The Portable GR-DVM1 Mini DV Camcorder (page 6)

Tech Specs

JVC GR-DVM1 Mini DV Camcorder

• Format
  DV
• Lens
  10:1 optical zoom, 100:1 digital zoom, 4.5-45mm focal length, 2-speed power zoom, f/1.6, inner focus, telemacro
• Image sensor
  1/3-inch CCD, 570,000 pixels
• Viewfinder
  2.5-inch LCD display
• Focus
  Auto, inner manual
• Maximum shutter speed
  1/2000th of a second
• Exposure
  Auto, Iris Lock
• White balance
  Auto, manual, 3 presets (tungsten, outdoors/cloudy, outdoors/sunny)
• Digital effects
  4 fades (black, white, black and white, mosaic), snapshot, dissolve, 6 wipes (corner, window, slide, door, scroll, shutter), classic film, twilight, video echo, strobe
• Audio
  Stereo PCM digital, two modes: 32kHz or 48kHz
• Inputs
  Camera: microphone (1/8-inch stereo mini) Docking station: stereo audio (RCA-style)
• Outputs
  Camera: headphones, composite video, stereo audio (each through separate 1/8-inch mini plug) Docking station: S-video, composite video, stereo audio
• Edit interface
  JLIP
• Other features
  Manual shutter-speed control, playback speaker (monaural), 5-second shooting, stereo microphone, Random Assemble Edit, audio insert (through microphone), LP recording
• Dimensions
  2.4 (width) by 6.2 (height) by 3.7 (depth) inches
• Weight (sans tape and battery)
  1.2 pounds
• Video Performance (approx.)
  • Horizontal resolution (camera)
    425 lines
  • Horizontal resolution (playback)
    425 lines
• Performance Times
  • Pause to Record
    2 seconds
  • Power-up to Record
    6 seconds
  • Fast-forward/Rewind (30 min. tape)
    50 seconds
• Strengths
  • Good resolution
  • Compact design
  • Built-in edit control features
• Weaknesses
  • Microphone picks up motor noise
  • No S-video output on camera
  • No Firewire digital input/output

Summary

A very nice upgrade to last year's GR-DV1, the GR-DV1M adds features that will please both hobbyists and prosumer videographers.

Tech Specs

Hitachi VT-UX717A VHS Editing VCR

• Format
  VHS
• Video inputs
  Composite RCA-style (x2), RF
• Video outputs
  Composite RCA-style, RF
• Audio inputs
  Stereo RCA-style (x2)
• Audio outputs
  Stereo RCA-style
• Control protocol
  Synchro edit
• Other features
  Tape navigation, flying erase head, jog/shuttle control, automatic tape head cleaning, audio/video dub, illuminated LCD panel, audio peak meters, front-mounted audio/video inputs
• Dimensions
  21 (width) by 3.7 (height) by 12 (depth) inches
• Weight
  10.5 pounds
• Strengths
  • Low cost
  • Optimized for simple editing setups
• Weaknesses
  • No time code or other advanced editing features
• Summary
  A good choice for your first editing VCR

Tech Specs

Sima ColorWriter Magic Video Titler

• Fonts
  1
• Font styles
  5
• Font sizes
  4
• Colors
  8
• Insert effects
  Zoom in, zoom out, fade, vertical scroll (4 speeds), typewriter scroll (4 speeds), 6 special effects
• Title memory
  2880 characters
• Inputs/outputs
  S-video, composite video (RCA-style), stereo audio
• Dimensions
  13.75 (width) by 2.25 (height) by 7.75 (depth) inches
• Weight
  2 pounds
• Strengths
  • Easy to use
• Weaknesses
  • Poor resolution
  • Only one font
• Summary
  Though only slightly more functional than a camcorder's built-in titler, the ColorWriter Magic might appeal to some budget-minded hobbyist video editors

Tech Specs

Roland Virtual Sound Canvas Music Pack

• Minimum System Requirements
  • Platform
    PC
  • Operating system
    Windows95
  • Motherboard
    486
  • RAM
    8MB
  • Sound card
    16-bit stereo sound, 22.05kHz sampling rate
• Recommended System
  
  • Motherboard
    Pentium
  • RAM
    16MB
• Strengths
  • Easy to master
  • Very versatile
• Weaknesses
  • Only one drum track
  • Limited composition capabilities
• Summary
  An easy, inexpensive way to create your own royalty-free music for video production

Tech Specs

Pixelan Video SpiceRack Effects Software

• Minimum System Requirements
  
  • Platform
    PC or Mac
  • Operating system
    Same requirements as host software (Premiere, After Effects, etc.)
  • Motherboard
    Same requirements as host software (Premiere, After Effects, etc.)
  • RAM
    8MB
  • Other requirements
    Adobe Premiere 4.0+, Adobe After Effects, Media 100, in:sync Razor, Star Media Systems Video Action Pro, Fast Video Machine or Pinnacle Systems GenieFusion
• Recommended System
  • Motherboard
    Pentium (PC)/Power Macintosh (Mac)
  • RAM
    16MB+
• Strengths
  • Inexpensive
  • Versatile
• Weaknesses
  • None

Summary
A selection of down-to-earth, simple gradient effects to enhance the flavor of your nonlinear video transitions.