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MovieShaker Version 3.3 Readme
(Version 3.3.00)
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(If you read this document by Notepad, please set [Word Wrap] in [Edit] menu.)

*** Readme file contents ***

This file contains the following information.
Please make sure to read how each application works before you use them.

- MovieShaker Ver.3.3 Overview
- Precautions for this application
- Precautions for DV device connection or editing
- Precautions for MICROMV device connection or editing
- Limitations and other cautions
- Known problems

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- MovieShaker Ver.3.3 Overview
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Major features of MovieShaker Ver.3.3 are as follows:

[Making a movie]
You can arrange movie files, image files, and music files to make a final movie with ease.

[Shake!]
A single click on [Shake!] button will automatically make a movie product of approximately 30 seconds, using the materials in the material tray at random.
Shaken movies are automatically created. Some special effects that are not provided in the effect tray may be used.
This function is useful to easily produce playful and effective scenes with your materials.
A shaken movie can be further edited with MovieShaker, once it is exported to a file.

[Adding various effects to your materials]
You can add various effects or text titles to your movie files or still picture files.

[Adding transitions between scenes (processed materials)]
You can add an effect such as cross-fading or wiping between scenes to provide a more expressive transition from one scene to another.

[Capturing from / recording to DV devices]
You can capture the video materials for editing from DV devices connected with i.LINK cable, and record the created video works to DV devices.

[Capturing from / recording to MICROMV devices]
You can capture the video materials for editing from MICROMV devices connected with i. LINK cable, and record the created video works to MICROMV devices.
(Some computers dose not be supported)

[Direct upload to ImageStation]
You can upload a final movie product to Sony ImageStation services. 
(The ImageStation service is only available in some countries.
For your computer was purchased outside a valid area, you cannot upload your final movie products to ImageStation as [ImageStation] is not displayed on [Export] Window.)


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- Precautions for this application
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[Virtual Memory Setting]
This application needs large memory space for creating movie.
Therefore, you use this application on Windows XP or Windows 2000, please set the maximum size of the virtual memory setting 1024MB or more.

To set the size of the virtual memory, please follow the following steps:
In the case of Windows 2000:
  1. Double-click "System" in "Control Panel."
  2. Click the "Advanced" tab, and then click "Performance Options."
  3. Click "Change" in "Virtual memory."
  4. Set 1024 or more in "Maximum size (MB)" in "Paging file size of selected drive."
  5. Click "Set."
  6. Click "OK" and click "OK" in the remaining two dialog boxes.

In the case of Windows XP:
  1. Double-click "System" in "Control Panel."
  2. Click the "Advanced" tab, and then click "Settings" of "Performance."
  3. Click the "Advanced" tab, and click "Change" in "Virtual memory."
  4. Set 1024 or more in "Maximum size (MB)" in "Paging file size of selected drive."
  5. Click "Set."
  6. Click "OK" and click "OK" in the remaining two dialog boxes.

[Changing Display Resolution]
Please do not change the resolution or color of your display while this application is running.
When you change the resolution or color of your display, please terminate the application beforehand.
Please do not change the desktop themes as well, while this application is running.

[QuickTime]
This application requires QuickTime Ver.5.
Please do not uninstall QuickTime from your computer.

[Terminate other applications]
Please terminate other applications when you use this application, to operate this application more smoothly.
Especially, when you capture from or record to DV or MICROMV devices, please terminate other applications or resident services such as antivirus or timer-driven software.

[Prevent System Standby while MovieShaker is running]
This application does not support System Suspend or Hibernation modes.
Please make sure to prevent your computer from entering System Suspend or Hibernation modes, while this application is running.

[Exporting to a file]
Exporting a final movie product to a file may take a long time.
If you are using a notebook computer, please make sure to use AC power supply.

[No compensation for edited contents]
If exporting of edited movie failed because of software or device problem, we do not compensate for the damage.

[Copyright]
Unauthorized use of the captured or recorded image(s) except personal usage is prohibited.


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- Precautions for DV device connection and editing
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[Certified DV devices]
This application can control only the household DV devices manufactured by Sony.
MovieShaker has been confirmed to work with household DV device models equipped with a DV connector (excluding tourist models) sold before the end of August 2000. (As of September 10, 2001)

[In case you use some specific Sony Digital Video Camera Recorders]
If the Windows XP/Me is installed on your computer, this software cannot be used in combination with DCR-VX1000 or DCR-VX700 (with DV connector upgrade).

[In case you first connect the DV device]
If the Windows XP/Me is installed on your computer and you first connect the DV device to a computer, please connect the DV device to a computer before you start this program. You can start this program after the DV device has been recognized.
Please open the My Computer and check that the DV device icon is displayed to know that the DV device has been recognized.

[In case you use the SONY digital video decks]
If Windows XP/Me is installed on your computer and you first connect to Sony digital video decks, [Add new hardware Wizard] dialog appears and [AV/C Tuner] is detected. In this case, please select [Automatic search for a better driver (Recommend)] and click [Next]. A message [Windows was unable to locate the software for this device] appears, but there is no problem to use this program.

[Recommended settings]
To capture from / record to the DV devices stably with this application, the computer should be appropriately configured. 
Please make sure you carefully read [Configuring your computer for use with DV devices] and [Limitations and notes] included in the online Help.

[In case you record the work to DV]
It may take a long time to output to DV device (creating the file for output). Please make sure to supply AC power to the connected DV device before use.

[Captured File]
The captured file in this program is saved with .dv file extension (QuickTime DV format).
This file can be played in QuickTime Player. However, it cannot be used in Sony DVgate program.
When you use the DV file captured by MovieShaker in DVgate program, please convert the movie from DV format into AVI format by using MovieShaker.

[In case you use Media Converter and Digital8]
When you connect Sony Media Converter and playback an analog recorded tape by Sony Digital8, the time cord on the capture Window is not displayed correctly. 

[DV images with an aspect ratio of 16:9]
The images recorded with an aspect ratio of 16:9 will be displayed or output with an aspect ratio of 4:3.

[Recording date]
When you edit and record a movie using the materials that are captured from DV devices, the data stored in the source tape (such as recording date and time) will not be stored in the resultant movie.

[Reducing the resolution]
In case the movie on Capture Window is not played smoothly, set [Monitor Display Resolution] to [Low Resolution] in [Edit] menu -> [Setting...] -> [Capture from DV device] tab.

[Disabling Pop-up Window]
When a pop-up window is displayed during the DV capturing, some frames may be lost in the captured movie file. To avoid such lost frames, clear [Display Pop-up Window] checkbox in [Edit] menu -> [Setting...] -> [General] tab.

[Cautions for tapes recorded with multiple audio modes]
The sound may not be played correctly where the audio mode changes, when you are playing tapes recorded with multiple audio modes. But the captured file has no problem.
The captured movie is automatically divided into separate files whenever the audio mode changes.

[Caution for some specific DV devices]
MovieShaker cannot check the status of the write protect notch of the tapes when using DHR-1000 Digital Video Deck.
MovieShaker will start recording without any warnings, even if the tape has been write protected. But actually recording to the tape will fail.
Please check manually the status of the write protect notch, when you use DHR-1000.

[Cautions for computers with Memory Stick Slots]
On some computers with Memory Stick Slots, there may be problems in capturing or recording if the Memory Stick slot is enabled.
If lost frames in capturing or frame duplication in recording occur, please follow the procedure below to disable the Memory Stick slot:
  1. Right-click [My Computer] and select [Properties].
  2. Windows Me: Click [Device Manager] tab.
     Windows 2000: Click [Hardware] tab and then click [Device Manager] button.
  3. Double-click [Sony USB Mass Storage Port Driver] or [USB Memory Stick Slot], under [USB Controllers] or [Universal Serial Bus Controllers].
  4. Set [Device usage] to [Do not use this device (disabled)].
  5. Click [OK] button.

[About VAIO computers with Analog/DV conversion feature]
If you are using a VAIO computer with Analog/DV conversion feature, MovieShaker can capture from analog video input but cannot record to analog video output.
If [Analog Device] is selected in [Device] menu, you cannot specify [Export to DV (Digital Video)] when you export movies.

[Output to Media Converter]
If you output to DVMC-DA1/MS1 Media Converter and DVMC-DA2 that is not connected with LANK, [There is no tape] is displayed.
In such a case, you are allowed to output by executing [Retry] twice. However, please note that if you execute [Retry] twice despite there is no inserted tape, output would be executed.


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- Precautions for MICROMV device connection and editing (For only some specific PCs)
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[Support for MICROMV]
Depending on computers, followings are not supported. 
  - Capturing the images from MICROMV
  - Editing the MICROMV data
  - Recording to MICROMV
  - Input-output of the MICROMV files. 
If you use MICROMV with the MICROMV unsupported computer, please install MovieShaker Ver.3.1 for MICROMV (that is bundled with the MICROMV device) to support. 
When installing, please make sure you do not uninstall the existing version of MovieShaker, as the installer will first check the version of existing MovieShaker. 
Please start the installer for MovieShaker Ver.3.1 while keeping the status, and follow the instructions that appear during the installation.

[Certified MICROMV devices]
This application can only control the DCR-IP7 series or DCR-IP5 series that is the household MICROMV devices manufactured by Sony.

[In case you first connect the MICROMV device]
When you connect a MICROMV device to your computer for the first time, please connect the MICROMV device to your computer and turn on the device before you start this application.
You can start this application after the MICROMV device has been recognized.
To know if the MICROMV device has been recognized or not, please follow the procedure below:
  1. Right click on [My Computer] and choose [Properties] menu.
  2. Click [Device Manager].
  3. The MICROMV device is recognized if [Sony MVDVCR Device] is displayed under [Imaging Device] category.

[Recommended settings]
To capture from / record to the MICROMV devices stably with this application, the computer should be appropriately configured. Please make sure you carefully read [Configuring your computer for use with MICROMV devices] and [Limitations and notes] included in the online Help.

[In case you record the work to MICROMV]
It may take a long time to output to MICROMV device (including the creation of the file for output). Please make sure to supply AC power to the connected MICROMV device.

[Reducing Frame rates]
In case the movie on Capture Window or the playback of the captured files are not smooth, set [Frame rate displayed on the monitor] to [Low] in [Edit] menu -> [Setting...] -> [Capture from MICROMV device] tab.

[Disabling Pop-up Window]
When a pop-up window is displayed during the MICROMV capturing, some packets may be lost in the captured movie file. To avoid such lost packets, clear [Display Pop-up Window] checkbox in [Edit] menu -> [Setting...] -> [General] tab.

[File Division during Capture]
When capturing from MICROMV, the captured files are automatically divided at the recording start points in the tape. The captured files may be divided when the movie data in the tape are not continuous or when some packets are lost in the movie data.

[About Index Information File]
The MICROMV tape information such as recorded date/time or thumbnail images are stored in a file named [Index Information File], when a MICROMV device is connected to your computer while this application is running.
The size of this file gradually becomes larger, by frequently scanning or recording to MICROMV tapes.
By performing a processing named [Optimization], you may be able to decrease the size of the file. But the file size is not always decreased by optimization.
Please optimize Index Information File regularly, when you use MICROMV devices.

To optimize Index Information File, please follow the procedure below:

  1. Open the folder in which MovieShaker is installed.
     (The default is C:\Program files\Sony\MovieShaker)
  2. Run MSDBUtl.exe
  3. Click [Optimize Index Information File] button.
  4. Click [Yes] button on the confirmation dialog.

You can inherit the existing Index Information by making a backup beforehand and restoring from it later, if you are going to initialize or change your computer on which you use MovieShaker.

To backup Index Information File, please follow the procedure below:
  1. Open the folder in which MovieShaker is installed.
  2. Run MSDBUtl.exe
  3. Click [Back up Index Information File] button.
  4. [Save As] dialog box appears. Specify the path and the name of the target file, and click [Save] button.


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- Limitations and other cautions
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[Virtual memory settings in Windows Me]
In the online help, MovieShaker recommends to set the size of the paging file to some fixed value of 1024MB or larger, when connecting DV or MICROMV devices. But in case you do not use DV or MICROMV devices, please set the paging file size to [Automatic].

[Text Effect settings]
When you specify [Bold] attribute, the result is obscure though the text becomes a little bit fat.
When you specify [Horizontal position], the options are considered as [Align left] / [Centering] / [Align right] respectively.

[Aspect Ratio]
This application displays images with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Still images with any other aspect ratio will be trimmed to adjust the screen size to 4:3 aspect.
If the MICROMV movie is recorded with an aspect ratio of 16:9, it will appear compressed (narrower) to an aspect ratio of 4:3.

[About Random1 / Random2]
[Random1] and [Random2] transitions will cause random effects. Therefore the output image will not have the same effect as the last preview.

[Estimated Time Left]
[Estimated Time Left] displayed during various processing will not tell you the exact remaining time.
Please take it as an approximate remaining time.

[Transitions]
Editing movies next to a transition effect may take a long time, because the transition images are rendered again according to the editing.
To avoid such a waste of time, it is recommended that you put transitions at the final stage of your editing.

[Still Images]
You can use still images whose pixel sizes are 2048x1360 or smaller. 
You cannot use larger still images.
And 16bit Color BMP is not supported.

[File Names]
This application cannot handle the following file names.
  - File or folder names whose length is 64 characters or more.
  - Files whose absolute path length is 255 characters or more.

[Unsupported QuickTime Movie]
This application does not support the following QuickTime movie formats.
  - QuickTimeVR
  - QuickTime3D
  - VECTOR
  - Movies that has multiple video tracks or multiple sound tracks
    (The movie files that are saved with MovieShaker Ver.1/Ver.2 in [Quick Save] format)

[Input-output MPEG2 file]
Some computers does not support input-output of the MPEG2 file.

[Unsupported movie files]
This application does not support movie files with the following compression formats.
  - MPEG 2 / MPEG 4
  - Indeo Video 5

[When opening a project]
If you moved or deleted the material files that are used in the existing project, those materials will be shown as a black clip when you open the project file.

[Drop Frames]
This application may drop frames under the following cases, but exporting to files works correctly.
- Playing movies which are applied with too many effects.
- Playing movies whose sizes are too large.

[DirectDraw Acceleration]
If you use "DirectDraw Acceleration" in QuickTime, this application may fail to play the movies correctly.
In such cases, please use QuickTime without DirectDraw Acceleration.
To use QuickTime without DirectDraw Acceleration, please follow the following procedure.
  1. Click [Start] - [Settings] - [Control Panel]
  2. Double-click QuickTime Icon
  3. Click the drop down list and select [Video settings]
  4. Clear [Enable DirectDraw Acceleration] checkbox.
  5. Close the dialog by clicking [Close] button.

[Display properties]
Displaying still images in this application may cause abnormal termination of your computer, if True Color (24bit) mode is selected in the display properties.
Please use this application on High Color(16 bit) or True Color(32 bit) for better usage of this application.

[Display settings]
In a display board, the movie may not be correctly displayed depending on the display-related settings. In this case, please follow the settings given below.
- Reduce the depth of colors (e.g. 24bit Color -> 16bit Color)
- Reduce the refresh rate.
- Disable DirectDraw acceleration for QuickTime.

[Small Characters]
When you apply Text Shake or small characters to your movie, the text may be unreadable depending on the output file format.

[Saving movie in floppy disk]
When a movie is saved in floppy disk, a capacity more than twice the file size may be needed, depending on the created movie format.
In such cases, please create the movie on the hard disk first and copy it later.

[Moving multiple scenes on the product tray]
When you choose multiple scenes on the Product tray, the chosen scenes cannot be moved altogether among the Product tray.

[Switching between NTSC and PAL]
This application is certified only with the TV broadcasting format of the region where this application is distributed. However, this application can switch to NTSC or PAL according to the format of the devices or the materials you are going to use.

To switch to NTSC or PAL, please follow the procedure below:
  1. Open the folder in which MovieShaker is installed.
     (The default is C:\Program files\Sony\MovieShaker)
  2. Run MVSigChg.exe
  3. Choose the broadcasting format according to the instruction on the screen.

[Jog Dial Window]
We recommend you to hide Jog Dial Window to operate this application comfortably.
Jog Dial Window can be closed by clicking the close ([x]) button at the upper right corner of the window.

[Output to ImageStation]
The ImageStation service is only available in some countries.
For your computer was purchased outside a valid area, you cannot upload your final movie products to ImageStation as [ImageStation] is not displayed on [Export] Window.

During output to ImageStation, you cannot save your password if you are logging on your PC as a restricted user.
Please save the password as a power user or an administrator first.
After that, you can save your password as a restricted user.

When you check "In the future do not show this screen." on "ImageStation Login" window, you cannot clear this condition on MovieShaker.
For clearing this setting, please use Movie Player or Still Viewer in Smart Capture software.

[Exporting movie to DV or MICROMV device]
When you export movie to DV or MICROMV device, if the following cases will be happened, MovieShaker might be finished the export process without reporting any errors.
  - Tape has no remaining time to record.
  - i.LINK connector is removed, or the power of devices is down.


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- Known problems
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In this version of MovieShaker, the following problem exists.

[A problem with Shake function] 
- Application errors might occur when you use [Shake] function. Please make sure to save the project before you use [Shake] function (i.e., before you switch to [Shake] tab).

To prevent damages caused by the problem, please save the project as frequently as possible.

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