Multimedia for the Music Teacher: Tips for Desktop Movie Making Stefani Langol Director of Music Technology Saint Ann’s School Brooklyn, NY TI:ME 2002 National Conference

What is DV? 1. Tape Format - Two types of tape: DV and MiniDV 2. Type of Video Compression - CODEC -Compressor/Decompressor: this term is used for hardware and software compression 3. Type of Camera/Deck using the DV tape and DV compression DV is not the connection between the camera and the computer, although it is misused this way.

Benefits of DV 1. Better quality video lines of vertical resolution compared to about 250 for VHS -Better color accuracy 2. Better sound quality - DAT quality: 16 bit, 48 kHz (CD quality is 16 bit, 44.1 kHz) 3. Better computer connection - Digitizing happens in the camera - No generational loss 3. Better tape - Better tape quality

3 Stages of Developing a Digital Video Project 1. Planning your project 2. Creating Content 3. Editing Content

Planning Your Project Even the smallest project should follow 4 basic steps: Pre-production Pre-production Production Production Post-production Post-production Distribution Distribution

Planning Your Project Pre-Production - What are you trying to communicate? - How will it be delivered? VHS, CD, DVD,Online? - Outline, script, storyboard - Casting (securing rights) - Location - Equipment (cameras, microphones, lights, etc…) - Budget Stay organized - write everything down!

Planning Your Project Pre-Production Pick the appropriate hardware and software tools for the job Audio and Video capture hardware Audio and Video capture hardware Editing software Editing software Compression tools Compression tools CD or DVD burners CD or DVD burners HTML tools HTML tools

Production - Shooting: shoot multiple takes shoot multiple takes shoot longer than necessary shoot longer than necessary - Audio: capture from the camera or capture from the camera or capture onto a separate recording device such as a DAT capture onto a separate recording device such as a DAT - Other sources: stills, voice narration, music, other video or film footage stills, voice narration, music, other video or film footage It’s easier to fix things in production than in post-production. Be sure to test early and often to ensure everything is working properly. Planning Your Project

Post-Production - Editing Video and Audio: transitions transitions cropping and trimming cropping and trimming adding still images and graphics adding still images and graphics sweetening audio sweetening audio - Embellishing: adding, effects, filters, motion paths adding, effects, filters, motion paths animating layered graphics animating layered graphics adding text and titles adding text and titles - Adding Soundtracks: voiceovers, music, special audio effects voiceovers, music, special audio effects Planning Your Project

Distribution - Target audience: who will be watching this? who will be watching this? how will they watch it? how will they watch it? - Format: VHS, CD-ROM, DVD, Web, etc... VHS, CD-ROM, DVD, Web, etc... NTSC, PAL, SECAM NTSC, PAL, SECAM - Cost: per copy per copy mastering mastering Planning Your Project

Creating Content Use a high-quality camera. Types of cameras include: - Professional (BetaCam SP - very expensive) - “Prosumer” DV (miniDV, DVCPro, DVCam) - Consumer (Digital Hi8, S-VHS, VHS) - Computer-Based (QuickCam)

Creating Content Standard DV Camcorder - Single CCD, or 3 CCDs (Charge-Coupled Devices) This is what turns light into electrical impulses This is what turns light into electrical impulses - DV compression (DV25) is done inside the camera before data is put on tape - MiniDV tape, Digital 8 - IEEE 1394 interface - Analog S-Video and composite out

Creating Content Connecting to Your Camera - Most DV cameras use the IEEE 1394 interface (high-speed serial link) Firewire (Apple) Firewire (Apple) i.Link (Sony) i.Link (Sony) - Firewire can be used for other digital devices hard drives, scanners, CD/DVDproducts, printers, etc… hard drives, scanners, CD/DVDproducts, printers, etc… “hot-swappable” “hot-swappable” 4 pin and 6 pin 4 pin and 6 pin Video, audio, timecode: device control can all be transferred over one cable Video, audio, timecode: device control can all be transferred over one cable

Use a tripod - your subjects should move, not your camera. Experiment with shooting the same thing from different angles. Use adequate lighting - shoot your video in different kinds of light and different places to see how it affects the outcome Use high quality audio equipment and external microphone when possible Keep backgrounds simple - simple backgrounds mean better compression - A lot of movement in the background may be distracting - A lot of movement in the background may be distracting Creating Content

Capture video at Full Screen resolution - 640X480 or 720X480 (DV) - Capturing at full screen will improve the final image - Allows for more options in final delivery of the project Creating Content

Capture at the highest setting your system allows Capture from your master tapes - Insures highest quality video signal - Don’t excessively play your master tapes Capture audio at the original quality - This is generally 44kHz, 16 bit, stereo Creating Content

Storage Requirements - How much? What is your project length? What is your project length? DV has a fixed rate of 3.6 MB/sec= 216MB minute= 12.9 GB/hour DV has a fixed rate of 3.6 MB/sec= 216MB minute= 12.9 GB/hour Allow room for extra footage Allow room for extra footage - How fast? Drive’s sustained data rate must be higher than your video’s data rate Drive’s sustained data rate must be higher than your video’s data rate Creating Content

Fine Tune Your System - Deactivate all unnecessary Extensions and Control Panels - Turn off Virtual Memory or any other memory-enhancing programs - Use the latest drivers for your software - Turn off AppleTalk - Capture to a de-fragmented hard drive - Back up your System Folder Creating Content

Editing Content Basic Steps for building a simple iMovie: 1. Start a new project and import and/or capture clips 2. View and edit clips 3. Assemble clips in the timeline 4. Apply transitions, filters and/or motion settings to clips 5. Add superimposed tracks (i.e., titles) to the movie 6. Edit and add music, sounds and narration 7. Preview the movie 8. Compile assembled clips and Print to Video or export to other file format (QuickTime, AVI, RealVideo, etc…)

Editing Content

Teacher and Student Applications: 1. Collaborate on interdisciplinary projects 2. Create multimedia presentations (text, video, audio, graphics) 3. Video a rehearsal or performance for analysis and critiquing 4. Create a video to demonstrate a particular instrumental technique or playing style 5. Score your own movie 6. Examine the relationship between the auricular and visual arts - why do certain sounds evoke certain images? 7. Create an advertisement for an upcoming performance 8. Create materials to use in class or post on your school web site 9. Produce professional quality educational videos with your students