Need help with video editing

[Abking]

I made three long videos yesterday and have been playing with them on "Windows Movie Maker" (don't give me shit for being a lameass!   ).  The program creates a "MSWMM" file that is invalid for Youtube...  What should I be doing differently / what program do I need?   

thanks - Eric

[scwafish]

When you "make" you movie at the end you can specify the file type.

[Tote]

I did mine on Movie maker ( lame @ss ) and put it on youtube no problem. Just specify the file.

[Mahi]

Hey Eric,


Try HERE or HERE.

I have used Windows Movie Maker in the past too, and I saved it to a cd. I later learned you can save it as a dvd, so you can play it on the tv. It's all in the way you save your video.

Good luck!

CHEERS!

[Abking]

I don't know if it's the version I have, but it's only allowing me to "save as" a MSWMM...  Anyway, I'll try Dan's links.

Thanks.   

[Hojoman]

Try renaming a COPY manually and see if it works. What's the extension name? MSWMMk doesn't look like a file extension.

[Abking]

OK, this is a program issue - I can't be that lame!  I only have the option to "save project as" a MSWMM file if I'm doing it to my computer.  And, thanks Howard, but it wouldn't allow me to copy and rename.

Anyone have a suggestion for another program to get?

[Hojoman]

Once you create the file and exit the program, I don't understand why you can't copy the file to a different location and manually rename the copy. Or were you trying to do so from within the program? Don't you just hate Uncle Bill (Gates)?

[Abking]

I've tried again and again, Howard.  Yes, I do hate Uncle Bill!  I'm wondering if it's a Vista problem?...   

[Hojoman]

Vista...the magic word. There HAVE been a lot of issues with the new operating system, especially if you're using versions of programs that were written before Vista's existence. Could also be Uncle Bill's way of making you spend more dinero for the same program. Do you know if the program was written for Vista? Would say so on the packaging.

[bsteves]

Okay, I don't know anything about Vista, but I've used Microsoft Movie Maker a few times under XP.  The MSWMM files are simply project files for making your movies.  The allow you to save your work progress until you're ready to create the actual movie output file.  If you do a "Save As" you are just saving the project to another name.  If you try and give the project file a new name it still isn't a movie file.

The process of making a move  (under Windows XP) is basically the following...

In the program you're videos should be imported in as collections.  Use File->Import into Collections.  These video clips are then added to the storyboard or timeline by dragging them into it.  Add all the clips you want as well as any transitions between clips, music, etc.. to the storyboard/timeline.  Check things out in the preview pane as you edit to make sure you have what you want.  If you're saving for youtube make sure that your overall video length is less than 10 mins.

Once everything is how you want it.  Go to File->Save Move File and you should get a wizard that will walk you through the saving process.  Assuming you are saving for youtube, you'll want to select "My Computer" as you saving location.  Enter a movie name and pick a locaiton on your computer to save the file.  The next screen will ask about quality and you'll want to select the option that lets you specific the file size  "Best fit to file size...".  Make sure that the overall file size is less than 100 mb.  Click next and this should create your movie file (a WMV file).

Brian

[Abking]

Nope, thx anyway, Brian, but that doesn't work either.  I'm getting something else...

thx

[scwafish]

Brian is correct.  Those are project files, which are basically storyboards.  To finish the job you need to "make a movie", or as Apple calls it share.  Thats when you go from a project file format to a "movie" file format.

[Abking]

Brian is correct. 

I don't doubt that he is - for another version of this program, but not the one I'm using. 

[scwafish]

avi is fine, its your video size that is too big, make them 240X320 and try that.  you can also use BINK freeware to convert files from WMV to other formats. 

Now you can see why I loved Bills old Mac and iMovie HD so much...its much better for consumer grade home video making.  Now that I have the new Sony Vegas, its the best of both worlds.  If you want to play around with videos, the Vegas program is terrific.