The DV Show - Digital Video Podcast, Video Editing, Camcorder Reviews, Videography

Big Buffet of Free & Legal Music

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:36:15 +0000

It’s difficult to find free, legal and good sounding music for your video productions. Scouring the web could take hours to just find that right track. So many sites to little time and there’s no real way to tell if it’s any good without actually downloading it and who even knows if you can actually use it without getting into legal hot water?

To the Rescue:

A small little software application takes the pain away by continuously searching a database of every site on the web that offers free and legal music and includes a download link for all to enjoy. The author of this software meticulously pays close attention to what is legal to use and what is not, keeping a tight grip on what goes in so no copyright infringements take place - to protect you and them.

So far they have over a million different types of free music files for the asking- a buffet of free and legal music for any media professional quickly looking for the right tune.

Other Great Features

Tracks are rated by other users. After they listen, it gets rated. It also takes your ratings and uses statistical analysis to correlate your ratings with the ratings given by other users. If you like the same kind of music they do, then this little app will send you all the same music. Conversely, if you hate the music, it won’t send you the music.
It always has fresh music without having to go hunt for it. You rate the tracks and it uses your ratings and other peoples to guess what you’ll like.
You’re protected. This is not automated software with a little robot searching every site. There is an actual person who monitors what is going on. The tracks are downloaded from Web sites which allow free downloads of their music. The artists are aware and actually contribute.
Cross platform. For the PC and Mac

You can learn more about this tool and download it free right here…

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Premium Subscribers get immediate answers to video questions, access to the show archives of over 250 podcasts with show notes spanning over 3 years, dozens of videos and articles filled with tips and tricks to enhance any production, free books, software downloads plus more! find out the details here

Producing Video for Car Dealerships

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:15:12 +0000

According to a recent study released near the end of 2008, 38% of car dealers surveyed currently take advantage of online video on their own websites. In the same study, 68% of dealers surveyed indicated that they they plan to use video on their own websites within the next 12 months.

Of the dealers surveyed, 46% of dealers indicated that they would likely decrease spending on traditional media in the next 12 months while only 8% indicated the same for online media. In general, auto dealers are shifting more of their media mix online, with 62% of dealers planning to increase their online media spend compared with only 17% for traditional media.

What does this mean for us?

Get out there and sell your video production services! they need you!

According to NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association), there are more than 20,800 new franchise car dealers in the U.S. that spent more than $7.8 billion in advertising for 2007. You can have a chunk of this change with the Turnkey video sample for car dealerships below.

What Type of Videos Do Car Dealers Run?

For the most part, auto dealers are primarily only running video on their own sites. Some use video on lead-generation inventory websites like Autotrader and Cars.com and some are even experimenting with YouTube and other viral video sharing websites.

There are a ton of uses for online video when it comes to auto dealers. Many have used online video to show…

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Search Engine Trick Finds Millions of Songs

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:53 +0000

The first place we go to when a client needs a specific song in their production is to the search engines. Type in a song name, style or artist name and we get…..nothing. Searching for a specific MP3 file using normal phrases or words is a hard thing to do and nothing ever comes up.

To make it all easier, there are now special codes and search strings to focus on that file you want. By executing this simple string of altered code in Google, for example, you can locate links of almost all the popular Sinatra albums, for example:

-inurl:(htm|html|php) intitle:”index of” +”last modified” +”parent directory” +description +size +(wma|mp3) “wedding music”

(Replace wedding music with your favorite style of music, an album or indie star name)

Who wants to enter this search every time? Who is going to remember all of that? We have an easier way:

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New Year Resolutions for Videographers

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:20:35 +0000

Are you planning on getting a new camcorder this holiday season?

Maybe you have been making home movies and tapes for awhile and somehow your friends and family never seem to want to watch them?

These resolutions may help turn your video experience around…

1. I am going to start using my tripod. Really, I promise. Everyone is sick of my videos jumping up and down like a seasick sailor. I bought that darn tripod and now I am going to use it. I don’t care how much it weighs or how dorky I look.

2. I am going to charge my camcorder batteries before a family event. Never again am I going to get stuck in the middle of a kid’s holiday party with no juice.

3. I am going to edit my videos. My computer has video editing software in it that will enable me to cut out the bad parts and quit subjecting my family and friends to outtakes and shots of my feet because I forgot to turn the camcorder off. I am going to edit those parts out. I really am. I promise.

4. I am going to learn how to use my computer and the Internet so that I can start sending video clips of my kids and family to my relatives all over the country. And, I am going to learn how to compress those video clips so those family and friends don’t hate me after enduring a three-hour download.

5. And if the video clip is just too big or too long, I am going to start putting the video on DVDs instead of just burning CDs of cool music.

6. I will learn to label my tapes correctly. Even those tiny little Digital Video cassettes with hardly any space at all to write what the tape is all about. I am going to come up with a plan … or at least my significant other will.

7. I am going to leave the camcorder out on the mantle so that the family can use it whenever it is needed, rather than having to dig it out from the closet, find the batteries and hope it all works before that special moment disappears forever.

8. No more zooming. I have learned my lesson. I am not going to zoom in and out and drive everyone crazy. I promise to physically move my camcorder in closer to everyone’s faces for those close-ups.

9. No more silly comments while videotaping. I promise to never tell people to smile or act natural again. And I promise, no more chasing my family with the camcorder around the house too early in the morning.

Finally, I am going to let the kids operate the camcorder. We don’t want the family to be watching the tapes back ten years from now and saying, “Where’s Daddy? Anybody remember what daddy looked like before he got chubby and all his hair fell out?”

9 Online Video Predictions for 2009

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:03:18 +0000

By Jeremy Campbell
Web Video Unleashed

2008 was a pretty good year for online video, there was good growth, interesting experiments, some crazy creators really broke out, the emergence of live video, and overall a lot of positive buzz throughout the emerging space.

I’m going to go out on a limb and post my 2009 predictions for online video:

1. Videos continue to spread throughout the social web via embeds and syndication deals, making content even more fragmented.
2. Some innovative creators with good shows start getting sponsorship dollars.
3. Shows will get more interactive, so rather than watching a new show once/week with nothing in between there will be things happening on a daily basis. Much like what The Resistance has done with theirs.
4. Online video will have the strongest ad growth numbers in comparison to other ad formats i.e. search, social networks, etc. I know this is a pretty safe prediction but worth mentioning regardless.
5. Hulu will get to the number 2 spot behind only YouTube in terms of monthly unique viewers.
6. Increased collaboration will lead to more quality content, and raise the bar for video creators and producers. Human resources will become more available as the more jobs are lost, and creators will be empowered to form their own virtual studios to openly share the recognition and ad revenues with others.
7. CDN bandwidth will get more affordable as the space further consolidates and matures.
8. Mobile video really starts to take off thanks to cool new iPhone apps that allow viewers to discover content they didn’t before know existed.
9. Online video advertising is expected to grow to 45% next year, I say the figure will be more around 30%-40%, but great nonetheless.

Do you have any of your own predictions? Feel free to share them below.

The DV Show Podcast for December 29, 2008

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:09:42 +0000

Running time: 3:12

Download MP3 file

Our 4 year anniversary is coming up in March and we plan on offering our content strictly to Premium Members. This means we are going to be a subcription only service- no more free podcasts, watching free videos, or reading content on our website without logging in as a member. Sure, Occasionally we will have a freebie here and there but overall everything will be made available through subscription only….

So, If what we’ve been doing has been valuable to you over the years, we would recommend a subscription and signing up now. We have some great content lined up for 2009- so hop on the bus and become a better videographer…..

Have a great holiday and happy new year! See you in 2009.

Show notes:

- Become a Premium Member

Quick Q&A: AVCHD Edit and Conversion

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:00:03 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why is editing AVCHD footage so difficult?

The main issue with editing AVCHD footage is that it is long-GOP (group of pictures), an inter-frame compression version of MPEG-4 that compacts data for multiple frames together. This makes it difficult to view or edit individual frames because some of the data in “frame #3″ may be in “frame #2,” expanding the compression over several frames, making editing more difficult, with longer render times. Processor speeds are an important piece of the puzzle, with resources being used up for decoding, editing, and output with effects in real time, slowing down overall system performance.

The audio portion of the codec, however, utilizes either Dolby Digital or Linear PCM, which is not a concern for rendering. It should also be noted that AVCHD/MPEG-4 will not play on standard-definition DVD’s, only on the high-definition Blu-ray optical format. If you want to record to standard-def DVD’s, footage will need to be encoded to the MPEG-2 codec.

How can I edit AVCHD files?

The latest camcorders, especially those that record to either SD, SDHC, or Hard-Drive media, are encoded in AVCHD format. Until recently, many of the consumer versions of editing software applications did not support AVCHD, but now there are a few that are starting to support it and can import AVCHD files directly from popular camcorders. Some can even open and edit AVCHD files already copied to a hard disk.

Here are a few for the Mac user:

The latest version of Apple Final Cut Pro (ver. 6.0.3) has addressed the AVCHD question, somewhat. Available only on Intel-based Macs via the USB 2.0 port, AVCHD is transcoded via the Log and Transfer window, using the Apple Intermediate codec or ProRes 422. Clips appear as thumbnails, set in and out points, and then queued up while previewing or ingesting more footage. Because it is transcoded, the actual ingest time will increase exponentially, depending on the processor speed. When previewing AVCHD in the Log and Transfer window, no high-speed searching is available. Preview is available only on a Mac Pro workstation. And without sounding like an oxymoron, there is no support for standard-definition AVCHD data.
Final Cut Express 4 supports AVCHD in the same way as the Pro version.
iMovie does support AVCHD, it is limited to 960-by-540 resolution.

On the Windows side, most editing applications support AVCHD.

Sony Vegas Pro 8 supports most AVCHD cameras with a streamlined work flow, with output available to Blu-ray disc.
The Sony Vegas Movie Studio family of products only supports Sony AVCHD camcorders.
Although considered a consumer-level product, Pinnacle Studio v. 11 is probably the most intuitive way to edit AVCHD at a very affordable price. Available in three different bundles, only Studio Plus and Ultimate has AVCHD support. Ultimate offers the advantage to edit with Dolby 5.1 encoding and green-screen functionality.
Adobe Premiere currently does not support AVCHD, but MainConcept’s MPEG Pro HD 3 supports the H.264 standard with presets for AVCHD. MainConcept has a 15-day trial period for editors who want to test the waters before jumping in, available directly from the manufacturer’s website only.

I don’t want to pay for high end software just to edit and convert AVCHD video files. Are there alternatives?

Using TMPGEnc:

Convert AVCHD using VoltaicHD

Edit AVCHD in Windows Media Maker

How to edit AVCHD footage on Mac OSX

Use AVISynth

Comparison: Rode Videomic Vs. Azden SGM-1X

admin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:26:48 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

The SGM-1X Professional Shotgun Microphone is designed to provide quality audio for the videographer. It is ideal for today’s smaller, digital video cameras where longer models would appear in the frame when camera mounted. The hyper-directional super-cardioid shotgun microphone has a wide frequency response, exhibits low noise and accepts up to 110dB SPL input levels. The 11.8″ long microphone uses a single “AAA” battery that will last over 1000 hours due to the mic’s extremely low current drain. The low-impedance, XLR connector SGM-1X ships complete with a windscreen and Azden’s proprietary shock-mount holder that isolates camera motor noise from the mic. The holder has provisions for both camera-shoe and mic-stand mounting.

Features

* Frequency Response: 80-18,000Hz
* Sensitivity: Super Cardioid -41dB re 1V/Pa
* Impedance: 680 Ohms @ 1Khz
* Max. SPL Input Level: 110dB
* Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB
* Dynamic Range: 80dB
* Battery Type: AAA (1.5V) - use alkaline battery
* Battery Current: 0.2mA
* Battery Life: 1000 Hours w/Alkaline Battery
* Weight w/o Battery: 4.76oz (135grams)
* Dimensions: 11.8″ (300mm) length
* Dimensions: 0.83″ (21mm) diameter
* Output Type: 3-Pin XLR type
* Supplied Accessories: Shock mount mic holder, 1 Windscreen

If you like this complimentary post- Premium Subscribers get a whole lot more! Immediate answers to video questions, access to the show archives of over 250 podcasts with show notes spanning over 3 years, dozens of videos and articles filled with tips and tricks to enhance any production, free books, software downloads plus more! find out the details here

Review: Beachtek DXA-2S

admin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:17:15 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Beachtek DXA-2S offers a reliable way of connecting professional audio gear with any of the current crop of DV camcorders, to enjoy the benefits of using balanced audio. Two sources may be recorded simultaneously, and each input may be recorded on a separate audio track, making it possible to mix both channels individually during editing. Timecode feeds may also be input during recording.

The shielding, channel separation and XLR connectors of the DXA-2S are all of a professional quality, and a ground switch enables selection of the appropriate ground configuration for virtually any camcorder.

Key Features

• Two transformer balanced XLR inputs for professional microphones
• One auxiliary mini-jack input for wireless microphones
• Premium quality trim controls for adjusting signal levels.
• Selectable MIC or LINE level switch per channel
• Selectable STEREO or MONO recording modes
• Securely mounts to underside of camcorder, eliminating cable strain
• Can be connected to any current camcorder equipped with an external microphone jack
• Threaded hole available for mounting on a tripod plate
• Ground switch to select proper ground configuration to work with any camcorder
• Passive device requires no power to operate

The DV Show Podcast for December 22, 2008

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:31:48 +0000

Running time: 3:12

Download MP3 file

Have a great holiday and happy new year! See you next year.

Show notes:

- Become a Premium Member

3 Ways to Smoother Video

admin — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:52:04 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s a camcorder stabilizer, a shoulder pod and a tabletop tripod all in a single compact device.

Set your compact camcorder on the Modosteady, adjust the balance and your camcorder will seem to float as you move along to follow the action. Just like devices costing hundreds of dollars more, the Modosteady makes your camcorder react slowly to your motion providing a smooth image in your video.

It’s a great effect, useful for many shots, but not all. A slowly reacting camera is not a great way to follow fast action, but a shoulder pod is! Just turn a few sections on the Modosteady, and that’s exactly what you’ll have—a shoulder brace that works like a gunstock, giving you great support, but making it easy to follow the action.

Want to get into the shot yourself? Just twist the sections, and pull the cap of the end of the handle, the handle the splits to become the three legs of a table-top tripod.

8 Last Minute Gifts for Video Pros

admin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:14:12 +0000

USB VCR

VCR 2 PC is a VHS tape player, just like a VCR, and it features a simple, easy USB connection so you can connect your computer and take your videos wherever you want them. Because it uses standard, plug-and-play USB, you only need the single, included cable to send both audio and video straight into your computer. And the included EZ VHS Converter software was designed specifically to make it easy to enjoy your videos on DVD, iPod, PSP, or computer. You can even watch videos on your compatible mobile phones!

Imagine a Handheld Tripod… That’s Camhandle!

Use the Camhandle to get more stable handheld shots. The deceptively simple patent pending design is the secret of its success. It keeps your hands apart in three dimensions giving you leverage on the camera. The 14 ounce all aluminum camera platform is designed to keep your right hand in the normal position on the camera. No need for remote controls. Your left hand is placed lower and off to the left of the camera centerline. This allows your left elbow to be in close to your body for additional support. The left wrist is in a comfortable, natural position. With the viewfinder against your eye, you have three points of contact making for a very stable platform.

The Fastest Way to Shoot Video From Your Motorcycle!

The RAM-B-149Z-C1U zinc coated U-Bolt rail base consists of the 1″ dia. ball and socket system with RAM Universal 1/4″-20 thread centered on a 2.5″ diameter Plate. This mount is designed to be a universal mounting solution for both still and moving cameras and is ideal for motorcycles, ATVs and more!

A Light That Adds Night Vision to your Camcorder

Sima’s new IR video light enables you to film in near and absolute darkness. 36 infrared LEDs act as an invisible light source that you can’t see but your camcorder can. Don’t be afraid of the dark - with an effective range of up to 75′, the SL-20IR lights up the night.

Emergency Audio Adapter Kit

Never be left Silent on Stage or in the Studio Again!!

TecNec’s Exclusive Performers Emergency Audio Kit is the ideal solution for the Performer or Musician who’s on the road or hard at work in the studio.

The TN-PROAUD-KIT has all the adaptable ins and outs that you might need should a cable go bad, gear get added, or any other situation where an adapter might be needed at the last moment!

The Popabrella - Camera/Tripod Mounted Rain Umbrella & Sun Shade

Extreme Weather Protection While Shooting! Shoot in the rain! Fits any camera with a tripod screw mount—and you can still use your tripod with it’s sturdy pass-through tripod mounting screw. Robust and tough—it won’t let you down when you need it. Compact and light—won’t weigh you down when you are moving. It’s fast. Tilts, slides up or down, adjusts side to side for 360 degree coverage to protect from rain, sun glare on viewing window, blocks sunflare on lenses and most of all protects from heat damage.

Hot Shoe Multiplier and Extension Adapter

Allows you to fit multiple attachments to your single hot shoe on your camera/camcorder. The Hot shoe Extension allows you to rotate the attachment 360ø around the shoe fixture on the camera. Length of bar: 4″. 50g (1.7oz) Top fitting: Suitable for male flash shoe accessories Thread used: 3/8″ Whitworth male (brass)

Micro-Cat Fuzzy Windscreen for Lav Mics.

The Micro-Cat Miniature Windscreen allows the use of lavaliere microphones in windy conditions that would otherwise cause serious audio problems. They really work.

Hand-made from a fuzzy outer layer plus two additional inner layers of open weave fabric, the Micro-Cat very effectively stops wind from reaching the microphone to substantially reduce wind noise while remaining sonically transparent. The elastic opening easily fits over most lav microphones with diameters of up to 12mm.

The DV Show Podcast for December 15, 2008

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:34:29 +0000

Running time: 37:27

Download MP3 file

LicenseStream is a licensing automation engine enabling transaction ready content in seconds.

They provide storage space, licensing terms, review usage history, track content usage and more.

CEO Iain Scholnick is on this week’s show to tell us more.

Show notes:

- Get a free LicenseStream account

Want total control of your content? Get a year of LicenseStream Creator PRO for only $49.99 when you register before December 31. Use PROMO CODE: 1YRPRO

5 Tips on Shooting Christmas Lights

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:54:37 +0000

Christmas is such a big deal with so much going on that it is impossible to film every event associated with it. Therefore you should consider the different events which you associate with your Christmas holiday season and choose 3 or 4 which you can cover thoroughly.

Tips on shooting Christmas lights

1) Turn off the auto focus on your camera. Zoom in fully, get a good focus on your scene, then zoom out and shoot your video. Repeat this as you change locations for another shot. The auto focus on most consumer cameras is easily fooled by high contrast scenes (i.e. holiday lights against a dark background)! We can improve many parameters (color, contrast, hue, etc, etc) but focus is one we can not improve. Bottom line is to shoot your scene in focus to begin with!

2) If your camera allows[/b], turn the automatic white balance off, and set it for incandescent (yes even for LEDs!). Automatic white balancing has a tough time figuring out a good balance with multiply-colored lights against a black background.

3) If you camera allows[/b], turn off the automatic exposure, and manually set it for one in which the colors are not washed out. If you shoot it a little underexposed (dark), we can add the necessary contrast, brightness, color, etc later. If you shoot it overexposed (too bright, with washed out colors), there is not much we can do.

4) If your camera will not allow #2 and #3, we have a work around for you. Shoot at dusk, while there is still ambient (background) light[/b]. (i.e. the sky is still lit enough that you can make out clouds, etc.). You may think that shooting when it is totally dark makes for a better video, but actually shooting near dusk is much easier for todayâ€™s auto-everything cameras, and gives much[/b] better shots. We can always darken the scene a bit later in the process.

5) I would suggest you print this note, so you can re-read it, and refer to it, as you plan your video. You will find, as others have, that if you follow these rules, (and tips), you will get a much better quality video that flatters your display, rather than one that denigrates it.

A little time in planning can make the difference between a quality video, and a poor one. You do not [/b]need any special skills, or abilities to video tape your display, just a little advanced planning!

After all, you have spent many hours designing, building, and then setting up your display, so why not make it look the best it can?

5 Sites That Create Video Slideshows in Minutes

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:39:48 +0000

Ahh, the holidays. You’re bound to have hundreds of family photos cluttering up your computer when the festivities are done. Sure, you can turn these pictures into a video using your favorite editing software but who wants to take on this cumbersome task when there’s cocoa to drink and presents to play with?

Now you can transform any series of photo into an entertaining video slideshow complete with captions and music quickly and easily thanks to these 5 sites. Sit back and relax - they do all the work.

Smilebox

Choose from hundreds of free slideshow designs for all occasions. Add captions, music and up to hundreds of your photos and videos!. Then share your free slideshow via email or post it to your blog. With their premium version you can even create slideshows and print them at home or at a local retail store. You’ll get miles of smiles from your family and friends with these picture slideshows.

Slideroll

Slideroll™ is a photo slideshow maker that you can use to create slide shows with your photos. Publish your slideshows on the internet, put them on MySpace or YouTube, and e-mail them to friends.

Photobucket
The big photo hosting giant has some nice new slideshow styles for you to play when using their slideshow creator. Login to your Photobucket account to take a look.

Photagious

Photagious is an online photo sharing site that allows you to create slideshows with music, titles, graphics, thought bubbles and more. You can order prints online, archive your photos and manage your photos all in one place.

Animoto

Animoto is a web application that automatically generates professionally produced videos, each a customized orchestration of user-selected images and music. Using patent-pending Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology and high-end motion design, the result is a user’s own personal creation with the visual energy of a music video and the emotional impact of a movie trailer. Playing on a widescreen video format, Animoto Videos present the visual energy of a music video and the emotional impact of a movie trailer using the same sophisticated post-production skills & techniques that are used in television and film.

Guide to 300+ Final Cut Studio Shortcuts

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:35:51 +0000

You know that Final Cut Pro editing whiz friend of yours? The one that plays the keyboard like a fiddle as they dodge and burn their way to editing perfection?

Now you can learn the tricks and techniques of experienced Final Cut Pro editors and become a whiz too by knowing your keyboard shortcuts. It will take you to the next level in your mastery of Final Cut Pro.

This free guide is filled with every shortcut imaginable for Final Cut Studio 6 including shortcuts for DVD Studio, Soundtrack Pro, Motion and even Color.

Download here

8 New Tips to Get Your Money

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:10:29 +0000

As video professionals, we’re first on the list to get the project completed but last on the list to get paid. For some reason, when a project is completed and it’s time to show us the money, the sounds of crickets are heard and the client is nowhere to be found.

There are ways to increase your chances of collecting from a delinquent customer - or anyone else who owes you money.

Here’s how…

First play nice

1. Require a down payment, charging the customers your cost upfront. Don’t deliver the completed product unless you get full payment

2. Bill as you go. A well-organized billing system will alert you when a client is falling behind in payments, so you can act quickly to recoup before the problem gets worse.

Being nice not working? Still not getting paid? Time to get nasty

Customers who play “the check-is-in-the-mail” game should now be considered a BAD customer. They are not worthy of your services any longer. Unless there are reasonable circumstances in play, they now deserve the same respect you give that annoying bee in your car.

1. In a firm but professional manner, write a letter demanding payment. Then send it by certified mail. It will cost about $5.

Unlike phone calls and e-mail messages, certified mail is hard to ignore. And it’s intimidating to have someone in an official capacity (the letter carrier) require your signature. Not only that, but people who are somewhat educated about legal procedures will recognize that this could be your final step before you take legal action. (Certified mail is frequently used to establish that an effort was made to communicate with the target of a lawsuit.) That could be the impetus they need to pay up.

2. Have a police officer deliver your payment letter - in some small towns it could cost only $20

3. Show up to your clients office or workplace with a big fresh glob of dog poo on your shoes. Stay there until payment is made.

4. Threaten to turn the account over to a collection agency.

5. If your customer claims to have no money, ask for a post-dated check. If the check bounces, file charges.

6. Have your attorney send a letter demanding payment, or you will begin legal action.

Consistent and frequent follow-up calls will usually get your money.

Want more tips on how to collect what is owed?

Kris Simmons from mindyourvideobusiness.com is well qualified to give a business perspective on how to get what is owed. He answers a listener question on the subject in a full, unedited interview featured in our Premium Subscriber website: Log in to listen or sign up.

The DV Show Podcast for December 8, 2008

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:17:23 +0000

Running time: 27:55

Download MP3 file

We go behind the scenes of Rankin Bass Productions - the company most noted for their stop-motion animation specials like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty Christmas specials. How did they do stop motion animation back then with such limited resources? We talk with Rick Goldschmidt, the official historian for Rankin/Bass Productions, to learn more.

Show notes:

- Rick Goldschmidt’s Blog
- The Enchanted World of Rankin Bass
- The Making of the Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic: Rudolph the red Nosed Reindeer
- Official Rankin/Bass website

Review: Panasonic AG-HMC150

admin — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:35:55 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

The AG-HMC150 handheld is Panasonic’s exciting new introduction to the AVCCAM series. Representing a major step forward in affordable HD video capture, the HMC150 utilizes highly efficient AVCHD recording, the industry’s new long GOP standard based on MPEG-4, to provide stunning image quality and longer record time.

The new handheld incorporates three 1/3-inch progressive CCD imagers to produce stunning 1920 x 1080 resolution picture quality far exceeding older Long GOP formats like HDV. It’s equipped with a high-performance wide-angle* Leica Dicomar™ 13x zoom lens and 24- and 30-frame progressive capture in a full range of HD formats, making it well suited for all types of projects. With an exciting range of professional video and audio features and a compact, well-balanced design, the HMC150 is a “must have” for video professionals and enthusiasts looking for the best in affordable HD.

Review: Sony HVR-Z5U

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:12:01 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Introducing a truly amazing new compact HDV™ camcorder from Sony. The HVR-Z5U camcorder is designed to enhance creativity and deliver the highest standard of optical and audio quality. Sony’s newly designed “G Lens” is incorporated into the camcorder, boasting excellent resolution, color, and contrast for breathtaking images that rival expensive interchangeable lenses. This new compact camcorder boasts Sony’s 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor™ system, utilizing the technology of Exmor, to provide excellent low-light sensitivity and making it ideal when high performance in limited light conditions is a requirement. The ergonomically designed body allows flexible shooting under any conditions, while maintaining Sony’s worldwide reputation for quality and high performance. The standard features of the HVR-Z5U include 1080/24p/30p HDV native progressive recording modes. Sony’s new cutting-edge hybrid recording system incorporates an optional HVR-DR60 or HVR-MRC1K Memory Recording Unit, which allows simultaneous recording on tape and non-tape media for improve NLE workflow efficiency. The hybrid recording system is also capable of simultaneous HD and SD recording. Sony is continuously developing and expanding its HDV lineup in response to professional user feedback.

A Look at the New Sony FX1000

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:55:30 +0000

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Film-like Progressive Scan 1080/24p, 1080/30p, or 1080/60i

In addition to 1080/60i recording, the HDR-FX1000 offers a 1080/24p and 1080/30p Progressive Scan mode that enables shooting with film-like results. Signals scanned at 24p/30p are converted to 60i (using 2-3 pulldown for 24p) and recorded on MiniDV tape, allowing footage to be played and edited using existing HDV products. In this way, progressive images can be handled in the conventional HDV editing environment.

CinemaTone Gamma™ and CinemaTone Color™

Users seeking extra control over image expression can use “Cinematone Gamma” to deepen the color and “Cinematone Color” to recreate film-like color tones. Cinematone Gamma allows operators to quickly set up and load a gamma curve with similar contrast characteristics to a film gamma curve.

3x 1/3″ ClearVid™ CMOS Sensors w/ Exmor™ technology

The HDR-FX1000 features three 1/3” ClearVid CMOS Sensors, each having 1,120K total pixels. The 3 independent CMOS sensors each handle one of the color elements – red, green, blue (RGB) – improving the color reproduction of video recordings. Dark scenes can be captured with low noise thanks to “Exmor”-derived technology that features a new column A/D converter and dual noise reduction. Sensor resolution has been optimized and the photosensitive surface area has been maximized thanks to the unique grid arrangement of the photo diode sensors, in which each is rotated by 45 degrees. This model also features the signal processing circuit, the Enhanced Imaging Processor (EIP) which uses Sony’s unique image-processing technology.

Enhanced Imaging Processor (EIP) Technology

The EIP processor is able to rapidly process the vast amounts of pixel data read from the “3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor”, and record beautiful HD and colorful video. The ClearVid CMOS Sensor™ has been developed using the most advanced technologies in the semiconductor industry. It handles video data in 1920 x 1080p and 4:2:2 color space for high-quality signal processing before recording it to tape in the HDV format2. Combined use of the EIP and 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor imaging system allows the HDR-FX1000 camcorder to provide extremely high image quality with a smooth gradation and detailed image reproduction.

G Lens: 29.5mm Wide-Angle to 590mm (20x) Telephoto

The HDR-FX1000 is equipped with a 29.5mm wide-angle “G Lens” made from advanced 10 group, 15 element lens including “Extra-low Dispersion glass” which reduces chromatic aberration caused by light refraction, and produces video with extremely low color fringing. Designed for shooting situations ranging from broad landscape shots to conditions where sufficient distance from the subject is difficult to obtain. The 20x optical zoom (29.5mm-590mm: 35mm conversion) lets you zoom in to the subjects you can’t get close to. The optical zoom takes maximum advantage of the lens performance, so image quality does not suffer even at a zoom ratio of 20x, allowing you to faithfully reproduce the subject’s impact. The digital extender increases zoom by 1.5 throughout the range up to 30x at full zoom.

Superior low-light (1.5 LUX) shooting capabilities

Superior low-light ability with high sensitivity enables clear shooting of subjects in light as low as 1.5 lux (at 1/30 fixed shutter speed with auto iris and auto gain). This allows you to capture sharp detail and brilliant colors even in less than perfect lighting, especially when professional lighting cannot be used.

Review: Rode Video Mic

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:32:18 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Rode VideoMic is a cost effective, camera mounting shotgun microphone that features an integrated shock mount and close signal reproduction. The VideoMic features a small, light weight profile allowing quick, unobtrusive mounting on DV and HDV cameras without appearing in the frame.

The super-cardioid polar pattern and barrel canceling design attenuates side axis audio and results in maximum response at the front of the capsule. The result is close, noise free signal when capturing under noisy conditions or at moderate distances.

The shock-mount is permanently attached to the microphone and an attached shoe mount allows the entire microphone to be mounted to a hot-shoe on a camcorder. Replaceable rubber O-rings suspend the microphone on the shock-mount and protect against noise due to movement and handling. A coiled cable terminates to a 1/8″ (3.5mm) mini output connection. The Rode VideoMic features a condenser element that utilizes a standard 9 Volt battery. The microphone will run for approximately 100 hours on a single battery.

Key Features

• Barrel Canceling Pick Up
The Rode Video Mic functions as a true line plus gradient microphone with a super-cardioid pattern in the front and a barrel that cancels side-audio. The result is maximum pick up of the source in highly ambient and noisy environments.

• Integrated Shock-Mount
The VideoMic features a permanently attached shock mount with a camera mounting shoe underneath. The shock mount features replaceable rubber o-rings that protect against noise caused by abrupt movement and shock.

• High Pass Filter Switch
A high-pass filter switch eliminates room ambiance and noise below 80Hz. This results in improved intelligibility while recording around machinery, wind or close proximities.

• Internal Power
The condenser element is powered with a standard 9-volt battery for up to 100 hours (approximately).

Jumbo List of FLV Players For Your Website

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:34:09 +0000

Webmasters and even the average Internet user nowadays are trying to find means to let their site visitors get an interactive touch with what their site content is all about. Incorporating a video along with your text content can be a surefire hit and helps in driving more traffic to your site.

Putting video in your webpage or personal profile page can be quite easy but it can be cumbersome to some Internet users who do not have a fast PC to let them view the video.

So how about having a video in your webpage or personal profile page that is easy to embed as 1-2-3 (does not require the techie knowledge of a webmaster) and can be also easily downloaded too.

Sounds impossible? No, it’s not.

Our Collection of 50+ Players You Can Use:

Sonettic Cinema HD Player 4.0

We present to you an absolutely new approach to FLV, MP4, MOV H.264 video and RTMP MP3 stream players which were created for video transmission on your web browser over the Internet.

Flash Expert FLV

It plays any kind of video file that Flash Player supports ( FLV / H.264 encoded video including MP4, M4V, M4A, MOV, Mp4v, F4V), YouTube and Live Stream Videos. The code is very clean and it’s easy to customize the player’s design.

Web FLV Player

Now it’s only up to you how your flash video player is going to look like. You can replace almost every aspect of your flv player. Colors, Active Elements, Gradients - they are all over your control. With small amount of work player will perfectly suit your website.

Rich Media Project

Tailor your Flash video experience with our selection of players :

- Use our Javascript FLV Players to easily add video on your website. No authoring software and no programming skills are needed.
- Create your own skins in Flash and benefit from the advantages of PHP FLV Streaming technology with our PHP Streaming Components.
- Step up to HD video (H264/HE-AAC movies) with our Progressive Download Components, also suitable for CD/DVD playback.

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Camera Angles Explained

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:59:44 +0000

How different types of angles work and how they effect the shot.

10 Cheap Video Rigs You Can Build Yourself

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:44:02 +0000

Cheapdv.com has recently listed some great do it yourself tutorials. Some of these items are top dollar when purchased new - but now you can built them yourself!

Easy to build stabilzer frame for your camera

DIY Aluminum Camcorder Dolly

DIY Camcorder Mini Crane

Create great new angles with this suction cup car mount you can build yourself

Forget the Hoodman, Block out the sun with this DIY camcorder LCD hood.

A microphone blimp made out of a bird feeder- no one will ever know!

Make your own teleprompter

Build a matte box

Save money on this DIY depth of field adapter

Build your own Fig rig