Exporting spectograms/waveforms as movie files

[keeper5]

Does anyone know if it is possible to export the audio spectogram/waveform window as a movie file that can then be re-imorted into Final Cut to be used as any other movie file. I've been able to import still images of spectograms and waveforms, but I really need to show them moving with the audio. Any ideas?

 

[Filmosity]

I don't think you can do it from FCP. I think your best bet would be to find some screen capture software and select the waveform/vectorscope window for capture.

 

[BenB]

SnapzPro X is what you want.

 

[turkeyjerky]

another option, if you have a powerbook/macbook pro and a camera or deck that has video input, is to just run out a mirrored image of your display and capture it on a digital tape. then send it back into you computer. you can then cut out what section of the screen you want

 

[BenB]

...capture it on a digital tape...

Snapz Pro X does the same thing, less time, less hassle, and it's very inexpensive, and you can capture 10-bit uncompressed on the fly. It also lets you set the area of the screen you want to capture, the whole thing, or just part, with or without the cursor, movie captures, still screen catures, adjustable area, variety of formats and resolutions, specify the frame rate and codec you need, it does it all. And again, very, VERY inexpensive. I just don't see a reason to not use it.
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

 

[turkeyjerky]

And again, very, VERY inexpensive. I just don't see a reason to not use it.
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

if you only need it once or twice and don't want to spend $70. we're at studentfilmmakersforums.com so I'm guessing most everyone here are students. I don't know about you, but I don't have 70 bucks lying around whenever I need to accomplish a simple task

 

[BenB]

if you only need it once or twice and don't want to spend $70. we're at studentfilmmakersforums.com so I'm guessing most everyone here are students. I don't know about you, but I don't have 70 bucks lying around whenever I need to accomplish a simple task

My concern is the few folks I know who've tried to capture from the "monitor" outs of a Mac had very little luck. It's not the same DV data stream that a camera or deck uses. I know one person who got it to work, but the image quality once in FCP was usless.

In today's video world, $70 is nothing. I know students spending tons of money on hardware, and I'm very familiar with the limitations of being a student. But this is a profession that requires spending money. Again, $70 is nothing, even for a student.

I teach film making and deal with students daily, I'm very aware of their situation.

You could always point your camera at your computer screen. If you have something like the DVX100, that has a syncro-scan feature, you can adjust it to eliminate the filcker of a CRT, but you'll have very second rate quality footage.

I'll stick by my Snapz Pro X solution, even for students.

 

[ffelix]

Hm. I agree with the student.

Hm. I agree with the student.

I know this is thread is out of date, but in the interest of helping the next guy...

If you have access to a PC [or Linux] box, there are infinitely more options for free software. Seems like with Macs you ALWAYS have to lay down cash, even if it's a one-off project you'll never ever use again. :roll:

I gotta agree with the student: $70 is way stiff for this single use even though Snapz is a great program--if I had to lay out that much for every single one of the dozens of apps I try out or use over a year it would add up to more than my entire budget.

Find a buddy who's editing in Premiere & download something like CamStudio or maybe Replay Screencast [I think there's a free demo], snag the shot from the PC & move it to your Mac for editing into your project.

 

[BenB]

Point of fact, there's free software out for the Mac to do this, but just like on the PC side, it's very cheaply made software and very limited, you get what you pay for. Mac is UNIX, so yes, there is infinitely more free software for it than Windows.

And other point of fact, if you can't dish out $70 for this, you may be in for trouble. The film/video industry will require this sort of cash layout from time to time, and it's just an evil of the profession. Poor student is not an excuse to me. You're going into a profession that requires this sort of spending, and you better be ready for it, or you'll fall behind the competition. Just the nature of the industry, be ready for it, or get out of film school.

Not to be harsh, but that's simply the reality of the profession.

 

[ffelix]

Pay out when you need to...

Pay out when you need to...

Of course you're right--there are times when you have to pay to play. This single use didn't seem like one of those times to me, that's all.

I'm a big believer in trying software before you buy so you don't get stuck with a white elephant [or twenty] that you really don't need & can't really use. Especially when you're a student. And it has nothing to do with refusing to accept the realities of business expenses. When you're learning, you try all kinds of things as you figure it out--and a lot of the things you try won't pan out. It's not like they're seasoned pros like you that can distinguish what is valid & legitimate for your workflow & what is really not worthwhile. That's a bit like saying you should just buy the car the experts tell you is best without test-driving it or anything else first.

And in this case, who really cares if the quality is a bit off (and I'm not convinced it has to be)? The idea--IMHO--is to learn the skill, tell the best story you can, then buy the best tool if you decide you need it. As a teacher, would you really dock a student's grade on a creative project just because you felt they could get better output quality with more expensive software? I doubt it--you wouldn't penalize them for not using DigiBeta instead of DV. I also think the exercise of seeking out alternate solutions is a good way to train independent filmmakers who will need creative, inexpensive solutions at every step of their projects & careers. It's good to learn early that money isn't the only--or even the best--way to skin a cat.

And, yes, Mac is a unix kernel. It's not open-source. There's a big difference, as you know. Most folks who would be reading this probably aren't too interested in command-line applications, I'd guess. Yes, there is good open-source, friendly GUI software for Macs (like here: http://www.opensourcemac.org/). My experience is that there's just nowhere near as much of it as for PCs which stands to reason, given the ratio of users...I can't remember, is it around 20:1 or so now? BTW, I use both PC & Mac. :wink: