Video Editing Services | Transfer VHS to DVD | Video to DVD transfer: February 2006

Friday, February 24, 2006

What is HDV?

The HDV format was developed by four companies: Canon Inc., Sharp Corporation, Sony Corporation, and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC). These companies originally announced their HDV partnership in September, 2003. They have since been joined by other companies, notably Apple Computer.

JVC's GR-HD1 was the first camcorder based on HDV specs with 720p. In September 2004, Sony launched their first consumer HD camera, the Sony HDR-FX1, which can record the 1080i60 format (the PAL version records 1080i50) on a MiniDV tape using the HDV format. The professional version of this camera has both 50i and 60i capabilities, and adds XLR audio plus about 25 more features and is called the Sony HVR-Z1U. In 2005, Sony released the currently cheapest HDV Camcorder, the HDR-HC1. A professional version of the HC1 the Sony HVR-A1U was released Fall 2005. Canon introduced its first HDV camcorder, the Canon XL-H1, in September 2005. In late 2005, Panasonic took a different approach by introducing its Panasonic AG-HVX200 HDTV camcorder that records HD on the Panasonic's own DVCPRO-HD format. DVCPRO-HD reqires four times the bandwidth of HDV (100mbs vs 25mbs for HDV) but suffers less from compression and motion artifacts. The HVX200 records its HD signals on DVCPRO P2 cards only, with the Mini DV tape recorder for standard definition DV only. The camera also has an interface for directly recording DVCPRO-HD data on harddisk. (more)

Monday, February 20, 2006

What is Video Editing

Film editing evolved from the process of physically cutting and taping together pieces of film, using a viewer such as a Moviola or Steenbeck to look at the results.

All initial editing is done with a positive copy of the negative called a workprint. This allows the editor to do as much experimenting as he or she wishes, without the risk of damaging the original.
When the workprint has been cut to a satisfactory state, it is then used to make a negative cutting list. The negative cutter refers to this list while processing the negative, splitting the shots into A and B rolls, which are then optically printed to produce the final film print.

Since the film was physically cut and pasted, a 'nonlinear' style of editing evolved. At the workprint stage, strips of film could be placed in any order. This approach is generally considered superior to the strictly linear approach that was necessary in video editing through the 1970s. A video 'cut' is really the copying of scenes from various camera tapes onto a master. Before the development of powerful computer systems that could store large amounts of visual data for transfer, it was necessary to make the transfer in strictly linear order. Trying to insert a shot between two shots already on the master tape would create noise, etc. A system such as Avid allows the creation of a workprint.

In recent years, 'film editing' has come to mean what a 'film editor' does, even though the work involved is now generally performed on a computer-based non-linear editing system, such as Avid, Lightworks or Apple's Final Cut Pro and, at the semi-professional level, by programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Pinnacle Edition or Sony Vegas.

If the end product is to be a traditional movie, the final negative cutting list is produced from the software, and the negative cutting process occurs as before.

In other cases, an edit decision list may be generated for a video editing system.
With the emergence of digital cinema, there is now a movement towards all-digital assembly of the final product, such as in CFC's Digital Lab process. (more)

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Sony DCR-HC26 Review

The DCR-HC21 is Sony’s entry-level MiniDV camcorder this year. Writing about the entry-levels is always difficult, because they are destined to perform poorly compared to all the great camcorders from the year prior. But here we are at the beginning of the year, with all the bottom-of the barrel models to review, and yet again they disappoint. The DCR-HC26 has little to offer and gives little in return. Welcome to the bargain basement. (more)

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Video Editing & Montages

Classical montage sequence

The second kind of montage consists of a series of short shots that are edited into a coherent sequence to condense narrative. It is usually used to advance the story as a whole (often to suggest the passage of time), rather than to create symbolic meaning.

Many films are well known for their montage scenes. Examples include the training montages in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky series of movies, Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, several of director Sam Raimi's films and the satirical self-referential montages in South Park and Team America: World Police. In nearly all of these examples, the montages are used to compress narrative time and show the main character learning or improving skills that will help achieve the ultimate goal. The song used in Team America's montage parody described this perfectly. (More on Montages)

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Video Editing Valentine's Day

Not sure what to give your partner for Valentine's day? why not put a video together with all your memories on one DVD package?

Our Video Editing Services includes:
• Re-arrange & assemble scenes
• Remove unwanted shots
• Take out audio
• Add music of your choice
• Insert transitions & effects

What is included in your package:
• Customized DVD • DVD case
• Full color cover
• Full color labels
• Professionally made menus
• Art proofs sent to you via Email
• DVD movie reviewable online

More at Azure Production

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Video editing

The term video editing can mean more than one thing:

Non-linear editing system, using computers linear video editing, using videotape Video editing refers to taking various clips or segments of video and "cutting" them together to form a cohesive and concise program. Cutting comes from the movie industry because traditional movie film is actually cut with a razor and spliced together.

Prior to the 90's video editing was done in linear style which consisted of using multiple decks to piece together a program. One or more play decks would run the original footage and an editor would use a video controller or mixing console to play specific parts out to a master deck that recorded the final program including titles and music (which were added in during the process).
Non-linear editing is done using computers. Footage is played back from a camera into a PC via IEEE 1394 connection (also called Firewire, iLink) where it is captured on the hard drive. Editing software, such as Adobe Premiere or Avid Xpress DV, then allows the editor to easily manipulate the captured footage. Clips are arranged on a timeline, music tracks and titles are added, effects can be created, and the finished program is "rendered" into a finished video that can be distributed in a variety of ways via DVD, webstreaming, CDROM, or tape.

Though the tools change over time the process of editing remains the same. Original footage is trimmed (desired parts are isolated, bad parts are removed) and cut together (arranged in time) to create a video or programme. Editing involves the use of various transitions between clips such as the cut, dissolve, and wipe. Editing is an art that is very time consuming and deceptively easy at first glance. It is a difficult thing to do well and requires a tremendous amount of focus, patience, creativity, and attention to detail. (more)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Video and Cameras

Canon Inc. TYO: 7751 , NYSE: CAJ is a Japanese company that is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan that specializes in imaging and optical products, including cameras, photocopiers and computer printers. The official Japanese name of the company is kiyanon not kyanon: as noted on the company home page.

The company was founded in 1933 Seiki-kougaku-kenkyuujo or Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory by the co-founder Yoshida Goro and his brother-in-law Uchida Saburo, funded by Takeshi Mitarai, a close friend of Uchida. Its original purpose was to research into the development of quality cameras. In June 1934 they released their first camera, the Kwanon, named after the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The following year the company name was changed to Canon in a more modern reflection of the name. (more)

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