BACH
01-27-2006, 01:09 AM
I am going to periodically update, add information, etc to this.
Here is a Good Article from GameSpot discussing this
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6148616/index.html
HOW DO I GET THE VIDEO INTO MY COMPUTER?
There are a two main methods to doing so.
1. Capture Card
There are several different cards on the market that would suffice. Basically, you can run RCA (Yellow, Red, White cables) and S-Video into the card.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/erikthedead/aiwx1900port1_lg.jpg
You can then use the software provided to capture the video (you can even turn your computer into a tivo)
2. Direct Feed by use of a digitial video camera.
Certain cameras (i know for a fact Cannon can) can use the same cables that you use to run video from your camera to the TV, can take the signal and reverse it, through the camera, and out the FireWire port. If you are looking for a camera that can do this, look for "Direct Line Input" and IEEE.1394 "FireWire" ports. USB 2.0 has been getting more use, but firewire is still the king. If you are looking through the menu of the camera, under VCR mode, under VCR set-up, look for an option that says AV>DV OUT --- That is the way to turn it on for Canon, and it should be similar for other cameras. This way you can use the camera as a bridge between your analog input device (VCR, older camera, GameCube, etc) into your computer. Also, assuming you won't always have your computer right next to you when recording, footage can be saved to the digital media of a camcorder (MiniDV is the popular choice) and then uploaded later with little to no loss of quality.
NOW ITS IN THE COMPUTER - NOW WHAT?
Well, now you need to edit it - or encode it. Lets assume you're making something fancy. You are going to need an editing program. Lets start with something simple, and move up - Shall we? Not everyone has the abilty to pick up something with such a high learning curve as Final Cut Pro, or Adobe Premiere Pro.
1. Apple iMovie & Windows Movie Maker
If you can't learn these programs, you need...well you need to re-think your desire to edit. This is as basic as it gets. These programs are simple timeline based editing. You import your clips, and snip them to size, and place them on the time-line. Throw some audio over top - and you're good to go. They are very user-friendly and hold your hand all the way.
2. Pinnacle Studio & Ulead Videostudio
This is a little more high brow. All digital video editing programs are really identical if you break it down to what it does. Really, the only difference is how you perform the same actions. To more expirenced editors they may find the more advanced layouts easier for them to work. The overly simplistic and redundancy of iMovie and WMM is gone. These programs include a far more varied list of filters and transitions, and the ability to play around with those to some extent. That said, they are still quite limited in their total capabilities for editing and effects.
3. Adobe Premiere Pro & Apple Final Cut Pro
Welcome to the higher levels of editing. Most of the features found in these programs will mean nothing to you. But for those that are starting to say, "Hey, i wish i could do *blank*" i could then tell you "sure, you do it like this." Really, the sky is the limit with these bad boys. From Green-screen, to advanced video correction, to focus, etc etc. Could could have limitless layers of video and audio all playing at the same time.
OK - I'M DONE - WHAT NOW?!
It's time for export and encode. Ever d/l anime, and it's only 150 megs ish? The quality is fantastic, and it wasn't that big of a file. That's because it was encoded well. For you to encode your project, there are several ways to do so - depending on your desired format, etc.
1. Export it using the same program you edited it in - The program you used to edit will have an option to export. The trick is finding out what settings to use to have the quality look good, and not be gigs in size. Play with it!
2. Export the file fully uncompressed (not to lose quality) and bring it into an encoding program - for example Virtualdub (http://www.virtualdub.org/index) or Windows Media Encoder (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx) - There are several more, but those are the basics. Virtualdub is considered the best in encoding. It can encode pretty much any format, divx, mpeg, etc - whatever you want.
OK - LETS GET IT ONLINE!
There are several methods to get your work online for all to see.
1. The DC++ Hub
Share your videos and discuss with everyone else @ smash.servegame.com -- get more info on the DC++ hub HERE (http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=56223)
2. Web-based video players
Sites like Google Video (http://video.google.com/) and Badongo (http://www.badongo.com/) have been getting more and more popular. By uploading your videos to these places people can easily watch them anywhere. However, it isn't as easy to download them since they are web-based.
3. Direct download links
These seem to be the best way everyone has been using to get thier work out. Utilizing many of these to create "Mirrors" of your work will stop one site from getting bogged down. Here are some of the popular ones.
File Front (http://www.filefront.com/)
YouSendIt (http://www.yousendit.com/)
Rapid Share (http://www.rapidshare.de/)
Each has good and bad points, I'll list them at a later time.
The point of this forum is for those aspiring to make videos, to seek help, and for eveyone to share thier tips, and tricks. Share input and ask questions.
Feel free to ask me any questions, and before you ask - ofcourse search to see if anyone has allready asked that question. When posting a question, try to fill us in with some background information so we're not taking a stab in the dark of how to help you.
Enjoy the new Forum!
~BACH
Here is a Good Article from GameSpot discussing this
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6148616/index.html
HOW DO I GET THE VIDEO INTO MY COMPUTER?
There are a two main methods to doing so.
1. Capture Card
There are several different cards on the market that would suffice. Basically, you can run RCA (Yellow, Red, White cables) and S-Video into the card.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/erikthedead/aiwx1900port1_lg.jpg
You can then use the software provided to capture the video (you can even turn your computer into a tivo)
2. Direct Feed by use of a digitial video camera.
Certain cameras (i know for a fact Cannon can) can use the same cables that you use to run video from your camera to the TV, can take the signal and reverse it, through the camera, and out the FireWire port. If you are looking for a camera that can do this, look for "Direct Line Input" and IEEE.1394 "FireWire" ports. USB 2.0 has been getting more use, but firewire is still the king. If you are looking through the menu of the camera, under VCR mode, under VCR set-up, look for an option that says AV>DV OUT --- That is the way to turn it on for Canon, and it should be similar for other cameras. This way you can use the camera as a bridge between your analog input device (VCR, older camera, GameCube, etc) into your computer. Also, assuming you won't always have your computer right next to you when recording, footage can be saved to the digital media of a camcorder (MiniDV is the popular choice) and then uploaded later with little to no loss of quality.
NOW ITS IN THE COMPUTER - NOW WHAT?
Well, now you need to edit it - or encode it. Lets assume you're making something fancy. You are going to need an editing program. Lets start with something simple, and move up - Shall we? Not everyone has the abilty to pick up something with such a high learning curve as Final Cut Pro, or Adobe Premiere Pro.
1. Apple iMovie & Windows Movie Maker
If you can't learn these programs, you need...well you need to re-think your desire to edit. This is as basic as it gets. These programs are simple timeline based editing. You import your clips, and snip them to size, and place them on the time-line. Throw some audio over top - and you're good to go. They are very user-friendly and hold your hand all the way.
2. Pinnacle Studio & Ulead Videostudio
This is a little more high brow. All digital video editing programs are really identical if you break it down to what it does. Really, the only difference is how you perform the same actions. To more expirenced editors they may find the more advanced layouts easier for them to work. The overly simplistic and redundancy of iMovie and WMM is gone. These programs include a far more varied list of filters and transitions, and the ability to play around with those to some extent. That said, they are still quite limited in their total capabilities for editing and effects.
3. Adobe Premiere Pro & Apple Final Cut Pro
Welcome to the higher levels of editing. Most of the features found in these programs will mean nothing to you. But for those that are starting to say, "Hey, i wish i could do *blank*" i could then tell you "sure, you do it like this." Really, the sky is the limit with these bad boys. From Green-screen, to advanced video correction, to focus, etc etc. Could could have limitless layers of video and audio all playing at the same time.
OK - I'M DONE - WHAT NOW?!
It's time for export and encode. Ever d/l anime, and it's only 150 megs ish? The quality is fantastic, and it wasn't that big of a file. That's because it was encoded well. For you to encode your project, there are several ways to do so - depending on your desired format, etc.
1. Export it using the same program you edited it in - The program you used to edit will have an option to export. The trick is finding out what settings to use to have the quality look good, and not be gigs in size. Play with it!
2. Export the file fully uncompressed (not to lose quality) and bring it into an encoding program - for example Virtualdub (http://www.virtualdub.org/index) or Windows Media Encoder (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx) - There are several more, but those are the basics. Virtualdub is considered the best in encoding. It can encode pretty much any format, divx, mpeg, etc - whatever you want.
OK - LETS GET IT ONLINE!
There are several methods to get your work online for all to see.
1. The DC++ Hub
Share your videos and discuss with everyone else @ smash.servegame.com -- get more info on the DC++ hub HERE (http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=56223)
2. Web-based video players
Sites like Google Video (http://video.google.com/) and Badongo (http://www.badongo.com/) have been getting more and more popular. By uploading your videos to these places people can easily watch them anywhere. However, it isn't as easy to download them since they are web-based.
3. Direct download links
These seem to be the best way everyone has been using to get thier work out. Utilizing many of these to create "Mirrors" of your work will stop one site from getting bogged down. Here are some of the popular ones.
File Front (http://www.filefront.com/)
YouSendIt (http://www.yousendit.com/)
Rapid Share (http://www.rapidshare.de/)
Each has good and bad points, I'll list them at a later time.
The point of this forum is for those aspiring to make videos, to seek help, and for eveyone to share thier tips, and tricks. Share input and ask questions.
Feel free to ask me any questions, and before you ask - ofcourse search to see if anyone has allready asked that question. When posting a question, try to fill us in with some background information so we're not taking a stab in the dark of how to help you.
Enjoy the new Forum!
~BACH