HELP DESK
Turn your video into a slick movie
By Kim Komando
Video-editing software can transform hours of raw footage into a compact and entertaining movie. Most programs include wizards and tutorials that help to bring out the Spielberg in all.
Windows users have many software choices including Pinnacle Studio 9, (www.pinnaclesys.com; $99.99), Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 (www.roxio.com; $99.95), Screenblast Movie Studio 3 (mediasoftware.sonypictures.com; $99.95) and Ulead VideoStudio 8 (www.ulead.com; $99.95). Mac users will want to stick with Apple's iMovie 4 (www.apple.com; $49 as part of the iLife suite).
Before beginning any video-editing project view your footage the old-fashioned way — on your television. Conceptualize the finished project. You'll save a lot of time by noting scenes to keep or trash.
Next, you'll need to get the video into your computer. If you're using a digital camcorder, you can import your video using FireWire, which is sometimes called i.Link or IEEE-1394. FireWire is built into a lot of newer PCs and all current Macs. If you have an analog camcorder, you'll need special hardware to capture the video and convert it from analog (VHS) to digital form. Some high-end graphics cards have built-in capture cards.
If your computer doesn't have a built-in capture card, you can purchase an internal or external one. If you decide on an external card, make sure it's FireWire or USB 2.0 compatible. Video files are big and you'll want the fastest way to transfer them.
Most capture cards cost $200 or less. Adaptec (www.adaptec.com), ADS Technologies (www.adstech.com) and Dazzle (www.pinnaclesys.com) are a few of the companies that make capture cards. Digital video cameras can plug directly into your computer.
The video-editing programs help capture video from your camera. They automatically detect natural breaks (each time you stopped recording and started again). This helps organize your video into different sections.
Next, it's time to create some movie magic. The programs use time lines to create your movie. This allows you to have several tracks for audio and video. You may have great video of a Hawaiian sunset ruined by someone's boom box. Using the time line, you can remove the boom box noise and replace it with something more appropriate.
Using a time line also lets you to move things around. You don't have to make your movie in a linear fashion. This helps the pacing of a movie.
The fun part is jazzing up your movie with titles and special effects. Each program offers a wide variety of different transitions. These are useful when transitioning from one scene to the next. You'll also find a variety of filters that can make your video look old and grainy or overexposed. The only limit is your imagination and creativity.
If this is your first time editing, don't expect a masterpiece overnight. But with the help of these programs, you just may amaze yourself.
Find out about Kim Komando's radio show at www.komando.com/findkimonair.asp. For a free e-mail newsletter, see www.komando.com/newsletter.asp.
