Added to 1st Q 200 pt pile

With the advent of Youtube, we now have a limitless resource for multimedia that we can use in our movie and presentation projects. One of the problems with this however is that Youtube uses the flash video format (.flv) and not all programs can process them.  Thankfully, Real Networks Inc. has developed Real Player which is a tool that can be used to download and play these videos.  Here is how to obtain it:

Step 1:  Open your web browser and type in  http://www.real.com/.  

Step 2: Click on the large green box with Real Player SP Free Download written on it.

Step 3: Whence this is downloaded, find the file where you downloaded it and run the installation.

Step 4: When the installation is complete you can begin to use the program.

Step 5: Now that you have Real Player installed, open your web browser and go to Youtube.  

Step 6: Search for a video and click on a link.  

Step 7: Place the cursor over the top right corner of the video screen and a box should appear saying Download This Video with the Real Player logo next to it.

Step 8: Click on the box and wait for the video to download.

Step 9: When the download is complete you can open the video and play it in Real Player.

Now that you have a downloaded .flv you may still need to make it compatible with the video editor or slideshow production software you are using.  The easiest way to do this is to download a video converter program for your PC.  Many programs are available on the internet to do this but many are also infected with viruses and spyware that may harm your computer.  This free flv coverter from Koyote Software is one I have put to excellent use over the past two years and continues to do so.  http://www.koyotesoft.com/indexEn.html  

Here's How to Use It:

Step 1:  Download the program and install as you would any other program as you did Realplayer.   

Step 2:  Whence the installation is complete, open the program from the location it installed in.

Step 3:  Now that you're on the main menu screen, glance around and as you can see you can do a variety of tasks,               however, in this section we are only going to go over converting .flv files.

Step 4:  Click on the box at the top of the screen labeled Conversion From FLV

Step 5: A Window should appear the contents of a folder.   Find the folder where your video is located using the                  window and double click on the video file.

Step 6: Yet another new window should appear.  With this window you should see your file first in the queue to be  

           converted.  Below the queue is a section labeled Output Configuration.  In the format section, go across to the            right to find the drop down arrow and click on it.  Multiple video formats should appear.  Choose the format  

           that you know best suits your needs.  If you do not know this, I will be posting a guide to video formats soon. 

Step 7: When you have all the correct settings you desire, click the Convert button.

Step 8:  When the window closes your file is converted and you can access it in the target folder you requested for it.

            It is now able to be put in the video editor of your choosing.