Updated July 29, 2004 WebTV Users: Not all Boxes will play the video files correctly. How Do I get my video footage into my computer: First thing to have is a capture card or an exterior plugin port that you can connect the familiar "RCA" and the "SVHS" connector cables to. Below is a diagram of what the various connector cables look like. The third connector cable and the best quality is the "Firewire" connector cable. Virtually NO loss in video capture, dubbing or editing. IEEE 1394, also coined "Firewire" by Apple, and "i.Link" by Sony, is a new standard I/O interface.This connection is the way to go if youre using a digital video camera.
"Firewire" cards are easy to install and cost anywhere from $30.00 to $100.00 the video and audio signal is transfered via the "Firewire" cable. Below is a diagram of what the hardware looks like. Usually included with your purchase is a video editing software and any drivers needed for its easy installation. The best feature is that you will have physical control of your camera when using the supplied software. Pretty much like a mini vcr..play stop ff rw. All controlled thru the "Firewire" connector cable. Note however the cable is not usually included in the "Firewire" card purchase. Cables are sold separately for about 30.00 to 90.00 ea. Below in the 2nd diagram and to the right is what the cable will look like. The technical term when buying is a 6 - 4 pin IEEE 1394 "Firewire" ("i-Link") cable. One end is slightly wider, the 6 pin, fitting into the captures card interface and the 4 pin, fitting into the cameras interface. A very inexpensive offer from Belkin ("FireWire"Cable Included) can be found at the link below:
MAKING VIDEOS (Video capture from SVHS, VHS 8mm Hi8, Digital ) Raw Digital Video, Source: Digital Video Camera / Digital VCR Raw Uncompressed video is large in file size and can't be posted at "Homeclips", therefore video compression is needed. Digital video input via a "Firewire" is usually compressed but still at a rate to large for computer applications. The digital format captured is equal to the output needed for "NTSC" the standard for television viewing in the United States. The actual compression size captured from digital video is 720x480 NTSC audio 32 khz 16 bit Stereo. If you are capturing thru an analog input these include the recognizable and most common "RCA" standard video and audio jacks or thru the Hi-Band "SVHS" cable. You will most probably already have the program included with the hardware. Most capture programs that compress your video files will have different parameter choices. A great many of these programs employ "mpeg 1" as their format of choice. "Motion Picture Experts Group" a recognized format, supported by most computer platforms. If you are capturing thru a "Firewire" Digital cable the material is compressed and will be in the ".Avi" format but again to large a size and video rate for playback on most home desktop computers. Ideal however, for editing scenes, adding titles and music. The finished rendition still in its ".AVI" "NTSC" "DV" format can then be sent back and recorded to digital or analog video tape. If you intend on using it for any computer application, then this... is where the ".mpeg" compression is definitely needed. Most softwares included these days will capture in the ".mpeg" format directly from your digital source. If not then you will need to convert the raw footage your self with the same software into the ".mpeg" or ".wmv" format. If you dont own a digital video camera (and who doesnt these days) then you will NOT need the "Firewire" capture card. You will need an exterior capture device for the (Analog) signal. Analog (RCA / SVHS) Source: Hi8 / 8mm SVHS / VHS Camera or VCR If youre using a Hi-8 or 8mm,"SVHS" or "VHS" camera or VCR then you will need something like "The Dazzle Video Creator" by far the best and easiest way I found in producing digital ".mpeg" video clips or video stills. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/VideoEditing.asp?Family=24&Langue_ID=7
"Mpeg" uses state of the art technology for compressing raw video directly from either your VCR or video camera into manageable digital video files. Although ".avi" files are very good, in order to maintain the same video quality the ultimate file size is rather large. "The Dazzle" Hardware provides you with the capability compressing and maintaining video quality at a reasonable manageable "mpeg" file size. Provided are both the analog "RCA composite" and the "Hi band SVHS" inputs. Moreover since it connects to your scanner or "parallel port" or for those who have "USB" ports.. (there is also a version for that interface as well) there is no need to open your PC to get started. Simply connect the cable of the interface to your system, connect the "RCA" or "SVHS" cables from your camera or VCR to the interface and away you go. Please note when using the "SVHS" cable you will still need to connect the audio cable or cables to the interface from your camera or VCR. Unlike the Digital "Firewire" it does not carry the sound portion with the video. You can capture in 3 different compression sizes. You can also capture and make uncompressed audio files in the ".wav" format used for "Music CDs" or the now widely used compressed "MP3" format which requires an "MP3" decoder in your "CD" or "DVD" player.There is also an input for a microphone for adding narration to your creations. There are color, brightness and various other adjustments you can make to your finished masterpiece. "The Dazzle" also gives you the option of sending your edited version back to videotape. You can assign a file size limit to your video clips BEFORE capturing so that they will all be the same size and duration. In addition you can email them right from the software or create web pages. It also gives you the capability of converting them to the "Real player" "Rm" format. "The Dazzle" usually comes with 2 other softwares. "The Ulead Video Studio", for adding graphics and music files and also a picture editing device called "Photo Express" for cropping and manipulating picture files such as jpegs and bitmaps, also from "Ulead". Lastly the price is very very affordable, all 3 softwares plus "The Dazzle" capture hardware for 150.00. There is also "Dazzle" Photo maker that will make photos as well as mpegs, this one is the USB version for "Macs" and "Windows". This one sells for 99.00 but does not have the "SVHS" input only the normal VHS inputs (prices may vary). As far as availability, you can find them at most Camera, Electronics or Computer stores. Factors to consider in reducing the size of a video file are as follows: 1) Size of the actual capture- as in frame size, these are expressed in pixels, small square shaped components that make up the picture. A good enjoyable size would be 320*240 2) Color bit size- this is the amount of color quality throughout. There are 2 types "Yuv" and "Rgb" Yuv 24 is the maximum bits per pixel while Rgb 32 is its maximum bit per pixel. By reducing these properties to a lower bit rate, you consequently reduce the video clips size, but accordingly you reduce its color quality. Reductions for Yuv are as follows Yuv-24 Yuv-12 Yuv-9 Reductions in Rgb are Rgb32 Rgb16 Rgb8 3) Bitrate per second (both video and audio)- This function affects the amount of info being recorded. The greater the number the better the definition and overall picture and sound quality. 4) Actual length of the capture, this deals in realtime minutes and seconds. 5) Video Frames Per Second "fps" Video tends to look choppy if this variable is set to low, Real life action moves at 60fps Tv images and video move at 29.9fps, reducing this number to 24fps will greatly reduce the file size while still maintaining fluidity. Usually capture programs allow you to set the size of the window, the bitrate per second, color bitrate an compression method as in mpeg or avi etc. We prefer you submit them as m-pegs. Although we do accept Avi, Quicktime, Wmv or any other than can be successfully converted to mpeg files which are the formats of choice for the Homeclips area. Bear in mind all of these will reduce the overall quality of the capture but will greatly reduce the file size. Check your manual and find out where your adjustable settings are. If there is no manual available, check to see if they have a website for information regarding your software application. In the Homeclips video area contributions will now be as large as 5meg. Try to use the 320*240 pixel size, use the 24fps or better but no less than 15, And a overall bitrate of 120 to55 kbs will produce very good videos. Naturally you can experiment with the various options for personal satisfaction, but the most important thing here is to have fun. Below are links for "capturing and converting" video: Video Editors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ input Formats- Mpg
input Formats- avi avs mpg mpeg mpv dat TMPG Encoder Freeware web
home page: http://www.tmpgenc.com/
input Formats- avi mpeg mpg qt mov asf Dazzle Video Creator Retail web home page: http://www.dazzle.com
input Formats- mpg mpeg mpv mp3 mpa dat Ulead Video Studio ver. Free Trial http://www.ulead.com/
input Formats- (NOT MP3) avi mov qt gifs mpg mpeg mpv dat wav
aiff aif aifc au mp2 flx fli flc MGi Video Wave Free Trial
input Formats- avi mpg mpeg1 mpeg2 dat wav mp3 mp2 cda wmf Windows Media Encoder Freeware
input Formats- .wav, .wma, .wmv, .asf .avi, .wav (MPEG) .mpg,
.mp3 .bmp http://www.ulead.com/download/download.htm
Media PLAYERS: Depending on the pc you have, Mac spawns Quicktime and Microsoft initiates the Media player, now each of these have their updated plug-ins. You will need to visit their sites and carefully check to see the versions that will work with your particular system. This is very important, if not done correctly the videos will not play. After downloading the various plug-ins you must install them, simply follow the on screen instructions. WWW.MICROSOFT.COM WWW.QUICKTIME.COM "I CANT PLAY THE VIDEO FILE"----------------------------------------------- Media players need to be configured to play different compression types or file extensions. The way to accomplish this task is to Go to "options" or "preferences" on each player and set them appropriately. Carefully go thru each item and check them to make very sure you are playing the right extension on the movie file. "mov" 'mpeg' 'avis' etc. Most of our clips have been converted to the mpeg (Motion Pictures Experts Group) format and will play on the Micro-soft Media or Quicktime Player which is part of the Windows or Mac Software But if you are running a MACINTOSH You might want the latest Quicktime player, which is easily downloaded from their site @ www.quicktime.com ...While there, be sure to check for plugins to be able to play more than just one file type. Also the browser you are using is also very important. Use "Explorer" with "Macs" Netscape is not configured for "Quicktime"mpeg video playback. http://www.real.com/welcome/index.html I dont take any chances ....I have them all. To me, in most things "More is better". Go ahead and download the various plugins that will enable you to play the different formats. Also make sure the settings are correct in the progammable options. "Remember its not what you see at Homeclips that makes us so great, its what others see of you." Keep those video clips coming.
Sincerely, Manny Audio/Video Correspondence Technical Help: Webmaster@Homeclips.com Where to send your clips: contri@Homeclips.com Updated Sept. 25, 2003 |
