Product Reviews

In our News & Technology segment, Mark has news from Cyberlink, HP, NewTek & Sony and Derek has some news on a few video sharing sites to watch including Stumbleupon.com and vodpod.com, plus free internet phone calling through Google.

Our Tips & Techniques segment shares some of our favorite "Best Of" tips from this past year.

In this week's "Take 20", we're getting ready to contact our finalist for our 2006 Short Video Contest, and we are taking a look back at some of our winners from the 2005 contest.

1. News and Technology - with Mark and Derek
   • Mark at WEVA
     • Stock20--$7/song music library, 6 new entries/month.
     • Triple Scoop Music—stock by Grammy-winning artists, but at non-commercial lengths
     • Panasonic LCD field production monitors w/ waveform monitor, some HD-ready
     • Caseworld.tv
     • Disc Makers: new unit, silk-screen options for 300+ order
     • Teac dye-sub disc printer
     • Azden field mixer
   • Citi DiskDISK HD now shipping: 100GB $1,049; 120GB $1,195
   • Sony acquires Grouper
   • DivX Stage6 Product:
   • Apple battery recall, 1.8M 8/03-8/06, ibook g4 12 Pbook 12 and 15
   • Product: Capturing Creativity (Book) & DVD set.
2. Tips and Techniques - with Brian and Charlie
   • Encoding video - CODECs and wrappers and failsafe mode in BIOS-what it does & why you need it.
3. TAKE 20 - with Brian and Charlie
   • Four Fifty Two - Gabe Morin from Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Viewfinder - with Matt and Mark
   • The personal joy of making video.

1. In our News and Technology segment Andrew and Mark usher in International Home Movie Day with a fun camcorder modification, and talk about "My Hero" film festival. Thoughts on the MTV announcement that it is buying Atom Films, DVX mod for 4:4:4 and Bix.
2. Jennifer and Brian continue their tips on tripod use and features to look for in our "Tips & Techniques" segment.
3. In our "Take 20" segment, Andrew and Charlie will take a look at a music video by producer Clint Loveness called "Always", and offer the producer good constructive critiques that will benefit everyone.
4. And Matt York joins Jennifer O'Rourke in the "Viewfinder" segment where we explore elitism in video production.

1. News and Technology with Andrew & Mark
   • Canon delivers a one-two punch announcing a new high-definition and a new dual-layer DVD camcorder.
   • JVC and Verbatim are the first out of the gate with new dual-layer DVD-R media.
   • Contour 3D
   • Maya 8
   • Roundup of all computer manufacturers currently offering a new core 2 Duo workstation.
   • Contest updates with Filmerica and DV Guru
   • Product Prop: Hitachi DVX3300a camcorder
2. Tips and Techniques with Jennifer & Brian
   • Unravelling the mysteries of coiling cables.
   • And some tips for your "sticks"... tripod do's and don'ts
3. Video Profile with Charlie & Andrew
   • Take 20
     Buttercup: The Official Trailer
     By producer Justin Kontz, of Gallup, NM
4. Viewfinder with Matt York & Derek
   • Discussion of the metamorphism from the graphic arts to editing video.

1. News and Technology - Morgan & Andrew
   • Seagate: new drive technology
   • BenQ's Blu-ray burner
   • Apple completely ditches CRTs—no more eMac
   • Prop: Grass Valley Rev Pro video drive
   • Withoutabox: online distro option
   • Rocketboom: popular podcast looses it's face
   • Short Survey
2. Tips and Techniques - Brian & Andrew
   TIP: Cleaning camera lens
   TIP: Using filters Part 1: hard filters
3. Take 20 - with: Charlie & Morgan
   Take 20
   Reader's/viewer's videos
   Submission: "Utopia"
   Producer: Riley Harmon
4. Viewfinder - Matt & Brian — Open Discussion

1. NEWS and Technology - Morgan / Andrew
   • IBM announces a new technology that increases tape density: possibly up to 8-terabytes on one tape. Most likely use would be for archiving.
   • PROP: K-tek sends us a budget wind screen: An affordable Zeppelin. We take one apart and show its inner workings.
   • AtomFilm announces a few new films going directly to its Web site and mobile phones.
   • PROP: We look at a few "how to" books on editing.
   • PROP: Samplitude, an audio editing software (on level of Adobe�s Audtion)
2. Tips and LETTERS -
   
   • Reader question: BP: "Why can't I load the Vidcast?"
   • TIP: JO - Beanbag cam & clothes pins
   • TIP: BP - Wide angle & macro
   • BP - Survey
   • PLUG: Contact us at: Web /forum Page
4. Video Profile - TAKE 20 - reader's/viewer's videos
   Submission #3 : "Choices"
   Producer: Scott Roth, of Vacaville CA.
   PLUG: Take 20 - VM Editor's Critique - Deadline: July 31st
   
5. INSIDER - Derek DeMarco - Production Director