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Viodi View Newsletter – January 5th 2004 Issue
Indie Telco Local Content Workshop Advertisement
Book Review – Digital Videomaker Handbook
By Ken Pyle, [email protected], Viodi, LLC
The Digital Videomaker book from Focal Press is the third edition of what used to be known as the Computer Videomaker Handbook. The new title reflects an increased emphasis on digital capturing, editing and output, as compared to the first two editions. Culled from articles penned originally in the Computer Videomaker magazine, this book, like the earlier editions, provides a great overview for a person who is new to video production. Written in bite-size chapters, it is also a great reference book for those already experienced in video production.
The first thing one notices about this edition is that its size; it has increased to 422 pages versus 350 pages for the second edition. Like the earlier book, there is a companion web site with example videos on topics, such as lighting, sound and other production techniques. The basic outline of the book follows that of the Computer Videomaker Handbook, whereby it starts with an overview of equipment, which leads to sections on production planning, production and post production techniques, and television distribution. This book has expanded to seven sections from six, with separate sections on internet distribution and DVD authoring.
Although many of the individual chapters within the book cover topics from previous editions, they are fresh as most of them are penned by different authors. For instance, the chapter on the legal aspects of video production has a greater focus on copyright than did the first edition, which also touched upon shooting permits. Fortunately, the chapters covering linear editing (i.e. tape to tape without computers) have been excised from this edition.
The major additions are new chapters dedicated to video editing. The chapter titled, “Overcoming Common Computer Editing Problems” will be very helpful to someone editing for the first time. I could have used this book when I started editing, as it would have probably saved me a few late nights cursing the editing program. These tips and techniques will definitely be noted in the Local Content Workshop.
The sections on streaming on the web will be especially relevant to independent telcos. These sections are updated and include much more detail than before and are more current in terms of the products mentioned. That there is a section devoted to creating DVDs indicates the importance of DVDs as a way of distributing content.
Although a very comprehensive book, I did not see any references to the evolving and very new HDV standard, which allows the production of low-cost, high definition content with high-end consumer electronics equipment. Alas, it is impossible for a book to collect all of the state-of-the-art in one place, with technology changing as rapidly as it does. Regardless, this book provides a great overview regarding video production. I definitely recommend this book and will be using it in future Local Content Workshops.
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