Import from file-based media

Pinnacle Studio corner top left Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio border Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio corner top right Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio border Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio spacer Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio spacer Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio blue button Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio spacer Import from file based media

To learn more about

Importing media (2): Importing from file-based devices and photo cameras

click here to watch the online tutorial
on our website (internet connection needed)

Pinnacle Studio spacer Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio spacer Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio border Import from file based media
Pinnacle Studio corner bottom left Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio border Import from file based media Pinnacle Studio corner bottom right Import from file based media

Select Other devices in the Import From panel of the Import Wizard to prepare for importing from file-based storage media other than local hard drives, including optical drives, memory cards and USB sticks.

The job of selecting the files to import belongs to the folder and media file browser in the central area of the display.

Pinnacle Studio image001 Import from file based media

When importing from file-based media, the Import Wizard provides a folder and file browser in the central area. This is flanked on the left by the Import From and Import To panels, and on the right by the Mode and Filename panels. The Start Import button at bottom right sets things in motion after the desired media files have been selected.

A single import operation can take in multiple types of media file from multiple source folders. Each selected file will be copied to the correct folder for its media type (as specified in the Import To panel).

The folder and media file browser

Pinnacle Studio image002 Import from file based mediaThe left hand column of the browser is a hierarchical view of all folders on all file-storage devices attached to your computer. These devices include hard drives, optical disc drives, memory cards and USB sticks.

Navigation in this “folder tree” is similar to that in Windows Explorer and other programs. Folders containing other folders are indicated by a plus sign to the left of the name when they are closed and by a minus sign when they are open. Click the sign to open out (“expand”) or close down (“collapse”) a folder’s list of subfolders.

Only one entry in the folder tree can be highlighted at a time. Any media files contained in that folder are immediately listed in the larger, right-hand division of the browser. You can preview files on the spot, and earmark those you intend to import by checking the box at the top right of corner of each file icon.

Pinnacle Studio image003 Import from file based media

Here, the folder video\current is open, revealing eight video files. To select (or unselect) a file for import, click the checkbox in the top right corner of its icon. In the illustration, three files have been selected.

Previewing media files

Pinnacle Studio 036 import wizard   file preview   play Import from file based mediaPreviewing audio and video: The media file browser includes built-in previewing for all supported media types. Click the play button in the center of video and audio file icons to preview the media they represent. For quick viewing, video files play back within the icon frame itself. Click anywhere on the icon to halt playback; otherwise the entire file is previewed.

Pinnacle Studio 037 import wizard   file preview – full screen Import from file based mediaFull-screen
preview:
During video playback, a full-screen viewing button is displayed at the top left of the file icon. This button works similarly to the Player’s full-screen preview button in Studio’s Edit mode.Full-screen previewing closes automatically at the end of the video. To close it manually, press the Esc key or double-click the display during  preview.

To view a digital photos or other picture file at full-screen resolution, double-click its icon.

Pinnacle Studio 037 import wizard   file preview – scrub Import from file based mediaScrub preview: Audio and video clips both provide a scrubber control immediately below the file icon. Click and drag the scrubber knob to manually review any part of the file. The mouse pointer changes to a two-headed horizontal arrow when it is correctly positioned for scrubbing.

Selecting media files for import

To select media files one at a time for importing, click the selection box at the top right corner of the file icon.

Pinnacle Studio 037 import wizard   file preview – select Import from file based media

Click the selection box to check or uncheck the file.

Multiple selection: The browser also provides a method of selecting (or unselecting) simultaneously a group of highlighted files. To highlight an individual file, simply click  on its name or its icon; the highlighted state is indicated by an orange border. To highlight additional files, click icons in conjunction with either of the Shift and Ctrl keys, as follows:

·    Click while pressing Ctrl to add or remove the highlighting from one file without affecting the others in the group.

·    Click while pressing Shift highlights the clicked icon and all those between it and the previously clicked icon, inclusive. Highlighting is removed from any icons not within the range.

You can also highlight a range of icons directly with the mouse, by dragging out a rectangle that intersects the icons you want to include. Click the first icon and move to the last one before releasing the mouse button.

Having highlighted some icons you want to import, click the selection box of any one of them to select or unselect the entire group at once.

Pinnacle Studio 038 import wizard   file highlighting Import from file based media

A group of four highlighted video file icons. Selecting or unselecting any one will affect the whole group.

Select all and Unselect all: Click these buttons along the bottom of the media file browser to select for importing either all or none of the media files listed in the current folder. They do not affect any files currently selected in other folders.

Pinnacle Studio image009 Import from file based media

Use the Select all button to select all the media files in the current folder.s

Each time a file is added to or removed from the list of those to be imported, the media browser updates the selection status indicator at the bottom of the display.

Customizing the browser

Several controls allow you to configure the media file browser appropriately for your display hardware and requirements.

Close the folder tree: To maximize the space for viewing files, click the left-pointing double-arrow icon at the top of the folder tree scroll bar. This collapses the folder tree to a vertical bar down the left-hand side. At the top of the bar is the right-pointing double-arrow that will reopen the tree. The name of the current folder is also shown.

Pinnacle Studio image010 Import from file based mediaFilter the file list: Another way to optimize your use of the file area is to limit the files shown to include only one media type. This is the function of the media filter dropdown at the bottom left of the browser. By default, all supported media file types appear in the browser, but you can limit the view to picture files, audio files or video files by your selection here. To see exactly which file types are included in a selection, hover on the item for a second or two to pop up the list.

Pinnacle Studio image011 Import from file based media

Hovering over the Audio files option brings up a list of file types from which audio import is supported.

Pinnacle Studio 038 import wizard   preview size Import from file based mediaSet preview size: A final tool for managing screen real estate is the preview size slider at the bottom right of the browser. Move the slider leftwards to reduce, or rightwards to increase, the size of the preview images in the file browser. There are three ways of moving this slider with the mouse:

·    Click on the slider knob and drag to the left or right.

·    Click beside the slider knob to nudge itin the appropriate direction.

·    Click the minus/plus buttons at the ends of the slider scale to move the knob by a larger amount.

Pinnacle Studio  Import from file based media t wizard - file preview - volume.png" align="right" hspace="12">Set preview volume: To set the playback volume of audio and video clips for previewing, hover the mouse pointer in the area of the audio/mute button in the bottom bar of the media file browser. A volume slider will appear beside the button. Drag the knob up and down to control the volume. Click the audio/mute button itself to toggle audio muting.

Adjusting the import file date and time

The internal clocks of the recording devices are often set incorrectly, resulting in incorrectly timestamped media files. The Import Wizard can correct this kind of problem by setting the date and time of the imported files according to your specifications.

To correct the file time or date:

Use the more button Pinnacle Studio 039 more button Import from file based media on the “Selected Files” lines to open a window that offers two options for adjusting the timestamps:

·    Correct time zone: This slider changes the file timestamp of any media files you import by up to 12 hours in either direction. You can use this adjustment to compensate for the time difference when you bring home video from your travels.

·    Set date/time: These fields lets you enter an exact date and time of your choice. The file time of any media files you import will be changed to this.

Import from file-based media