May 23, 2008

Video editing software & Accessories

Video-editing software
You definitely need some video-editing software to create your video podcast. Video-editing software allows you to edit your video, adjust the video quality, and do rudimentary audio editing (on some platforms). A number of editing platforms are available; these are some of the most popular:

Final Cut Pro (Mac): This is the flagship of Apple's video-editing suite.

iMovie (Mac): It's no Final Cut Pro, but for podcasts, it's probably all the video editor you need. And because it's from Apple, you can bet that there's tight integration with the iPod.

Adobe Premiere (PC): Adobe Premiere has been around since video editing on desktops began. It has very tight integration with Adobe Audition.

Sony Vegas (PC): Vegas is tightly integrated with Sony Sound Forge. In fact, Vegas has much of the audio-processing capability of Sound Forge built in.

Ulead Video Studio (PC):
This software has a great price and includes output templates for iPods and SmartPhones.

Cinelerra (Linux): That's right, now you can do video editing on your favorite free operating system.

Accessories
Along with all the goodies discussed previously, you need a good selection of cables to connect all your equipment. As with audio, don't skimp on cable quality. You're better off buying an expensive cable that lasts longer. Depending on the scale of your production, you also may want to consider a number of other accessories. Many of these are used either to improve your video quality or to compensate for a troublesome video issue.

Processing amplifier (proc amp): Proc amps allow you to tweak the video signal in real time, saving you the hassle of having to do it later.

Camera filters: Filters can compensate for your lighting situation and thereby enhance your video quality.

Gels and diffusion materials: If you're using a lighting kit, gels and diffusion materials help you control your light.

Flags: Flags are used to direct light so it doesn't go where you don't want it.

Bounce boards: Bounce boards are used to reflect light where you need it. They can be as simple as a large piece of light-colored cardboard or custom-made versions that have different colors on either side to be used in different situations.

Video "humbucker": Video cables are susceptible to noise, particularly from nearby power cables. This noise shows up in the picture and degrades the quality. Humbuckers filter out this noise.

"Green screen" facilities: Using a technique known as "green screen," you can film your subject against a green wall or background, and then during the edit phase a different background can be substituted for the green background.

Gaffer's tape, clothes pins, cable adapters, etc.:
Every videographer has a kit bag full of adapters, tape, and lots of other things that are useful during a shoot.


Most of the items in this list can safely be skipped for your first few video productions. Most videographers' kit bags are the result of years of accumulation, having had to deal with a number of issues over the years. You should definitely make sure you have plenty of spare cables and a roll of gaffer's tape, because as the saying goes, anything can be fixed with enough gaffer's tape.

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