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.

We recently began shipping Easy-Scout 3.0 for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.  Easy-Scout Pro Version 3.0 – aka Easy-Scout 2010 adds two new features for the 2010 season. 

Search and Replace

This new utility makes it quick and easy to correct data entry errors and inconsistencies or change terminology.  With Search and Replace, changes can be applied by simply specifying a data entry item that needs to be changed – for example, the Formation or Play Name, and the change the should be applied.  Conceptually, it works just like the Search and Replace in many Windows software applications and is expected to be a big time-saver for Easy-Scout Pro users.

Quick Edit

The Quick Edit feature is accessible from within Easy-Scout Pro’s Data and Video Analyzer screens.  With Quick Edit, it is now possible to select a play in a game and use a right click context menu to add or change the existing play data or the Start and End points for the video playback.

Easy-Scout Pro 3.0 is available in both 32 and 64 Bit Versions and can be purchased as an upgrade by registered users.  Schools and Coaches with an active Software Maintenance Agreement  will receive the new version automatically.

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

In just a few weeks, we’ve become big fans of the new DVD ripping product from Deskshare – a company that has published a number of affordable, general purpose video editing products for quite a few years.

First announced in an article in the Coach’s Advisor Journal in early July,  Rip DVD Plus really grew on us quickly.  This is not to take anything away from the other products we have recommended in recent years – we just really like a lot about this new product.  As pointed out recently on the CompuSports web site, Rip DVD seems easier to learn, faster and more flexible than other products we have worked with.

Most importantly, its ability to create a single .avi or WMV (Windows Media) in varying combinations of file size and video quality make it ideal for football coaches who increasingly exchange video on DVDs or receive just-played game video on a DVD shortly after the contest.

Rip DVD Plus is not to be mistaken with most of the other DVD ripper products that are really more like file converters than DVD converters. These less-capable, file-based products can be “hit or miss” for coaches in particular, since the video for a football or basketball game is normally split between two or more “vob” files (vob files are the MPEG 2 based file fragments on a Video DVD ).

Rip DVD Plus joins DVD Copy 6 Plus as a supported DVD “ripping” products for use with Easy-Scout Professional and Easy-Cut. 

For Easy-Cut users, multi-purpose Digital Media Converters such as the DIVX Converter – included in the Divx Pro for Windows bundle (with MPEG 2 plug in option) – available from www.divx.com , and Digital Media Converter Pro, also from Deskshare are excellent alternatives and also CompuSports – supported products.

Coaches can be confident when choosing a supported capture or conversion product, since we have invested our time and money to test, purchase and learn how to use them with our video editing software products on both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Designed for institutions like high schools and colleges, the CompuSports’ Software Maintenance plan provides extended application support (phone, email and interactive online support), "redeployment” support and version upgrades in an annual subscription that is budget-friendly.

The CompuSports Software Maintenance Agreement is optional .. all users of CompuSports products have access to self-help resources including FAQs, Video Tutorials and a Technical Support web site. 

For more information, contact a CompuSports Technical Support representative.

With the recent success of the Spring “price rollbacks” on our Easy-Scout and Easy-Recruiter products,  we heard the message loud and clear-  that, in these times of tight budgets, the more purchasing options that we make available to our customers – the better.

Following the reintroduction of the Easy-Recruiter Classic Edition, we’re releasing a “subscription edition” of our latest version, Easy-Recruiter Version 5, at a price of only $49 for a one year subscription.  

With a new, modern look and feel and the ability to synchronize recruiting information between office and “mobile” computers, Easy-Recruiter Version 5 brings new capabilities that will, like its predecessor evolve and expand over time.  And, with the new $49 per year subscription option, coaches and recruiters who need the capabilities in Easy-Recruiter Version 5 now have a new, highly affordable way to get started with Athletic Recruiting software.

Highly functional trial versions of all Easy-Recruiter products are available at www.compusports.com and www.coachingware.com .

Recently, we announced a promotion for the month of May that offered significant savings on the latest version of our scouting software – Easy-Scout XP Plus.

The promotion offered across-the-board savings on Easy-Scout XP Plus products, and was used to introduce our new, Personal Edition at a price that represents a “rollback” of sorts to level last seen in the late 90’s.

The Personal Edition, intended for individual coaches, can be installed on two computers and is available online as a Digitial Download from the CompuSports Media Exchange.

Easy-Scout XP Plus continues to be available on CD in a Staff Edition, that also includes a download option for coaches that want to get started quickly.  The Staff Edition can be purchased both online and offline (by mail, fax using checks or purchase orders).

The two editions of Easy-Scout XP Plus are identical in functionality, and differ only in the number of coaches that can use the software and the payment options that are available.  

Full details are available at www.compusports.com

Coaches and Athletic Recruiters have an additional option for managing athletic recruiting data as a result of our recent decision to reintroduce Easy-Recruiter "Classic".

Easy-Recruiter "Classic" is based on proven technology and includes a full set of data collection, management and reporting features.  Priced at $149, the Classic edition is ideal for single user environments and has no functional limitations whatsoever.

A fully functional trial version is available, and the software is compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista (all versions).

Earlier this month (April 2009), we began shipping Easy-Scout Professional Version 2.7.  This release completes the planned series of enhancements that we began to introduce in late November 2008 as versions 2.6 and 2.65. 

Version 2.7 of Easy-Scout Professional is as close to a must-have upgrade as any new version of this product that we have ever offered.  Three major new features have been added since Version 2.5, our 2008 “season” edition that we released in March 2008.

When compared with Version 2.5, the 2009 version includes

- A second screen for video editing – what we call our Quick Cut Video Editor

- An Integrated Export Video Module – this adds video “exporting” (to WMV and AVI) directly into Easy-Scout Pro.

- Game Split technology – ideal for reducing keystrokes when performing data analysis and printing tendency reports

Upgrade pricing is available to existing users of any Easy-Scout product.

(Important note: Easy-Scout Professional 2.71 was released in July with two additional enhancements. While unplanned at the time of this post, one actually complements the improvements mentioned here). Full details for the final release are discussed in  this related article ).

Full details about the latest version of Easy-Scout Professional , visit www.compusports.com or contact us by Online Chat or Phone.  Existing users can read about the changes in recent versions by visiting the Online Help Center, available from the Help menu in Easy-Scout Professional.

Since it was released (with little fanfare) in the Summer of 2008, CompuSports’ multi-purpose sports editing software -  Easy-Cut Version 2.2 has enjoyed an audience of coaches far wider than had been the case in prior seasons. First released in 2005, Easy-Cut has recently been adopted by coaches in sports that have been under-served by the sports software industry.  These coaches  have faced limited choices, and often settled on general purpose video editing software like Windows Movie Maker and DVD creation software like Roxio Media Creator. 

With its groundbreaking price ($195) and the kind of flexibility that enables coaches of any sport to use it, Easy-Cut has become popular with coaches in sports such as Lacrosse, Volleyball, Hockey and Wrestling.

Coaches of these sports are primarily concerned with being able to quickly mark and label plays, “moves”,  serves, goals and pins.  Easy-Cut Version 2.2 makes it quick and easy to view the video and label these types of “things”, and offers the added benefit of being able to combine a seasons worth of games to aid in the production of post-season highlight, training and even “clinic presentation” videos.

Until this past summer (2008) , we had allowed Easy-Cut to languish in the shadow of the Easy-Scout Professional Video Editing edition.  Used primarily to export the video from Easy-Scout Pro, Easy-Cut’s capable video editor and its ability to work with a wide range of video formats was often an afterthought. 

That all changed with the release of a video export (i.e. video publishing) module designed specifically for Easy-Scout Professional, and the eventual unbundling of the two products that was made possible late last year with the release of Easy-Scout Professional 2.6.

With digital camcorder prices well below $300, and capable laptop computers widely available for about $600, a complete video editing system (with Easy-Cut) is within the reach of any coach of any sport for around $1000 – sometimes less.  When coaching aids reach this level of affordability, its hard to argue with the potential ROI (return on investment) from using video to analyzer a pitcher’s motion, a golfer’s swing, a wrestler’s takedown “shot”, and a Tennis player’s serve, to cite just a few examples.