Digitizing Video in the IM Lab

Digitizing Analog Video in the IM Lab

Video from VHS videotape, DVD, camcorders or any analog source that can be connected to a television via RCA plugs can be digitized in the Instructional Media Lab. The equipment in the Instructional Media Lab consists of a computer with 1 gigabyte of RAM, over 200 gigabytes of hard disk space, Pinnacle MovieBoxDV capture device, Pinnacle Studio Version 8 editing software, and a DVD burner.

Capturing Video from VCR or DVD

1. Insert videotape or DVD into VCR/DVD player connected to the MovieBoxDV device.

2. Cue the video to the desired point (rewind approximately 10 seconds prior to the desired start point)

3. Open Studio Version 8

4. Select the Capture tab

5. Choose desired settings by clicking on the settings tab

6. Click on the "Capture Source" tab to select the video source. Choose MovieBoxDV for DVD or VCR.

You may also select scene detection in this window. If you wish to capture and use the entire clip, choose "No auto scene detection." If you wish to use various portions of the clip, you can create a new scene on-the-fly by pressing the space bar while the capture is taking place or have the program create a new scene each time the source video changes camera angle. Click OK when finished.

7. Press the "Start Capture" button to set the name and destination of the video clip

This window will appear before the video capture begins. Type in a name for the video clip and click on the folder to select a destination drive and folder.

8. Begin rolling the source video and press the "Start Capture" button to begin capturing the video clip.

9. To stop capturing, press the red "Stop Capture" button

Repeat this process until all of the desired video clips have been captured.

Capturing from Mini-DV Camcorder

1. Open Studio version 8.

2. Select the "Capture" tab

3. Choose desired settings by clicking the "Settings" tab

4. Click the Capture Source to select the video source. Choose "DV Camcorder"

You may also select scene detection in this window. If you wish to capture and use the entire clip, choose "No auto scene detection." If you wish to use various portions of the clip, you can create a new scene on-the-fly by pressing the space bar while the capture is taking place or have the program create a new scene each time the source video changes camera angle. Click OK when finished.

5. The DV camcorder can be controlled using the on-screen camera controls shown below.

6. Press the "Start Capture" button to set the name and destination of the video clip

This window will appear before the video capture begins. Type in a name for the video clip and click on the folder to select a destination drive and folder.

7. Begin rolling the source video and press the "Start Capture" button to begin capturing the video clip.

8. To stop capturing, press the red "Stop Capture" button

Repeat this process until all of the desired video clips have been captured.

Editing Video

Once the video clips are in the computer, they may be assembled in any order.

A. Click on the "Edit" tab to bring the program into edit mode.

B. Select the desired clip from the upper-left portion of the screen, and drag it down into the timeline or storyboard at the bottom half of the screen. Drag and drop the clips in the order you desire. Clips may be moved at any time.

C. To trim a clip, double click on the clip in the timeline and a new window will appear.

Within this window, the small image on the left represents where the clip will begin playing, the small image on the right shows where the clip will end. Two blade-shaped trim calipers provide the start and stop points of the clip. To adjust the start point, drag the left trim caliper to the desired point. Precise frame-by-frame adjustment can be made by clicking on the up or down arrows beside the counter. To adjust the end point, drag the right trim caliper to the desired stop point. Press the play button between the two preview images to preview the clip. Close the window by pressing the "X" on the top right.

D. Transitions between clips can be added by clicking on the transition tab (the lightning bolt), clicking on the transition desired, and dragging it in between the desired clips. The duration of the transition can be changed by double clicking the transition in the timeline. A new window appears in which the duration can be typed.

E. Titles can be added by clicking the title tab (the tab with the T), clicking on the desired title style, and dragging it to the timeline.

Double click the title in the timeline to open the title edit window.

Select the font, size and format using the toolbar at the top of the image. Select the style of text by clicking on the desired style on the right of the window. The duration of the title can be adjusted by typing in the length of time in the duration counter at the top. It may also be adjusted in the timeline by dragging the beginning or end of the title to the desired point. When finished, close the window.

Make Movie

Once the editing is complete, the video is ready to render and turn into a DVD, MPEG, AVI or V-CD.

a. Click on the "Make Movie" tab

b. Choose the type of movie you wish to make by clicking on the tabs on the left of the screen.

c. Select the "Settings" tab to choose the output format, video quality, etc.

d. Insert a blank DVD into the DVD burner, then press the green create disc button to begin the rendering process. This can take over an hour.

The DVD will automatically eject when the disc is complete.

T. Gill 09-06