Working With Digital Files

For anyone tired of working with loads of digital files, the VideoFOCUS suite of products solves problems. With ease.

Importing Files

Many of the CDs that arrive on your desk may contain video files that can be copied to your hard disk and played conventionally in Windows Media Player. If you find this is the case, keep in mind VideoFOCUS will import many of these video files directly.

Supported file formats include:

  • Quicktime (.mov)
  • AVI (.avi)
  • Windows Media (.wmv, .wm, .asf, .asx)
  • MPEG (.mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .m2v)
  • MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4v, .mp4v)
  • DivX (.divx)
  • Indeo (.ivf)
  • DV (.dv)

Important: If you intend to import a file, import the file from a local drive on your computer. If imported off the CD itself, the imported file will not be able to be read after ejecting the CD. (See page 21 of the VideoFOCUS User Guide for more info.)

Importing VOB Files

While VideoFOCUS lists the VOB (.vob) format as a supported file type in the Import dialog, not all VOB file types may import. Success will depend on the availability of the MPEG-2 codec used to compress the file, and whether or not it is installed on the user's computer. As a work around, users can install a combination of the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component and QuickTime Pro. The MPEG-2 Playback Component allows the VOB files to open in QuickTime Player, and QuickTime Pro allows the file to be exported to another format which VideoFOCUS can import, such as Motion JPEG.

To download the MPEG-2 Playback Component, visit: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

To download QuickTime Pro, visit: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/pro/

A Note on Codecs and Proprietary Players

Many video files can only be played within the environment of a proprietary player developed by the company that created the video system. Some of these players may let users export video into self-contained clips, such as AVI files, while others do not. It's worthwhile to check whether or not an export feature is available when working with a proprietary player. If it turns out to be the case that exporting is an option, it's likely that any exported files could be imported to VideoFOCUS.
To play a video, you must have the proper CODEC (Compress-Decompressor) loaded on your system. The codec may require installation from a disc or be supplied by the vendor on their website. If you can't identify which codec a file has been compressed with, try examining the file with Gspot utility. This can be downloaded for free at: http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

For a comprehensive database of proprietary video file extensions and codecs used in digital video security systems visit: http://media-geek.com/DVR-DatabaseNotice/menu-id-141.html

Transcoding on Import

If your original media is a streaming format (Windows Media, and some AVI formats are generally streaming formats) transcoding on import will transform the file to a non-streaming format of your choice, such as uncompressed QuickTime or AVI. This offers you better control over the media, especially in the ability to easily step through the clip, frame by frame.

Additionally, CDs, or DVDs may contain files that you want to import to VideoFOCUS. It's important to remember that any imported media from a removable media disc must be present on the computer's hard drive before the CD or DVD is ejected. Transcoding on import not only converts files to a standard format, but in the process, automatically ensures that a copy of the file will be written to the hard drive.

Screen Capture

What do you do when the video can't be imported? Some CDs may contain video that can only be viewed in a player provided on the CD itself. Or maybe there is a streaming video on a website you'd like to copy, but no way to download it.

No problem. VideoFOCUS Screen Capture rips the video directly from the player, recording the video to your local disk as it plays, creating a frame accurate uncompressed copy of the original. You can use the original CD once and put it away.

Save Copies Your Way

Finally, VideoFOCUS allows you to export your captured or imported video to a less exotic format that can be opened in Windows Media Player or QuickTime. Think of VideoFOCUS as a one-stop file conversion tool.

Call For Submissions

If you find you can't import a file, or screen capture from a video player for technical reasons, consider submitting it to Salient Stills for evaluation. We would like to examine your "problem files" to ensure future releases are compatible with virtually any type of digital video. Call 617.987.8200 x251 or email support@salientstills.com.

VideoFOCUS 3.0

For more information on VideoFOCUS 3.0, please visit our Product Section.