Camcorders & Formats | Choosing the Right Computer | Videoguys' Top Products | Training Solutions

When we began publishing this article almost 6 years ago, the world of video was much more limited. DV Camcorders were over a thousand bucks (analog VHS and Hi8/8mm cams had just hit the under $500 level) and although you could shoot in several formats, the end result was almost always the same - producing a VHS tape that you could watch. Affordable DVD burners had just hit the market and we were in the middle of a format war. Web video was limited to postage stamp sized clips with choppy play back.

My oh my, how things have changed. Today DVD burners are standard issue in every computer and the DVDs you create can play back on anyone's DVD player, computer and even video game. We have a new DVD format war, this time it is for High-Definition video Blu-ray Disc vs HD DVD. Everyday we view streaming video on websites like CNN, ESPN, YouTube and hundreds of other video sharing sites. We watch videos on our TV, our computer, our cell phones and our PDAs. Digital video is everywhere.

Anyone and everyone can make video that they can share, but not all video is equal. If you want your videos to look better and be more enjoyable to watch, you need to edit them. Many folks getting started in video editing want to learn more about the various options they have to produce videos that look great and more. This article has been updated to provide you or your friends, family members, children or business associates the information they'll need to get started and do the job right. If you are already an experienced digital videographer, pass this along to the folks you know who are looking for a starting point.

This article is broken into several parts, each one loaded with useful information to help you on your way. At the end of the article you'll have a list of the products we recommend most for getting started on a budget, as well as a wide range of training DVDs to teach you how to get the most out of your new video editing and production gear. Before we get into our products, lets talk about the two things we assume you already have, a camcorder and a computer.

Digital (DV)
Over the past 5 years the Digital Video (DV) format has emerged as the best choice for videographers. This format is dramatically better than the older analog standards. When you combine the quality of DV with the special FireWire (or IEEE1394 or iLink) and a fast computer, you get a digital video editing system that is simply incredible. All you need is a FireWire port, the computer and software do the rest. All our DV video editing solutions deliver video that is identical to the original footage. DV in = DV out. The video quality is the same regardless of what card you buy. There are now two consumer digital formats. MiniDV and Digital8. After you have edited your DV footage you can burn it to DVD or upload it online to YouTube or any other web video service.

DVD
Over the past year or two a new format has come on the scene – DVD camcorders. These hot selling camcorders allow you to record directly onto a DVD disk that you can then play on your home DVD player. These are excellent choices for the casual point and shooter, but they do have a draw back for more serious videographers. These cams record to the DVD in MPEG2 format. MPEG2 is great for storing and playing back, but it is difficult for editing. Or should I say it WAS difficult to edit. Today almost all of our editing software supports these DVD camcorders and give you the ability to rip the video straight from the DVD to your computers hard drive and edit the MPEG2 files.

HDV & ADVCHD
Over the past year prices on HD camcorders have dropped below $1,000. That's right, for under $1,000 you can now record your family's history in stunning HD quality. I've been using a Canon HV20 (pictured below) and I absolutely love it! The picture quality is superb and I really like the form factor. One of the coolest features of the HV20 is the HDMI output. This allows me to plug it directly into my Sharp Aquos 52" LCD HDTV & view my footage immediately in all its HD splendor.

The new ADVCHD format is very exciting and the ability to record HD video directly to disk or SD card is super cool. Unfortunately the ADVCHD footage is not easy to edit. While all of the low cost getting started video editing software titles support ADVCHD editing, it's still a bumpy process. The solution is to throw as much computer power at it as you can. A blazing fast machine like our DIY6 Quad core will deliver a much better video editing experience then a machine that barely meets our minimum recommended specs below.

For the best solution to Editing HDV footage, you want a very fast computer and more powerful software. While the getting started video editing products we carry will all edit HD to some degree, you will find that they are just not that efficient. For best results with HDV footage you need to step up to one of our more robust and professional NLE solutions such as:
	• Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 • Sony Vegas Pro 8 • Avid Media Composer • Avid Liquid • Apple Final Cut Pro

Analog
If you have an older camcorder that is not DV, or you want to capture old footage from VHS/ S-VHS then you will need a video capture card/device along with NLE software. VHS & 8mm cams use composite video jacks (they look just like the RCA jacks used to connect a stereo). S-VHS & Hi8 cams use a special connector called an S-Video (or YC or SVHS) jack. This special connection breaks the video signal into chrominance (color) & luminance (brightness). If your camcorder or VCR has these jacks, you definitely want to use them when you edit. We call the composite & S-Video jacks analog video. All our analog capture devices have both composite and S-Video jacks.

Not only do these capture devices allow you to capture analog footage onto your computer, they also allow you to use a standard television to monitor/ preview your video while you are editing. This is a very important feature. Many times the video you see on the preview screen inside the video editing software GUI is not going to be quite the same when you output to video. By being able to monitor/preview your work on a television while you are editing, you’ll be able to see exactly what the final video will look like.

Over the past two years we have seen dramatic improvements in the quality, stability and usability of low cost video editing software. Windows XP has built in support for FireWire, so all you need is a FireWire port and you can capture and edit your video from your DV camcorder. If your computer already has a FireWire port then you can simply add software and edit away. If you do not have FireWire you can purchase an inexpensive card like the ADS Pyro PCI64 (API-315) for only $29.95.

Today's consumer NLE solutions are more powerful than ever, but this power and performance requires a faster computer. We recommend a minimum of a 3.0 Ghz single core processor (or Athlon equivalent) and 1 full GB of RAM. For the operating system you'll want to go with Windows XP home, Service Pack 2. You’ll also want a good 3D graphics card with at least 128 megs of RAM. We recommend a dual head graphics card. Once you start using dual monitors for your video and other computer tasks, you’ll never want to go back!

If you have a machine that is over 2.4 GHz but under 3.0 Ghz, you may be able to get it to edit video, but you are going to want to take the time to make sure it is optimized for video work. This doesn't mean you have to go out and get a new computer, it just means you'll need to do a little more research into your machines resources and probably give it a little tune up. We have a very useful page in our tech support section "Top 10 Tech Tips" that will help you understand and troubleshoot your computer.

If your computer has less than a GB of RAM, the first thing you should consider is buying more RAM for it. Having a full GB of RAM is very important for video editing. If your system supports dual channel memory, make sure you add your RAM in matched pairs. So a GB of RAM is actually 2 x 512 meg sticks. For best results you want to have 2 GB of ram (4 x 512 meg or 2 x 1GB sticks).

We also recommend a dedicated hard drive for your video. This is very important for getting the best possible results. This means you have 2 hard drives in your computer. The first is for your operating system and all your software. The second drive is used only for your video files and projects. Adding a second drive is very simple, and any off the shelf 7200RPM drive (EIDE or SATA) will do the job. You can also use an external FireWire drive for your video.

If your computer just does not meet the minimum spec, then we do suggest you invest in a new computer with a dual core processor. Today's NLE software is written to take advantage of faster processors. If you want to put your video on the web you will need to encode and compress it. This is a very CPU intensive operation, so you will want to use the fastest computer you can. In our DIY5 Update article we spec. out 4 different levels of dual-core computers, starting at under $1,000!! If you use these machines as your guidebook you'll be able to start editing in no time!

If you plan on getting a new computer on a budget, we recommend getting a system with a dual core processor. The more CPU speed/performance you give it, the faster your video editing software will work - especially when it comes time to encode your video for DVD or the web. You want a minimum of 1 GB of RAM, but with memory prices so cheap, we recommend you go with 2 GB (2 x 1GB sticks) for better performance. Get a 60+GB system drive and a second larger dedicated 7200RPM drive for your video.

You do NOT want a computer with a built in graphics card. This is one of our biggest tech support issues. Make sure you get at least a 128 Meg PCIe graphics card (256 is better). We recommend an ATI Radeon or nVidia GeForce card. Finally make sure the system comes with little or no additional hardware (ie PCI cards). We have a page on our website that not only gives you recommended system configurations, but a list of potential hardware conflicts and problems. Reading this page BEFORE you buy a new computer will definitely save you time and money.

What about Macs?
Back in 2006 Apple made an announcement that stunned the computer world. They were going to switch to Intel processors. Two years later all I can say is WOW! These new Intel based Macs are fantanstic for video editing. In fact, if your goal is to edit video on a laptop, out top recommendation is a MacBook Pro! If you have an older Pre-G5 Mac we strongly urge you to upgrade to one of the new Intel based models. As a loyal Mac owner you really owe it to yourself to get one. All Macs come loaded with Apple's iMovie editing software. It is very basic and a good choice for a beginner, but you'll quickly outgrow it. If you own a G5 or new Intel based Mac and you want to be able to do more - just add Final Cut Express for $199 and increase your editing capabilities without blowing your budget. If you need to capture and edit analog video with your Mac, check out our ADS PyroDV API-558 analog to DV converter.

The easiest and most affordable way to edit on a Mac

Apple Final Cut
Express 4
Now you can edit like a pro with Final Cut Express 4. Start by capturing DV, HDV and AVCHD footage or import your movie from iMovie '08 - and discover the advanced moviemaking power at your disposal in the new, Open Format Timeline. Ready for still more? Add dynamic titles and graphics using LiveType. Final Cut Express 4 delivers all the tools you need to make great movies.

$199.00

Includes supports for
Blu-ray Disc and AVCHD

Pinnacle Studio
Ultimate version 12
Pinnacle Studio Ultimate version 12 lets you take control of the latest HD video technologies, including Blu-ray and AVCHD. New theme based editing gets you stunning results. Archive your video, publish on YouTube or enjoy on discs and portable devices. Includes professional video tools for titling, color correction lighting and special effects, plus a green screen backdrop.

$129.95

Professional Quality HD Video Production, Audio Mastering and Soundtrack Creation

NEW! Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack
The Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Pro Pack takes video and audio production even further with added tools for professional-level sound design, as well as more video effects and transitions. This powerful collection has everything needed to edit video in nearly any format including high definition.

$99.95
includes FREE 2GB Memory Stick

The Ultimate DV Capture and Editing Solution

ADS Tech PYRO A/V Link with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0
A complete, fully integrated hardware/software solution, PYRO A/V Link with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 provides the best value and the best components for capturing, editing and exporting both analog and digital video in real time. PYRO AV Link with Premiere Elements 4.0 includes PYRO AV Link, an external box that connects to your computer via FireWire.

$149.95

VASST Video For the Web: What You Need to Know
For anyone wanting to post video on the web, whether it's existing video or a new production idea, Video for the Web: What You NEED to Know will prove invaluable at every level. With Douglas Spotted Eagle guiding you every step of the way through more than 2 hours of training, you'll learn about Optimizing for High Motion, Rule 508 Compliance, Output Formats, Using Graphics and Photos, Lighting for the Web, and Much Much More...

$59.95

Class on Demand
Complete Training for Pinnacle Studio
Founder of Class on Demand and drawing on more than 20 years as a professional post production video editor, Paul Holtz skillfully demonstrates for video enthusiasts how to apply many of the same editing concepts and techniques used by industry professionals.

$34.95

VASST Video Editing Master Class
This DVD is an exploration of the editing craft designed to give you a whole new outlook on the way to approach an editing project and the tools to go with it, regardless of the editing platform or tools present, past and, yes, Virginia, future ones too. How do editing pros make all those wonderful choices the Industry celebrates with prizes and more gigs? How do they know what are the choices to begin with? How can I make decisions like those in my projects?

$69.00

VASST Vegas Movie Studio+DVD: The Basics and Beyond
Join multiple award-winning videographer Douglas Spotted Eagle as he guides you through the Vegas Move Studio application allowing you to create amazing video projects fasster than ever. This first-ever video-based training for Vegas Movie Studio +DVD applies to standard & Platinum versions of the software.

$44.95

VASST Absolute Training for Avid Liquid
Volume 1: Getting Started with Avid Liquid
Join long-time Liquid trainer Paul Mitton as he shares the secrets of working with Avid Liquid. As a Certified Liquid Instructor, Paul guides users through the fundamentals of Avid Liquid, including a FASST Start guide that will get you up and running in Avid Liquid right away.

$59.95

NEW! VASST Absolute Training Bundle for Vegas
This is a living library of training DVDs, expanding to provide training that you want, when you want it, on the subjects you want to learn more about.

This bundle includes:
• VASST Absolute Training for Vegas Volume 1: Vegas
• VASST Absolute Training for Vegas Volume 2: Deeper into Vegas
• NEW! VASST Absolute Training for Vegas 8 Update: Features Reviewed

$99.95

NEW! Class on Demand Basic Training for Final Cut Studio 2
These lessons will give you the solid foundation needed to quickly get started with the latest version of Final Cut Studio! Explore every application in this powerful suite of tools and learn the integrated workflow from Tom Wolsky, a certified Apple Expert.

$99.95

NEW! Class on Demand Basic Training DVD for Adobe CS3 Production Premium
Adobe CS3 Production Premium applications through task-focused lessons that touch on the major software modules. Host and post-production veteran, Tim Kolb, will be your guide through hours of project- focused instruction.

$99.95