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Back Issues:

December 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Article Index

by Charles Fulton

Stock Footage Buyer's Guide

by Julia Camenisch
Something Borrowed, Something New

Camcorder Buyer's Guide 2006

by Randy Hansen
If buying a camcorder is in your future, you'll want to know what's available and what it's going to cost you. Or, if you're not in the market for a new camcorder, you might want to brush up on the new technologies. So much has changed in just the past year.

Recycle That Cam!

by Tony Bruno
The presents have all been opened. Shredded wrapping paper lies like confetti across the living room floor. You've caught the entire day on tape for posterity. Your old video camera has earned its keep for another year.

Columns

Viewfinder

by Matthew York
Why Are You Compelled To Create?

Basic Training: Editing 101

by Kyle Cassidy
"Leave it on the cutting room floor" is an old film phrase signifying to edit out stuff you don't need. It's a good reminder to cut down your piece for a tighter final project.

Director's Chair: Everyday Masterpieces

by Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D
December - a time of cold and perhaps snow. A few weeks of quiet time before the onrush of the holiday season.

Tweaks

by Charles Fulton
The next version of Windows promises to use all of the capabilities that your hardware can provide.

Video Editing : Color Me Perfect

by Morgan Paar
To celebrate 100 years of color imaging, from hand painted frames to video formats, let's take a closer look at what color means to video producers in post.

Audio Advice: Videotaping Conversations

by Hal Robertson
Tips for to improve conversation audio in your video

Test Bench

Departments

New Gear

by Charles Fulton
  • TriLab Digital Hotcakes Home Movie Essentials
  • Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0
  • Pinnacle Studio MovieBox Plus

JVC Everio Camcorder coming with HD with 1080p | Samson Zoom H4 audio recorder

by Mark Montgomery
JVC Everio Camcorder is HD with 1080p. Samson Zoom H4 field audio recorder with 24-bit/96KHz recording. New vidcasts from Videomaker

November 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Store to Stash

by Charles Fulton
There's no way you can ever really have too much storage. But if you're running low, what's the best way to get more?

Accessorize and Stylize your Gear

by James DeRuvo
Make room for all those gadgets you've been dreaming of.

Stream a Little Stream

by Michael Fitzer
So, you've cut together a pretty entertaining video and now you want everyone to see it.

Wipers au Naturel

by Tony Bruno
Our media-soaked culture has made cinematic shorthand a second language.

Columns

Viewfinder: AVCHD

by Matthew York
AVCHD

Basic Training: Practice Makes Perfect

by Kyle Cassidy
Artists, athletes and entertainers all know that the best way to become the best at what you do is to practice as often as you can. Why shouldn't video producers do the same?

Illuminations: Applying 3-Point Lighting

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
Some folks consider it a tired cliche, but it's important to know how to set 3-point lighting, so you can work within or without this classic lighting style.

Fan Films

by Michael Gomez
Star Wars Continues with Fan Film Fans

Save As: MPEG-2 Encoding Tips for DVD Authors

by Charles Fulton
MPEG-2 Encoding Tips for DVD Authors

Video Editing : MPEG-4 Mysteries Revealed

by Morgan Paar
Is your head drowning in acronyms such as MPEG-4, MPEG-2, H.264, 3GPP and the like? Well, we're going to throw you an MPEG-4 life ring and see if we can get you back in the boat.

Sound Advice: Matchmaker

by Hal Robertson
The audio world is full of connectors. Big, small, short and long, these essential items have vexed video producers for years.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

New Gear

by Charles Fulton
  • Sony camcorder DVDs
  • Canon XH A1 and XH G1 HDV Camcorders
  • Reality Sets

Zoom In

by Andrew Burke

Special Issue 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

HD Tweaks: Performance Tips

by Joe McCleskey

HDV: High Def Value

by Paul Suchecki
Consider the gear you'll need to support your HDV vision before you plop several months' wages down.

So Many Systems, So Little Time

by Julia Camenisch
What you need to know to choose the editing system that's right for you.

Shooting HDV

by Matthew David Wachsman

Columns

Editor's View: An All Things HD Buyer's Guide

by Brian Peterson

Lighting for HDV

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
We are entering a new era of video production. Our hard work will show in all its HD glory and our sloppy mistakes will glare in HD horror. But light can help us.

HD Take 5: Make-up for High Definition

by Brian Peterson
Wrinkles, pores and blemishes disappear in five simple steps.

Are you ready for HDV?

by Kyle Cassidy
I was in my early teens in the late 1970s when the VHS/Betamax wars were raging. My best friend Robbie took the plunge and bought a Betamax. Indecisive, I waited.

Buyer Beware!

by Randy Hansen
Smart shopping up front will help you avoid a headache later.

HDV Editing Dos & Don'ts

by Bill Davis
Is HDV really the next big thing? In potential for greatness, perhaps. In "file size" surprisingly not. But in "gotchas"... maybe.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

HD Gear

by Charles Fulton

October 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

DVD Blank Media, Blu-Ray, and Flash Memory.

by Charles Gross
Blank media for video explained. Advantages and disadvantages of blank media types.

Get Editing! An Editing Software Buyer's Guide

by Michael Fitzer
Whether you edit feature films for a living or your daughter's birthday party for your family, non-linear digital editing has changed the way professionals, hobbyists and everyone in-between work with media.

Video Horror Stories

by Jennifer O'Rourke
From dropping a mic out of a helicopter over a raging forest fire to stumbling into a cesspool full of... Well...you know...a decades-long career as a news photographer has its highs and lows, leaving plenty of fodder for water cooler stories.

Depth of Field Demystified

by Tony Bruno
How to manipulate the viewer into watching one portion of your movie, while other events continue along in the scene.

Columns

Viewfinder: Unexpected Problem

by Matthew York
Unexpected Problem

Basic Training: Composition 102: Part 2

by Kyle Cassidy
Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but a great photo is due to well-executed and thought-out composition. Take your seats, it's time for the Advanced Class in Composing.

Director's Chair: Secrets of Storytelling

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
"And Toto, Too?" Say any classic movie line, and everyone knows not only the movie you're referring to, but also which scene and the character who spoke it.

Video Editing : The Ghosts of Edits yet to Be

by Bill Davis
Time to dim the lights and tell ghost stories. Our Editorial Department demonstrates some techniques on putting some spook into your videos.

Sound Advice: Digital Audio Secrets Revealed!

by Hal Robertson
When it comes to audio in our videos, most of us just plug in a microphone and hit the record button.

Test Bench

Departments

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

New HDV Camcorders Canon XH G1 & A1 | Free Video Player | New Vidcasts

by Andrew Burke
New HDV Canon Camcorders XH G1 and XH A1.Democracy player a free video player get updated. New Vidcasts from Videomaker

September 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Monitoring The Monitors

by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
The Big Four Of Television Technology

Expanding your Orbit

by James DeRuvo
When you want to follow your super hero flying across the planet, you need more than a tripod to get that great action shot

Battery Basics

by Michael Fitzer
Everyone who has a camcorder has at least one of these. But not all are created equal and knowing which kind of battery and how to best take care of it can be the difference between getting the shot and running to an outlet.

Securing the Door and Locking it Down

by James DeRuvo
Connected and Exposed: Computer Security in a broadband world

Call For Entries

by Charles Fulton
Ladies and gentlemen, start your camcorders: it's time for the 2006 Videomaker/Sony Short Video Contest.

Columns

Viewfinder

by Matthew York
Video or Text?

Basic Training: Composition 101: Part 1

by Kyle Cassidy
What makes great art great? Composition. In this first of two parts, we'll reveal some of the secret tricks of composition that the Masters use

Illuminations: Controlling the Color of Light

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
From yellow to blue, soft to harsh, indoor or out, the "color" of the scene changes with your light setup, and can influence the mood of your video.

Take 5: 5 Tips for Travelling with your Gear

by Brian Peterson
On business or on vacation, here's how to ensure your gear makes the roundtrip.

Video Editing : The Last Piece of the Puzzle

by Bill Davis
Even if you're blissfully happy with the features in your current editing software, sooner or later you're going to find yourself wishing that it did--well, just a little bit more.

Sound Advice: Setting the Mood

by Hal Robertson
Producers have a myriad of choices to manipulate the viewer via the ear. Style, ability to alter the score and your budget will dictate which option or options work best for your project.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Your Tips

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Quick Focus

by Charles Fulton

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

August 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Coming Soon to a Browser Near You

by James DeRuvo
Video hosting services explode onto the Internet

Do yourself a Favor - Do it Yourself

by Charles Fulton
Face it--you want it, you dream about it, you really really need it. It's time to upgrade to a new computer. But what's the best way to go about it? By doing it yourself, of course.

Picture This

by Michael Fitzer
A basic understanding of the rules of composition will help you frame for maximum impact and ultimately enhance the outcome of your finished piece.

Call for Entries

by Charles Fulton
2006 Videomaker/Sony Short Video Contest

Columns

Viewfinder: What has never been covered with video?

by Matthew York
What has never been covered with video?

Basic Training: Take Your 8mm Film to Digital

by Kyle Cassidy
Make sure your priceless family treasures don't get left behind. Here are some tips to turn your twentieth century celluloid into twenty-first century ones and zeros.

Directing: Recruiting Talent

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
One of the most difficult, important and rewarding things a director has to do is find, recruit and work with talent.

New Titles

by Morgan Paar
  • Indie Film/Video Legal Documents, 2nd Edition
  • Total Training for What's New in Adobe Premiere Pro 2
  • Final Cut Pro Advanced Techniques

Making Cents

by Bill Berg-Hillinger
Turn time and tape into treasure.

How to Edit Videos Like the Pros: Beyond the Basics.

by Bill Davis
How to Edit Videos Part 2: What makes the difference between basic editing and actual professional editing?

Sound Advice: Announcing... You?

by Hal Robertson
Commercials, movie trailers, product and training videos all have one thing in common -- they often need a voiceover.

Test Bench

Departments

Quick Focus

by Charles Fulton

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

57 New Special Effects Plug-ins | New Video Format | Final Cut Express 3.5

by Morgan Paar
NewBlueFX offers 57 additional special effects pug-ins, Sony and Panasonic create a new video format. Apple Final Cut Express HD 3.5 video editing program

July 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Got Mobile? Get Movin' with a Mobile Studio!

by Andrew Burke
Today we can create video almost anywhere. We aren't confined to using a TV studio, edit lab, or even our own den.

A Complete Guide to Shooting Wedding Video

by Brian Schaller
It's not just the newlyweds making wedding promises. Before you say

Choosing a Video Switcher

by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
Key factors to consider when buying a video switcher

Microphone Buyer's Guide

by Randy Hansen
To appreciate where we are in regards to microphones, let's review a little history.

How to Make a Video Look Like Film

by Michael Reff
How to use movement, lighting, and filters, to make a video look like film.

Columns

Viewfinder: Privacy Expectations

by Matthew York
Privacy Expectations

Basic Training: 7 Ways to Involve the Kids

by Kyle Cassidy
Children love to make videos, all they need is the impetus and opportunity. So take the camera out of the closet on a lazy Sunday and say

Distro Bistro

by James DeRuvo
You've finally got that masterpiece in the can, now what?

Illuminations: Reflecting on Reflectors

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
No money for more lights? No problem! Here are sure-fire, no-power solutions to making your subject shine.

Becoming a Professional Video Editor

by Bill Davis
Part 1: Growth, your tools and your space. Step 1: Clean up your act! If video editors desk is a home-office catch-all, the video editor is not using space effectively or time efficiently.

Sound Advice: Mix it Right

by Hal Robertson
Mixing audio correctly is a true art form, as well as a necessary skill to have in your video production toolbox. After all, sound is half the experience of a video production.

Test Bench

Departments

Your Tips

by Jennifer O'Rourke

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Quick Focus

by Charles Fulton

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

Video Hardware and Software Releases

by Andrew Burke
New breakout boxes for event videographers. Mackie Mixes With Tapco. The Newest 64-bit Workstation.

June 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Celebrating 20 Years of Videomaker!

by Jennifer O'Rourke
Matt, Patrice and the rest of the gang.

Bag it!

by Teresa Echazabal
You love your camcorder. You want to protect it the best way you can. Doesn't it make sense to buy a quality bag for it? Professional videographers do, and so should you.

Digital Video Evolution

by James DeRuvo
From Mini DV to HDV... today's camcorders are cutting edge and top quality for every wallet.

20 Years in the Making

by Jennifer O'Rourke
The Mission of Videomaker is to empower people to make video and to democratize and enrich television. We do this by communicating information about tools, technology and techniques in a way that inspires, encourages and equips for success.

Columns

Viewfinder: 20 Years

by Matthew York
20 Years

Basic Training: Buttons, More Buttons

by Kyle Cassidy
Some camcorders have a plethora of buttons, others are menu-driven. Many name a button control one thing, and others call it something else. It's time for the button game.

Directing: Dual-Role Directing

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
Multitasking when you are directing is not easy but sometimes necessary. Here are a few suggestions.

Share the Dream: Documentary Distribution and Sales --Part III

by Randal K. West
Part 3 of a three part series on how to fund, make, and promote your documentary.

Video Editing : To Page Curl or to Cut?

by Bill Davis
Sure, your editing program has 999 transitions--but nowhere in the licensing agreement did you oblige yourself to use each and every one of them.

Sound Advice: Seeing Sounds

by Hal Robertson
Think back to high school science for a moment. Remember how we were taught that sound waves were invisible and could only be heard and felt?

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Jennifer O'Rourke

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

May 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Stability in Motion

by James DeRuvo
At best, a person is a very unstable bipod with two legs and too many moving parts. A decent tripod will cost you a bit of money, but this tripod buyer's guide will show you how to save your shot.

HDV: High Def Value

by Paul Suchecki
If you're eager to leap into High Definition production, but prefer to limit your six figure purchases to real estate, then HDV is for you.

Are you Ready to Make the Switch to HDV?

by Kyle Cassidy
While people wait for HD-DVD or Blu-ray to make some decisive victory, people hesitate over buying HDV cams or upgrading their computers.

The 2005 Videomaker/Digital Juice Short Video Contest

by Charles Fulton
Our initial impression: WOW. The quality of videos we received this year absolutely blew us away.

Columns

Viewfinder: HDV - So What Should I Do?

by Matthew York
HDV - So What Should I Do?

Basic Training: Move It!

by Jim Stinson
When you want a moving shot, you have all kinds of options, including a few that you might not have thought of before.

Video Lighting: High Definition Lighting

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
We are entering a new era of video production. Our hard work will show in all its HD glory and our sloppy mistakes will glare in HD horror. But light can help us.

Take 5: 5 Steps to More Profit from Video

by Brian Peterson
Make your time behind the camcorder more profitable.

How to Make a Documentary Part 2 - "Fulfillment of the Dream"

by Randal K. West
Considered an art form by many, documentary video production has its own special challenges and rewards. In this second of three parts on how to make a documentary, we'll explore how to plan your approach, find your subject and begin the process of bringing your vision to fruition.

Video Editing : HDV Editing Dos and Don'ts

by Bill Davis
Is HDV really the next big thing? In potential for greatness, perhaps. In

Sound Advice: Natural Sound to the Rescue

by Hal Robertson
Two minutes of extra work on the set or in the field can save you hours of headache in the edit bay. You just need to remember to do it.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Your Tips

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

Video Equipment

by Charles Fulton
Hot new products for the videographer.

Video Industry News

by Morgan Paar
Video Industry News: Canon has finally released its first HDV camcorder. Ulead Adds Support for HD DVD and Blu-ray Video Discs.Red Giant Software has released a plug-in.

April 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Save As: Tips to Enter and Win Video Contests

by Jennifer O'Rourke
How to Enter and Win Video Contests

Audio Mixers Buyer's Guide: Mix it Up

by Paul Suchecki
One day while shooting you'll run out of audio inputs. It just seems we never have enough.

Do the Light Thing

by Julie Camenisch
An informational buyer's guide helping you choose and use the best type of lighting for your productions

How DID They do that?

by Randal K. West
It's April Fool's Day, and what better way to amuse your friends than getting a little giddy with the camera and going a little wacko with your video?

Columns

Viewfinder: Giving the World Better Video

by Matthew York
Giving the World Better Video

Basic Training: In Decent Exposure

by Kyle Cassidy
In a digital video camera there is no physical shutter, but, because there is a body of understanding about how film cameras work, we still call the electrical signal "shutter speed."

Making Documentary Videos: The Interview

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
How to use Cinéma Vérité techniques to make compelling documentaries

How to Make a Documentary - Part 1

by Randal K. West
Few other communication forms have the power to reveal a unique perspective, capture imagination and even motivate change. In this 3-part series on how to make a documentary, you'll discover how you can move your story from dream to distribution.

Video Editing : To DVD or not to DVD?

by Bill Davis
Okay, we're now officially smack dab in the middle of the era of the

Audio Advice: The Right Tool for the Job

by Hal Robertson
Using an off-board mic is a big step for many video producers but just using any old mic is not good enough. For the best sound, use the best mic for the situation.

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

Tweaks: Down & Dirty Cleanup

by Joe McCleskey
How long has it been since you last defragged your video editing computer's hard drive?

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

Training for Premiere Pro 2 & After Effects 7 Pro | Camcorder Under $100

by Morgan Paar
Total Training for Premiere Pro 2 and After Effects 7 Pro now on DVD's. 25GB Burner. Under $100 Camcorder.

March 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Fan Films

by Michael Gomez
The clash of lightsabers, the sting of a Batarang and the next journey of "the One" are only a camcorder away!

Introduction to Video Editing Software

by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
For anyone who's ever physically cut film on the splicing block of a Moviola, digital video editing is one of the great technological leaps of our time.

So Many Systems, So Little Time

by Julie Camenisch
What you need to know to choose the editing system that's right for you.

Xtreme it Up!

by Jenny Hanson
Attach a tiny "lipstick cam" to the family dog, and you've got an interesting POV shot that is just one way to go extreme when shooting.

Columns

Viewfinder: Making Money on Video Investments

by Matthew York
Making Money on Video Investments

Basic Training: Shooting an Interview

by Kyle Cassidy
It might not be 60 Minutes, (more like 15 minutes!) but if you want to make your interviews shine like Ed Bradley's on CBS, read on!

Video 2 Go

by Morgan Paar
With more than 1 million videos being sold on iTunes in less than 20 days after its video launch, video industries prepare for a probable revolution similar to the one that rocked the music world five years ago.

Illuminations: In the Mood

by Jim Stinson
In lighting, the most important aesthetic quality is mood: the feeling communicated by the lighting design.

Video Editing : Saving Time: Editing Tapeless

by Bill Davis
It's about Time... The

Sound Advice: EQ Demystified

by Hal Robertson
Have you ever wished the dialog in your video were a little less muddy? How about that music track that needs a smidgen more zing to make it cut through the mix?

Test Bench

Departments

New Titles

by Morgan Paar

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Your Tips

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

Zoom In

by Charles Fulton

February 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Videomaker's 2005 Best Products of the Year

by Morgan Paar
The best consumer video production products of 2005, selected by the editors of Videomaker.

An Explanation of MPEG-2 for DVD Authoring

by Kyle Cassidy
Understanding the concept of MPEG-2 and DVD authoring can be frustrating, but when you break down the terminology, you'll have better understanding of the process.

Buyer Beware!

by Randy Hansen
Smart shopping up front will help you avoid a headache later.

Columns

Viewfinder: How are TV and Video Different?

by Matthew York
How are TV and Video Different?

Basic Training: Shoot Yourself!

by Kyle Cassidy
If you visit a Hollywood film production, or sit through its credits, you know it takes busloads of people to get the production in the can. But what if you don't have access to busloads of people?

Director's Chair: Who's in Charge Here?

by Jim Stinson
You don't need puffy pants and a megaphone to be an assertive, successful director. But you do need to take control.

Jargon: Web Terms

by Jennifer O'Rourke
Web Terms

Video Editing : Making the Most from Outtakes

by Bill Davis
(gales of laughter erupt on the set.) CUT! Somebody PLEASE help Jimmy untangle the rope from his foot, re-stack all those bottles of motor oil and, somebody wash off the cat... again.

Sound Advice: Phased & Confused

by Hal Robertson
After countless hours of careful acquisition and editing, you go to play your finished work on a television set and part of your audio is gone. What happened?

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

Video Equipment

by Charles Fulton
Hot new products for the videographer.

Zoom In

by Morgan Paar

January 2006 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Save As: Grip to Go

by Brian Peterson
Magnet it to your refrigerator, fold it in your equipment bag, pin it to your bulletin board or tape it to your forehead... beginning in 2006, we'll be bringing you occasional FYI checklists with tips and ideas to save for further reference.

Screen Time: Projectors Buyer's Guide

by Charles Fulton
If you want to show your work in a big room, hold a video festival, or just get the most out of your TV viewing experience, a video projector is your friend.

From Video to Disc: A DVD Software Buyer's Guide

by Pat Bailey
Understanding the basics of DVD authoring software and hardware.

How to Conduct a Live Multi-Camera Shoot

by Joe McCleskey
Gather 'round the family and friends for a multi-camera shoot and a fun time for all.

Recording Special Events

by Randal K. West
Shoot it right the first time for a lifetime of memories.

Columns

Viewfinder: How Committed is Your Audience?

by Matthew York
How Committed is Your Audience?

Basic Training: Keep it Clean

by Kyle Cassidy
Make that camcorder last until the next format change with these simple ways to prolong its life and proper operation.

Illuminations: Lights in Motion

by Jim Stinson
Natural lights sparkle, shimmer, flutter, flare, glimmer, gleam, revolve, reflect and radiate. Here's some tips to dazzle your viewers with lively photoplays.

Take 5: Five Steps to Smoother Skin

by Brian Peterson
Make your on-camera talent look their best by following these five simple steps.

Video Editing : Better Composites in 8 Layers

by Bill Davis
Though more of an art than a science, there are a handful of tried and true techniques in compositing that can help convey your message.

Sound Advice: Bump it Up a Notch

by Hal Robertson
Using segues and bumper music will give your productions a professional touch.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Your Tips

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

New Gear

by Charles Fulton

Zoom In

by Morgan Paar
©2008 Videomaker, Inc.