Questions & Answers

Please also see the Technical Information and Troubleshooting sections for more information.

• Q: How do I create a picture-in-picture overlay or a split-screen view?
  
  
  • A: The Template Menu has several options for creating this type of project.
    
    Alternatively, you can use the Main screen to add the input video or image files to your project. The first one will automatically be assigned to the full screen position, and the subsequent media files will be set to different picture-in-picture positions on top of it. If you double-click the display object, the Display Object Properties box will appear and provide you with a list of available Styles to use, as well as allow you to manually configure the size and position. For any display objects that do not take up the entire screen size, you can also click & drag them in the preview window to move them around.
    
    After you have added multiple input files to your project and made them visible in the preview window, the Synchronization Tool can be used to synchronize input files that started recording at different times. It also has an "Offset Within Project" option to accomodate media sources that don't start playback until later into the project.


• Q: How do I dynamically switch between cameras?
  
  
  • A: Follow the instructions for creating and sychronizing a picture-in-picture overlay or split-screen view, then configure the Display Objects in your project to represent your desired initial view. Now select the Display Object that you want to switch to a different camera, click the "Properties" button to open its Display Object Properties box, and then click the "New" button near the top right to create a new timeline segment. When prompted, enter the time index within the project when you want this change to take place. Now that the timeline segment is created, simply change the Input selection to the other camera's input file. Any changes made when this timeline segment is selected will be applied at the start of this segment, and will continue into any following segments until they make changes of their own. Additional segments can be created with other input file selections or other changes. Timeline segments can also be displayed, created, and edited by using the Timeline View.


• Q: How do I set picture or audio adjustment options?
  
  
  • A: Once you have the input media file added to your project, select it in the list of input files on the Main screen, then click the Configure button to open the Input File Configuration screen.
    
    There are additional options, such as transparency effects and audio adjustments, available on the Display Object Properties box for display objects associated with this input file.


• Q: How do I adjust for a camera mounted upside-down?
  
  
  • A: Once you have the input media file added to your project, select it in the list of input files on the Main screen, then click the Configure button to open the Input File Configuration screen. You can either set the Mirroring option to "Both", or set the Rotation option to 180 degrees. A rotation setting of exactly 180 degrees will invoke the mirroring/flipping feature, which will render faster and with better quality than other rotation angles.
    


• Q: How do I set the length of the project?
  
  
  • A: The project will normally end when all input files have stopped playing. To make it end at a specific time, simply click on the project length display on the Main screen, or edit the Project Settings. The Create Video File screen also has an option to render only a specified segment of the project.
    


• Q: How do I reload an input file?
  
  
  • A: In order to update QuickPIP with changes made to a file that it is currently using, you can double-click on the file in the Input Files list, then click "Change File Selection", select the same file, and then click "OK" to return to the main screen. This will cause it to reload the file from disk.


• Q: Can QuickPIP be used for regular video editing? (Sequential Video Editing)
  
  
  • A: Yes, although QuickPIP was designed for the purpose of processing concurrent video and audio files, it also has the capability to work as a sequential video editor. Video clips can be connected together, rearranged, and trimmed by using the Input File Join functionality on the Main screen.


• Q: Which input file formats work best with QuickPIP?
  
  
  • A: MPEG-4 / H.264 format is generally recommended, and it should be QuickTime^®-compatible. Please see the List of Supported Input Formats for a complete list. Keep in mind that although several high-definition video formats are supported, they have significantly higher system hardware requirements than regular DVD-quality video (480p).
    
    Windows Media note (Windows users): There have been some performance issues observed in many multimedia applications, including QuickPIP, when using Windows Media Video or ASF files that were encoded abnormally and/or with very high bitrates. Although QuickPIP has shown that it can often handle this better than many other applications, there is still a performance impact, so you may find it beneficial to re-encode such media files at a more practical bitrate before using them with QuickPIP or other video software.
    
    AVI note: If you are using Audio Video Interleave (AVI) files, it is recommended that you use files encoded with well-known video codecs, such as Xvid or DivX, and PCM or ADPCM encoding for the audio. You will need to have the codecs installed on the system, and for them to be compatible with VfW (Video for Windows), DirectShow, and/or Media Foundation. Although AVI was once a very widely used and compatible format, it is now very old and has become difficult and inefficient to fully support, due to several different format variations and improperly supported codecs in use.


• Q: Is QuickTime Required? Should I Install It?
  
  
  • QuickTime is not required for QuickPIP to run, but it can be very useful for supporting various media types, especially on versions of Windows prior to Windows 7. Having Apple's QuickTime Player installed on your system will make its media decoding library available to QuickPIP and other QuickTime-enabled applications. For that reason, it is recommended.
    
    Decoding MPEG-4, H.264, and certain other media types requires either Windows 7, or for QuickTime to be installed. For best results, both are recommended. QuickTime may be needed for various image file formats and certain other media types.


• Q: Will QuickPIP work with other versions of Microsoft Windows?
  
  
  • A: Probably, if it's Windows XP SP2 or newer and has the .NET 3.0 Framework installed. The list of supported Windows versions is listed in the System Requirements, but other modern versions, editions, or service pack levels may also work. The specific Windows versions listed in the requirements are just what QuickPIP is designed and tested to be compatible with.


• Q: Will QuickPIP work on a Netbook / Palmtop / Tablet?
  
  
  • A: It will probably run, but if it does not meet the System Requirements, it may lack sufficient screen space and/or have other issues. Some newer netbooks provide a 720p or better screen that will work with QuickPIP, and it is partly developed and tested on one. However, the 1024x600 screen size of many other netbook models may not be tall enough for all views in QuickPIP. This can be somewhat improved by setting your Windows Task Bar to "Auto Hide" mode and/or moving it to the side of the screen, rather than at the bottom or top. There may also be third party solutions that allow you to simulate a larger screen.


• Q: What do those loading statuses on the startup screen mean?
  
  
  • A: This is just a slightly more entertaining way to report the process of loading and starting the program. The sequence and their meanings are as follows:
    
    
    
    • Powering Up - Generating system font list
    • Ignition On - Verifying data
    • Crossing Fingers - Preparing to start main program
    • Starter - Starting program core   (it's normal for this step to take the longest)
    • Clunk! - Creating initial environment
    • Pop! - Loading saved settings
    • Bang! - Checking for program updates
    • Calling Tow Truck - Recovery of previous session that crashed   (when applicable)
    • Proceeding to Grid - Loading project template menu   (when applicable)
    • Gathering Data - Loading project file   (when applicable)
    • Approaching Start - Final steps before showing user interface

The third party product and brand names mentioned here are trademarks of their respective owners. They are referenced here in order to provide compatibility guidance, and do not construe any endorsement or affiliation by those entities.

Copyright © 2013 RaceRender LLC

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