RIFFTRAX USER’S GUIDE

Welcome Rifftrax users! This Tutorial is specifically designed to help you play Rifftrax using Sharecrow. If this is your first time using Sharecrow, we recommend you read through our MAIN TUTORIAL first. The Main Tutorial will familiarize you with the different windows and buttons inside Sharecrow.

GETTING STARTED

Now that you’ve download your Rifftrack, you’ll want it to play in sync with the DVD. Sharecrow offers two ways of doing this. They are:

1. USE A .CRO FILE

A .cro file is small file that contains information about the DVD, the Rifftrack, and how they should be played together. A .cro file is created by somebody who has already taken the time to sync both up by hand. They did the work so you don’t have to! To load a .cro file go to the File Window and select Files -> Load. Select the appropriate .cro file. Once you do, the Rifftrack settings will automatically be loaded into Sharecrow. That’s it!

2. SYNC THE RIFFTRACK BY HAND

If no .cro file is available, you will have to sync the Rifftrack by hand. This method requires a bit of trial-and-error, but should not take more than five minutes. Detailed instructions follow:

SYNCING A RIFFTRACK BY HAND

To sync a Rifftrack by hand, follow these steps:

1. Open Sharecrow

Then click the “Open Profile” button on the Control Bar to open the File Window.

2. Load the DVD

Once the DVD is in, hit Play. The DVD will spin up and the disc’s Title / Chapter structure will appear in the File Window.

3. Select the Title that contains the film

You’ll notice that there are multiple “Titles” on your DVD. One of them is the movie. Usually it is the first or second Title and has about 12 -20 Chapters. To make sure, double-click on one of the Chapters. You should see the movie.

4. “Create a Crow”

Go to Files -> Create a Crow. All the chapters of the Title should turn BOLD WHITE.

(for more information on this step, visit the main tutorial)

5. Assign the Rifftrack to the DVD

Assign the Rifftrack to Chapter 1 of the movie’s Title. The first Chapter will turn GREEN. The following chapters will turn ORANGE. Congratulations! Your Rifftrack is now loaded. (for more information on this step, visit the main tutorial)

6. Sync Rifftrax with the START of the DVD

Even though your Rifftrack is now loaded, it probably will not be in sync. This is due in part to Mike’s introduction before he actually starts his Riff. So, we need to find the point in the .mp3 where the Riff actually begins. We do that by changing the value in the Audio File “from” box.

This box represents the point inside the Rifftrack that syncs up with the beginning of the DVD . Time is listed as (hours: minutes: seconds. milliseconds). So, 2 minutes and 30 seconds would be (0:02:30.000).

Use this box to “cut off” the beginning part of the Rifftrack. If Mike’s intro is 3 minutes long, input (0:03:00.000). Sharecrow will automatically skip over the first 3 minutes of the Rifftrack. It’s as if those first 3 minutes no longer exist.

After inputting in a value, press PLAY. Wait for Disembodio’s first line. Does it match? If not, continue to adjust the value in the “from” box, until sync is perfect. Once they match up, the beginning of your Rifftrack is in sync! Now, you just need to sync up the end of the Rifftrack.

7. Sync Rifftrax with the END of the DVD

Believe it or not, every DVD player plays at a slightly different speed. This means that even though your Rifftrack starts correctly, it may gradually drift out of sync. By the end of the film, your Rifftrack may be 10 seconds out of sync, or more.

To fix this, Sharecrow allows you to squeeze or stretch your Rifftrack in order to maintain sync with the DVD. This will help compensate for your DVD player’s individual performance. To do this, change the value in the “End” box of the DVD Synchronization Window:

This box represents the point on the DVD that matches up to the end of the .mp3. If you decrease this value, the Rifftrack will be squished and play faster. If you increase this value, the Rifftrack will expand and play slower.

First, find Disembodio’s last line near the end of the film. Is it out of sync? If so, by how many seconds? Which comes first, Disembodio or the DVD?

If the DVD audio comes first (most likely), then you should DECREASE this value. This will force the Rifftrack to play slightly faster, to match the speed of the DVD. You can either input in a new value, or use the blue numbers below the window. Clicking on them will add or subtract time in 1/2 or 1/5 second increments.

If the Rifftrack audio comes first (not likely) then you should INCREASE this value. This will cause Rifftrack to play slightly slower.

Check Disembodio’s last line again. Keep adjusting until both are in sync. When they match – congratulations, you’re done! Now you can jump to any chapter of the movie and the Rifftrack should be in perfect sync.

8. Save the .CRO file

Now that you’ve got your settings just right, you should save them as a .cro file. Just click Files –> Save A Crow. That’s it!

If there’s anything we left out, please contact us through our webpage at www.sharecrow.com.

Good luck and have fun!