Video Editing - Essay Example

 Video Editing In the last few years, video editing systems have greatly evolved and in many instances, have even become a commodity. Years ago, there was an incredible diversity of functions and capabilities between entry level and professional editing systems. Today, that gap has closed immensely. Free bundled editing systems like Apple's iMove2 or Microsoft's MovieMaker II can provide many of the same functions as professional video editing systems costing tens of thousands of dollars (Pete, 2004). Up to very recently, users needed to have the three main components of a video editing system if they wanted to be able to capture, edit and output completed video editing systems. They needed a video capture card that could convert incoming video and audio in digital files that users could work with, If they wanted to record a video back to tape for distribution, that card also needed to be able to handle video output (Ken, 2006). Users needed special software that would actually handle nonlinear editing aspect of the process - controlling the capture of clips, trimming and managing the clips, moving the various clips around on a storyboard or timeline, adding titles, special effects and transitions, compressing the finished video for distribution and output. If serious about effects and transitions, they also needed acceleration hardware that would make the special effects and transitions happen quicker (Ken, 2006). Of course, editors needed big hard drives to store the raw video and audio clips, the rendered special effects and transitions, and the finished video files. All that has changed - except for the need for big hard drives. Luckily, big hard drives have become a lot more affordable and a lot more reliable. Over the last few years, most videographers have adopted digital video camcorders that capture video and audio in a digital format. Many computers now come with DV inputs - iLink, 1394 and Firewire making it a no-brainer to get digital video into the computer. Most programs automatically recognize the camcorder make and are able to remote control it - making it very easy to capture to transfer clips from the camcorder to the computer (Michael, 2007). In addition to handling DV in, DV also handles DV out over the same set of wires. If the DV camcorder offers DV in; it can record finished video projects from the computer back to the camcorder. Because of the ongoing growth in processor speeds - 2 GHz processors are now commonplace and the accompanying availability and drop in price of RAM, many of the special effects and transitions that required special acceleration hardware to accomplish in a reasonable bit of time, can now be handled by the computer's onboard processor and RAM (Michael, 2007). In addition, motherboard improvements have also resulted in less need for specialized acceleration hardware. Most of the fancy effects, titling and transitions that used to require editing systems costing thousands of dollars can now be handled by "consumer" grade video editing systems. Even the "free" video editing systems bundled in most new computers - Sony's VAIO software bundles, Apples, iMovie2 and iDVD, and Microsoft's MovieMaker II, offer incredible power and range of capabilities. Not only are the programs free, they are also easy to use and master (Herbert, 2004). Over the last few decade, video software makers at all levels have realized that usability is the most important aspect of their products. It costs more to handle a single customer questions than the price of the product itself. Two calls and the manufacturer is losing money. The easier it is for the end user to install and use the video editing software, the more money the manufacturers will net. Although, fancy effects and transitions are important, but at the end of the day, especially for the prosumer, usability is what makes a product a success. In addition, most software makers have greatly improved their online help, tech support and FAQ web pages (Herbert, 2004). From among the hundreds of possibilities available in the market for professional video editing, there are only two basic choices users have to make- Either to get an apple computer or an IBM based machine. Both the machines may deliver an equal opportunity for editing and while one may have a little edge on the other, the basic difference is of preference and budgets. For small advertising agencies, spending a lot on a new project may be difficult so an IBM based dual processor machine may do (Pete, 2004). The following system may be a good start to build a video editing setup: “CPU: 3-GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6850, Graphics Adapter: eVGA eGeForce 8800GTX, Monitor Model: two Viewsonic Q22WB, Total HD Size (GB): 1800” (PC World, 2007). The system comes with a price tag of US dollars two thousand. However, it may be easily upgraded and integrated with other expansions and tailored to heavier usage of the machine. IBM based machines have this advantage of being easily upgraded as opposed to Apple machines. For a small advertising firm, it would be better if it started off with a basic video editing unit and then tailor it to their needs rather than buying a ten thousand dollar unit and then not being able to use it to its potential (Pete, 2004). Similar is the case with software. Adobe premier is a good start for any new video editing company to start off with. The software is available for around four hundred US Dollars and includes all features that are to be used for editing. However, adobe is not the only option available. Ulead, Avid, Canopus and many others offer basic software for video editing at the same compatible price and learning these software, especially adobe, is relatively easier as it is one of the industries standards. Furthermore, the agency can try all these software before actually buying them to understand their needs and compatibility. It may also be found that the bundled software that comes with the computer may work well for the editing purposes as well. Many professional systems come pre-configured and are targeted to power users who utilize these systems day in and day out - often with uncompressed video streams and HDTV. They have to move lots of video around and need the extra power and oomph provided by special hardware. Video production has been greatly enhanced ever since it has been infused with computer systems. Video shots are now relatively easy to shoot, edit and transform to meet different needs (Herbert, 2005). The technological advances in the camera, along with compatibility of computer hardware and software with shooting devices have made production cheaper and efficient over time. Today video production takes one camera, a computer system and a can do software instead of a more complex procedure involving more than one camera, several VCRs and days of work of screening footage and re-shooting again and again- as was done before the advances in computer technology. Today, technology has put the gear in the hands of the creative mind to explore all possibilities in video production (Herbert, 2005). Works Cited: Dancyger, Ken. The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice, Focal Press, 2006. May, Pete. The Essential Digital Video Handbook, Rotovision, 2004. Miller, Michael. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, Que, 2007. PCWORLD. 2nd November 2007. PC World Communications, Inc. 15th December 2007. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,138681-page,1-c,desktoppcs/article.html Zettl, Herbert. Television Production Handbook, Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. Read More