You can significantly speed up your workflow by creating chapter markers in your editing program and importing them into MediaZilla. Chapters can be used to quickly generate scene selection menus within Presentations or to simply navigate to different sections of a video.
Embed Chapters in Your Video Files
Chapters can be embedded in your video files which are then automatically imported into MediaZilla. This provides the most streamlined workflow. However, there are some limitations.
For instructions on how to embed chapters using Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, or Apple Final Cut Pro, and information on those limitations, please refer to the following article on embedding chapters.
Export Chapter File from Your Editing Program
The chapter markers you create in your editing timeline can be exported as a small file. Follow the instructions below for various editing programs.
Adobe Premiere
Move the playhead to the point where you want to add a marker.
Select Marker > Add Marker, or press the M key.
Edit the marker by double-clicking the marker icon to open the Marker dialog box.
Specify the chapter title in the 'Name' field.
Check the box next to 'Chapter Marker' to indicate it is a chapter marker and click OK.
Export the markers by first selecting the timeline, then choosing: File > Export > Markers.
Specify the file type as csv or txt, then specify the destination and file name, then click OK.
Final Cut Pro
Add a marker to a clip in the timeline where you want the chapter to begin.
Change the marker to a chapter marker by double-clicking it and, when the marker controls appear, click the Chapter Marker button.
Specify the chapter title in the field and click 'Done'.
You can also specify the chapter marker thumbnail by dragging the pin attached to the marker. As you drag, the viewer displays the corresponding video frame.
With the timeline selected, export the chapter markers by selecting: File > Export XML.
Enter the name of the file and select a destination on your computer where it will save.
DaVinci Resolve
Add markers to your timeline (M key).
Double-click the marker to specify the chapter title in the 'Name' field. Set all your chapter markers to use the same color.
Right-click on your timeline in the bin and select: Timelines > Export > Timeline Markers to EDL.
Specify the file name and location, then Save.
TXT File
You can also create your own chapter file easily by copy/pasting the timecodes from any editing application into a text file.
Timecode can be in any format: hh:mm:ss:ff, hh:mm:ss, mm:ss
Use a TAB separator between the timecode and the chapter title.
Here is an example:
00:00:07:21 Intro
00:00:20:07 Getting Started
00:00:29:09 Winding Down
00:00:36:02 The End
Importing Chapters
If you embedded chapters in your video file, they will automatically be imported during the Add Scenes process. You do not need to import them separately.
Chapters can also be manually imported from a chapter file during the Add Scenes process. Instructions for this are provided below.
While editing a Presentation, click the 'Scenes' button at the top.
Select the video from which you will be creating a scene selection and click 'Next'
Select the 'Import Chapters' button above the chapter list.
Locate the chapter file on your computer and click 'Open'.
The chapters will be imported to the chapter list where you can add/remove/modify them. Select 'Generate Scenes' when you are ready.
