Adding .avi files to slideshow

[sammo2828]

Just wondering if there are any plans to add .avi files to slideshows. Would be great to include those 30 second clips that most digital cameras can record these days ...

[lapinou]

Hi, you are not the first one to ask for this.. but ... technically it will be done in a future version as it is not as easy as it seems on the interface point of view, how would you like the option to be implemented ? describe the interface and behaviour. you want to be able to watch the video separatly of the photo ? or the slideshow is running, then stop to play the video and continue the photo slideshow later ?

[sammo2828]

Hi, thanks for your reponse. From an interface point of view, it would be good if the .avi files could be added in the same manner as pictures. So the buttons would now be called, "Add Picture/Video", and "Add Folder". On the image list, a thumbnail of the first frame (note 1) of the video should be shown. The Preview pane (above the "Space used on DVD" progress bar) should play the video when the thumnail is selected. (note 1) - there should be a configuration option to allow the thumbnail to show a frame N seconds from the start, in case the videos normally start out with a blank frame. When the video thumbnail is double-clicked, it should go into the "Additional Editing" mode, just like when a picture thumbnail is double-clicked. There needs to be play/pause/stop/ff/rw controls. There needs to be a timeline to set start/stop cut points. There needs to be volume control to adjust foreground audio from the clip, as well as background audio for the entire slideshow. I really like VSO PhotoDVD's existing ability to quickly select a focus point by clicking on the image. For videos, it should be possible to click on multiple focus points at various times within the clip. If a single focus point is selected for the entire video, then the Ken Burns effect could be applied easily. If there are multiple focus points, then the Ken Burns effect could be applied in a smoothed tracking motion. When the Additional Editing for a video clip is completed, pressing "left" or "right" should move to the next video or picture. The final slideshow should fade between videos as well as pictures in the same way. Note that the intention is to put short video clips in the slideshow sequence. So the interface shouldn't need to be as complicated as a fully-fledged video editing program.

[Cougar_II]

Hi there, I have also read a lot of people asking to add small videos in PhotoDVD. My only concern is it will sound pretty weird to have your music stop, play a small video for a few seconds, and have your music start over / continue, with pictures. This is why don't agree 100% with adding video files to PhotoDVD ! You want to see videos, use DivxToDVD and add all your videos to 1 DVD Media. Me 2 cents worth !

[sammo2828]

Hello, The idea isn't to stop the slideshow music. Instead, the slideshow music will continue to run throughout the short video clip as background/mood music. As I mentioned in my previous post, there should be volume controls to adjust the background and foreground audio. Foreground audio is the audio from the video clip. Background audio is the music audio used in the entire slideshow. As an example, you could fade the background audio to 50% when a video clip begins, and fade it back to 100% when the video ends. Alternatively, if the video doesn't have any interesting audio (e.g. panning scenery without commentary), you could mute the foreground audio completely, while playing the background audio at 100%. If you have a DVCAM, then it makes sense to edit video footage with a proper video editor. However, if you only have a digital camera that also does short videos, then it makes sense to integrate them to the slideshow. Usually, keeping the chronological ordering will tell a better story for the audience. Cheers!

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