Internet Video Gal

Here is a video review of the Panasonic AG-DVX 100B, a popular standard def miniDV camera that lets you shoot in 24p, 30p or 60i.

All the features Panasonic packed into this camera are pretty amazing.

The AG-DVX 100B is an updated version of the revolutionary DVX 100, the first small camera to shoot 24-frame per second video, which simulates the look of film. Huge, expensive video cameras had that nifty little trick down, but Panasonic brought it down to scale for lower-budget cameras.

If you shoot in these alternative frame rates, make sure you have video editing software that candle handle it.

For the price, (lists at $2,595) the AG-DVX is an amazing piece of video machinery. It packs lots of professional features into a 4.19 pound package.

Like all the cameras in this category, (Prosumer, a blend of a low-end professional or high-grade consumer level) the Panasonic AG-DVX is a 3-ship camera. It has 3-CCD, 1/3″ Interline Transfer-Type chips.

For quality audio recording, the AG-DVX 100b features two XLR inputs.  The camera also has a headphone jack too.

In reading all of Panasonic’s sales material on this camera, it seems clear they designed this camera for quality run-and-gun shooting, like news gathering and documentary style shooting.

It does well in low-light situations, it has a wider than average lens, plus it has a user-friendly mix of manual control, automatic and auto pre-set. For example, it has three buttons the user can customize to activate anything from the SMPTE color bars to the auto tracking white balance.

It also has unique features that allow it to be easily used in a multi-camera shoot. For instance, connect via firewire (IEEE 1394) and you can transfer or synch time-code, or transfer and match up user files containing camera parameters for a more uniform image between cameras.

For times when you want to mount the camera in a hard-to-reach position, you have wired remote control over zoom, iris, focus, and record/pause.

Even though this is a standard def camera, you can shoot in widescreen 16:9. The AG-DVX100B features three 16:9 Wide Modes, including something they call the “New Squeeze Mode” With the standard lens, you can record in letterbox mode or the newly added squeeze mode. This gives you extra flexibility when using the AG-DVX100B together with equipment from other manufacturers.

Activating the Aspect Ratio function on the LCD allows for a letterbox display for easier framing when shooting in Squeeze Mode or when using the Anamorphic lens. If you want to take this to the max, you will need to use the optional 16:9 conversion lens (AG-LA7200G, sold separately). Using the conversion lens will let you take full advantage of the higher image quality made possible by using all of the CCD pixels.

A quality lens is all important for a quality video camera. This one comes with a Leica Dicomar including an OIS, or Optical Image Stabilization system. It’s zoom out is wider than some, starting at 4.5mm, which is equivalent to a 32.5 mm on a 35mm still camera. It’s a 10x optical zoom, 4.5 – 45mm (10 x Optical Zoom) f/1.6. 10x is not a terribly long zoom and the short zoom was one of the most commonly listed consumer complaints.

On a practical level, a wide angle lens is much more advantageous and useful than a telephoto lens. The wide angle helps is small areas and most rooms you will find yourself shooting in are way too small!

In telephoto mode, you can focus at a minimum distance of .6 meters, or 1.9 feet. That’s good and close for a fully zoomed in shot. The lens also has a macro feature.

One cool feature was that they slowed the servo zoom (automatic) down from 20 seconds to a dramatic 30 seconds. So a nice, super slow zoom is easy with this lens.

As with all video cameras with the prosumer class, the videographer using the Panasonic ag-dvx100b has manual control over all of the many functions that affect picture quality, like shutter, white balance, exposure, focus and so forth.

If you are in a situation that calls for speed, all of these controls can be set to automatic if you wish. The sales literature brags on the speed of their auto focus but I know I will never like auto focus!

If you are in a dark place with no way to add light, the camera allows you to kick in some gain. (Video Noise) Your variable gain selection follows:

0dB, 3 dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 18dB O dB Fixed during Slow Shutter Mode

As a higher end camera, the photographer also has control over the shutter. You can set a range variable from: 1/24 sec – 1/2000 sec (Different Ranges for Different Recording Modes)

In reading the mostly stellar consumer reviews, the short zooming capacity (10x) was one of the major complaints. Even so, most people LOVED this camera.

Here is a fairly typical comment. To quote one consumer review: “I always shoot in 24p and this camera by far gives you better looking mini-dv video footage than any other camera in its price range. As a media study student…I have had access to many different cameras…I’ve used them and tested them and this one by far comes out on the top of my list…as a non HD camcorder.”

All in all, this is an extremely versatile video camera that gives you all the features normally found in camera costing (and weighing) three times as much.

Click here to see the at the Panasonic AG DVX 100B video camera at the B&H Photo website.

Panasonic AG-DVX100b Specs

If you are looking for a powerful, effective, yet easy video marketing solution, let me suggest CoVideo.CoVideo is an all-in-one solution for online video marketing.  With a CoVideo account you can:

• EASILY Create Talking Head Videos (Uploading the video and file conversion are both automatic.)
• EASILY Email or Blog those Videos
• EASILY Host and Manage your Videos
• EASILY hold online Video Meetings, Conferences, Presentations, Webinars, whatever you want to call ‘em!

CoVideo helps you with every step in implementing and profiting from online video marketing.

From getting the videos made, to hosting and distributing them, CoVideo offers a complete solution with a wide variety of functions.

Watch the video above to see how a car salesman named John Zarlino used video email to impress his customers and increase sales.

The video email system John used is incredibly easy and affordable.  All you need is a webcam, a high speed connection and a basic CoVideo account.  It only costs 29.95 a month.

From your CoVideo account, you click one button and the video recorder comes up with your webcam signal inside of it.   Click one more button to record your video and have it automatically uploaded into your video library.  From there, you can email it out inside of an interactive template or grab some embed code and use it to post the video on a blog.

In addition to easy video creation, video emailing and blogging, an advanced  Covideo account gives you a fantastic platform for holding online meetings.  CoVideo  meetings can take many forms.

You can have up to twelve people on the screen at once, each with the ability to speak, hear and interact.

If you want to show slides, videos, or an interactive white board, you can do that too.   The two videos below demonstrate the CoVideo system.  The first video describes the versatile meeting functions.  The second video is an overview of the entire CoVideo system.  Both videos are part of the extensive online video marketing campaign I am producing for the Center for Great Management Practices, (CGMP), a company promoting the CoVideo platform.

The CoVideo platform is capable of many incredible things, and they are constantly improving it. If you’d like further information on how the CoVideo Platform can benefit you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The Center for Great Management Practices has hired me to create their online video marketing campaign. I was quite flattered to be asked. I truly love the product so find it easy to think of creative ways to promote it.
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
Lorraine Grula

Interactive video just got a new look with the Interactive Video Browser Bar from Veeple.

I added the Interactive Browser Bar with four buttons to the top of this video about the New Tek VT5. The interactive browser bar looks sleek and classy IMHO. Better than that, it adds a highly-converting form of monetization to my video and extends my social network/customer service to all viewers.

For this particular post, the video about the New Tek VT5 is primarily just a vehicle to demonstrate the new look of the interactivity.

I have several other posts on this blog describing the features, specs and benefits of the New Tek VT5, which is a computer based desktop video production studio system you can use to equip a mobile production van or a TV production studio.  It’s fantastic, go check it out.  But now let’s talk video interactivity.

If you read this blog often, you know I am a BIG fan of video interactivity.  Adding interactivity is advantageous for both me as the video producer and for any viewers who choose to watch.

Advantages of Video Interactivity

For the video about the New Tek VT5, the interactivity is tied with a hefty commission.   There are two affiliate links to the product that appear as unobtrusive, but still obvious clickable links.

Research done by the Veeple company shows that clickable links placed inside a video such as my two affiliate links will get significantly higher engagement rates than standard ads placed off to the side.  The improvements can be quite dramatic.  Some Veeple customers have demonstrated conversion rates as high as 70%.  I’ve never gotten that high, but I have gotten up in the 30-40% range.

In addition to better-converting forms of monetization, the interactivity also allows me to give viewers additional information about the VT5 plus easy ways to email or follow me on Twitter.

In short, video interactivity gives me more diverse, creative ways to communicate and monetize. It gives viewers more control, choices and options.  The classic win-win.

A More Fully Functioning Communications Vehicle

In a sense, adding interactivity to a video is like turning it into a complete website, or at least a complete web page.  The interactive video can travel, a step beyond just sitting on one domain name trying to attract an audience.

The interactivity functions as both links to the rest of the net and as a repository for products like PDFs and Power Point Presentations.

Adding links inside of your video that viewers can click to travel to other sites blends together your message, your sales funnel, your customer service, your social networking, or any part of the web you wish.

Where Do I Get Interactivity?

The service I use to provide interactivity for all my videos is Veeple. Veeple is extremely easy to use and provides a very affordable, unique, all-in-one video hosting solution.

Veeple recently created a new look for the same functionality they have been promoting and developing for the past few years.   The new look is called the Interactive Video Browser Bar.  (IVBB)

They did not eliminate the “old” look and the VT5 video in this post contains both.  Each look has advantages.

The IBVV displays the interactive buttons as a row across the top, just like we’ve all come to expect from computer task bars and browser bars of all types.  The “old” look was more scattered and did not resemble anything quite as familiar.

Making the interactive buttons look like something we’re all more familiar with helps viewers know intuitively how and why they should use the buttons.

Anytime people can behave naturally and comfortably, with a sense of familiarity of the process they are going through, it will help minimize confusion thereby increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome.

In other words, more scores for the bottom line. 

The Interactive Video Browser Bar creates functional and impressive looking interactive links for your videos.  To try out this innovative service yourself, sign up for a free trial at Veeple.

Video demo showing how easy it is to add interactivity to your videos using the Veeple service.

Adding interactivity right inside your video has been shown to DRASTICALLY increase conversions and viewer engagement. Viewers don’t have to wonder how to access your sales page or other info, it’s right there inside the video!

Recent research shows that conversions rates with interactive video beats the conversion rates of standard video by up to 12 times.  That’s an incredible increase.

IMHO, interactivity inside videos is absolutely where online video is heading.  Someday, video interactivity will be so common people will just expect it.  I say that because it works so well.  Wide-spread use is simply inevitable.

Interactive video is easy to do with the Veeple system.  In my experience, the Veeple system is WAY easier to use than most online video hosting services, plus you get the interactivity.

This video post demonstrates how to add an interactive spot using Veeple.  As you watch the video, make sure and click the PDF icons to download both a free report on interactivity and some PP slides that compare Click Through Rates.

There is also an interactive link to an in-depth video interview that I did with the Veeple CEO, Scott Broomfield.

If you are looking for a way to get your videos on line and have them really work at converting your customers (and impressing them with your cutting-edge ways) then look into getting the Veeple service.  I have been proud to recommend them as an affiliate for over two years, ever since they first came online.

Thanks for reading video Production Tips.
Lorraine Grula

I love it when people get creative.

Some guys over at the ZURB Blog came up with a way to get 3D video out of two iPod Nanos!  Here’s their configuration.

And below is one of their resulting videos.  Here, it just shows the two virtually identical shots side by side.  But if you go watch it at You Tube, you can click a little “3D” on the bottom right of the player and you can see it mixed in any one of a dozen ways.  Without the 3D glasses it looks like a bum acid trip, but with them it’s pretty convincing.  (All 3D looks horrible without the glasses so please do not get me wrong here.)

Such creativity deserves to be applauded IMHO.   3D is more popular after some recent Hollywood hits, so good to know you can do it on the cheap!

If you want to read more about exactly how they made the very low budget 3D video, then head on over to their blog to read more.

Thanks for reading VPT
Lorraine Grula

Flipcams are some of the hottest selling video cameras today.  It’s easy to see why.  They’re cheap, easy-to-use and produce a great shot.

If you want to get into creating videos but do not want to spend much on a camera, then a flipcam is a great place to start.

Flips are VERY basic, so they don’t provide a lot of videographer options, but that’s what makes them easy to use.

The final video image you get with a Flip is quite good, as they are HD quality.  Of course, as with ANY type of camera, you will get the BEST results if you know exactly what you are doing.

Dave Kaminiski of Web Video University has come out with a low-cost product called Flip Camera Secrets. (Gosh, must EVERYTHING be a secret?)

The video on Dave’s sales page is excellent and shows you exactly what sort of mistakes he can help you avoid.  Bad lighting, bad audio, bad green screen, bad movement, Flip Camera Secrets will help you avoid all these common pitfalls.

The total price is only $49 and it comes with 25 high-def backgrounds and 2,500 sound effects.

The product itself features over a dozen high quality training videos you can watch in under an hour.   There is a 60-day unconditional money back guarantee.

Dave Kaminski’s products are ALWAYS good.  Not a lot of hype, just good pure content.   He teaches in a very straight forward style that is easy top understand and follow.  I have been an affiliate of Dave’s now for a couple of years and every single thing I have ever seen him do was top-notch.

I have full and total confidence that for the price, this product is one of the best values available for learning to make your own videos.

Thanks for reading VPT

Lorraine Grula

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Imagine having an Grammy Award winning musical composer bidding to provide a customized musical score for your video project at no cost.

Yeah, I said no cost.

At least the bidding part won’t cost you. 

A new website, Score A Score.com, has set up an easy-to-use platform that unites video producers with composers of original musical scores.

If you have a video project, you can post it for free after establishing a free membership account.   Composers then create an original sampling to go with your project at no obligation.  If you like it, then you can hire them to complete the score.

The site also has a library of already composed music you can select.  The payment methods include paying the established price, or similar to PriceLine.com. you can name your own price and see if the composer will agree.

Prices that were already set began at $700 and went up to about $2,000.  I am assuming that setting your own price would be lower than that but we all know how assumptions can work out. 

I sampled lots of the clips on Score a Score and they were indeed excellent.  They sounded like movie soundtracks, not royalty free music.  There’s a huge difference.  Royalty free music tracks are more monotonous and simplistic.  These tracks were more variable in tone and mood within the individual track and were also clearly more complex musically than standard royalty free music.

If your video project needs to be unique and project a polished professional image, a customized musical score is one of the best ways to do it.

A customized musical track will follow every nuance and tangent of emotion within your program.  Customized music will help create a more unique and cohesive story.

If you have the budget for it, a custom musical score will no doubt take your video from being good to being great.

Score-a-Score was developed by Jordan Passman, who has a music business background and worked for a brief time in the Film/TV membership department of ASCAP.   (American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers).

Jordan was able to get a group of composers with very impressive credentials together to form the backbone of Score-a-Score.   Together they include:

• An Emmy Award winner
• A Grammy Award winner
• Multiple Emmy Award nominees
• Multiple Grammy Award nominees
• Multiple Clio Award winners
• Multiple ASCAP’s Foundation’s Henry Mancini Emerging Film Composer award winners
• Multiple ASCAP’s Morton Gould Award for orchestral work
• Multiple ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award
• Multiple ASCAP’s Plus Award winners
• Multiple Finalists for the Annual Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers Competition & more.

Here is how Jordan described the process for getting a video project scored:

“At no cost, you create Projects that we expose to composers who can choose to submit scores for your private review.

You build your projects with descriptive text and requirements for the score you want, your music budget, terms of use, any location requirements and deadlines.

At no cost, you can upload an excerpt or a complete project video clip (up to a maximum of three minutes in length). Our hand selected pool of professional composers will audition by submitting a example of the music that is their interpretation of the perfect score for your project.

We present the submissions in an organized format viewable within your personal Dashboard, which allows you to easily review and rate the materials and the composers.
Once you select a score, for projects of three minutes or less, you can (upon payment through PayPal) immediately download a high-quality file of the music.

For projects over three minutes, which will involve the creation of additional music and often a creative discussion directly with the composer, upon payment of our fee, we will give you the composer’s contact information, so that you may conclude an agreement directly.”

So if you are looking for a way to have your video project scored with an original tune done by a highly-qualified professional Film and TV soundtrack composer, then Score a Score.com is a site you should check out.

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips.

Lorraine Grula

Broadcast quality video production is easier and less expensive today than ever before.

A basic definition of “broadcast quality” could be a show done with multiple cameras and microphones, (or edited to look that way) along with chroma key and other digital video effects.

Thanks to high-powered computers, creating such a video can be done with a minimal amount of equipment and therefore a minimal budget.

Gone are the days when you needed a huge studio or editing suite filled with thirty or forty components run by ten crew members at a budget of five-million dollars.

One powerful computer with the right software can replace a good deal of those components and consolidate most every task inside of one computer.

That saves not only tons of money but tons of room.  You can get by with a MUCH smaller space if you don’t need all that stuff.

This makes videotaping in remote locations easier and more practical.  So even if you are way out in the boondocks, broadcast quality video production takes less money, less space, less equipment, less personnel, and less effort than ever before.

Of course, you can also put the same equipment in your basement and still have room for the pool table. 

There are a growing number of different software choices that essentially turn a high-powered desktop computer into a very compact TV and video production studio.

Probably the single BEST solution for setting-up a desktop video studio currently on the market is the VT5 by NewTek.  It runs a bit under $9,000, and that does not include the actual computer.  The VT 5 includes a huge video card, a breakout box, various converters and accessories.

In addition to the VT5, a complete operation will  need cameras, mics, lights,  monitors, play/record decks, and cables.

NewTek has been developing innovative digital video editing solutions for a very long time.  The VT line has met with great success.

How well I remember New Tek when they first came out with their revolutionary Toaster.  Baaaaaaaaa!  (It had a fluffy sheep wipe!  Honestly one of the most useless digital effects I can think of for the kinds of videos I made. )

A longtime working buddy of mine from my TV News days today operates a remote mobile production van that uses a NewTek.   The van is owned by the country government.  He works as their Video Production and Studio Manager.  The county uses the Remote Production Van to create incredible, high-quality shows of county sponsored events: parades, fairs, school events like graduations, dedication ceremonies, and sporting events.  The van stays busy.

My buddy, Newt Danley, was nice enough to show me around the van and describe how he has the equipment set up.  I made a video about it for my readers here at Video Production Tips.  The video shows you what it takes today to create videos that rival what those in the big leagues have been doing all these years with their huge budgets.

Now, even low to medium budget groups can take advantage of desktop video production and create broadcast quality programing.

If you are interested in studio-quality video production, whether you want to stock a mobile production van for remote locations like my friend Newt, or  use the same equipment to set up a stationary studio, the NewTek 5 is probably the single best way to do it given all the similar products on the market.

The other products I have seen are not nearly as versatile or robust.  You can buy the New Tek VT 5 from B&H Photo.

Below, I have copy/pasted some sales copy off the NewTek website, giving the product’s features, requirements and specs.  Below the NewTek copy, I have put a list of additional equipment Newt uses in the mobile production van.

Now go forth and make video!

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips.

Lorraine Grula

COPY FROM NEWTEK:

The VT 5 Live SX-SDI Bundle from New Tek is designed to function as a complete television control room for your desktop. It is intended for use in live and post-production video studios. This model also includes the 8-input SX-SDI switching breakout box.

It supports NTSC and PAL standards. Other features include network-style, live, virtual sets and specialized tools for high-end post-production work. It offers (24) inputs with hundreds of real-time transitions and 3D DVEs. The solution also includes a character generator, a 2D video paint and animation system, real-time keying, and a digital disk recorder for integration of captured video clips.

Some of the benefits and features you will gain with this system include:

• NewTek LiveSet effects engine
• Completely integrated live virtual set system
• LiveMatte provides sophisticated keyer previews
• Optional LiveControl LC-11 switcher surface
• Optional TimeWarp replay and slo-mo controller
• 8-input SX-SDI switching hardware
• Optional LiveText remote titling and graphics software
• Optional DataLink real-time linking and display of external scores or files
• Live streaming in Flash, Windows Media or VC-1 formats
• On-screen Video Monitor supports any resolution/aspect
• Monitor offers action safe/title safe overlays
• Still Frame option on capture panel
• iVGA Recorder captures remote client displays as video
• DDRs support different clip aspect ratios
• DDRs support file formats listed below, including Apple QuickTime
• VGA output to projector includes real-time image enhancement
• VGA supports remote applications, such as LiveText
• Record show in I-frame MPEG-2 with optional MP3 audio
• Clock now on main interface
• Create and export title templates for VT[5] or TriCaster
• Title templates can be placed on Effects bus
• Render scrolls/crawls to any SpeedEDIT formats (HDV, etc)
• Audio/Video drivers support Windows Media Encoder and Flash encoder
• AVI wrapper has been re-written to support more project features
• SpeedHQ codec supports
• 4:2:2 video with and without alpha channel
• 4:4:4 video support with and without alpha channel
• Complete multi-core and multi-CPU decoding
• Customizable UI colors in Preferences
• Significantly improved readability across all modules
• Windows Vista UAC support
• Standard (non-admin) windows accounts supported

The VT[5] features live switching and Web streaming of up to 24

cameras, and now includes LiveSet™, NewTek’s proprietary live virtual set technology that allows users to implement multi-channel virtual sets in a live environment with unprecedented realism and video quality.

VT[5] also includes advanced new keying capabilities, integrated SDI switching support and automated clip playback, with simultaneous output to video, projector and Web stream. VT[5]’s extensive HD post production capabilities include sophisticated real-time, non-linear editing, video painting and a full-featured animated character generation package. VT[5]’s real-time, uncompressed video processing with component and SDI output delivers unsurpassed video quality. The optional Serial Digital switcher adds an additional eight SDI inputs and SDI routing functionality to the new VT[5] system.

Live Virtual Sets

NewTek’s proprietary LiveSet™ system in VT[5], allows separate virtual sets to be assigned independently to all switcher inputs, including all cameras and DDRs. In addition, each input has an independent LiveMatte™ matting module that eliminates the need for expensive hardware for each source connected to the system. Each virtual set supports virtual cameras with multiple angles and zoom levels, with support for secondary video sources for on-set virtual monitors.

All effects are rendered with unprecedented photo-realism, including reflections, refractions, shadows, bump maps, and sophisticated filtering.

Additionally, the advanced new keying capabilities included in the LiveMatte™ technology enable refined previews of mattes for the precise isolation of color, edge and spill for the sharpest possible results.
Features

• Live Switching
• LiveSet™ Effects Engine
• Live Virtual Sets – multiple angles and multiple focal lengths per set
• Upstream effects row
• 8 Component inputs
• 8 Y/C inputs
• Up to 24 Composite inputs
• 8 Serial Digital inputs (with SX-SDI)
• DV input Support
• Real-time FireWire input or output
• Automated Audio Mixer
• 4 Component outputs
• 4 Y/C outputs
• 5 SDI outputs (with SX-SDI)
• Preview output
• 4 Composite outputs
• 3 RS-422 machine control ports
• Real-time, advanced chroma keyer
• LiveMatte™ keyer previews of color, edge and spill
• Cue mode in Digital Disk Recorder
• 200+ digital transitions
• Dual GPI In / Out
• 8 Internal Tally light controls
• Background generator
• Internal Genlock
• Audio Mixer
• Mix 8 stereo live and 8 4-channel online audio sources
• 4-track audio: 4 discrete channels of audio in and out
• Supports SDI embedded audio (with SX-SDI)
• Talk-over, reduces mix levels for mic inputs to talk over
• 4 adjustable XLR balanced mic / line inputs with Phantom power
• 6 stereo unbalanced audio ins from live sources
• 8 stereo inputs from computer sources
• DV and SDI audio inputs
• Floating point audio with distortion-free audio levels
• EQ, balance, mute and mono for all 16 audio inputs
• Aux Mix: stereo aux send and aux returns for external sweetening
• Automated mixing: transition between audio presets
• Calibrated audio meters
• Audio-follows-video option
• Manage your output mix with Input Pass Thru
• PA Mix Out: for live PA or control room feed
• Balance on all inputs and outputs
• Digital Disk Recorder
• Multi-format, multi-standard on-screen tape deck
• Compressed or uncompressed playback
• Detects clip aspect ratios for playback
• Play back a single clip or list of clips
• Cue clips to roll when triggered by Switcher
• Real-time transitions between clips
• Count up or count down project time or clip time
• Operate multiple DDRs simultaneously
• EDL import/export (Grass Valley, CMX, Sony, Excel)
• Proc Amp
• Brightness
• Contrast
• Hue
• Saturation
• U Offset, V Offset
• U Gain, V Gain
• Track Preview function
• More than 70 adjustable parameters
• Calibrate computer sources as well as analog sources
• Auto Calibration for 75 IRE bars, 100 IRE bars, video pass-through
• (requires SX-84)

Video Scope

• Full-frame data
• 60 fields-per-second
• Monitor Program or Preview
• Waveform of Y/C, Y, C, YUV or RGB
• Vectorscope at either 75% or 100% Chroma

Video Monitor

• Fully fielded on-screen playback
• YUV video display
• Monitor Program, Preview, Key / Aux or DSK buses
• Display supports for 4:3 and 16:9 aspect
• Underscan mode
• Zebra stripes for 75 IRE and illegal video
• Proc-Amp for matching computer display to reference video monitors

CG Designer

• WYSIWYG text and graphics editing
• Save projects or pages
• Display Program output within CG interface
• Use any installed TrueType™ font
• Create Title Templates
• Export Title Templates
• Assign a Title Template to any source in Upstream effects row
• Save pages as 32-bit images or animations
• Soft shadows
• Create graphic objects (boxes, circles, splines)
• Instantly save or recall text styles
• Powerful drawing tools

Title Templates

• Easy creation of live pages
• More than 80 styles
• Customize/create new templates in CG Designer
• Export any title to upstream effects

iVGA

• Import external computer displays as switcher source
• Queue up to 3 iVGA sources
• Client provided for Windows and Mac systems
• Software-based scan conversion to video resolution
• Dedicate iVGA output to connected projector
• Digital Video Effects:
• More than 200 real-time transitions
• Expansions
• Wipes
• Curls
• Trajectories
• Fades
• Overlays
• Rotations
• Compressions
• BordersSpeedEDIT

World’s Fastest Video Editor

• SD and HD editing
• Real-time HD editing and previewing
• Resolution independent
• Frame-rate independent
• Fully multi-threaded for dual-core and quad-core machines
• SpeedHQ™ codec with 4:2:2 colorspace and alpha support
• Integrated Timeline and Storyboard editing
• Unlimited layering in real-time
• 3D control of position, size and rotation of layers in real-time
• Spline-based movement of all animations
• Unlimited undo, saved with project
• Real-time 3-wheel color correction
• 4-band color selection
• No rendering of complex projects required
• Create subprojects within a project
• VST Audio plug-in support
• CG Post™ for moving text
• Project Backup Wizard
• Time-code overlay filter
• Real-time Targa sequence playback
• Multi-format and multi-standard editing
• Real-time playback of compressed and uncompressed clips
• Real-time FireWire in and out
• More than 200 real-time transitions
• Real-time slow motion and reverse
• Real-time chroma and luma keying
• Real-time high-quality scaling of graphics
• Real-time video and audio filters
• Real-time audio mixing of unlimited layers
• 3D audio positioning
• 12dB of audio headroom prevents digital distortion

Deck Controller

• Control external decks from your VT[5] desktop
• Supports multiple RS-422 and DV decks
• Interfaces with batch capture deck lists and configurations
• Jog and shuttle support
• Record allows user to generate time code settings
• Aura Video Paint™:
• Amazingly fast 16-bit paint engine
• Paint over live video
• Four-point pixel tracking
• Color isolation
• 3D compositing
• Stroke recorder
• Wide range of text controls
• Instantly use a graphic’s alpha channel
• Animate text along a path
• Native DV support
• AVI and QuickTime audio support
• Apply Photoshop® filters to any animation

VT[5] Supported File Formats

Video Formats

• AVI
• MPEG-1
• MPEG-2 (program & transport stream)
• HDV
• QuickTime (with alpha support)
• MPEG-4 (including iPod and PSP)
• Raw DV
• DVCPro 50
• DVCPRO HD
• Image sequences
• Output to Flash

Graphic formats

• JPEG
• PNG
• Targa
• Tiff
• BMP
• WBMP
• PCX

Audio Formats

• WAV
• MP3
• AU
• SND
• AIFF
• WAX
• DIF

LIST OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IN THE MOBILE PRODUCTION VAN HIGHLIGHTED IN THE VIDEO. When the video quotes a budget of around $30,000 for the whole set-up, it includes the monitors, record decks, etc in the following list.  $30,000 does NOT include the van itself. 

Preview monitors-2 racks of 4 each.  Datavideo TLM 404 4- inch monitors (Only one set of 4 was installed when we shot video).

Computer monitors-2 Marshall V-R151P rack mounted 15 ” monitors.

Program monitor-One Magnavox 15 ” free-standing monitor bolted to metal shelf.

VCRs-One Panasonic SD-255 (main)

DVC Pro:  One  Panasonic AJ-D230H (back-up)

DVC Pro Slo motion- One Panasonic PV-HS2000 (three at time of taping. )

Audio mixer-Australian Monitor(brand name)TX6000 (small, rack mounted)

Back-up batteries-2-APC XS-1500

Field Cameras-Four Panasonic AJ-D215 w/studio configuration

Scoreboard cam-Panasonic PVG-S120 (consumer cam)

Tri-pods-Heads- Bogen 3066  (Manfrotto)

Tripod Legs- Bogen 3182

Video cables are BNC

Audio cables are XLR

Any video is only as good as the sum of the individual elements you use to put it together.

If your video clips are crummy,  the fact that your script is fantastic probably won’t make up for it.

So, where do you get quality elements that don’t cost a fortune?   When it comes to stock video footage, I often get them from Footage Firm.

I made this video for a client who is an Oklahoma clinical psychologist. (Notice that keyword-rich back link I just gave him.)  Every single shot except two came from Footage Firm and their new collection of People Footage.  The music also came from Footage Firm.

Right now, you can get this entire collection of people shots FREE, just pay shipping and handling. That’s only $8.41 per disc.

The entire collection includes ten discs with fifteen shots per disc.  Each shot is supplied in both standard def and high def.  I used the standard def for this video since it is for online distribution and the file sizes should be as small as possible.  The resolution looks great but the whole video is only about 35 MB.

As you can tell by watching the video, each shot is superb.  I really loved the one category called “montages” that featured multiple shots on the screen at once.  The thumbnail for this video is the spectacular montage of people in magnificent landscapes.  Do you know how much time that saves in the editing room?  TONS. To do them manually, each montage would take at least an hour or two.  Footage Firm had already done all the hard work, I just laid them down.

Footage Firm is a fantastic resource for high quality low cost royalty free stock footage.  They have backgrounds, music, time lapse and activities of all types.   They have footage of all the world’s major cities and lots of incredible landscapes.  Go check ‘em out.  Really can’t beat the price!

Here are two links to other posts on this blog about Footage Firm.

Royalty Free Music from Footage Firm

Royalty Free Motion Backgrounds from Footage Firm

Video email is finally coming of age. Sending video out via email to a large quantity of people has proven to be a video marketer’s bugaboo challenge.  Video files are too humongous for starters.

Plus, video files are tops on the list of files types to block for security reasons.

Autoresponder services like Aweber won’t touch video email.  They experiment around with it then say, “not now.”

Big waves were stirred when Google announced the ability to send You Tube videos easily through gmail, but when you get past the marketing hype, the service is not very practical since it is so limited.

Here’s what Aweber advises on that….

Sounds Like a Lot of Obstacles – Can You Really Use This to Send Video Emails (Now)?

For most people, probably not yet. The fact that it’s only Gmail, and only YouTube, and only for people who have turned on the YouTube previews in Labs means most of us can’t reach more than a tiny fraction of our subscribers like this just yet.

WHAT TO DO????

Lucky readers of Video Production Tips get to discover all about the easiest way to send video emails imaginable.

CoVideo Video eMail.

Everyone who examines the CoVideo email platform is incredibly impressed with it.  Impossible not to be IMHO!

I am working with the CoCideo folks to produce promotional and training videos for their services.   Today’s post features the video I created to describe their basic video email service.  It’s a fantastic service and it would not be hard at all to carry on for about 30 minutes about it.  BUT, I can’t do that, of course.  Thirty minutes is way beyond what most people would be willing to sit through.

My solution for that is to make a series of videos.  Each one can be short and focused.  This one is the overview.   IMHO, the overview is the single most important video and better be compelling or the rest might not matter.

The overview is for a very broad audience and is probably their first exposure to the product.

This means the video needs to be comprehensive but still short.  Keep it short by “saying” as much as you can with each and every element you use.  Use your video to say it so your narrator doesn’t have to.

In making this video, I let the script verbally describe the overview big picture.  Then, I concentrated on visually highlighting the service and templates without describing them verbally hardly at all.

How gorgeous and classy looking these video emails are is a major selling point.   So my promotional video needs to reflect that.

Video production is the classic “show don’t tell” medium.  The interactive templates are a perfect example of something people need to see rather than just hear described.  To fully get that job done, a viewer needs to see lots of examples so I chose to make the entire video a showcase of examples.

My hope is that viewers will see something similar to what would work for them.  If they can more easily picture something personal to them, then they are more likely to realize the product is a good fit for them and purchase.  In all my years of doing this, I have concluded that most people need to be shown an example that is about 95% exactly what they had in mind or they don’t really make the connection.

The CoVideo video email system is extremely easy to use and I mentioned that in the narration, but will highlight that in a separate video where I use entirely different visuals.  As with most video making, it will be the visuals that really tell the story.

The visuals you use will make more of an impact than anything your narrator says.

HOW DOES COVIDEO V-MAIL WORK?

Let me describe quickly how the CoVideo email system works.  You can send out any video in your library with just a few clicks.     You get videos in your library in any one of a number of ways.

If you want a simple talking head of yourself, you can record it with the one-step recorder-uploader.  All you need is a webcam.  One click and you’re recording and uploading at the same time.  If you like the video, save it and name it.  It’s now in your library, ready to email out.

You can upload and use any video you have access to. If you do not want to make the video yourself, CoVideo can produce it for you using any style or budget level that works for you.  From Hollywood style with professional actors, to low-budget production they have the resources to handle it all.

All videos you send out go inside an interactive template that features seven links.  You can send folks to another video, your order page or your Twitter profile.

Pick from any one of hundreds of generic or Special Occasion templates.  You can also purchase the branded package.

If you do not have an email list, CoVideo can supply white-listed email addresses sorted by zip code.  This is perfect for any business trying to target specific areas.

CoVideo Video email service has tons of benefits.  If you are interested, please contact me directly.

Thanks for reading VPT

Lorraine Grula