Collection Production: Digital Audio and Video Editing

Whether you want to create music for a CD, produce your own movie DVD, or build a website containing video clips, you'll need to learn some basic audio and video editing. Luckily, it's easy!

Video for the Web

Keep your movies short. For example, create multiple short segments if your video is over five minutes. Check the length of the videos you find on YouTube and you'll see that most are 3-5 minutes.

Uploading your video to YouTube is easy. After registering, you'll see an option to UPLOAD. Simply find the video on your hard drive and click the UPLOAD button. It will generate a URL for your YouTube video!

If you work in a setting that filters Youtube, consider using Schooltube or Teachertube to house your work. Many people are also using Vimeo.

Digital Video Editing

Digital video production has become a popular alternative to traditional video editing. With a digital camera, a firewire cable, and a digital video compatible computer, you can produce high-quality videos without many of the hassles of traditional video editing. If you don't have a digital video camera, you can still import video from an older camera or VCR into your computer with a special video digitizing card or capture device.

The only other thing you need is some software. If you use a Macintosh computer, it's easy. iMovie is a simple, effective package that can do full video editing including titles and transitions. If you want to get fancy, consider Apple's Final Cut Pro. If you use the Window's operating system, there are a number of alternatives such as MGI Video Wave, Avid Cinema or Adobe Premiere. Often, a software package will come with your video digitizing card such as Dazzle. If you have Windows, a simple video editing software is included called Windows Movie Maker.

The example is a screen from an iMovie software project on a bear. When the movie is complete, you can export it to your hard drive, CD, or DVD.

Read High Tech Tools: Video for more ideas.

Digital Sound Editing

A number of software packages are available for editing sounds. However the easiest package is FREE! Use Audacity to record and edit sounds. You can even mix sounds together. It's quick and easy to learn. If you want to export as an MP3 for use in video editing software, be sure to download the LAME MP3 encoder as an optional download.

If you're looking for free music to play with your movies, check out Freeplaymusic.com. Check out great Digital Audio: Tutorials and Resources by David Hitt from Plano ISD.

Read High Tech Tools: Sounds for more ideas.

Resources

Digital Video Resources

• Desktop Video Basics from About.com
• Emedia Live - digital studio resources
• Short Course in Digital Video by Dennis P. Curtin

Video Editing Resources

• How Video Editing Works by Marshall Brain and Roxanne Reid from HowStuffWorks
• Multimedia Software Tips from Queen's Film Class - digital video for the web help

Video

• The Basic Tools
  • iMovie from Apple
  • Window's Movie Maker from Microsoft
• The Advanced Tools
  • Adobe Premiere from Adobe
  • Final Cut Pro from Apple

Audio Editing Tools

• Audacity
• Audio Editors from The Sonic Spot

Video Editing Websites and Magazines

• Animation Magazine - making animation
• Computer Video Magazine
• Digital Video Editing
  

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