optional - HP compatible Laser printer recommended
Video Output Device

Optional  based on user requirements for distributing video output.

One common approach for creating a cutup involves connecting a VCR or DVD Recorder to a Video Out or S-Video port on the computer and recording the "cutup" in real-time. Most notebook computers have S Video ports but not all desktop computers have this type of "port" (connector).  

An alternative to using an external recording device is to export (create)  a "new" Digital Video file that contains only those plays that will be on the "cutup", and then "burn" it to a CD or DVD using the software that is normally included with any computer that has a CD or DVD "burner".  

The Easy-Scout Pro Export Video Utility, as well as Easy-Cut can Export Digital Video files from Easy-Scout XP Professional movie project files.