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Overcast Studio
What is the Overcast Studio?
The Overcast Studio is an authoring application for creating Overcasts. The Overcast Studio is free and included with the Overcast Player in the software download. It's easy to use and anyone can create Overcasts.
The Overcast Studio creates Overcast Projects which contain all of the media files and timeline information. With an Overcast Project defined, you can export an Overcast playback file to share with your friends or publish to overcastmedia.com.
Getting Started
What will you create with Overcast Studio?
This is the fun part: what kind of Overcast will you create and for what video? A commentary about a favorite TV show? A parody? Something educational? Something that's never been seen before?
If you haven't seen many Overcasts yet, be sure to visit our examples section here for ideas.
Once you've decided what Overcast you'd like to create, you'll want to find and get the video you need on your PC. Perhaps the video is a TV show that you recorded on your PC or a movie purchased from Amazon Unbox. click here to learn more about viewing tv episodes on your PC.
When you have the video, you're ready to create your first Overcast Project.
Creating an Overcast Project
The Overcast Studio creates project folders in the My Overcast Projects directory on your hard drive. To create a new Overcast Project, follow these steps:
1. In Overcast Studio, select File > New Project…
2. Select a digital video file on your hard drive for the video you want to create an Overcast with
3. Assign your project a name (or use the default name based on the name of the video you have selected.
Basic Studio Features
Controlling playback in the Overcast Studio
The control bar above the timeline contains the basic playback controls. You can also use the timeline to go to a specific point in the movie by clicking anywhere in the timeline. To step forward or backwards through the Overcast clips, use the Next Clip and Previous Clip buttons located next to the Play and Stop buttons.
Adjusting the relative volume between your audio and the video's audio
There are two methods to control the relative volume between your Overcast's audio and the Video's audio. The most common method is to se the Playback Volume Dialog to set the relative volume between your audio and the audio of the video. You can think of this as a global volume setting. A second method is to adjust the relative volume for any individual Overcast Clip. Do this by right-clicking on an Overcast Clip and selecting "Volume…".
Creating Audio Clips
Recording an audio clip
Overcasts consist of one or more audio clips which are played with a video file. To record an audio clip, follow these steps:
1. Connect a microphone to your PC
2. Position the timeline playhead to a place in the timeline where you want the audio clip to begin (you don't have to be exact as you can move the audio clip after you have created it)
3. To start recording, click the Record button above the timeline
4. To stop recording, click the button again
Importing an audio clip
In addition to recording audio clips, you can import existing audio files. This is particularly useful if you have use a third-party audio recording application to make your recordings or if you have existing files that you want to use in your Overcast Project. To import an Audio Clip:
1. Position the timeline playhead to a place in the timeline where you want the imported clip to begin (you don't have to be exact as you can move the audio clip after you have imported it)
2. In Overcast Studio, select Tools > Import Audio Clip…
3. Select your audio file
Overcast Studio can import WMA, MP3, AIFF and WAV audio files.
Give your audio clip a name
Each audio clip can have a unique name. Because this name can be displayed in the Overcast Player's Clip List, your audience can use the names of clips to understand your Overcast's structure and use the Clip List as an overview. To give your clip a name:
1. Double-click on an audio clip in the timeline or in the Clip List, or
2. Right-click on an audio clip in the timeline or in the Clip List and select "Properties"
3. Enter the clip's name in the Title field
Providing metadata information for audio clips
Using the Audio Clip Dialog, you can also enter in tags and a description for each audio clip. This information is stored in the Overcast file and can be used by other applications and services.
Trimming an audio clip
You can change the start and end point of an audio clip by grabbing the trim handles on a selected clip. A trim handle will contain a '+' sign to indicate if the audio clip has been trimmed. Trimming is particularly useful if you have extra silence at the beginning or end of your clip. You can change the Trim start and end points at any time.
Splitting an audio clip
You can split an Audio Clip into two or more segments using the Split button located next to the Zoom In/Out buttons.
To split an audio clip:
1. Position the playhead over an audio clip and in the spot where you would like to split the clip
2. Click on the Split button
Previewing and Saving Your Overcast
Preview an Overcast
While you are creating an Overcast, you can preview what your audience will see. To do this at any time in Studio:
1. select Tools > Preview…
The Overcast Player will open and begin playing the Overcast which is currently open in Studio. When you're finished previewing your Overcast, simply close the Player and return to Studio to resume editing.
Exporting an Overcast File
After you've created your Overcast Project and you're ready to share it with the world, it's time to create an actual Overcast file. An Overcast file is a self-contained media file which can be used by anyone who has the Overcast Player to play your Overcast file together with their digital video file. To create an Overcast file:
1. In Overcast Studio, select File > Export Overcast…
2. Give your Overcast file a name
3. Click Save
After you have created an Overcast file, you can copy it, mail it to a friend or publish it on overcastmedia.com
Exporting video and audio files
Export an Overcast Preview Video file
The Overcast Studio let's you create and export preview videos of your Overcast. A preview video is designed to let you share a sample of your Overcast. For Overcasts with preview videos published to overcastmedia.com, a play button appears to let viewers sample your Overcast w/out downloading the Overcast or video. You may find this useful if you'd like to create a podcast version in addition to your Overcast. To export an Overcast Preview Video file:
1. In Overcast Studio timeline, position the playhead to the start location for the preview
2. Select File > Export Export Preview Video...
3. Give your video preview file a name
4. Click Save
Exporting an audio file
You can export an audio file containing the audio clips in an Overcast Project. You may find this useful if you'd like to create a podcast version in addition to your Overcast. To export an audio file:
1. In Overcast Studio, select File > Export Audio File
2. Select MP3, WMA or WAV from the menu
3. Give your audio file a name
4. Click Save
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