Working with Video: A Few Guidelines…

 

NEW!!!  YouTube Downloader (How to utilize this video capture and conversion software)

 

NEW VIDEO TUTORIAL!!!  Transferring pictures and videos from usb cameras onto district computers

 

Introduction:

 

Video can encompass several things. It can simply be video shot from a digital video camera and edited

with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie. It can also be a rendered Photo Story, converted PowerPoint

presentation, or a YouTube video. Your end goal and what type of video you are working with

determines the approach you need to take in meeting that end.

 

If you are utilizing a video camera other factors come into play. Each camera may output video in

different formats (.avi, .mov, etc.). Each format requires different codecs to play in the various video

players installed on different computers.

 

Another key to working with video is the type of editing program you use to clean up video clips. Each

of these programs also put out different formats of video depending upon what you are using and what

file type you choose your movie to be after rendering (.wmv, .mov, .mpg, etc.).

 

Even after navigating through various cameras, formats, and editing software you may want to produce

a DVD that can play in a commercial DVD player. This is an entirely new step and generally requires

third party software that enables converting video files to even another format that can be burned onto

a DVD that will play in a DVD player.

 

This document will attempt to assist you through the process of working with video, but it requires that

you know what your end goal is in the process. What you do for one type of video goal can be much

different than what you do for another. Software is the key in the process; so, make sure you have

access to the programs you need to meet your video goals.

 

Cameras:

 

You can shoot video with something as simple as utilizing the video feature on a still, digital camera or a

cell phone. This type of video is generally not high quality, but if you want a quick clip it can be usable.

With the many types of cell phones that exist, it is difficult to come up with some standards as far as

downloading procedures, etc. If you know how to get video off of your phone then go for it. A cell

phone would be similar to using a still, digital camera as far as transferring photos and movies and then

editing.

 

Still, Digital Camera

 

A still, digital camera generally comes with a USB cable. To load pictures and video on a district

computer you will connect the camera to your computer via the USB cable. Some cameras then

need to be turned on and some models will automatically turn on and connect.

 

Once connected, your Windows XP operating system should detect the camera and a window

will pop up asking you what program you want to use with the camera. For district purposes we

suggest using Picasa. Picasa enables you to import photos and videos onto your computer. In

most cases, that is all that you will utilize Picasa for: to get your photos and video.

 

Once you have the video in Picasa, you can now export your video clips to the Desktop of your

computer. Now you have access to the video clips from your still, digital camera and they can

be imported into Windows Movie Maker for editing.

 

Depending upon the video file type, Movie Maker may or may not be able to read/play the

videos. If you do not have the proper codecs, please contact the tech department via the help

desk and those codecs can be installed.

 

Digital Video Camera

 

A digital video camera is not as simple. There are several types of digital video cameras that

record video onto mini discs, flash drives, memory sticks, digital video tape, etc. Most often, a

camera that utilizes digital video tape (DV Tape) requires the use of a Firewire cable. The other

formats mentioned generally utilize a USB cable. If you are using a Firewire camera you will

need a computer that has a Firewire card and connection. Most district computers do not have

Firewire capabilities; however, most of the laptops do and they require a 6 pin to 4 pin cable.

Once you determine what type of cable you will need you can either bring in video using a USB

camera into Picasa, export to the Desktop, and then import it into Movie Maker for editing. The

codecs come into play again; so, you may need those installed before Movie Maker can utilize

the video files.

 

If you have a Firewire video camera, you can import video from the DV tape directly into

Windows Movie Maker and then edit your video clips without concern for codecs. Realize that

it will take at least the same amount of time, probably more, that it took to video tape your

particular movie. If you have 1 hour worth of video, it will take over 1 hour to import the video

from the tape into Movie Maker. Thus, short clips are more manageable.

 

Video Editing:

 

Windows Movie Maker

 

For district computers, Windows Movie Maker is the choice of software to utilize when it comes to

editing your video clips. Below are several resources and tutorials that you can use to accomplish this

task. In the end it is important to understand that there are two ways that you save a video in Windows

Movie Maker: as a project and as a movie file.

 

Windows Movie Maker Projects

 

A Movie Maker project is just that: all of the clips, pictures, sounds, transitions, and

titles that you insert into your project. A saved project remembers where all of these

things are while you are working on the project. If for some reason you delete a file

utilized in the project, for instance a music file, Movie Maker will not know where it

went and cannot incorporate that file into the project. If you are working on multiple

computers to edit video via your N drive, make sure that you put all of the video clips,

pictures, music, and the Movie maker project into one folder so that you can transfer

these items together. For example, if you do not you will get the dreaded red X where a

video file is supposed to be because Movie Maker can no longer find the file.

 

Windows Movie Maker Videos

 

When your Movie Maker project is complete, you can then save the project as a

“Movie.” In Movie Maker, this means that all of your editing is then rendered together

into one type of file: a Windows Movie Video or.wmv file. There are several choices

when it comes to saving in this procedure. It is recommended that you save for

playback on a computer. After doing this procedure (see tutorial link to do all of this

below) you then have a file that can either be uploaded to an online video sharing

service (YouTube, Google Video, School Tube, or Teacher Tube), emailed to those you

want to see the video, loaded on a server and linked on a webpage or blog, embedded

into a webpage or blog, burned to a CD, or burned to a DVD for playback on a

commercial DVD player. You need to know what your goal is as this determines what

you do next.

 

Windows Movie Maker Resources and Tutorials

 

Atomic Learning Movie Maker Video Tutorials (You will need a username and password to login to see

ALL of the video tutorials. Contact the tech department for that information if you do not have it.)

http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/moviemaker2

 

Get started with Windows Movie Maker:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/default.mspx

 

Creating and sharing great movies:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/create/default.mspx

 

Video Editing XP Wiki:

http://wiki.showmedo.com/index.php/Video_editing_XP

 

Windows Movie Maker Beginning Handout (Davis School District - Utah):

http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/district/etc/paul/files/394B8DCD684E4142B60016A9C1EB0347.pdf

 

Windows Movie Maker Handouts (Davis School District - Utah):

http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/district/etc/paul/moviemaker.html

 

Online Video Services

 

There are several online video services that allow you to upload videos for users to view: YouTube,

Google Video, School Tube, or Teacher Tube to name a few. School Tube is the new standout of those

mentioned, and I would recommend that each school get a School Tube account if it hasn’t already. The

limitation of School Tube is that these videos cannot be embedded into blogs like YouTube and Google

videos can; however, YouTube and Google videos are blocked to students within the district due to

federal guidelines, but a video on School Tube could be linked to via a link in a blog post. A School Tube

video can be embedded on a regular webpage or the district site using the embed code generally

available at the video service site page where a particular video has been posted. Teacher Tube has

issues with downloading videos in a prompt manner; so, School Tube wins out in that case.

 

Uploading video into a video service account requires registration to the service. All of the video service

sites that are mentioned here are free. They each have varying video file size limits: generally 50-100

MB; so, if your file size is over that it will be rejected. Another reason for rejecting videos is due to

copyrighted music. To get around this issue it is recommended that you use a site like Free Play Music

(http://www.freeplaymusic.com) to get creative commons or free to use music, and it is recommended

that you give credit in your video for music used from the site.

 

Sharing Video via email

 

If your video is not too large in file size (5-25 MB) it can be emailed. Simply attach the video file to an

email and send to your intended recipient. Realize that the person you send it to will have to have the

proper codecs and player to view and hear the video, and their email service provider must allow the

download of large file attachments.

 

Loading a Video on a Server

 

Most videos you create can also be placed on a server (First Class Web Publishing) to be fed to users.

Once you drop the video into First Class Web Publishing you can then go to the web and your First Class

http://mail.nppsd.org:8080/~yourfirstclassusernamegoeshere (That is a sample url!) and then you can copy and paste

the link or create a link on a blog or webpage to the video. When a user clicks on the link, the video will

download and play on their computer if they have the proper codecs and player. Using an online video

service usually solves users not being able to play video as most modern computer systems and internet

browsers utilize Adobe Flash video.

 

Embedding Video into a Webpage or Blog

 

*NEW!!!  You can now embed many online videos into your WordPress blog via the Vodpod Post to WordPress Firefox plugin.  See the following link to add it to your Mozilla Firefox browser:  http://vodpod.com/wordpress

 

To embed video into a webpage or blog use the embed code generally found on the particular video

service web page that hosts your video or enter the code that the blog requires. For instance, to embed

a YouTube video in WordPress you would do the following:

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFm_LPMZTes&feature=channel_page]

 

You can also embed video on the district site or in an html webpage as seen below!

 

 

Burning Video to a CD

 

In Windows XP you can burn a CD directly from a file folder by dragging and dropping a video file onto a

CD icon on your desktop; then, follow the instructions to burn the CD. You can also utilize third party

software like Roxio Creator Basic to burn a CD. Once you burn on a CD you can then pass along the CD

and it can generally be viewed using a player on a user’s computer; however, once again the proper

codecs must be installed to view and hear the various types of video files that have been previously

mentioned.

 

You can also drag and drop a video file onto a thumb drive and pass along or exchange a video file.

 

Burning Video to a DVD

 

If your goal is to create a DVD of your movie that can play in a commercial DVD player you will need

third party software and a computer that has a DVD burner to accomplish this task. Simply dropping a

video file onto a DVD and copying it will not result in a DVD that works in a DVD player. One program

that we have access to in the district is Roxio MyDVD Basic 9 (This is generally bundled with Roxio

Creator Basic 9). The following link will take you to a tutorial on how to utilize this program:

Roxio MyDVD Tutorial Topics

 

http://mail.nppsd.org:8080/~nhokanson/roxio_9_tutorial/MyDVD_tutorial_intro.htm

 

Conclusion (This is not the end but a beginning!):

 

Is there more?

Yes, video is a complicated thing; however, if you follow the guidelines shared in this resource you will

be able to avoid several pitfalls that can come along the way when working with basic video. Remember

to identify your end goal and that will map out your task and approach to creating a fun and exciting

video. Your students are waiting; plus, they can help you too!. Enjoy!