ACE Media Technical Overview

Input Edit Output & Store Digital Camera - still and video Scanner - print or transparency Computer Adobe Photoshop iMovie/iDVD Final Cut Express Print Videotape, DVD, CD, Data Projector Powerpoint Internet 3 Stage Approach CD or Microphone

Digital Still Cameras - Grades & Use Grades K to 5 can use digital cameras with fewer features. Olympus cameras between $125 and $200 work very well. These cameras have macro a setting for close-ups. Student is grades 6 and up can better use cameras with an optical zoom feature. Currently these start at around $250.

Digital Still Cameras - Resolution & Memory Memory Higher resolution cameras record greater detail but cost more. Generally, 2 megapixel cameras are very good for most classroom activities. Most cameras are sold with 8 or 16 Mb memory cards. 32Mb are a good option to purchase especially for trips away from the classroom.

Digital Still Cameras - Energy Cameras that use AA batteries rather than dedicated batteries are often more economical. Use rechargeable AA Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries rated above 1800mAh. Fast chargers do not fully charge NiMH batteries so avoid them.

Digital Video Cameras - Cost Digital video cameras that cost about $500 are good most classroom purposes. Canon makes good cameras around this price range. Ensure the camera has a microphone input and a headphone jack. Don’t forget to buy headphones and tripod. Bogen makes good tripods for about $120. Very inexpensive tripods tip over easily, break easily and wear out quickly.

Digital Video Cameras - Maintenance Purchase a head cleaner casette with your camera. Carefully read the user instructions. A camera case is also a good option.

Scanners Film Film scanners scan traditional negatives and slides. They usually cost much more than flatbed scanners and are much higher in resolution.

Scanners - Flatbed Flatbed scanners are useful for scanning printed work, photographs and drawings.

CDs CDs are a simple source of audio input for media projects. The music on the CD usually has to be converted to a file format that can be used by the software. If your computer uses Mac OS X you can also use music imported into iTunes.

Microphones A microphone can be used to record narration, interviews or other sounds for media projects. It can be plugged directly into a miniDV camera or, with the use of a special adapter, into a computer. An iMic (about $40) is one brand of adapter.

Computers The basic components of a desktop computer are: The CPU or Central Processing Unit performs most of the calculations necessary to run the software on your computer. The speed is usually listed in MHz (Megahertz) or GHz (Gigahertz). A 1.4 GHz is faster than an 800 MHz. RAM or Random Access Memory is the principal memory your computer uses to run software. When you switch off your computer the contents of the RAM are lost. Your HD or Hard Drive is the rotating disk that stores all the software and files whether your computer is on or off.

Computers The Firewire port is used to transfer video from your camera to your computer. You can also plug a removable Hard Drive or other accessories into this port. The USB port is used to transfer photos from your digital camera to your computer. You can also plug your scanner, printer and many other devices into this port.

Adobe Photoshop Adobe Photoshop currently comes in two versions: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements is a cheaper and simpler version of Photoshop. It can be used to edit still images for printing and the internet.

iMovie iMovie can be used to edit digital video, pictures or drawings and sound to create a sequence. The final project can be exported to video tape, CD, the internet or a DVD. Movies stored on DVD are compressed into a special format that requires less memory than the original project.

iDVD iDVD be used to store movies created in iMovie or Final Cut. Movies storedon DVD cannot be re-edited in iMovie without being recaptured with special hardware. DVD movies are compressed so that they occupy less space therefore there is a loss of quality when the video is recaptured. If the movie is short enough (about 10 minutes) you may also be able to store the original on the DVD. iDVD can create slide shows and store the original images. DVD is a useful format for archiving classroom movies because they take up very little space store a large amount of data.

Final Cut Express Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express are advanced video editing programs. Final Cut Express is the cheaper version of Final Cut Pro. They allow you to produce video programs that require a greater attention to detail. Both programs can work with up to 99 layers of video and audio. Sound and video can be precisely adjusted. Multiple video and audio tracks are available. This is useful when creating special effects like split-screen or transparent video layers.

Powerpoint Powerpoint can be used to prepare materials for presentation. It’s a relatively simple way integrate text, pictures and sound into one package. It can also be used to create simple animation.

Printers Printers - An inkjet printer is good printer for creating color and black and white images for classroom display. Prices range from less than one hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Good printers can be purchased for between $150 and $350. Epson and Hewlett Packard are two very good brands.

Paper The range of paper for inkjet printers is vast and constantly growing. Heavyweight matte paper can be used to produce high quality prints for final projects. Fingerprints tend to be very visible on lower priced glossy papers. Easily scratched surfaces and the slower drying times of glossy papers can also be challenging for classroom use.

Videotape MiniDV tapes can be used to store video for later viewing. You can plug you miniDV camera into a VHS deck to transfer you movies to VHS tape but there will be a visible loss of quality. Each time you playa VHS tape it stretches a little and with extended use the quality of the picture degrades significantly.

DVD DVDs are an efficient and longer lasting method of storing movies and pictures for later viewing. Movies can be exported directly from iMovie to DVD but this does not occur in real time and there is a loss of quality, which becomes very visible when the movie is longer than 1 hour. Stand-alone DVD burners are also available for about $350. These operate like VCRs.

CD CDs can be used to store digital pictures, scanned images and movies or any other type of data. Movies stored on CD have to be drastically compressed and there is a very noticeable loss of quality. Currently they are the one of the most cost effective methods for students to take their computer projects home.

Internet The Internet can be used to publish audio, video, animation and text. Projects containing still images, video, animation, or sound have to be compressed before the are ready for the Internet.