Deleting scenes from captured videos. I'm desperate!!!

I'm back for more help. MG has helped me along the way with transferring my VHS tapes to my PC. Now I need help with the last task...removing unwanted sections from my movie files.

(Short explanation: Most of my videos include scenes with my baby brother's ex-wife. She and her alcoholic "shack-up" set my brother up, shot him with a sawed-off shotgun and killed him, then got off because of a technicality.)

Everytime I see her face my blood pressure goes through the roof and I get physically sick. I have to delete her from my movies!

I have tried Windows Movie Maker, Ulead and Machete. I can't seem to do it with those programs. Is there a simple program that can delete these scenes?

Thanks again for your help...I know you'll come through for me!

 

Which format are the movies (avi. wmv etc.)?

 

I have them in both .wmv and .avi.

 

VirtualDub works well for avi files. The interface is old fashioned and not well marked but it works.

Basically, open the file in Vdub.

On the Video tab select Direct Stream Copy (This is important or you will get a HUGE output file.)

Just ignore the second pane in the interface they both show the same scene.
Use the slider to get to roughly where you want to cut the scene.
Use the gold key icon buttons to get as close as you can to the beginning of the part you want to cut. ( The gold keys may be a second or two off from your ideal cut place but they help insure audio/video synching so they are your best option.)
When you have the location where you want to begin the cut hit the left-facing skinny arrow key far to the right to mark the beginning of the cut.
Use the slider and gold keys to find the end of the segment you want to cut. Use the right-facing skinny arrow key to mark the end of the segment to cut.
Hit the Delete key on your keyboard.
The segment is removed.
Continue the same way until you have cut all the scenes you want removed.
On the File menu select Save as AVI.
Pick a NEW name for the smaller movie and hit save.
It will save a new smaller movie. The original remains untouched.

You can practice without making all your cuts to see if the program is to your liking. Just make sure to use a different name for your test files.

The program is fast and I think it is fairly simple once you get used to it.

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You can also just save small segments of movies by using the slider and gold keys and then marking the segment. But instead of hitting Delete key just go to File and Save as AVI to save just the segment you have marked off, again use a NEW name.

If you have any questions or I forgot something please ask away!

 

Thanks sach2...Ulead has the same "gold key" tool. I couldn't figure out how to use it, but your instructions for Virtualdub worked with Ulead! And a very special Thank You for posting easy to follow, step by step directions.

I do wish somebody would develop a program that would get more precise sliders. (In every section I had to cut, those few seconds also took out my brother and my grandmother, both deceased now. :cry)

Unfortunately, there are still several scenes that have "Physco Bitch" in them and I would remove too many other family members if I take them out. Do you know of any editing software that would allow me to at least blur her face? (You may think I'm being a little extreme, but trust me, there is a LOT more to the story!)

 

I don't do much video editing so don't know about blurring faces. I take a look around tonight to see if I find anything.

Give Vdub itself a quick try. It doesn't install, you just unzip it and run the exe from the folder.

You can move through the movie one frame at a time using the double arrow keys that look like fast forward buttons with the two triangles. See if it gives you more precision.

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I did just bump into a common problem with Vdub in that it hates variable sound rates. That is fairly easy to fix if it comes up.