Batch Capture

Batch capturing may seem intimidating, but in reality, it is an incredibly convenient method of capturing multiple video clips automatically. If you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with batch capturing, you will save yourself loads more time when you capture video from your camcorder. PowerDirector scans your DV for intervals (or allows you to set them manually), then captures them in a batch using the intervals you created.

Automatic Batch Capture

Automatic batch capture is a quick way to capture scenes from a video tape.

To perform an automatic batch capture, do this:

Note: Make sure your camcorder is in VCR mode before capturing.

1. Click to open Capture mode.

2. Click to open the DV device capture function. (You may have to wait a few moments as PowerDirector switches devices.)

3. Set your capture options (if necessary). See Capture Options.
   • Check Non-realtime to continue processing captured video after the original video stops playing in order to ensure that no frames are dropped.

4. Click . The DV QuickScan dialog box opens.
   • Click Note for important information on how to use the DV QuickScan function.

5. Locate the position at which you would like to begin scanning for intervals. You may do this in one of the following ways:
   • Use the playback buttons.

   • Drag the time slider.

   • Enter a timecode, then click to seek to that timecode.

6. Click Start to start scanning for intervals. PowerDirector scans for intervals.

7. Click Stop after all of the video segments you want to capture have been scanned. Scanned intervals appear as thumbnails in the window.
   • Click Back to return to the QuickScan function.

8. Check the thumbnails of the intervals you want to batch capture.
   • You can change the profile of the clips to be captured. To do this, click Profile and select a new profile.

   • To combine sequential intervals into a single interval, check the intervals, then click Merge. Click AutoMerge to combine intervals to combine all checked intervals in sequence or to merge all of the clips in an interval that you can set.

9. Click Start to begin batch capture. PowerDirector rewinds your tape to the position of first clip, then begins capturing all of the intervals you have checked. The video plays in the preview window as you capture. The clips you have captured appear in the Captured Clips area.
   • Click Stop to if you want to stop the capture process.

10. Click Finished to return to Capture mode.

Manual Batch Capture

Using manual batch capture gives you more control over the capturing process and ensures that the scenes you want to include are captured. Manual batch capturing is recommended when you are sure which scenes you want to capture and have a good idea where they are located on the tape.

To perform a manual batch capture, do this:

Note: Make sure your camcorder is in VCR mode before capturing.

1. Click to open Capture mode.

2. Click to open the DV device capture function. (You may have to wait a few moments as PowerDirector switches devices.)

3. Set your capture options (if necessary). See Capture Options.
   • Check Non-realtime to continue processing captured video after the original video stops playing in order to ensure that no frames are dropped.

4. Click . The DV Manual Scan/Batch Capture dialog box opens.

5. Navigate to the mark in time by doing one of the following:
   • Click inside the timecode box, enter a time using your keyboard, then press the Enter key.

   • Use the playback buttons.

6. Click to set the mark in point.

7. Navigate to the mark out time, then click to set the mark out point. The intervals you set appear in the pane to the right of the preview window.

Note: You can continue to set intervals of clips to capture. Each interval, however, must have a duration of at least two frames.

8. Click Start to begin batch capture. PowerDirector rewinds your tape to the position of first clip, then begins capturing all of the intervals you have checked. The video plays in the preview window as you capture. The clips you have captured appear in the Captured Clips area.
   • Click Stop if you want to stop the capture process.

   • Click Add to start another round of batch capturing.

9. Click Finished to return to Capture mode.