How do I edit a Multipoint file?

From Avacast Support

How do I edit a Multipoint file?

Multipoint videos are recorded as .flv files, a proprietary format of Adobe/Macromedia. These files are recorded to our video server. Upon request, we can give you FTP access to your video folder. You are then welcome to download, edit and re-upload your video files as you see fit.

Avacast is not a video production company. We have no facilities for editing your video, nor do we offer this service.

We have found some simple, free tools for editing .flv format videos. They have worked for us, but we do not endorse them, and you use them at your own risk.

Always make a backup copy before editing any video file.

PLEASE NOTE: When you upload a file- you must keep the uploaded file name the same as the original name for the system to be able to play the file. Before uploading, rename the original file so that it does not get overwritten.

1 FLVPLAYER
2 FLVPARSER
3 FLVMERGE
4 Flash MX
5 Hex Editor
6 External links

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FLVPLAYER

FLVPlayer is a simple viewer that lets you play .flv files on your desktop (http://dev2.avacast.com/flvplayer_setup.zip ).

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FLVPARSER

For trimming the beginning and/or ending of videos, you can use FLVParser (http://dev2.avacast.com/FLVparser.zip ).

FLVParser is a Windows-only, command-line interface tool. After you unzip it, move its folder to C:\ for ease of use. Also for ease of use, copy/move the .flv file you wish to edit into the FLVParse folder.

To make edits, you need to know the in and out points where you want the edits. Use FLVPlayer to find these points. FLVPLayer only lists times in total number of seconds, not HH:MM:SS, but don't worry, FLVParser can handle that. In the FLVParse directory create a new blank text file called: CuePointFile.dat

This is the file FLVParser uses to edit from. Open it in NotePad, and enter the in point and out point, separated by a single blank space, like so: 2525 5150

Save, and close the file. Open up the command line interface and go to the FLVParse directory: cd C:\FLVParse

In the command line, enter this to edit the flv:

flvparse.exe FileToSplit.flv CuePointFile.dat

Your file will be split into THREE files: FileToSplit_0.flv contains from the beginning of your file up to the in point. FileToSplit_1.flv contains from the in point up to the out point. FileToSplit_2.flv contains from the out point to the end of the file.

Obviously, you can discard the "0" and "2" versions of the file. You can open the "1" version in FLVPlayer to check it edited correctly.

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FLVMERGE

To edit together two .flv files you can use FLVMerge (http://dev2.avacast.com/FLVMerge.zip ).

FLVMerge is a Windows-only, command-line interface tool. After you unzip it, move its folder to C:\ for ease of use. Also for ease of use, copy/move the .flv file you wish to edit into the FLVMerge folder.

Open up the command line interface and go to the FLVParse directory: cd C:\FLVParse

In the command line, enter this to merge two .flv files:

flvmerge filename1.flv filename2.flv

FLVMerge will create a new file called "merge.flv." Rename this file to the original filename. Use FLVPlayer to check the files edited together correctly.

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Flash MX

If you buy Flash MX from Macromedia, you get a plugin for Quicktime. Then you can use any Quicktime-based editing program (i.e. Premiere for Mac or Windows, Final Cut Express/Pro, iMovie, or even the $30 Quicktime Pro) to edit a video file and export it to FLV. Even if you don't buy Flash, you can download the plugin here: http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/downloads.html#fmxpro_vid_up

If you just want to trim the beginning and end of a clip, you can use Flash MX itself, or the free Riva encoder (http://rivavx.com/index.php?encoder&L=3).

The $400 Sorensen Squeeze program will let you trim the beginning and end, and perform two-pass FLV encoding. A "lite" version is sold by Macromedia as the "Flash Video Kit" for $99. Find it at: http://www.macromedia.com/software/studio/flashvideokit/index.html?promoid=devcenter_flvkit_090204

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Hex Editor

If your video plays, but no slides change when they should, it's possible the problem is with the video file's timecode- instead of having normal timecode where it counts up by one second per second, the file could have the exact same timecode repeated throughout. There is a way to detect this problem and quickly edit the offending video file so that the archive will play normally. You will need a hex editor program. Here is a free one that works for us (this is not an endorsement and you use this software at your own risk): HexEditor program

Open your video file with HexEditor to see if you file has this problem. Download your video file. Open HexEditor and browse to the downloaded file.

Under the Search menu, choose "Find." In the Find dialogue box, at the top, choose the "Text string" radio button. In the find field right under it, enter: handleTimecode
Click the "OK" button in the Find dialogue box. Look on the right hand side and you will see the first time that term appears. Immediately after it will be a date and time. Make a note of the time, especially the seconds.
Now push your keyboard's F3 button to find the next instance of the timecode. Compare it with the time you just saw- it should be one second higher. If not, push F3 a few more times, and observe the timecodes to see if they are changing at all.
If the time IS changing, then there is some other issue with your archive. Close HexEditor (do NOT save) and please contact an Avacaster Support Team member.
If the time is NOT changing, then close HexEditor (do NOT save), and continue with the instructions below.

Edit the file with HexEditor. Make a backup copy of the file, and open it with HexEditor.

Under the Search menu, choose "Replace." In the Replace dialogue, at the top, choose the "Text string" radio button. In the find field, enter: handleTimecode
In the bottom "Replace" section, also select the "Text string" radio button. In the replace field under it, enter: handleNoopcode
Click the "replace all" button. When HexEditor is done, it will present a dialogue of how many times it replaced the term. Click the OK button to dismiss.
Save the video file. This may take a moment or two. When done, close HexEditor, and reupload the file to the server. You may wish to rename the original file as a backup instead of overwriting it.

Set the archive to use "Simulated Time Code."

Log into the admin of the archive in question. Go to the Setup Panel and click the "Advanced Options" button. You must have pop-up blockers off to get the Advanced Options window.
At the bottom right of the Advanced Options window is a checkbox labeled "Use Simulated Time Code Start time (YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS):". Check that checkbox.
You must now enter a date and time in the field by the checkbox. You get the start time of the event from the event_ondemand.log.
Open the log file in your browser by erasing the "ava_admin.php" or "ava_player.php" in the URL, and replacing it with: event_ondemand.log and click enter, or refresh. The event_ondemand.log file should pop open. Your URL should look like this:

http://events.avacast.com/NameOfYourEvent/event_ondemand.log

Copy and paste the date and time from the first line of the log into the Advanced Options field. Do NOT copy the milliseconds from the logfile.
Click the "Save Settings" button at the bottom of the Advanced Options page to save your changes. You do NOT need to click the "set" button in the admin's Setup panel.