Tips T0007

How's the quality of DV?

The DV (MiniDV) spec is a 720x480 image size, at roughly a 5:1 compression. More accurately, it is compressed at a constant throughput of 3600 kilobytes per second which averages out to 5:1 compression
The images are crisp, bright and have excellent depth and contrast. In general, it's acceptable even in TV stations.
Best of all, the information is stored on the video tape in digital form, so it can be copied over and over without any loss.

DV in = DV out

This is what makes DV so great. When you capture DV footage to your hard drive via FireWire, the DV video on your hard drive is an exact digital copy of the original footage. There is no loss. When choosing a FireWire card, there is no video quality debate regardless of what codec is used.


EDIT YOUR VIDEO THROUGH SNAZZI!!!!!

PC you could afford. But now, for $150 to $400 you can buy video capture hardware
that works with nearly any Pentium PC. Even better, most capture systems these days plug right into your PC's parallel port.

You then plug your camcorder's video output cable into the capture device, connect a few other cables, install the video editing software that comes with the device, and you're ready to create your own video spectacular.

Video capture devices come in various flavors. The right one for you depends on what you want to do with the video after you capture it.

They're perfect for e-mailing photos over the Net or incorporating video into presentations. They use sophisticated technology to sharpen and improve the quality of the images. Higher-end products capture high-quality video for use on Web pages or in more elaborate presentations.

But most people use video capture devices to edit video, add titles and fancy transitions, and record the finished product onto videotape.

On the PC side, you'll need at least a Pentium-133 machine and 16MB of memory (32MB is preferable). You'll also need lots of free hard disk space, since compressed, captured video consumes about 2MB of storage space per minute.

For best results, read all equipment instructions carefully and spend plenty of time experimenting and honing your editing skills.

1. Set up your parallel port

Video capture devices that hook up to your printer port require maximum port performance. Restart your PC, launch the BIOS setup utility (details vary by PC maker), and find the setting for the printer port; it's usually listed in the BIOS setup menu under "Integrated Peripherals" or some similar heading. Make sure that it's set for Extended Capabilities Port or ECP.

Next, set up the video capture software. Most video capture boxes require you to install the software before you hook up the hardware. Read your manual and follow the directions.

2. Identify the connections

You need to connect four devices: PC, camcorder, video capture device and VCR. All camcorders carry a standard video-out connector -- a single RCA jack, usually yellow, that works with a standard composite video cable. In most instances, they include a pair of RCA jacks (one red, one white), too, for audio out. Hi-8 camcorders come
with an S-Video-out connector and cable, as well.

3. Hook up the hardware

Read your video capture box manual carefully, or run the video tutorial on the software installation CD-ROM (if one is included there). You'll need fair amount of room to set everything up. Here's a typical approach:

Turn off your PC, and connect the video capture device to your PC's printer port and the AC adapter to the box. Connect one end of the main cable bundle that came with the box to your PC's serial port, and plug the other end into your camcorder's remote control jack. If you're using your camcorder's IR control, position the camera and the VCR next to each other, and make sure that the IR transceiver on the cable points toward both of them.

4. Calibrate your setup

Make sure that everything is hooked up correctly. Most video capture packages use a setup wizard to lead you through the necessary steps.

5. Start producing video

Procedures for capturing, editing, and writing the finished product to tape vary by maker but are usually easy. Editing can be a simple matter of dragging and dropping the thumbnails into the order you want. When you're done, the software sends the finished video to a tape in the VCR.

Tips T0005

Digital Video Editing

Number-1
Every cut must provide new information. Don't make an edit unless something in the content compels you to. And the new shot should reveal something that was not evident in the previous shot.

Number-2
Don't neglect your soundtrack. If seeing believes, then hearing is feeling. Although sound is literally invisible, the details of your audio will affect the impact of your scene in ways far beyond what the pictures will. Good sound design is usually the difference between a good film and a great one.

Give Digital Video That 'Film Look'
Here's an affordable way to give your digital flicks a Hollywood finish.

EDIT YOUR VIDEO THROUGH SNAZZI!!!!!

Most people tape lots of the main subject, but then ignore the little incidentals that help give the story richness and context. Capture the audience's reactions. Cut to the audience shots, rather than panning.

Set the stage by mixing wide shots that show the location with tighter shots that show the action. Change the point of view between shots -- shoot from different angles. Change your shooting height, too: Most camcorder shots are made from an adult's eye level, but shooting from higher or lower elevations adds interest. When recording children, drop down to their eye level instead of always filming them from above. Likewise, when the subject is a seated adult (at a wedding reception, for instance, lower the camera for a natural look.
In general, avoid motion while you are shooting and when you do move, move slowly and in as smooth a motion as you can. The zoom button is best used to frame shots while the camcorder is paused: Zooming as you shoot can make the audience seasick! Use cuts to change vantage points. EDIT! EDIT!
Composition
When you compose a shot, use the "rule of thirds." Imagine the frame divided into thirds vertically and horizontally. Try to position the main subject along those lines, instead of in the exact center. Moving objects away from the center gives the frame a more dynamic feel.

Light: -
Your most important tool as a videographer is light and one of the most common mistakes is relying on existing light. While today's camcorders have excellent low-light capabilities, the quality of the image invariably goes down in lower light. Try to shoot in strong light. Shoot near windows, turn on all the lights, and consider setting up your own lights.

A strong single light source creates deep shadows. A secondary, diffused light or a reflector fills the shadows.
Native sound.

The built-in microphone is very convenient but has many inherent liabilities. Because it's far from the subject, it records background noise and the camcorder's motor, in addition to the sound you want. Whenever possible, use an extension microphone or a wireless mike, positioned near the subject.

Shoot to edit: -
Whenever you start or stop the camcorder, try to leave some "air" around the action: Run the camcorder for a few seconds before the action begins and for a few seconds after the action is complete. This gives you room so that when you edit scenes together, you have a little extra footage to adjust the pacing of your final production.
Speaking of pacing, adjust the length of your shots, varying between long and short shots as appropriate. A series of fast-paced shots might be fine for a music video but most productions would benefit from mixed shot lengths.
And above all: Practice! Editing and shooting are complementary skills and the more you shoot and the more you edit, the better your videos will be!

Tips T0003

Capturing in DV or in MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 - Which is better?

When a beginner starts this hobby, what he normally wants is
(1) to convert his videotapes to VCD and
(2) to do a little bit of simple video editing, such as cut and paste.

Converting directly with a MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 capture card will serve both purposes, i.e. you can directly convert any video source to VCD, SVCD, or DVD directly. If the video is 1 hour long then it takes 1 hour to capture and about 8 minutes to burn.

DV on the other hand require you to capture as a DV.avi format which then need to be transcoded to MPEG-1/2 for you to burn to VCD, SVCD, or DVD. This is an additional step and normally takes an additional 7 hours (depending the system).

Tips T0001

For less problem with video capture and video editing, maintain your computer in good condition.

Delete unnecessary files from your Windows/Temp and Internet Temp folders as well as your recycle bin and also defrag your hard disk constantly