Apple VisualHub manual Video Stitching, Conversion from DVD, Post-Conversion Actions, Preferences

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Video Stitching

Video Stitching = Combining all the files in the video list into one massive file big enough to tell your grandkids about. Stiching is available for the iPod, DV, MP4, AVI, and MPEG formats, and is enabled by selecting the “Stitch Videos Together” checkbox in the main window.

Important: Every file that is going to be stitched together must have the SAME characteristics as all the other files. This means the same resolution, framerate and audio quality. To ensure this, it’s best to set these characteristics manually in the Advanced drawer.

Conversion from DVD

VisualHub is able to read and convert the Main Title from either a VIDEO_TS folder or a non-protected DVD. DVDs that you’d buy at the store are more likely to be protected - meaning they block regular attempts at copying. You will need to use DVD ripping software to pull the entire VIDEO_TS folder (or one big .vob file) before VisualHub is able to convert the video. If the DVD has multiple audio tracks, VisualHub will prompt you with a list as it’s preparing for conversion.

Post-Conversion Actions

VisualHub can perform a few tasks after conversion completes to help people automate things (a little) better. These actions are located in the “When Done:” pulldown menu on the main window.

Open Enclosing Folder

This will open a new Finder window with the contents of the folder listed in the “Save To” field. If blank, this will open the folder containing the last-converted file.

Quit VisualHub

Self-explanatory.

Set Computer to Sleep

Will put the computer into Sleep/Suspend mode. Tapping a key on the keyboard or clicking the mouse will wake it up.

Shut Down Computer

Will initiate a shutdown. If there are any unsaved documents open in other applications, the shutdown will cancel.

Pause/Resume Conversion

You may want to pause conversion in VisualHub if you’re running other CPU-intensive programs, or if your laptop starts burning your crotch. This can be accomplished through the File menu.

You shouldn’t quit VisualHub if you’ve paused conversions until you resume and complete/cancel them. Also, the Time Remaining indicator will show an inaccurate estimate for the remainder of the file you’re currently converting.

Preferences

Under the VisualHub menu, click “Preferences...”

Low CPU Priority

By default, VisualHub's processing is no more and no less important than every other task on your computer. Checking this box will make VisualHub "nice", and only use resources that would otherwise be idle.

Default Save Location

Changing this will change the “Save To” field on launch. Leave it blank to use the converted file’s original location.

Turn off Xgrid Controller

This will deactivate the Xgrid Controller process and disable its launch on startup.

Play Sound When Complete

Normally, VisualHub plays a “ding” sound when conversion completes. Uncheck this box to effectively silence VisualHub.

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Contents VisualHub Users Guide This page unintentionally left blank. Whoops Table of Contents Crash Course Workflow Easy SettingsIntroduction Adding Files, Saved File LocationITunes What Plays It? What Is It?Easy Settings One-by-One More InformationPSP Standard/Anamorphic Advanced Settings AVC EncodingApple Spokesperson on FireWire at MUG meeting Force Anamorphic Ready for Final CutAfter Conversion DVD Author as DVD DVD VHS CD VinylDVD Tidbits Burn When DoneForce AVI Pixels Wide ProfileMP4 Hint for streaming WMV Compatibility Xbox360 PlaybackMpeg MPEG-2 Encoding Transport Stream Mpeg ProfilesTiVo Hdtv 720pFlash Raw .flv format Specialized ControlsAdvanced Tick, on The Infinity BallOption Explanation Xgrid How does it work? What is it and what does it do?How do I set it up? Important notes on Xgrid Tidbits Post-Conversion Actions Video StitchingConversion from DVD Pause/Resume ConversionTroubleshooting What’s with all these lines in my converted video? Hey, my video’s out of sync. What gives?Want to convert a DVD I bought How can I speed up VisualHub?Appendix Vermiform appendix Cheat Codes Add your own Explanation StringSupported Codecs/Formats Extra Information Video CodecsCredits and Other Info Ffmpeg

VisualHub specifications

Apple VisualHub was a versatile multimedia application designed for Mac OS X, aimed at simplifying the process of converting video files into various formats. Launched by a small developer known as TechSpaghetti, VisualHub quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and powerful functionality.

One of the main features of VisualHub was its ability to convert videos to a wide range of formats, including MP4, AVI, MPEG, and more. This flexibility allowed users to prepare video content for different devices such as iPhones, iPods, and Apple TV. The drag-and-drop feature enhanced user convenience by enabling users to simply drag video files into the application for immediate conversion.

VisualHub was built on a combination of robust technologies, leveraging FFmpeg, a popular multimedia framework, to handle video processing. This underlying technology empowered the application to support a diverse array of input formats and deliver high-quality output quickly. Additionally, VisualHub utilized a streamlined codebase that optimized performance and improved conversion speed compared to many of its competitors.

Another noteworthy characteristic of VisualHub was its batch processing capability. Users could efficiently convert multiple videos at once, saving valuable time, particularly for those who needed to process large collections of video files. This feature, coupled with its intuitive interface, made it accessible for both casual users and more advanced video enthusiasts.

In addition to conversion, VisualHub also offered basic editing capabilities, including trimming video clips and adjusting audio settings. This provided users with some level of customization before finalizing their videos.

Despite its many strengths, VisualHub faced challenges, particularly as the digital landscape evolved with the rise of cloud-based services and streaming platforms. However, its legacy as a user-friendly and efficient video conversion tool remains recognized among macOS users who sought a straightforward solution for handling their video files.

In conclusion, Apple VisualHub was a significant tool in the realm of multimedia applications for Mac, known for its extensive format support, batch processing, and ease of use. While it is no longer actively maintained or available for purchase, its impact on video conversion software continues to be appreciated by those who utilized it during its prime.
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