Update on our Outstanding Video Editing Accessories

With 2009 nearly in the books, we just realized that the CompuSports Software News and The Coachs Advisor, our two blogs, had yet to publish and update to one of our most popular articles – Outstanding Video Editing Accessories.

In order to do justice to the topic, we’re going to publish a new article in early 2010 that explains some of our recent “findings”, particularly when working with Windows 7 and recent versions of a few of our previously recommended products. Specifically, we’ll talk about Corel’s replacement for DVD Copy 6 Plus – their Digital Media Suite 2010, DIVX 7 for Windows, the latest version of a suite of products that we have liked for a number of years and the latest versions of Rip DVD Plus and Digital Media Converter Pro – two products from Deskshare, a company with a long track record of producing video editing software and utilities.

Until the new article arrives, a few previous articles and a link to our Amazon Store are worth checking out.

 Our Amazon Video Editing Accessories and Software Utilities "store" is stocked only with products specific to video editing, and is located at  http://astore.amazon.com/compusportsonlin .  The store was updated earlier this month (Dec 2009).

Previous versions of our Outstanding Video Accessories articles are here (2008) and here (2008)

In these articles, we list and describe some of our recommended and supported products and display accessories for capturing video, connecting capture devices and choosing and connecting digital video camcorders.

Easy-Scout Professional Version 2.71

Last month, we began shipping Easy-Scout Professional 2.71. We expect this will be the final release that adds features or functionality until after the coming (2009) football season.

Version 2.71 adds two features to Version 2.7, both significant.  Version 2.71 is available as a free update to registered Easy-Scout Pro users of any version equal to, or greater than 2.6, which was released in November 2008.  This is consistent with our policy of providing updates based on the “football season”, as opposed to on a calendar-year basis.

Intelligent Default Wizard

Of the two new capabilities in Version 2.71, the one most noticeable is the new Intelligent Default “wizard”. The name was chosen for the “intelligence” that it extends to the scouting data and video editing screens.

Intelligent Defaults TM have been part of all Easy-Scout products for over 20 years, and have been included in Easy-Scout Professional since it was first released in 2006.  Until Version 2.71, however, the time-saving, and accuracy-checking benefits of Intelligent Defaults TM  were available only when using Easy-Scout’s special “ADD MODE”, which saves video and play information, increments the Play Number, and creates a new play with Intelligent Defaults TM .

In short, the Intelligent Default TM wizard has the ability to adjust the values of the Down, Distance and Field Position for any play, at any time, based on the results of the Previous Play.  This is particularly useful in what we call “2 pass editing”, when a game is first “cut” into ODK, and then later, revisited to record additional data for each play – either to produce tendency reports or to expand the “search” criteria that can be used for video analysis and producing cutups.

Combined with the new Quick Cut editor screen added in Version 2.6, the Export Video module added in Version 2.65, and the Split Game Utility added in Version 2.7,  the Intelligent Default wizard completes a new set of functions that collectively represent significant improvement in the Video Editing, Video Analysis and Tendency Reporting capabilities of the program when compared to last season’s version (2.5).

Time based Registration module with License Transfer support

Another significant, but less obvious improvement that has been implemented in Version 2.71 is an optional Registration Module that supports “time-based” licensing.   In short, the new registration module can be configured either for “license purchase” customers – which have historically represented 95 percent of Easy-Scout Professional users, or existing (grandfathered)  Season Pass subscription customers.

Season Pass was a program we offered as a pilot program last season and discontinued due to insufficient interest (due largely, we believe, to the highly affordable price and low cost of ownership for Easy-Scout Pro when compared with other video editing software for football coaching).  With the improvements in Version 2.71, we are considering a reintroduction of a “new and improved” Season Pass program for next season.

For existing users (the 95 percent that purchase an Easy-Scout Pro license), the license transfer option in Version 2.71 adds a low cost, and in some cases, no-cost way to add license portability in a way that can mean significant cost savings.  In short, the License Transfer option in Version 2.71 makes it possible to avoid having to purchase an additional license when a computer is replaced with a new one.   Additional details about the License Transfer option is available by contacting a Technical Support representative.

Version 2.71 availability

Users of Easy-Scout Professional will be contacted with information about updating (free) or upgrading (reduced cost) their Easy-Scout Professional software to Version 2.71.   Full details are available also by visiting the CompuSports web site at www.compusports.com

Easy-Scout Professional 2.51 Released

We just released an update for Easy-Scout Professional Version 2.5 that was introduced last November.  The new version features updated Report Groups that better organize the reports that were included in the new Reporting module introduced in Version 2.5 as well as a new Report Index report.  In addition, the "Back" and "Forward" buttons were adjusted to complement the behavior of the new Reverse and Forward Video Playback controls in Windows Media Player 11.

Easy-Scout Professional 2.51 is available in a full install for new purchasers and trial users as well as existing users that purchase an additional license. It is also available for purchase by users of Versions 1.0 through 2.14 as an upgrade.

Released with Easy-Scout Professional 2.51 is a new version of the Easy-Scout Database Utilities – Version 1.1. The new utilities include a new function to update the Report Groups after applying the Version 2.51 Update to an existing installation without interfering with any user-defined Report Groups.

* Changes that Microsoft made in January 2008 to the Windows Installer in Windows XP required modifications to the Version 2.5 installer for Easy-Scout Professional. The changes only affected Windows XP and not Windows Vista. The installer for Version 2.51 replaces all prior installers of 2.5 shipped or downloaded between November 2007 and March 14, 2008.

There are no known issues with installers shipped prior to November 2007 or after March 14, 2008.

Windows Vista compatibility update for CompuSports products

When Windows Vista was released in January 2007, we knew it was only a matter of time before the need to attain Vista “compatibility” would become a necessity for software publishers.  Despite an avalanche of criticism from all corners of the computing community, including the recently “awarded”, dubious designation as PC World’s “biggest disappointment of the year”,  what Microsoft wants, Microsoft gets. Its that simple.

As the PC World article points out, “Vista will come to dominate the PC landscape, if only because it will become increasingly hard to buy a new machine that doesn’t have it pre-installed.”  While Retail buyers (those that buy computers in stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, Staples and the like) found this to be true almost immediately after Vista’s release, companies that sell computers to business and insitutional buyers have been permitted to offer their customer a choice of Windows XP or Windows Vista, and will be permitted to do so until June 2008.

The unfortunate part of all of this for new computer buyers is that the cost of purchasing a new computer that runs Windows Vista does not end with the cost of the computer. Many “peripherals” like printers and video capture devices don’t work on Vista and need to be replaced.  The story is the same for software, particularly specialized software of the kind that coaches purchase for coaching-specific tasks.

We had a two-pronged approach to Windows Vista at CompuSports. Like most publishers that want to remain in business for the long haul, we made a commitment to invest in the future viability of our Easy-Scout, Easy-Cut and Easy-Recruiter products. 

The first prong in our strategy was to develop Vista-compatible versions of our video editing products, which we did shortly after Vista was released. Easy-Scout Professional 2.0 , and Easy-Cut 2.1shipped in March with Windows XP and Windows Vista compatibility.  In each case, the application itself required significant modifications in order to run at all on Windows Vista, and since a new computer, often a laptop, is often purchased to run Video Editing software, that was our priority.

The second part of our strategy was to focus on those products that were typically installed on “office” or school computers, since there was a greater likelihood that Windows XP would be slower to “disappear”. With just a few exceptions, we found this to be the case, and in fact, expect Windows Vista to have a slow uptake in schools due to the fact that schools, like business, “have a choice”. The two products in this category were our Easy-Scout XP (football scouting) and Easy-Recruiter (athletic recruiting) applications.

Easy-Recruiter was shipped early this fall in a Vista-compatible version, that itself has been updated one time in early December to resolve what had been an intermittent, yet nagging issue. 

Easy-Scout XP, while delivered in a Vista-compatible immediately upon Vista’s release,  had a design that made it somewhat inconvenient for Vista users to install and run.  Plus, its companion product, Analyzer 2006 was not Vista compatible and we learned that it would only function on Vista with a major overhaul. 

For these reasons, our approach with Easy-Scout XP and Analyzer was to “consolidate” the two products and offer them in a single, Windows XP and Windows Vista compatible product.  That product, Easy-Scout XP Plus, was shipped last month (November). In addition to consolidating the products, we took the opportunity to enhance the analysis and reporting module that had been in Analyzer before releasing Easy-Scout XP Plus. The result is a better product, where we believe 1+1=3.

While not free, these Vista-compatible versions are available at reduced upgrade pricing to current users. Season Pass subscribers for Easy-Scout Professional automatically receive the latest version with their subscription renewals, and software maintenance agreement holders receive them as needed.

Using your “mini-DV” Camcorder to convert VHS tapes

Even though topics such as this tend to be highly technical in nature and not limited to our software products, a recent article in www.coachsadvisor.com dealing with this subject has generated a lot of interest and questions from coaches. This is no surprise, since few coaches are so fortunate that they never have a need to convert a VHS tape or a DVD to a digital format that is “sports editing software-friendly”.

Since our product designs are based on the belief that there is no justification to reinvent the wheel when doing so adds cost, complexity or difficulty for the user, it makes sense that when we discover ways to reduce one or more, we make sure not to keep it a secret.  Coaches fortunate enough to have a camera that supports “digital pass through” should really consider this technique. 

To this end, I decided to include two links for current or prospective users of CompuSports’  Video Editing Software Easy-Scout XP Professional and Easy-Cut that want to explore this method of converting “analog” video sources to Digital.

The first link takes you to the Microsoft web site and applies to Windows XP Users . The article has some very useful diagrams as well as step by step instructions.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/21/dvpassthrough.mspx

 The second link takes you to a recent Coachs Advisor article that covers the topic in general and has a link to a similar Microsoft web site article that applies to Windows Vista users.

 http://coachsadvisor.blogspot.com/2007/10/convert-your-vhs-tapes-with-windows.html

New Video Editing Software Demonstrations

We’ve just completed a number of animated demonstrations for our Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut products.

 The demonstrations are accessible from the main page in the Online Help system for each program, the trial download pages, and the CompuSports Technical center.  ”Offline” versions that do not require an internet connect are available on request to licensed users.

The new demonstrations include the following titles for Easy-Scout Professional:

Easy-Scout Professional Game Menu – Understanding and Using the Game Menu. Covers Adding, Editing, Viewing and Deleting Games. Also covers using the Game Properties function to link a video file to scouting from any Easy-Scout product.

Easy-Scout Professional Play Entry process – detailed, step by step explanation of entering plays into Easy-Scout Professional, using the “scouting” or “data-only” mode. An essential skill  for using Easy-Scout Professional for scouting, video editing, or both.

Easy-Scout Professional Video Editor – detailed, step by step explanation of the Video Editor controls and how they work.  Shows use of the Video Editor after selecting a game for editing that has already been started.

Easy-Scout Professional Video Analyzer – introduction to the Video and Data Analyzer.  Illustrates the design of the Video Analyzer “form” after selecting one or more game for analysis.

Making Cutups and Highlights with Easy-Scout Professional – introduces the Video Analyzer’s tools for performing searches and creating cutups and highlights. Explains Movie Projects and how Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut work together to create advanced cutups and highlight videos.

Reporting with Easy-Scout Professional – overview and detailed, step by step explanation of the Report Manager in Easy-Scout Professional. Shows use of Report Manager for viewing and/or printing one or more reports, for single games or groups of games.  Also covers the Report Group feature to provide fast access and better organization of the 100+ reports included in the program.

Easy-Cut Demonstrations include:

Editing Video – demonstrates the functionality of the Video Editor and how to use it to view digital video and mark plays for selective playbacks and to produce cutups and highlights.

Creating Video Cutups – demonstrates the steps involved in creating video cutups in Easy-Cut. Begins with importing from Easy-Scout movie projects and illustrates the use of the Project Manager for organizing plays and building projects.

Season Pass Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve been getting quite a few questions about the Season Pass, 1 year subscription option that was announced a short time ago. 

A few of the most frequently asked questions about the Season Pass licensing alternative.

Question : I prefer to purchase the program. Do I still need a Season Pass  each year?

Answer: No. The Season Pass, when available, is an alternative for the traditional license purchase. It is an "either/or" situation – either a traditional license or a Season Pass, but not both.

Question: Are there any other benefits for the Season Pass, such as free updates?

Answer:  Since the Season Pass will always be a license to use the latest version of the software it makes it possible to budget for the cost of upgrades.

Question: What is the main benefit of the Season Pass 1 Year Subscription

Answer:  In the short term, the Season Pass offers football coaches an opportunity to benefit from the use of software at lower initial cost.

Question: Is the Season Pass available for more than one computer, and if so, how much does it cost?

Answer:  Yes.  There is no limit to the number of Season Passes that can be purchased. For two computers, there is no difference in cost. For three or more, a staff license Season Pass is available that offers some savings.

Question:  If I decide I want to purchase a license after one year, do I get credit for what I paid for a Season Pass?

Answer:  In some instances, a portion of the cost of the first year of a Season Pass license can be applied toward a license purchase .

Outstanding video editing "accessories"

NOTICE – THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN IN 2007. BE SURE TO READ 

Update on Video Editing accessory recommendations for Windows Vista users 

Our two video editing programs – Easy-Scout XP Professional and Easy-Cut were designed to work with a number of video file formats, including the "standard" DV-AVI and a few that save disk space and provide for excellent portability by "compressing" the video.

"Compressed" video formats reduce the size of the video file by a factor as high as 10 to 1 when compared to the standard "uncompressed" DV format that is used for storing video on Digital Camcorders.   This is important to coaches because it means more video can be stored on a computer’s internal hard drive – in many cases an entire season, plus it makes it easy to give copies of the game to other staff members without a large investment or logistical acrobatics.

The two compressed formats that work best with our products are Windows Media (.wmv) and DIVX/XVID (usually an .avi file but a different "animal" than DV-AVI) .  Both reduce the size of a typical game enough that it is usually possible to store a few games on a DVD or even a portable "flash drive".

No special equipment (other than a firewire connector and cable) or video capture software is required in order to transfer video recorded on most Digital Camcorders to the computer in either DV-AVI or Windows Media format.  Windows Movie Maker, included with Windows XP and Windows Vista, does both jobs for you and best of all, its easy, free and it works! In fact, video capture from "firewire-equipped" devices and camcorders is built right into Vista, and a "wizard" pops up with Vista senses there is video to be captured.

But, to convert video from VHS tapes or DVD’s to DV-AVI, WMV or another format, one or more special "tools" are required.

Recommended devices for CAPTURING video from VHS or DVD

We’ve tested quite a few products for capturing and converting VHS tapes and DVD’s for use on a computer, including a number of hardware "converter box" products .   These products connect to a computer via a "Firewire" connection (caution – not all desktops have Firewire connections) or USB 2.0 connection.  Windows Movie Maker and the Windows Vista Video Capture Wizard, our recommended capture programs, "recognize" these devices and convert the video to either an avi or Windows Media format.

Since most modern video editing systems work with Windows Media and .avi video,  some coaches prefer the "smaller" file sizes of Windows Media (though some types of avi files that use the DIVX or XVID have small files sizes as well).  Choosing Windows Media for video makes it practical to store an entire season on a computer’s hard drive or a small “pocket” hard drive. 

The video quality of Windows Media is more than adequate in all but the most demanding situations and many coaches find it to be the easiest to use. Plus, Windows Media is supported by Windows Movie Maker and Windows Vista’s built in capture capabilities – with no additional downloads required. Best of all, its all free!

Our favorite Firewire Capture device – ADS PYRO A/V Link

Our favorite in this category is the ADS Pyro A/V Link .  It costs about $100 less than its nearest competitor, and includes all the cables you are likely to need. The ADS works equally well when converting to DV-AVI and Windows Media formats using the two free Microsoft capture tools mentioned above (Movie Maker and the Vista Video Capture wizard).

Alternatively, video capture "cards" are available for desktop computers, but since they require "cracking the case", a vacant "slot" in a computer, and once installed lack the portability of the "converter boxes", they are seldom the best choice for a coach who simply wants to transfer video from a VHS or other analog source to a computer.  Furthermore, a video card must be selected carefully to ensure compatibility with the video editing software to be used. For these reasons, we DO NOT recommend a video capture card.

Our favorite USB capture devices – ADS Video Express, Plextor ConvertX402U

* Recommended for systems running Windows XP

When teams do a video "exchange", the media of choice is typically a VHS tape or DVD. In either case, the video must be converted to a format that is suitable for video editing. "Compressed" formats like Windows Media are often an excellent choice for this task, since they will retain the quality of the original video and save disk space.

The ADS Video Express looks more like a cable than a converter box, and plugs into a USB port, where it gets its "juice".   Composite and S-Video connectors are at the other end of the USB cable and when connected, both Windows XP and Windows Movie Maker recognize the device. I’ve tested the Video Express with a few video captures on Windows XP machines and the quality in Windows Media format was identical to the VHS tape and suitable for editing.  The Video Express is readily available at prices under $50!

The Plextor 402U Convertx is an analog to digital converter "box".  It connects to a PC through USB, though its bundled software works only with Windows XP.  The Plextor includes Win DVD Creator, for capturing video in the DIVX format, and with it, the quality of the video is exceptional. Plus, Win DVD Creator is a nice program for creating DVD’s. The Plextor is an excellent product for Windows XP users, but since Plextor does not work on Windows Vista, the Plextor ConvertX 402U is hard to find.

The  ADS and Plextor devices will not work with Windows Vista using the software that comes with the device.  For this reason, Vista users should choose a firewire-based capture device like the ADS Pyro AV over one that connects with USB.

Our favorite DVD “ripping” product

Our favorite product for converting full DVD’s (a process called “ripping” a DVD) to a format that works adequately in many sports editing situations is DVDCopy - a software only solution from Intervideo (now part of Corel).  See related articles on DVD ripping for more details.

DVD Copy does what it sounds like it would do – converts DVD’s.  We’ve used this product since version 4 and it adds more formats each year.  For more info on DVDCopy, visit  Corel – the new owner of the WinDVD, WinDVD Creator and DVDCopy products .