April 2009 Table of Contents

Take your viewers on a trip around the world without leaving their easy chair. This month's issue of Videomaker has a tutorial on making animated maps like you see in all the classic spy movies. They're fun to watch, fun to create, and really quite easy, too.

Plus, tips for working with non-pros on camera, how to make money selling stock footage and we've created a legal "take down" letter for you along with tips to follow when you find someone has pirated your work online. Our Test Bench department looks at the popular Sony HDR-XR520W AVCHD camcorder as well as products from Blackmagic, Polywell, Western Digital and Hoodman; all to better enhance your video production world.

Feature Stories

How to Use Adobe After Effects & Photoshop to Create the Line-Map Animation Effect

Videomaker's tutorial on how to use Adobe After Effects and Photoshop to show your travels by creating a line-moving-through-a-map animation effect.

Motion Graphics & Animation Software Buyer's Guide

Computer animation has come a long way. Today, 3D animation software & 2D animation software are being combined to create complex title sequences.

Seeking the Best Video Editing Computer

Guide to computer workstations that serve as the best video editing computers. Includes links to manufactures of the best computers for video editing.

The End of Video Tape

Video recording is changing. Someday 8mm, VHS, Mini DV, Digital & Hi8 will be to video what vinyl records, 8-track and cassette tapes are to music.

Reviews

Portable Hard Drive Review: Western Digital My Passport for Mac WDMEA5000AN 500GB

Slim Western: Western Digital (perhaps better known as WD these days) has broadened its product lineup significantly over the past few years, going from...

Network Attached Storage Review: Polywell 12TB NAS

Stack o’ Storage - A network attached storage device (NAS) is a simplified server with the primary purpose of storing data that can be accessed by...

Video Capture Card Review: Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro Analog/HDMI

The Blackmagic Intensity Pro is a great value for its combination of analog & digital I/O, both SD & HD. Is this the last video capture card you'll ever need?

Video Stabilizer Review: Hoodman WristShot Camcorder Stabilizer

Shoot From the Wrist... Hoodman’s new Wristshot serves as a video stabilizer by providing wrist support for better &am; longer handheld shooting.

AVCHD Camcorder Review: Sony HDR-XR520V AVCHD Camcorder

Smile! You're on GPS! Are you looking for the ultimate HD camcorder? Sony's new HDR-XR520V AVCHD camcorder is compact, versatile and easy to use.

Columns

Viewfinder: How Well Do Digital Still Cameras Capture Video?

Using digital still cameras with a video capture feature... I don't know many camcorder users who don't own a digital still camera...

Basic Training: Recording Good Audio for Video

If they can't understand your audio, they'll walk out. Learn to get the best audio for video. How to select the right mics & sync external recorders.

Distribution: Stock Footage Wanted!

The market for stock footage is booming. Videographers can now make money by offering stock video clips to online stock footage libraries...

Directing: Tips for Directing Non-Professionals

Lights. Camera. Action. You hope. Directing professional talent isn't easy, but they usually know their jobs. Non-actors require a different set of skills.

What's Legal: producer's rights

You've Been Pirated! How to take down Copyright Infringers with a Copyright Takedown Notice. Your copyrighted work shows up online, but you didn't put it there.

Editing: Best Media Storage Practices

Do you remember that feeling of panic when a critical file became lost? With good media storage habits a potential tragedy is only a short delay.

Audio: Mixing Audio for Video

Tips on how to set up your video editing software tools to achieve the best work flow for adding, cleaning and mixing audio for your video...

Departments

Tech Support: Rewinding • CMOS vs CCD • Mikin' in the Rain

Your questions answered - To Rewind or Not to Rewind (MiniDV tapes); Rolling Shutter and CMOS vs CCD; problematic sound due to continual rain

In Box: Best Media Storage Methods • DIY Chroma Key

Video Media Archiving - investigating the best method for archiving the video... DIY Chroma Key Wall - inquiring about the chroma key green paint...

New Gear: Movie Plus x3; Autodesk Toxik 2009; Edius version 5

New video products: Movie Plus x3 adds YoutTube uploading, Edius Version 5 Video Editing Package now supports Windows Vista.

Latest Videos

Best Practices for Using a Tripod to Stabilize your Shots.

How to set-up a tripod to capture professional level video. Learn the step-by-step process for setting up and stabilizing your tripod.

Lighting for Video
How to use indoor lights, natural light, and camera controls to create the best lighting for video production.
Audio for Video
How to capture Audio when shooting video. How to select the best microphone and location for the best audio and solve common problems videographers encounter wh …
Hand Held Video Camera Shooting Tips
This video shows you how to create better, more professional looking video by taking a closer look at hand held video camera shooting. Learn how to get effecti …

Video Forums

Is the .Mod format new for capturing video
Nov 8
Camcorder Help - ASAP!!
Nov 7
what type of camcorder do i need?
Nov 7
150 vs. 170
Nov 7
Manual gain control for microphone
Nov 7
AVCHD vs. DVCPO HD
Nov 7
3 hrs to render a 20 min.
Nov 7
AVCHD - Full HD - DVD - Help!
Nov 7
Video Software questions
Nov 7
Cannot transfer video to my PC
Nov 7

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