Camcorder articles from December 1997

Camcorder archives from December 1997

Where's DTV heading? (desktop video)(Editorial)(Brief Article)
December 1, 1997... That's a question we get all of the time. I am constantly asked, "How many video capture cards are really out there?" "Who is the typical desktop video user, and how many are there?" "What are the most exciting products coming in the next...

Make a camcorder your computer's eye; new technology makes the video camera the lens of the PC.(Cover Story)
December 1, 1997... We all know that computers can calculate, if not think. And with the Internet promising to connect virtually all the computers in the world, they can now quickly transmit words and images to each other. hi fact, the tendency is to believe that...

Intel makes the hookup; easy-to-use hardware and software to give computers vision. (Intel's Create & Share Camera Pack)
December 1, 1997... Remember, about three decades ago, those futuristic demonstrations at world fairs that gave tantalizing glimpses of our future, using the next generation of home electronics gadgets? Certainly the most tantalizing and memorable of these...

Video editing on a desktop. (equipment needed at three levels of expertise)(Cover Story)
December 1, 1997... Nowadays, when people think of editing, they mostly think computers and desktop video production. Then they mostly think of the big bucks it costs to get into the field. Wrong! It's easy to get started in computer-assisted editing....

Get the most from your camcorder. (project suggestions)
December 1, 1997... It doesn't matter whether you're a brand-new camcorder owner or a I seasoned veteran -- sometimes it's hard to find inspiration. After spending hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars for that camcorder, now it's gathering dust in the...

Dazzle 'em with Snazzi; grab MPEG-quality video quickly and easily. (video and audio capture package)(Evaluation)
December 1, 1997... Getting video into your computer in such a way that it doesn't use up gigabytes of storage is clearly a big problem for anyone concerned with desktop videography. Just a few minutes of video can take up an entire hard-disk drive. Over...

Webcasting: put your videos on the Internet for around $30. (Galacticomm's videoserver software)
December 1, 1997... How would you like to be on TV, broadcasting your own programs all over the world? You can, and you have a few choices as to how. You can spend billions of dollars and purchase Fox, ABC, NBC or ABC. Or, if you only have a few hundred million...

Video cards under $1,000. (video capture cards; includes related article on common video capture card problems)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 1997... I can't believe how much things have changed! Last year I wrote a roundup article of all the under-$1,000 capture cards on the market and, of all the cards reviewed, only the FAST AV Master is still in production! The current cards perform...

How to be a smart camcorder buyer.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 1997... The holidays are fast approaching and you want to buy a camcorder, either as a present for that special someone or for yourself to catch others opening presents. So you trot down to your favorite electronics store and are confronted with...

What's the future of desktop video? (Exclusive ComputerVideo Roundtable of Industry Leaders)
December 1, 1997... Desktop video -- it's a huge buzz-word encompassing whole companies and even magazines. But how big is the field, really? Who are the devotees? And, perhaps most important, where is the field going, and when will it get there? If you're...

Outboard mikes: wired or wireless they clear up the audio on your tapes.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 1997... Camcorder mikes are convenient for recording general audio, but if you want to record conversations, stage shows or anything else other than background sound, use an external microphone; you will be amazed at the improvement in your audio....

Sony CCD-TRV82. (camcorder)(Evaluation)
December 1, 1997... Looking for a workhorse camcorder in a small package, something with all the bells and whistles, as well as a high-quality picture? Oh, and you don't want to take out a second mortgage to pay for it, right? Well, these simple wishes are...

Samsung SCA18. (camcorder)(Evaluation)
December 1, 1997... In the busy camcorder marketplace, few models stand out above the crowd. While there are exceptions that do everything but brush your teeth, the price tag frequently offsets the benefits. In the center of the bell curve you'll find a great...

Real-time super special effects. (nonlinear editing; includes related article on Avid MCXPress)
December 1, 1997... Since its inception, the real drawback to nonlinear editing has been the rendering time. Virtually all systems today can play back video in real time, but when it comes to even the simplest of effects -- specifically, Dissolves and Wipes --...

Your first video project; step by step to a satisfying production.
December 1, 1997... It's become very clear, from the Camcoder & ComputerVideo readers who have written and E-mailed me, that many people are desperately interested in producing desktop videos, but few can figure out how to get started. There are at least three...