powershot s200 movies

[faye124]

I just learned how to take movies on the s200 but can't figure out how to get sound.

[JohnnyE]

If you recorded your movies with sound, it should playback with sound (see pg 79 of your user manual). Does this answer your question or are you asking how to add sound to movies (or something else)?

[faye124]

I guess I wasn't very clear with my question. I want to know how to record sound with my movies. Can you help?

[Deebee]

It should be automatic. The s200 has a built-in microphone (the small hole on the lens surround) which should capture when you're recording the clip. I don't have the manual with me at present - maybe there is a way to disable the sound - but I've never changed any setting and I always get sound.

Are you playing back on a PC, or via the TV? If it's via the TV, are you sure the audio connector is connected properly?

Danny

[faye124]

thanks. I never tried talking while filming and the sound on my pc is turned off. will give it a try.

another question: when I send jpg files by email (to a folder on my pc) I am able to compress them. do you know how to compress avi files the same way?

[Deebee]

I've never tried compressing AVI files - I'm not sure how (or if) it's possible.

What I tend to do is convert them into MPEG format, which yields much smaller files sizes. You can do this using the supplied Arcsoft Video Impression software. After playing the clip in the VI software, you can save it as an MPEG. I'm afraid I can't remember the exact procedure, and I'm not at home to check for you now. But if you're still having difficulties I can post full details tomorrow.

Danny

[faye124]

Do I have to get the files directly from the camera?
I opened video impression but found no way to get the files I had saved from zoombrowser.

What I really want to do is create a screensaver? Is that possible?

[Deebee]

The video clips come out of the S200 always in AVI format. Any changes you need to do must be done on your PC.

When you downloaded the clip in Zoombrowser, it should have gone to a location that you always download to (that is, a sub-directory named with the date you downloaded, within a fixed directory). When you open up Video Impression, select the "get movie" icon (I think that's the name if my memory serves me right), and just go to the directory where the clip was downloaded to. Double-click on the filename, and it will be brought into VI as a small thumbnail image. Double-click on the thumbnail to view the clip. Afterwards, click on "get movie" again, and you should see an option to save the clip. Here you can select to save it as MPEG.

The above is from my (poor) memory. Hope it is right. Let us know how you get on.

As for a screen-saver, I'm definately no expert in Windows - can someone else offer some words of wisdom??

Danny

[faye124]

I have done as you suggested and I am wondering if the fact that I have windows98 is causing me to be unsuccessful. I "get" the file successfully but cannot play or save it. Just get a blank screen when I try to play. Do you use a version of windows that is later than 98?

[Deebee]

Nope - I am also running with Windows 98.

What version of Video Impression do you have? Have you tried re-installing it?

[faye124]

Got it !
I, too, am not at home and do not have the manual at hand so after I "got" the file, I didn't "add to storyboard" before trying to play it. Therefore, I was trying to play nothing.
Thanks so much for your help....
Do you also know how to view the icon that tells how much battery power is left?

[Deebee]

Unfortunately, there is no way of checking battery life on the S200. The first you know that your battery is almost out is when the battery low icon flashes onto the display.

It's one of the shortcomings of the s200...