Camcorder & Computer Video articles from October 2002

Camcorder & Computer Video archives from October 2002

Shooting like the pro. (Editor's Report).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
October 1, 2002... I recently attended a wedding and was pleasantly surprised to see so many amateur videographers on hand to record the event. Yes, of course, there was a professional photographer, but the bride's mother had declined the services of a...

DVD Complete Deluxe. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? A DVD-authoring-and-burning software from SCM Microsystems' Dazzle brand. What does it do? Allows consumers to create Hollywood-style movies easily, using their own video footage. Special features? Offers a Projects wizard...

DV Plus. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? An integrated suite of six MPEG video applications from Honest Technology. What does it do? DV Plus is designed for the hobbyist who wants to create Digital Video without spending hours reading technical guides. Special...

Home Movie Maker. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? Movie-making software program from Data Becker. What does it do? Lets users combine still images, video, music, narration and other special effects to produce their own home movie for a DVD player, PC or videotape player. ...

AverTV Studio. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(AverMedia Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? A computer-to-TV conversion product from AverMedia Technologies. What does it do? Not only does it turn a PC into a television, but it also lets users Pause, Rewind, and Instant Replay live television, as well as Record and...

Flat-Panel Displays. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? A new line of high-end LCD flat-panel displays that includes the X-, S-, M-, and F-Series from AG Neovo. What does it do? Produces bright colors, crisp text and crystal-clear images. Panels are ideal for use by advanced...

ScanMaker 6800. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? Flatbed scanner from Microtek. What does it do? It's the first flatbed scanner to use ASF's Digital ICE technology for photo prints. The combined software and hardware allow users to scan a damaged photo print and apply Digital...

BackUp MyPC (Version 4.81). (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? Data backup and disaster recovery solution from Stomp. What does it do? Provides backup and recovery of files and folders for single or networked PCs, including peer-to-peer networks. Special features? It simplifies the...

SmartSound Movie Maestro. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? Soundtrack-creation software from Sonic Desktop. What does it do? Allows consumers to quickly create movie-quality soundtracks (26 music tracks) and includes a professionally recorded music library with themes specially designed...

USB Drive Professional TM. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? Computer data storage solution from JMTek. What does it do? Provides users with data storage and security, as well as Internet mobility in a single device. Special features? Features USB-Lock, which restricts unauthorized...

EZ-Bay. (Zoom in: the season's coolest products and accessories).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... What is it? A modular second HDD adapter for laptops from Apricorn. What does it do? EX-Bay modules are similar to option bays from most popular notebook manufacturers; it provides file storage, backup, AVI and MPEG storage, and other uses....

The Power of X: does Matrox RT.X100 make all your dreams come true?(Evaluation)
October 1, 2002... It's hard to believe, but it was almost three years ago that Matrox shocked the nonlinear editing (NLE) world when it launched the RT2000. It was the breakthrough product that brought real-time video editing with super-cool real-time 3-D...

Instant TV: VC offers quick chroma keying, virtual sets, pop-up video window and a teleprompter.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2002... Are you ready for the next "gotta have it" video product? The folks at Serious Magic (the same people who brought you Snappy, the Video Toaster and Trinity) have unleashed a new "video creation" tool called Visual Communicator. It packs...

Bigger and faster: maximizing storage for digital editing.
October 1, 2002... In many ways the computer is like an automobile, with many components working together for a smooth ride. If the central processor is the engine, then your computer's hard drives are the gas, providing the content that makes everything run. If...

Sony DCR-TRV950: better than Sony's DCR-VX2000?(evaluation of video camera priced at $2,499)(Evaluation)
October 1, 2002... If you want to purchase a camcorder that epitomizes the words "state-of-the-art," look no further than Sony's DCR-TRV950 ($2,499.99 MSRP). It is right up there at the top of the top of the line, with the latest in advanced features and...

Choosing a DV capture card: essential hardware options.
October 1, 2002... Selecting a Digital Video (DV) capture card can be a confusing proposition. There are so many different cards to choose from, with prices ranging from under $100 to more than $2,000! How can there be such a wide range in cost? What is it that...

CCDs: why you should worry about your charge-coupled device.
October 1, 2002... Ever wonder how camcorders "see?" Most camcorders use an image sensor called a charge-coupled device, or CCD, to capture and convert light to an electronic signal. The CCD is a small, round piece of silicon with hundreds of thousands of small,...

Sharp VL-NZ100U: a true Combo-Cam.(evaluation of video camera priced at $699)
October 1, 2002... On the 10th anniversary of Sharp's Viewcam line of camcorders, the company has announced three new models, including the new VL-NZ100U digital camcorder. It is affordable ($699.95 MSRP), captures good-looking video with accurate color, and is...

Sweeten the sound: how to better use equalizers and reverbs. (Get Great Sound).
October 1, 2002... Have you ever visited the control room of an audio studio? There are gadgets everywhere. Patch bays, black steel control panels festooned with knobs, push buttons, LCD readouts, and blinking lights dripping with testosterone. Ooh, ooh, ooh! ...

A/D converters: Edirol transforms analog audio files to digital using USB. (Get Great Sound).(Edirol Corp.)(analog to digital converters)
October 1, 2002... Have some old cassettes, or reel-to-reel tapes in your closet that you'd like to archive in digital format? Perhaps you have a priceless cassette tape of your child's first recital or that old reel-to-reel tape of your first garage band. If you...

Sound proof your studio: building a working home production center. (Get Great Sound).
October 1, 2002... In a valiant attempt to make your productions sound a little more professional, you've decided to build a little studio or sound booth. You probably got tired of shooting in your dining room, wedged between the china closet and six chairs...

The evolving cam: searching for the perfect analog camcorder.
October 1, 2002... In the beginning there was analog, and it worked just fine. That's hard to believe for those who think that the only way to go with video is digital. While it's true that the analog format has its problems, such as generational loss (losing...

New developments in 3-D technology. (Camcorder Insider).
October 1, 2002... A few months ago, we reported on a new 3-D lens that Canon was developing for use on its XL1 system camera. Unfortunately, Canon has decided to withdraw it from development. Why? Some insiders have reported that it was due to lack of sufficient...

The doctor is in--answers to your digital-editing questions. (Doc Camcorder).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Upgrade Confusion Dear Doc: I'm confused! I want to make a video for a senior graduation project this summer. I'm on a limited budget but am willing to spend a little money to upgrade my current system to be able to handle making...

D-VHS enters the consumer scene: the ultimate in home entertainment?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... There's a new kid on today's ever-expanding consumer electronics block, which already includes DVD, HDTV, DTV, DSS and TiVo. The latest entrant in the mix is called D-VHS, a digital recording and playback format for high-definition content....

Splash and flash: add 2-D and 3-D video effects.
October 1, 2002... It's a problem that has plagued videographers for years. How can you create exciting video footage when all your subject ever does is sleep? As I write this, my newborn son is supervising from a bouncy seat by my desk. He seems to be very...

Zooming into autumn: techniques for shooting fall colors.
October 1, 2002... In the pitch dark of a chilly autumn morning, I stumble out to my car with my gadget bag filled to the brim with camcorders, cameras, conversion lenses and various shooting accessories. Under my arm is my trusted tripod, the Manfrotto 055C. I...