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Ready to make a video, but need a kick start in the right direction? Here's some quick "how-to" advice:
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UPLOAD YOUR MEDIA
Once you login as an Active member, you can start making videos right away by uploading your favorite video clips, photos and audio right from your computer or digital camera. Just click on "Make a Video" in the main navigation bar and you'll be directed to the Video Editor.
From inside the Video Editor
You can upload media from inside the Video Editor. This is an easy way to add media to a video on the fly. Once you have the Video Editor open, go to the [+ Add] tab and select [Your Media] to select any previously uploaded media, [Upload] to directly upload from your computer or camera, or [Search] to search your previously uploaded media.
What is the largest file I can upload?
Currently, the max upload size is 100MB. If you have a larger file, you may attempt to clip it using software on your desktop and then upload the useful portion of the video.
Where do my uploaded files go?
After you upload, your media will be securely stored and available in your "My Media" folders, accessible through your "My Videos" page (just click "My Videos" in the upper right Active.com navigation). Video files will be under "Clips", photos will be under "Photos" and audio files will be under "Audio."
Through any of your current "My Media/Sets" folders, you will be able to create new folders and move media between folders to keep organized.
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CREATE VIDEOS
Making videos is the core of the Active Video experience. Once you've selected or uploaded your media, you may rearrange the clips and photos, trim clips, add titles, effects and lots more.
The Active Video Editor
Making videos with Active Video means using our easy-to-use, web-based video editor. Here's what it looks like:
Quick Hints and Tips
We realize that some of you may be intimidated when you first open the Video Editor. Don't be. It's fun to use and it won't bite.
First, if you plan to upload photos and you typically take snapshots in high resolution, convert your images to smaller file sizes. This will create faster uploads for you. The images will still look pretty. Download.com and Free Download Center are a couple good resources for software options.
Here are a few tips to get you going in the editor:
- Drag and drop photos and video clips from your library into the tile pane via the [+ Add] tab
- Upload new media via the upload section of the [+ Add] tab
- Move clips and photos by dragging and dropping tiles
- Change the duration for clips and photos using the Clip tab
- Trim video clips with your mouse using the big clippers
- Add audio from the [Audio] tab (you must upload audio first)
- Add transitions to clips and photos using the Clip tab
- Add titles and effects with a few clicks
- Use your keyboard!
- Spacebar to Start/Stop
- Shift + Arrows to move tiles
- i and o set in and out points for video
- Del to delete a tile
- Ctrl-S to save your video
- Save and Publish using the buttons at the bottom
- If you close your browser or navigate away from the editor without saving, your work will be lost.
- Your user session will time out after two hours. You must save or publish within the two hour session or your work will be lost.
- Look around for other neat features
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INSTANT PUBLISHING... OR NOT
When you're done making a video, you can click the "Save and Exit" or "Publish" button at the bottom of the Video Editor. Clicking either will bring you to the Edit Details page (displayed below). However, if you choose "Save and Exit" your video will be listed as unpublished until you choose to come back and publish (more details provided below).
This is the final step in making a video. There are a few important things to do:
- Enter a title - required
- Select the relevant sports -required
- Enter descriptive tags
- Write a brief description
- Select a category
- Click the "I'm Finished" button
That's it. You're done. And any time you remix a published video, viewers will see your changes instantly, without you having to do anything.
Published vs. Unpublished
Published videos are available on the Active Video site and are viewable by anyone. We like public videos since content makes the community more lively. However, you can keep a video unpublished to edit and publish at a later time.
You can still share unpublished videos by previewing your video in the My Videos page, but they won't show up in the public areas of the Active Video site.
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SHARE WITH THE WORLD
In addition to publishing to the Active Video site, you can share anything you find on our site by emailing a link or by copying and pasting embed code:
1. Send to Friends
While viewing any video, just click on the "Send to Friends" button under the player. This will bring up a simple form allowing you to enter email addresses and send a message with a link. It's a snap.
2. Post Video
You can post any move in another site or blog by clicking on the "Post Video" button under the player and copying the link, player or thumbnail code and pasting it anywhere that accepts HTML. This is a great way to put videos on your own site.
We also provide a "Bookmark" feature for you to post directly to many popular social bookmarking sites, including: Del.icio.us, Facebook, StumbleeUpon, Google Bookmarks, Technorati, Digg, Newsvine and many more!
Any time you update your video, your embedded videos will be updated instantly without you having to do anything.
Thanks for taking the time to read through our Kick Start. We think you'll have a great time making videos.
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