Exporting to videotape

You can record your edited program onto videotape directly from your computer. This can be as simple as playing the Timeline and recording on a connected DV camcorder or analog VCR. You can also use Premiere to control a deck or camera if your computer is properly connected to a deck or camera that supports device control. Use the Print to Video or Export to Tape commands to play video on a black background for recording on videotape. Print to Video can also zoom frames, so that quarter-screen video plays at full-screen size.

When recording directly from the Timeline, Premiere uses settings from the Project Settings dialog box. Many video-capture cards include Premiere-compatible plug-in software that provides a menu command for recording to videotape. Consequently, if the options you see are different than those described here, refer to your capture card or plug-in documentation for instructions on the most efficient way to export to tape.

If you will play the video program from the Timeline while recording directly to videotape, make sure that the project is using compression settings that preserve the highest picture quality without dropping any frames. Tune the settings for the computer on which you will play the program during videotape recording.

When you record DV video back to DV tape, all that is required is the IEEE 1394 connection. However, if you plan to record DV audio and video to an analog format, you'll need a device that is capable of converting DV audio and video to analog using the connectors supported by your analog video recorder. Most DV cameras and all DV video tape recorders are capable of this conversion; some DV cameras require you to record the video to DV tape, and then dub the DV tape to the analog video recorder.

To give your recording deck a few seconds or more of additional time before your video program starts and after it ends, add a black or color matte before and after the program in the Timeline. In addition, if you plan to have a postproduction facility duplicate your videotapes, add a minimum of 30 seconds of color bars and tone at the beginning of your program to aid in video and audio calibration. See Creating color bars and a 1-kHz tone.

To prepare a DV program for videotape recording:

1 Connect the DV device (camcorder or deck) to your computer using an IEEE 1394 connection. The small 4-pin connector attaches to the DV device, and the large 6-pin connector attaches to the computer. The connection point on your DV device may be marked DV IN/OUT or IEEE 1394.

2 Turn the DV camcorder on and set it to VTR mode.

3 Start Premiere and open your project.

4 Choose Project > Project Settings > General. Click Playback Settings.

Note: When you select a DV preset, the Editing Mode automatically is set to DV Playback (Windows) or QuickTime (Mac OS), both of which provide additional DV playback settings.

5 If Editing Mode is set to DV Playback, select the following settings and then click OK:

6 If Editing Mode is set to QuickTime, select the following settings and then click OK:

Note: Audio and video may not be synchronized if played back through different devices.

Note: Always capture and edit using the same audio sample rates that your DV camera supports. Do not mix audio sample rates on the same tape or in the same project.

Note: When this option is not selected, scrubbing playback still appears on both the desktop and the NTSC/PAL video monitor.

7 Click OK to close the Project Settings dialog box.

8 Choose Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks and Device Control.

9 Specify the scratch disk for captured movies. See Setting up Premiere's scratch disks.

Note: The length of a captured clip may be limited by the file-size limits of your operating system; see File-size limitations.

10 Select DV Device Control 2.0 (or later) for Device and click Options. If necessary, select your camera brand and model.

11 Select the appropriate timecode format for your device and click OK.

12 Click OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

To record the Timeline on videotape using DV device control:

1 Make sure that your video recording device is on and that the correct (prestriped with timecode) tape is in the device. Locate and note the timecode for the location at which you want to begin recording.

2 Choose File > Export Timeline > Export to Tape.

Note: The Export to Tape command is available only if you have a supported DV device and use the DV Device Control plug-in.

3 Select Activate Recording Deck to let Premiere control your deck.

4 Select Assemble at Timecode and type the In point on the tape where you want recording to begin. If you don't select this option, recording begins at the current tape location.

5 For Movie Start Delay, type the number of quarter-frames that you want to delay the movie so that you can synchronize it with the DV device recording start time. Some devices need a delay between the time they receive the record command and the time the movie starts playing from the computer.

6 For Preroll, type the number of frames that you want Premiere to back up on the recording deck before the specified timecode. Specify enough frames for the deck to reach a constant tape speed. For many decks, 5 seconds or 150 frames is sufficient.

7 Click OK.

To record the Timeline on videotape using analog video device control:

1 Make sure that your video recording device is on and that the correct tape is in the device.

2 Choose Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks/Device Control and select your device control plug-in from the Device menu. If available, click Options and set your options as necessary; then click OK.

3 Choose File > Export Timeline > Export to Tape and specify options as necessary.

Note: Device control options vary depending on the device-control plug-in you use. See the documentation that came with the device-control plug-in.

To record the Timeline on videotape without device control:

1 In the Timeline, drag the work area bar over the portion of the video program that you want to record and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS) to build a preview file.

2 Make sure that the video program preview plays to your deck or camera. If it does not, review the steps for preparing a DV program for videotape recording, or see the documentation for your analog device.

3 Make sure that your video recording device is on and that the tape is cued to the point where you want to start recording.

4 Position the edit line at the beginning of the Timeline (or work area).

5 Press the Record button on your device.

6 Press the Play button in the Program view of the Monitor window.

To record the Timeline using Print to Video:

1 In the Timeline, drag the work area bar over the portion of the video program that you want to record and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS) to build a preview file.

2 Make sure that the video program preview plays to your deck or camera. If it does not, review the steps for preparing a DV program for videotape recording, or see the documentation for your analog device.

3 Make sure that your video recording device is on and that the tape is cued to the point where you want to start recording.

4 Choose File > Export Timeline > Print to Video. Specify options (see Playing back full-screen video). For the Play Black for _ Seconds option, make sure that you type a long enough time for the speed of the video recording device to stabilize before the video starts.

5 Click OK, and start the video recording device.

Producing Final Video > Exporting to videotape