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October 2008 Cover Image

October 2008 Table of Contents

In this month's issue we take you to a galaxy far, far away with step-by-step instructions on how to create your own light sword. Using Adobe After Effects and a broom handle you, too, can create one of the most popular effects of all time. Also this month, learn about cutting on the action to improve continuity and help make your transitional edits less noticeable. Be sure to check out our feature story on Blu-ray disc technology. Find out what happened after its big win over HD DVD and what you can expect from Blu-ray in the future.

Feature Stories

Tutorial - The Sword and the Light

With the immense popularity of the Star Wars franchise, the light sword seems to have become the most recognizable special effect in cinema history.

Blu-ray Wave: State of the Technology

Not since Beta versus VHS has a format war been so hotly contested. When the dust settled, Blu-ray Disc won against HD DVD. So the war is over... now what?

Media Matters: Blank Media Guide

It's easier now than ever to fit large quantities of video into a very small physical space. For you to be able to acquire video, you need media of some kind, whether it's videotape, optical media, a hard drive or even a memory card.

2008 Video Capture Cards Buyer's Guide

Capturing video is easier than it has ever been. The choices available to you are plentiful. Of course, picking the right card that will suit your needs is not easy. This primer will help you pick the video capture card that is right for you.

Video Horror Stories

Everyone's done it... didn't record audio at an event, copied over an important tape, forgot to white balance... all the things we here at Videomaker tell you not to do. Now it's your turn to come clean and expose your goofs, gaffes and gotchas to the world in our annual Video Horror Stories.

Reviews

Software Review
Adobe Visual Communicator 3 Visual Presentation Software

Streaming Video Made Simple... Adobe Visual Communicator 3 turns your computer into a production studio with streaming video capabilities.

Camcorder Review
JVC Everio GZ-HD40 AVCHD Camcorder

JVC has capitalized on the demand for smaller, smarter technology by giving shooters multiple formats to choose from and an endless amount of shooting time.

Software Review
proDAD Adorage Vol. 7: CGM Power Transition Software

A powerful, fun-to-explore video transition program... Implementing transitions is not the easiest part of video work. Working with a lot of effects can get intimidating, especially if you're just getting your feet wet with video. ProDAD understands and presents its family of Adorage products, a line of transition products that includes volumes such as Particles and Lights, Universal Tricks, Diamond Composites, Power FX Pearls, Eyecatcher FX and Particles and Objects.

Shotgun Microphone Review
RODE NTG-3 Shotgun Mic

Excellent performance and value in a shotgun microphone.... RODE is a well-known Australian manufacturer of microphones, whose products tend to deliver more sound than their prices might suggest.

Camcorder Review
Canon Vixia HV30 HDV Camcorder

Shoot a Canon... The HV30 is a good camera. It captures really good images for its category. And, even though it isn't tiny, it will fit nicely in a small bag or even an oversized coat pocket.

Columns

Viewfinder
Long-Form Sharing

Long-form video sharing + network attached storage = a new TV channel. Veoh.com was the first video-sharing site to feature long-form videos (>10 minutes), but when YouTube embraced long-form video, it was big news for people making video. Another development has been happening slowly, so it hardly appears as a blip on the news radar. It's about couches and TV sets.

Basic Training
Cutting on Action

One of the advantages of living at the end of 100 years of motion picture editing is that we have access to the collected wisdom of many film and television editors.

Directing
The Director and the DP

As a solo artist, what happens when you land a gig with a budget for crew? Your most important relationship will be with your Director of Photography.

What's Legal
producer's rights

Editing
Scoping Out Your Video

Many editing software programs offer a variety of colorful scopes to help enhance the hue, color, and brilliance, among other editing tweaks. But how do they work?

Audio
Surround Mixing Secrets

Surround Mixing Secrets... Nearly every motion picture, DVD and many TV shows are mixed in surround sound. Even sporting events use the technology to place the viewer inside the arena.

Departments

Quick Focus

Seeing RED? How 'bout Scarlet?... Fair Use Guidelines Receive a Facelift for Online Videos... Sing Happy Birthday, for a Fee.

New Gear
hot off the presses

CyberLink PowerDirector 7 adds features... ExpoImaging's ExpoDisc Video is a white balancing aide... Synology's Disk Station DS508 is a 5-bay SATA network-attached storage device.

Latest Videos

Green Screen Video Tutorial Green Screen Video Tutorial
In this green screen video tutorial, we show you how to set-up a green screen for chromakey and how to best sell the green screen effect to your viewers.

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