Video Editing

Have you watched the movies of Steven Spielberg? The movies are captivating, right? Well, you don’t need to have a big name to share or create movies of your own. With a little knowledge in video editing, you can go a long way.

You simply need to use a program that can help you with the various video editing tasks. In no time at all, you can create funny clips, video memories, and action flicks. Video blogs are also quite popular these days and with the aid of the program, you can also develop your own video blog and post it on the web.

Functional programs or editing software can help you with different functions. One of these functions is capturing videos. A good program usually captures videos from digital recorders, HDV, DV, AVCHD, MicroDV, and even analog camcorders. Other programs also capture videos from PC and digital cameras. With the use of an appropriate hardware, you can also capture videos from traditional formats like VCR and TV recordings.

Another function of editing programs is to edit videos. Through timeline editing, you can combine or mix and rearrange video clips. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can already arrange the files you need. Most programs allow video editors to add menus, text, and titles to their video creations. Most programs have numerous title and menu templates. Text and sound effects as well as music are also possible. Editing videos is really fun since you can create memories with humorous clips birthday or wedding videos, and many others.

Editing programs allows users to share their videos online. There are lots of video sites that you can visit like Grouper, Google Video, YouTube, etc. In these sites, you can share your videos. If you want, you can even create online albums for your videos in sites like MyPhotoAlbum, Stash Space, and Drop Shots. Having your very own private space online is a great way to share your videos or movies. You can also save the videos on DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Comprehensive programs allow users to upload filed from QuickTime, Media Player, or RealVideo.

When looking for editing programs, you should consider the things that you want to accomplish with the use of the program. Simple programs perform simple tasks. If you want to do complex video editing tasks, you should get multifaceted programs.

Working with video files requires a lot of disk space. Make sure that your computer can handle all the tasks and run a certain program effectively. Choose a program that’s easy to use especially if you’re a beginner. Editing videos involves a lot of complex and intricate steps. Aside from that, you also need to consider the capture feature of the program and the editing tools. Good programs should also have filters and editing effects.

Photo and audio editing features can also help when you’re working with various kinds of videos. With this feature, you can do resizing, cropping, color saturation, and adjust the lighting. Other programs offer features like disc creation, tech support, and documentation.

If you want to work like a pro, choose the editing program well. Careful considerations on the various features that a certain program offers is necessary so that you’re needs are met; it will also be easier to work with a program that can handle all the video editing tasks.

July 28, 2009 · Filed Under Video Editing

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Non-Linear Video Editing

Once you learn how video editing works, you will have a lot of fun in finalizing your video clips on the computer. Videotape editing these days is a lot cheaper as compared to editing many years ago. You can do it quickly by using the appropriate video editing program. However, the learning curve is a bit steep and many individuals give up because they are easily intimidated by the program. If you’re determined to learn how video editing works, you can handle any tasks no matter how difficult it is.

What you need to do is learn the basics and after that, you can have a lot of fun in editing your videos. When you open any video editing program, you will see an interface with so many windows. In fact, among all computer programs, video editing is the most complex. You can easily get overwhelmed with the many windows that pop on the screen once you open the program.

If you’ve tried using WMM (Windows Movie Maker), then you already have an idea of what a universal interface looks like. Most programs follow the same on-screen layout. WMM is much easier to use than other complex programs because you will initially see four separate windows on the screen. Other windows can be opened one by one so you will not be confused in using them. Each of the windows has its own function and once you know the different functions, you can work with ease. You can also hide other windows while you’re working. Almost all editing programs have 8-20 windows. These windows confuse new users especially if they hardly know anything about video editing.

When you open WMM or any other basic video editing program, you will see that the three windows are located on the top-half section and the bottom half contains a large window. These four windows are the timeline, task pane (on the upper left), collections (middle), and output (on the far right). The bottom window is the timeline or the turquoise section.

The timeline is one of the most important windows in the program. You can build your movie or video in this window and it will serve as its visual representation. A squiggly line or waveform representation can be seen on the screen as well as a running time on top. In the WMM timeline, one line is for the standard video, titles, and video transitions or effects; for audio, there are two lines. At the left side of the screen, you will see the labels and black lines separate them horizontally. Complex programs usually have additional lines for audio and video. If you want to create simple videos, WMM and other free software programs may be enough.

On the task pane, the different tasks are shown and included in the list is the ‘edit movie’. Links are also found in the screen which leads to other functions and one of these links teaches you how to edit videos. You can hide/show this window on the menu at the top portion. The collections window contains all the media from your projects. You can watch the edited video/movie in the output window.

In videotape editing, you will be working on these four windows most of the time. You can learn how these four windows work and then learn more about the other windows.

July 27, 2009 · Filed Under Video Editing

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Linear Video Editing

Most of today’s emerging videographers are more familiar with non-linear video editing. But did you know that there is also the so called ‘linear video editing’? Prior to the introduction of computer-based editing software in the nineties, video editing was mainly linear.

The process involves selecting and arranging sounds and images on a videotape. Such sounds and images are also modified whether they are generated from computer graphics or video camera.

The medium used was primarily the television. Shot edits were done mostly in live TV productions. More than two cameras are used and the shot edits were executed by switching from one camera to another. Video switchers allowed the handling of several synchronized inputs and at the same time, mixing them into one output. With the use of the switcher, cuts are easily done in various video sources and in wipes, dissolves, and fades.

Modern live TV productions follow the same linear editing system but due to technological advancement, the productions are much more effective and efficient. The airing of shows over and over again was only possible with kinescope but that was before the videotape was invented. With kinescopes, picture degradation was a major problem as well as evident scan lines and image distortion. Delay on broadcasts was also another problem since the kinescopes were processed in film labs.

Because of the tiring procedure with kinescopes, the videotape was developed. After some time, videotape editing became viable just like film editing.

The first accepted videotape was the quadruplex recording, about two inches in width. The tape was cut and spliced to carry out editing tasks. The process was arduous and not many videographers performed it. It involved many disadvantages such as – you can’t use edited tapes again, you need to be skilled enough to carry out the process, lose sync, and each editing task requires several minutes (too time consuming).

Are you familiar with the TV show – ‘Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In’? This show utilized the arduous linear editing process. The hand editing was first developed in the 1960s. But since it involved problems like short buzzing (audio), it was not used all the time. This method was impractical for most producers. Producers are not familiar with the process and they can’t give their personal opinions. Documentary television productions hardly used video because of these problems.

Edit suites were developed by 1970s. It already involved the use of computers. Time codes were used to synchronize auxiliary devices and tape machines. CMX, Ampex, and Sony created the edit systems. Only high-end productions were able to access the edit suites because most of them are very expensive.

Today, linear video editing is still being used in newsrooms and some production facilities where newer technologies are not available. Because of the improvement in today’s technology, linear editing is less complex. As compared to non-linear editing, linear editing will require you to carefully learn the skills of a good videographer. However, if video editing is just your hobby, you can opt for non-linear editing.

Video editing has a very interesting history. Just imagine the videographers cutting tapes and putting the together again to create a final production; it was really expensive, time consuming, and arduous. Thanks to the modern technology, video editing is already possible even in the comfort of your home.

Still, if you want to try linear editing, start gathering experience now.

July 26, 2009 · Filed Under Video Editing