Combining projects from 2 computers

illprof wrote on 5/10/2006, 8:44 PM
I need some assistance: My students have been working on editing projects on two different computers that we now want to combine onto one. In other words, we need to take a Movie Studio file from one computer (a Dell laptop) and import it into a Movie Studio file on another computer (a Dell desktop). I know I can print it to tape and then import the tape footage into the desktop file--is that the best way to do it?

Thanks.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 5/11/2006, 3:49 AM
Are the computers networked? Render a DV .avi file from one computer and copy this to the other. Place it on the timeline of the other computer's project.

Print to tape will work, but it's a slow process and subject to errors.
illprof wrote on 5/11/2006, 5:50 AM
Thanks for the reply. No, the computers aren't networked. Does that eliminate the option you described? Also, if I print to tape and then import that, will I still be able to work with the audio tracks of the imported file separately to further edit them?

Thanks.
Elmo27376 wrote on 5/11/2006, 6:20 AM

It might be worthwhile to network the two computers; it just takes a hub which isn't very expensive.
Another idea would be to use an external hard drive which can then be connected to either computer; I use both of these techniques.
Or, if the files of the second computer aren't too large, use a memory stick which can be put into either computer's USB port.
Chienworks wrote on 5/11/2006, 8:43 AM
Whether you print to tape or render as i suggest, you'll end up with a single file containing all the material "flattened" together. You won't be able to work with any of the individual tracks or clips separately.

Definately network the two computers together in some manner. If they both have 8-pin modular ethernet jacks you can connect them with a simple cheap crossover cable, available at most any computer store for a few dollars. No hub or switch necessary. If they both have firewire ports then you can network them with a firewire cable.

If you want to be able to continue editing with the source clips then you'll have to copy the project file and all the source media from one computer to the other. Then open up both parts of the project on that computer in separate Vegas windows. Highlight events of the second project and paste them into the first.

Or, you could keep going the way you are and finish each half independantly, then render them both to DV .avi files, place both of these together on a new timeline, and do a final render of the whole video.