If you'd like an easy way to edit your video footage, Cinematic could be just what you're looking for. It automates much of the editing process for you. It's the quickest way to transform your camcorder tapes into professional-looking movies.

Once your raw footage has been imported into the program using a TV tuner or video capture card, you can use it in three modes. At the easiest, called Cinemagic, you merely select a video clip, a piece of music and a style, such as action or personal, before sitting back to watch your video being created.

As Cinemagic trims the video to fit the music, not the other way round, the video must be at least twice as long as the music chosen. Conveniently, there's an option for extracting audio from CD as a WAV file. Windows Sound Recorder will allow you to quickly cut your chosen music track to the correct length.

Listen to the music

Cinemagic bases many of its decisions on transitions and scene length on the tempo of the music, as well as the style chosen. Some templates use faster scene changes and more punchy effects but if you slow down the music, the result will be much more laid back.

When using Cinemagic, your biggest decision will be the choice of music - Fatboy Slim and Lighthouse Family give very different effects with the same starting video footage.

What's the story?

If you use the second option, Storybuilder, you play a bigger part in the decision making. You start by selecting an intro scene with an animated title, then work through the editing process step by step. You can choose between several templates, such as A Day at the Beach or Christmas.

Individual scenes from your starting footage are dragged into the working area, and music added from a selection provided, each with its own theme and mood.

For instance, there are seven holiday tunes to choose from. Titles can be inserted at appropriate points but the transitions are selected by the program. An ending animation completes the process.

Causing a scene

The final option, to work on your own, gives you total control over scene detection, the order in which clips are used, the music and transitions. The work is done in the Storyboard area, represented by a mock film strip with each scene fitting into an individual film square.

Transitions are dragged between scenes. The range provided is excellent, with 32 styles, some of which can be tweaked to present the same basic effect in different ways.

Special FX

Special effects and overlays can also be applied to one or more scenes. Effects include softening, search lights and mirroring. Overlays add animated objects or frames on top of your video. You can also insert still clips, photos or clip-art to enhance the action.

Cinemagic and Storybuilder also offer you the option to tweak a final film using the Storyboard screen. You can always return to a saved movie file and change some features at a later date.

The big picture

The final step is to save your movie to disk, export it to videotape or DVC camcorder or upload it to the internet. MGI even has dedicated space on the internet where films can be displayed. Now isn't that a nice way to show off your achievements?

Contact
MGI 0800 973830 www.mgieurope.com

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