VIDEO UPLOAD TUTORIAL ...




V. IMPORTANT - Your Video MUST be in FLV Format and have an .flv extension ...
(if not, read below)

ALSO - There is an upload size limit of 50 MB, or approx 10 minutes of Video footage.
 



HOW TO CONVERT & UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO

(Don't worry - it's really very easy)


OVERVIEW

1) Take your video and transfer it to your Computer from your camera.

2) You now need to CONVERT your video into a new format called Flash Live Video (.flv). Videos uploaded that are not in this format will NOT work.

3) You can VERY EASILY do this by first downloading some FREE software that will quickly convert ANY popular video format into the .flv format in seconds.

4) Once converted, you simply click on the link at the top of this page and upload the video, in exactly the same way as you would upload a photo.

5)  NB - If your video is already in .flv format, then click on the Upload Video link above, right now.

For ADVICE and RESULTS on which Video Camera to buy for approx £270, including a large memory, please CLICK HERE.


STEP 1

Download the FREE software - CLICK HERE - A download screen will open (see below). Click the Save Button and save it to your computer. The easiest place to save it, is to your Desktop, so that you can find it quickly.

 

STEP 2.

Launch
Free Video to Flash Converter.

Just Click the DVDVideoSoft Program Icon on your Desktop OR follow Start > All Programs > DVDVideoSoft > Free Video to Flash Converter

The interface is very simple and self explaining. There is a Field for an input file, a Field for an output path, and Lists with preconfigured PRESETS.

So firstly Click the upper Browse... button to select an Input Video File from your computer (see below). This is the video file you have downloaded from your video camera.




STEP 3.


The Output Video File is auto entered as the same location as the Input Video File location. The software automatically renames the file adding  _NEW on to the end of the original name.

If you wish to save the Output Video File to a different location then Click the bottom Browse button. Choose the location where you would like to save your converted video file. Click Save.

NB:  I always use the auto settings and save it to the same location as the Input Video File, to avoid confusion.


STEP 4.

In the list of Formats you have a choice of  FLV or SWF. For our videos please select FLV.


STEP 5.

In the list of Presets select one of the available pre-configured presets.
Please choose the Preset: " Very High Bandwidth Cable/DSL (1Mb/s, 512x384)"


STEP 6. (Optional)

If you click the > button, the Preset configuration is opened for Editing. If you wish you can fine tune the settings with settings shown in STEP 7 below, but this is purely OPTIONAL. The new settings will give a better quality of Video. Otherwise you can just use the " Very High Bandwidth Cable/DSL (1Mb/s, 512x384)" Preset.


 

STEP 7. (Optional)

If you wish to set up a Custom Preset then use these settings below:

Width: 480
Height: 360
Bitrate: 1080000
Frame Rate: 30fps


Once you have changed the settings to appear as above CLICK the "Save As" button. A new window will open prompting you for a Name for the new Preset. Use something like: "Video for Web" and then click OK. Your new Preset is added to the bottom of the list.

Now each time you convert a video SELECT and USE THIS NEW PRESET. NB: You will be prompted to save the presets when you exit the program. Click YES at that time.


STEP 8. (Optional)

If you wish you can do some very basic EDITING with this software. The "Trim Video..." button allows you to Trim your Video Clip. This is purely optional. Most times you will probably upload your video as is.

When the Trim button is clicked a new window opens. use the slider to go to the Start point of the Video and then click the "[scissors" icon. Then adjust the slider again to the point where you want the clip to end and click the "scissors]" icon. (see example below).


STEP 9.

There is NO NEED to check the "Show HTML example file after conversion". This simply lets you see what your converted file looks like, so it is up to you.


STEP 10.

You are now ready to Convert your Video. Simply sit back and click the Convert Button. The conversion can take a few minutes, depending on the length of the video that is being converted.

Once converted you will see a new window telling you that "Conversion is Complete". Click OK

 

You can now Click the Output folder... button to see the location of the converted video file. (Note - If you used the auto settings, this is also the same location as your original video file).

The file you need to upload is the file with the .flv extension (see highlighted in red below).

You will also notice that the original file (highlighted in yellow) was 6,532 Kb in size (or 6.53 Mb). This has now been converted and compressed down to 405 Kb by the software APPROX a 94% reduction in size.

This will make your video MUCH QUICKER to upload as it is so much smaller in size, saving you time.


STEP 11.

So all you have to do now is to Click your Upload Link, Browse to your .FLV file and Click the Upload button.

 

 

!!!  IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ  !!!

Please be AWARE that some of your Video converted .FLV video files will be quite large, and as such will take anything from
3 minutes up to 20 minutes or longer to upload, depending on it's length.

Please DO NOT INTERRUPT the upload process, or your video will FAIL to upload.

ONCE a video has been UPLOADED you will receive a CONFIRMATION SCREEN. Please WAIT until you see this screen, before doing anything else.

PS. For more information on How To USE Video to Flash Converter  click HERE.