Editing Camtasia/Camstudio/FRAPS Footage? Some Tips

One of the challenges, when using a video screen-capture program, like FRAPS, is that one is usually capturing from a computer monitor, that has a different Aspect Ratio (pixel x pixel dimensions), than standard Video. That is pretty easily handled in Premiere Pro, as one can set up a Project's Frame Size, and FPS to match what their video screen-capture program produces. It is not, however, so easy in PrE, as the available Project Presets are for traditional video, and when there is a different pixel x pixel Frame Size, one has but a few options, and usually leaving some black bars is the best. Usually, to accomplish this, they would choose a Project Preset, that has larger pixel x pixel dimensions, and then Import the video screen-capture footage into that.

The other option is to use Motion>Scale to increase the screen-capture footage, to fill at least one dimension (eliminating the black bars there), but if they wish to fill both dimensions, then something has to give, as the Aspect Ratios are different. Something, somewhere, must be cropped by the Frame Size of the Project, and this is usually not what is desired. Also, one could use the Fixed Effect>Motion>Scale, with Constrain Proportions unchecked, and Scale the height and width independently, but this WILL distort the Clip - might, or might not be what one wants.

For output, one has the option to do cropping, but not all output formats support this - however, some do.

Hunt

For FRAPS footage into PrElements, this PrE FAQ Entry might prove helpful.

Hunt

One PrPro user has just done a TUTORIAL on using FRAPS as a video screen capture utility. This might prove useful to many.

Hope that this helps,

Hunt

Jeff Bellune has just done a TUTORIAL on using Camtasia footage in Premiere. He has been doing tutorials, using Camtasia and Premiere for some years, and this tells how he does it.

Note that Jeff uses PrPro for this, and the latter part of the tutorial are related to the ability of PrPro to do Sequences, plus the Desktop Project/Sequence Preset, and PrE does not have either of those. One will need to structure their workflow here, to match the capabilities of PrE.

Good luck,

Hunt

Here is another FRAPS thread, regarding intermediate CODEC's for editing.

Good luck,

Hunt

For FRAPS, another video screen-cap program, there might be useful tips in this ARTICLE.

Good luck,

Hunt

If one is using PrPro CS5, and the latest Camtasia version w/ the 64-bit TS CODEC's, see Harm's, Jeff's and Todd's replies in this THREAD.

Hunt

I've tried everyone's advice. I have a camtasia uncompressed avi at 1024 x 768. I want premiere to output that after some basic edits using the premiere's export command.  I'd like premiere to export a wmv file, avi, mov.

The problem is that it is always distorted.

I've tried all types of settings. I've played with matching on framerate, resolution, square pixels, .9 pixels. I've tried custom settings to export at 1024x768.

You name it. I've tried different codecs. Nothing works. It is always comes out distorted.

I've tried lagarith lossless codec. The output from camtasia always looks clear, whether it is an avi, wmv, or mov. But as soon as I export from Premiere it looks terrible.

If someone could just tell me that Premiere cannot do it, then I would be fine. I'd stop trying. I'm beginning to think it is not possible to export screencasts in premier at original resolution.

If it is possible, then I would appreciate a step by step guide. I'll even pay for it. I think what I'm trying to do is so simple, but eludes me.

I would so much appreciate some guidance. I am a student who spent a lot of money for Premiere and now it isn't doing what I thought it could.

Thanks in advance.

I would like to import Camtasia 3 video files into Premier Pro CS4 for editing.  Two questions:  1) what is the best file format to export from Camtasia for editing in CS4, and 2) what codec should be used in creating files for export from Camtasia for best results in editing with PPCS4?  I tried exporting the files as .swf's (swf object) and that format was not recognized by CS4 when I tried to import.  After editing, I will be posting the files on the web as demo/instructional videos.

I'm not sure the platform/computer specs come into play much related to this question, here they are just in case:

Windows Vista OS:

Intel core i 7 processor (64 bit)

3.06 GHz processor

8MB Level 2 Cache

9GB DDR3-1066 SDRAM

1 TB SATA Hard Drive

Labelflash SuperMulti Double Layer 18x DVD+- RW Drive

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 video card

High Definition Audio Chipset

7.1 Channel Surround Sound

10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Network

Expansion bays:  2 (1 free) External 5.25" bays; 2 (2 free) External 3.5" bays;   2 (1 free) Internal 3.5" bays

Expansion slots:  2 (1 free) PCI Express x16 Graphic Interface slot; 1 (0 free) PCI Express x1 Interface slot; 1 (1 free) PCI Express x4 interface slot

Thanks.

cello-bella