Storyboard

The interface consists of a scrollable array of Media Clips called a storyboard, which can be saved to a Project text file.   You can add media to your project in three ways: By dragging files from Windows Explorer and dropping then on the Media Clip. By selecting Add File to Storyboard from the main menu. By pressing the Add New Media button on the toolbar. Special Conditions: Very small sized videos may not display properly on the control but should preview correctly. Because movies are generally wider than they are tall, Still Images that are taller than wide should be resized to 320X240 or equal ratio. Otherwise they will be crushed and distorted to match that height to width ratio. Movies compressed with most codecs including DivX 4.11 and higher are supported. Movies compressed using earlier versions of the DivX codec are not supported by Direct Show. Fx, Joiner includes a conversion utility that will attempt to convert DivX-3 and earlier movies to MPEG-4. You can also use an external tool such as VirtualDub to convert DivX files. If you create a slideshow using only still images you should use the Video for Windows compression tool since all newer compression schemes assume an audio track. As you add media to your project the clip will be added to the array in your Storyboard. There must always be an empty frame at the bottom in order to allow new media to be dragged and dropped. Media Clip Each Media Clip in your storyboard may be Played, Paused and Stopped while the entire Project may be Previewed before it is Joined as a new AVI file.   The media clip frame includes details about the clip: Clip Number Media Type Path to Source Duration The Position Button If transitions are enabled in your Settings and Preferences the transitions drop-down is also visible.

Commands may be accessed from the main menu or from the toolbar when it has been enabled in Settings and Preferences.

To create a new AVI file from multiple clips, follow these steps:

1. Add Files to your Storyboard

2. Set Transitions (Optional)

3. Save Joined Files as AVI

4. Compress the new file

   • Indeo Encoder

   • Windows Media Encoder

   • Video For Windows Compressor

   • VirtualDub

   • Fx, Batch Encoder

Set Transitions

NOTE: Allow Transitions must be checked in Settings and Preferences to use Transitions

DirectX transitions are delay methods used between the joined segments of your output video similar in function to "Fades" between scenes in movies. Exactly how long it takes for a transition to complete is set in Settings and Preferences. Please note that for best results the duration of a media clip should always be a longer period of time than the transition time.

Fx, Joiner supports the following transitions. If any of these are not installed on your computer the DirectX default transition (usually Stretch) will be used. See your DirectX documentation for more information.

To save the Media Clips in your Storyboard as an AVI file, select Save Joined Files as AVI from the main menu or by clicking the button on the toolbar.

Fx, Splitter will suggest a new file name based upon the old file name and path with an underscore and a number appended. You may change this by typing in another file name or browsing to another location. If you select a name that already exists you will be asked if you want to replace it. Occasionally over-writing an existing file will fail because of a Windows sharing violation. In such cases use another name then rename the file after windows releases the handles.

No matter what the format of the source the new file must be saved as an AVI. You may later convert it to another format using a variety of encoders. Fx, Splitter includes a Windows Media Encoder but does not currently support conversion to MPEG, Indio or Quick-Time.