| So you want to start making web videos for your | | | | signal needs to be converted into a digital format |
| business but you don't have a big budget? | | | | before editing. Luckily most camcorders have a USB |
| All you really need is access to a camcorder and to a | | | | or Firewire output jack makes it easy to do that for |
| computer because there are a lot of FREE resources | | | | you. Plug in the appropriate cable to your computer |
| available to you for creating your Internet and web | | | | and then transfer the files to your raw video hard |
| videos. This includes a wide range free video editing | | | | drive for editing. |
| programs and web sites. | | | | Unlike hard drive camcorders or flash memory |
| Actually, you probably don't even need a camcorder. | | | | camcorders that let you simply transfer a digital file, |
| You might not even need a camera or a web cam. | | | | you will need to capture the real time video using your |
| There are lots of "free" video and images floating | | | | editing software. The capture process converts a |
| around on the Internet for you to borrow and use - as | | | | selected part of the video and audio on the camcorder |
| long as you are not trying to make money with your | | | | into a digital file, suitable for editing. You go through |
| finished project. | | | | your recorded video and then capture the parts of the |
| However, lets assume you do have a way to capture | | | | recorded video you want to edit. Don't bother |
| your own footage and digital images. You can create | | | | capturing the bad stuff. |
| a very nice web video by simply dissolving and | | | | Webcam video can be captured and converted in the |
| panning across still images. Of course, most of us | | | | same way. Once you have your video stored on your |
| would prefer to start with real video that we shoot | | | | computer hard drive, you can start to edit it. |
| ourselves and then edit that. | | | | Free Editing Software |
| The biggest gotcha is that the video files captured by | | | | The good news is that there a lot of options for free |
| some of the more inexpensive "flash memory" or | | | | editing software. This includes free editing software |
| DVD camcorders can be very difficult to edit. If you | | | | provided by Microsoft and Apple that is available when |
| have a Flip Camcorder, Sanyo Xacti, Kodak | | | | you buy a computer with those operating systems. For |
| QuickShare, DXG Quickshots or other small | | | | Windows, look for MovieMaker and for Apple, look for |
| camcorder, you need to make sure that the video and | | | | iMovie. Sometime the start up icons for these |
| audio captured by the camcorder can be easily edited | | | | programs are easy to find. Sometimes you need to do |
| by the software package you choose. You may have | | | | a search or do a download from the Microsoft or |
| to use a video converter software package to | | | | Apple site. For example, with Windows 7, MovieMaker |
| convert the camcorder's unique video format into | | | | is part of the Microsoft Windows Live Essentials |
| something more common that your computer will | | | | program. You may need to download and install it. |
| edit. | | | | Another option is the free bundled software that you |
| Most of these compact and affordable camcorders | | | | may get with your camcorder or other video |
| record in some flavor of MPEG4 on an internal or | | | | peripheral or accessory. These are usually limited |
| removable memory card. You might need to do some | | | | versions that allow you do to simple cuts and video |
| research before you select your editing software. Do | | | | assembly but not much more. However, as they are |
| a quick web search on editing your camcorder's | | | | free, and come with your camcorder, you know that |
| software and you should get a good idea on what | | | | they will work with the video that you capture with |
| type of software to use. | | | | your camcorder. A word of caution though - I have |
| The good news is that most mid level and up | | | | found that many of these "free" bundled programs are |
| consumer camcorders record a more generic type of | | | | not the smoothest when it comes to user |
| DV video that is easily edited. Most of the newer hard | | | | interoperability and often have very limited instructions. |
| drive and memory card camcorders record a digitized | | | | There are also a bunch of freeware program floating |
| video file that can be easily imported into your | | | | around. Some like Zwei-Stein Video Editor 3.01 have |
| computer via a USB cable and then edited. | | | | been around for a long time. Others pop up, look good, |
| For flash and memory card camcorders, depending on | | | | get a lot of buzz, and then disappear into the |
| what kinds of memory card the camcorder uses, and | | | | technology desert. Often these freeware programs do |
| the kind of memory card readers on your computer, | | | | not offer a lot of support or instructions and are better |
| you may be able to simply pop out the memory card | | | | suited to those who are techy in nature. Also, many of |
| out of your camera and stick it directly into your | | | | these freeware programs will run on Linux. |
| computer for transfer and editing. A word of warning | | | | Another good source fore free video editing programs |
| though - I prefer using the USB cable because the less | | | | are the demo versions of commercial software |
| times you handle the fragile memory card, the fewer | | | | offered by most of the major commercial software |
| chances there are for damage. | | | | makers. Some of these are simply light versions of the |
| I also recommend creating a separate directory for | | | | entire product, others are full versions that only work |
| raw video files on your computer hard drive and then | | | | for a limited period of time or stamp a logo or product |
| transferring all your raw video files there - prior to | | | | name on your finished work. |
| editing them. Editing goes quicker when you are | | | | If you are serious about getting into video on a budget, |
| working with video and audio stored on a local hard | | | | this is often a good path to take as the software |
| drive rather than on the video memory card or the | | | | maker wants to provide an easy to use and enticing |
| camcorder's hard drive. Transfer the video, unplug the | | | | path to the next step in the software upgrade - buying |
| camcorder and/or remove the card from the | | | | a commercial video editing package. With many of the |
| computer. Then edit! | | | | commercial video editing software packages coming in |
| If you are getting really serious about video editing, add | | | | under $100, I strongly recommend considering this |
| an extra hard drive to your computer, and store all | | | | method of getting your feet wet with video. |
| your raw video files there. Hard drives are so cheap | | | | My recommendation for someone just starting out and |
| now that it makes a lot more sense to dedicate a | | | | with limited technical expertise and NO budget, is to |
| separate hard drive just for video. Your computer will | | | | start with MovieMaker for Windows or iMovie for |
| be happier to as it will be accessing the editing | | | | Apple. Once you have mastered the entry level |
| program from one drive and the video from a different | | | | program and feel comfortable doing the basics of |
| drive. If you have a standalone back up system, you | | | | editing, then download and experiment with some of |
| might want to dedicate it just to backing up the raw | | | | the free demos offered by Adobe, Ulead, Pinnacle and |
| and completed video files on your video drive. | | | | Avid. |
| If you have a tape based DV camcorder, the video | | | | |