Indiana University: IT Training Tips Blog

Video is one of the most popular mediums available today. If you don't believe it, then check the statistics for the online video hosting sites. According to reports, YouTube and Google Video brought in more than 10 billion views during the month of August 2009. Other popular sites, such as Metacafe, HowCast, Revver, and DailyMotion also have impressive numbers.

Have you thought about creating a video of your own, but you aren't sure where to begin? Do you have a video camera but aren't sure how to transfer footage once you've captured it? Maybe you've gone out to buy a new camcorder but were overwhelmed by the many choices available? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to check out the free IT Training & Education reference guide for beginning videographers.

 This learning module, called Video Basics: An Overview of Tools & Resources, is a comprehensive guide for beginners and it is free! You won't have to spend hours searching the Internet, because all the most relevant information has been compiled into one convenient resource.

Below is a list of some of the topics that are covered:

• Types of video cameras on the market
• Storage formats
• Features
• Accessories
• Cords and connectors
• Lighting
• Audio
• Clothing
• Video editing software
• Transferring video footage
• Publishing
• Video compression, formats, containers, and codecs
• Media players
• Links to many useful websites, blogs, and movies
• Much, much more!

So if you have dreams of becoming the next Steven Spielberg, or if you are simply interested in filming your daughter's dance recital, check it out. You won't be sorry.

It seems like every device these days includes a video camera.  Cell phones, music players, laptops and more all include easy to use video cameras.  Along with this, consumer level cameras are becoming cheaper and more powerful all the time.  But what to do with all of that video?  Well IT Training is here to help.  Starting next week, we'll begin teaching on video topics with the following workshops on 11/4 and 11/5:

Video Basics - An Overview of Tools and Resources - In this workshop, Donna Jones will discuss the basics of video, starting with a discussion of cameras, and what features to look for, and then using Windows Movie Maker to edit a short video.  While working on editing the video, the process of shooting a movie will be discussed, including setting up lighting, getting good quality audio, and setting up good shots.  Donna will also discuss some simple ways to make your production look more professional.

After Effects: Text Animation and Video Basics - Adobe After Effects is an animation program focused on video production which allows you to combine video and animations into a single project and then export it into many common video formats. In this workshop, Andy Hunsucker will guide you through the creation of a short movie trailer that combines text animation, video, and background music, along with some animations created entirely within After Effects.  Participants will get a chance to spend time working in the interface, and learn the basics of the animation system and the effects system.

See the workshop descriptions to sign up.  If you can't make it next week, we're doing a rerun on 11/17 and 11/18.  And don't forget about the same workshops being held at IUPUI.

Several months ago a student stopped me after I taught a workshop at IU and she wanted more information about frame rate and display size as it relates to Web video. I did a quick Google search to try and find some examples of videos that I could use to illustrate a point that I was trying to make. I came across an excellent site from the University of Texas at Austin that I have bookmarked and used many times since then. Links to over 30 video clips are provided, and an easy-to-read matrix provides complete details about the compression settings that were used for each.

If you are interested, go to:
http://www.utexas.edu/web/video/examples/index.php

Thanks U of T. Great job!

You may have noticed that version 6.0 of Windows Movie Maker does not have a "Save to DVD" option in the Save Movie Wizard. Since video files are typically very large and may not fit onto a CD, you might find this perplexing. Never fear! Microsoft didn’t just forget to include this option. Instead, they decided that since they were including Windows DVD Maker on machines with Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate Edition, there was no need to include a DVD burning option in WMM, too.

If you would like to learn how to use Windows DVD Maker to burn your movies to DVD, go to the following vista4beginners website:
http://www.vista4beginners.com/How-to-burn-a-video-DVD-using-Windows-DVD-Maker

The STEPS IT Training workshop at IU entitled Video Basics: An Overview of Tools & Resources includes a discussion of video file formats and how compression works.

If you are unable to attend this workshop, or if you just want more information about these complex topics, Spike TV provides an excellent video presentation that discusses them in a way that most everyone can understand. While the movie is fairly long (@15 min.), if you really need to understand codecs, container formats, and compression methods, you will be hard-pressed to find anything on the Internet that explains these concepts any better.

To view this video, click on the link below:

The STEPS IT Training workshop at IU entitled Video Basics: An Overview of Tools & Resources includes a brief discussion of how to transfer digital video that has been saved to MiniDV tape to your computer.

For more information about this topic, go to LearnThisThing.com and watch the informative video called Connecting Your DV Camera To Your Computer. In this five minute video, Josh demonstrates how to connect your digital video camera to your computer and how to use Windows Movie Maker to capture your video. The directions are clear, and the video is well-done.

The STEPS IT Training workshop at IU entitled Video Basics: An Overview of Tools & Resources includes an overview of how to choose an external microphone.

If you are unable to attend this workshop, or if you just want more information about this topic, you might be interested in reading Jeff Towne's blog article entitled What Microphone Do I Get?

To access this blog, go to: 
http://transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200106.microphones.jtowne.html.

Jeff gives information about all of the different kinds of microphones available, and then gives a comparison of a small number of the more popular and affordable mics.

The STEPS IT Training workshop at IU entitled Video Basics: An Overview of Tools & Resources includes an overview of how to choose a digital video camera.

If you are unable to attend this workshop, you might be interested in viewing the following video from videojug.com which provides a lot of useful information. (more...)