How I Create Videos Using Free Tools

Alik Levin

6 Mar 2007 5:09 PM

Comments 5

I've recently been hooked on doing some video stuff for demo purposes.

For example in this post I captured screen to show how to intercept web services http traffic with Fiddler - App Architecture with Security in mind - Video, Part I

There are plenty commercial tools available but I like free approach.

I am using Windows Movie Maker to create videos out of slides/pictures (that can be created for example with Paint) and for screen capture I use Windows Encoder (free download).

So here are the basic steps for the above sample:

1. Create video clip (WMV) out of static pictures using Movie Maker.

2. Capture screen using Media Encoder to produce WMV file..

3. Concatenate 1 and 2 using Media Encoder == WMV file

4. Get sound (WMA file) - either record your voice using Media Encoder or get some music (remember - copyright might apply).

5. Combine sound to the result of 3 using Media Stream Editor (installed with Media Encoder)

Media Encoder allows to do it all in one shot - screen and sound capture - but I like to separate.

Got better free techniques? Please share.

Enjoy

Video, Tools

Comments

Bernie Halpin

6 Mar 2007 9:53 PM

Photo Story is much easier to use than Movie Maker for creating a WMV with static pictures/screenshots. It's got transitions, too, and narration and sound can be added before outputting to a WMV.
Alik Levin

6 Mar 2007 10:37 PM

Great Pointer!!

The only problem is that photo story is not supported on Vista:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP; Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP Media Center Edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2
Rocky

7 Mar 2007 6:10 PM

I've actually found that the built in media tools in Vista can do everything that Bernie mentioned, and are incredibly easy to use. I put together a 5 minute video with music, transitions and overlays and voice overs in about 20 minutes with some pics downloaded from my camera. Really cool stuff.
alik levin's

10 Mar 2007 3:09 PM

Please visit landing page for these series How I Create Videos Using Free Tools where I explain the overall
Justin myJustin = new Justin( Expriences.Current );

7 Nov 2007 5:27 AM

שלום לכולם, החלטתי להגריל שישה ספרים מהוצאת Microsoft Press למפתחים שיעשו את ההקלטות מסך (Screencast