Feature Preview: Importing External Media
Yet another workflow enhancement in the February 2009 Edition of SongShow Plus is a utility that makes it easier to import media files from an external drive, such as a memory stick, thumb drive, or CD.
In this example, I will import the media items from Shift Worship volume 1 CD. After inserting the CD, I get the following pop-up menu from Windows:
I click on Import Media which opens up the SongShow Plus Hard Drive import utility.
This utility, by default, will list all media items found on the drive. I can choose to select specific media types such as images.
But in this case, I'll import all media items. After checking them all (using the Check All button), I'm then taken to this panel where I can specify the target folders.
I have entered "Shift/Vol 1" for both image files and video files. These will be subfolders placed within the SongShow Plus folder structure. It doesn't matter if the folders do not exist already, they will be automatically created if necessary.
After the import process is complete, I'm presented with the results:
As you can see, I've imported seventy image and video files (there were no audio files on this CD). It's as simple as that!
One thing to keep in mind when using this import tool, is that it does not preserve the source folder structure. As you can see below, the source CD has the video files divided into Countdowns, Long Plays, and Motions.
However, all of the video files were imported into the same folder in SongShow Plus which are a mix of countdowns, long plays, and motion backgrounds.
If you'd like more control over destination of the media files, you can use the External Folder import utility. (This menu command is also available in the slide show builder.)
Here, I've selected just the WMV Countdown folder on the CD as the source.
Then I specify a longer target path that includes "Countdowns".
The three countdown video files are then imported.
And placed in the "\Shift\Vol 1\Countdowns" subfolder in SongShow Plus.
Importing media files into SongShow Plus has been made much easier.
(BE188)
Comments:
The past few summer VBS I have "re-mastered" the the songs (Augsburg Fortress) to have the vocal+instrument on the left and instrumental on the right. So as the week goes on, I can pan to the right (reduce the vocal part) as the kids learn the songs. I can control volume within SSP, but i have to switch to "volume control mixer" to change the balance ( or grow really long arms to reach the mixer board).
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