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Why Buy This Book
Reviews
Chapter Summary
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There are dozens of books
on digital video related topics. What separates Jan Ozer’s PC Magazine
Guide to Digital Video from the pack?
The book integrates
technical and aesthetic skills to help readers produce more “watchable” video.
At the end of the day, readers want to know more than how to operate their
camcorders or burn a DVD. Their real goal is to produce videos that friends
and family enjoy watching or footage that appears professional in a small
business setting.
To help readers in this
pursuit, the book features a 32 page chapter on the Basics of Shooting, which
first describes what is “watchable” video, and then teaches the reader how to
create it. Ozer describes how to optimally place subjects in the video frame
(framing the shot), how to smoothly handle camera motion like pans and zooms,
how to create basic scripts and how to “shoot to edit” so readers can later
weave multiple shots into shot combinations that dramatically improve the
perceived quality of their video.
The aesthetics of producing
“watchable” video also permeate the book’s production chapters. For example,
rather than simply describing how to insert transitions and special effects,
Ozer describes which effects to use and when. In addition to describing how
to insert audio menus on DVDs, Ozer instructs the reader to avoid using music
tracks shorter than a minute or so, which “get repetitive, then boring, then
irritating.”
Ozer teaches fundamental
skills as well as advanced techniques, which helps readers across a diverse
range of projects. For example, readers casually videotaping a family outing
will simply shoot better looking video, with properly framed subjects and much
less motion. On the other hand, for special occasions like birthdays,
weddings or graduations, readers learn how create a basic script, shoot the
required footage and craft it into a highly polished production with
sophisticated effects.
Provides essential
information for diverse classes of readers. Second, the book is very
accessible, offering multiple pockets of significant value to a diverse range
of readers. Those brand new to shooting and video production get a soup to
nuts explanation of what to buy and how to use it. In addition, readers new
to DVD production get separate chapters on choosing an authoring program and
DVD recorder, and four chapters on producing DVDs, including one on converting
VHS tapes to DVD. Compare this to less than one complete chapter on DVD
authoring in competing books like Digital Video for Dummies.
In addition, the book
contains separate chapters on purchasing camcorders and video editors,
including an extensive comparison of prosumer editors like Adobe Premiere Pro
and Pinnacle Edition. Uniquely, in chapters on DVD production and video
editing, the book describes the operation of the category leading software
programs, like video editors Microsoft Movie Maker 2, Pinnacle Studio and
Ulead VideoStudio, and authoring programs Sonic MyDVD, Ulead MovieFactory and
Pinnacle Expression. Users of these programs get application specific
instruction, while those using other programs get multiple examples to learn
from.
Insightful reviews and
technical discussions improve readers’ buying decisions. The third unique
value of the book lies in the quality of the technical and product
discussions. Ozer has worked in digital video since 1990 and has reviewed
hundreds of products for PC Magazine. As a result, comparisons of camcorders,
video editors and DVD authoring programs are contextual, rigorous and
revealing, and the technology descriptions educational and informative.
Readers learn how to intelligently discern between the available products and
purchase the best product for their budget and skill level.
Superb instruction
quickly gets readers productive and efficient. Finally, the “how to”
discussions are superb, speeding the reader’s ability to quickly start
producing high quality videos. Ozer has taught courses on digital video since
1994, today instructing for the University of Wisconsin Department of
Continuing Education. Ozer also writes program specific instructional books on
consumer editing and DVD authoring programs which enjoy average ratings of 4.8
out of 5 on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
Ozer’s teaching experience
is evident in his discussions of filming and editing technique, which are
logical, cohesive and easy to understand, even for beginners. When it’s time
to put technique into action, Ozer’s workflow descriptions are highly
detailed, accessible and richly illustrated. Readers can quickly master the
techniques described, and will rapidly become very proficient with their
production tools.
More than any other book,
the PC Magazine Guide to Digital Video integrates the art and technology of
shooting and editing to enable readers to create higher quality, more
entertaining videos.
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Book Info
Guide provides
everything you need to know about digital video, such as which camera to
choose and why, how to shoot the best footage, how to capture the best sound,
how to get the video from the camera to a computer, and more. Softcover.
About the Author
Jan Ozer
has worked with digital video since 1990, originally as VP of Marketing for
Iterated Systems, a video compression developer, and thereafter as
contributing editor to PC Magazine and E-Media. Since then, Jan
has written three books on digital video and has instructed two- and three-
day video compression seminars, most recently for the University of Wisconsin.
Book Description
What does it take to
make great digital video? The right equipment, the right skills, and Jan
Ozer's advice.
PC Magazine's
digital video authority delivers the details that will help you make videos
you can be proud of. Here's the lowdown on which camera to choose (and why),
how to shoot the best footage, how to capture the best sound, how to get your
video from the camera to your computer, what to do when you get it there, and
how to produce a showstopper from start to finish.
Author Jan Ozer
offers expert advice on:
- Deciding what
you do and don't need in a digital camcorder
- Selecting a DV
or analog capture solution
- Picking the
perfect video editor
- Getting the
right DVD-authoring package and recorder
- Shooting
terrific footage and capturing sound that's just right
- Outputting your
project in various formats
- And producing
professional-quality DVDs
The book's CD-ROM
includes audio and video files comparing consumer and prosumer camcorders and
demonstrating techniques like noise removal; MyDVD, Pinnacle Studio, Ulead
Video Studio, RealONE Player, muvee auto Producer trial versions, and more.
Chapter 1 - Choosing a DV Camcorder
DV, Digital 8, MicroMV, DVD-RAM cameras,
Features to Consider, Three chip vs. one chip, Comparing lens features and
quality, LCD Panel, Lux Rating, Maximum still image resolution, Optical zoom,
Zebra patterns, Progressive scan capture, Analog capture, Accessory shoe,
Manual and programmable settings, Support for external microphones, Optical
vs. digital image stabilization.
Chapter 2- Getting Video To Your Computer
Buying a DV-based Capture Solution, Plain
Jane 1394, When to go real time, Buying an Analog Capture Solution, Features
to look for in an analog capture product, When to go MPEG-2, Internal options,
External options, Looking forward – hybrid options for capturing analog and DV
Chapter 3 - Buying Your Video Editor
Your Free Options, Movie Maker 2, Entry Level
– Consumer/Corporate, Pinnacle Studio, Ulead VideoStudio, When to Step up to
Prosumer Packages, Adobe Premiere Pro, Pinnacle Liquid Edition, Sonic Foundry
Vegas, Ulead MediaStudio
Chapter 4 - Choosing a DVD
Authoring Package
Converting tapes to DVD, Pinnacle Express,
Sonic MyDVD, Ulead MovieFactory, Basic Authoring in your Video Editor,
Pinnacle Studio, Ulead VideoStudio, Corporate Level Authoring Tools – When to
Step Up, Ulead DVD Workshop, Adobe Encore
Chapter 5 - Choosing a DVD Recorder
Navigating the Standards (DVD-RW/+RW/RAM),
Choosing a Burner, DVD Recordable Compatibility Issues
Chapter 6 - Upgrading and Preparing
Your Computer
Minimum System Requirements, Operating
system, Processor, RAM, Disk space and configuration, Graphics, Monitor,
Getting and Keeping your System Ready, Defragmenting your drives, Removing
memory resident programs, Rules to live by
Chapter 7 - The Basics of Shooting
The Basics of shooting, Calling the Shots,
Managing Motion, Storytelling, Shooting to edit, Movie Making, shots and shot
combinations
Chapter 8 - Capturing Good Audio
Understanding camera microphones, External
Microphone alternatives, Monitoring audio while shooting.
Chapter 9 - Shooting for Digital
Distribution
Shooting for compressability, Shooting for
small screen delivery
Chapter 10 - Capture for Video Editing
DV Capture, Connecting for DV capture, Manual
capture (Movie Maker 2), Working with scene Detection (Pinnacle Studio), Batch
capture (VideoStudio), Analog Capture, Connecting for analog capture, Tuning
your video input (Pinnacle Studio), Tuning your audio input (VideoStudio),
Scene detection options (VideoStudio)
Chapter 11 - Basic Editing Techniques
Working on the Storyboard, Working on the
Timeline, Meet the Tracks (Video, Title, Overlay, Background, Narration),
Trimming Your Videos, In the Trim Window, On the Timeline, Adding Transitions,
Inserting transitions, Customizing transitions, Adding Titles, Animating your
titles.
Chapter 12 - Adding Audio
Recording a Narration, Hardware setup,
Scripting and recording basics, Ripping CD Tracks, Adding Background Music
with SmartSound, Adjusting volume, Track by track, The Audio Mixer, Fixing
Audio Problems, Normalization, Background noises.
Chapter 13 - Working with Still Images
How Different Programs Work with Still
Images, Preparing Digital Images for use in Video Projects, Creating Slide
Shows, Overlaying Images, Preparing Images for Overlay, Overlay techniques,
Animating images
Chapter 14 - Advanced Editing Techniques
Color Correction – Fixing Your Shooting
Mistakes, Video Overlay, Basic still image overlay – logos and watermarks,
Blue screen effects, Special Effects
Chapter 15 - Automatic Movie Generation
Movie Maker 2, muvee autoProducer
Chapter 16 - Rendering Your Project
What's a Codec? When do I Use Them?,
Outputting into AVI Format, Outputting into MPEG, Outputting into RealVideo,
Outputting into Windows Media, Outputting AC3 Audio
Chapter 17 - DVD Production Basics
The Production Process, Menus and Content,
Chapter Points, Linking, Previewing, Encoding and Production
Chapter 18 - Converting Tapes To DVD
One Step Products (MovieFactory, MyDVD,
Pinnacle Expression)
Chapter 19 - DVD Production
Capturing, Creating Basic Menus, Motion
Menus, Motion Buttons, Creating Nested Menus, Creating a Slide Show, Linking
Assets to Menus, Previewing Your Project, Rendering Your Project, Size and
space considerations, Minimizing your compatibility risks, Burning Your Disks
Chapter 20 - • Advanced DVD Production
Multiple Audio Tracks, Multiple text Tracks
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PC Magazine Guide to Digital Video from Amazon.com
 
PC Magazine Guide to Digital Video
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