April 2012
Check out the Best of the Best in consumer video production products as we wrap up our annual Consumer's Electronics Show blitz. You'll also find in the April edition features on starting a production company, marketing your video business, rim-lighting tricks and making your own Sci-fi sound effects.
Features Stories
Lens Filters and Adaptors Buyer's Guide
Filters, matte boxes, controllers and adapters - there's a bevy of accessories to place in front of your lens to help you create a better picture. From diffusion to effects; from specialized color enhancement to lighting fixes, filters can make ordinary scenes look extraordinary.
Plug-ins Buyer's Guide
The true power of software like Adobe After Effects and most NLEs are in the third party plug-ins.
Seeing the Future - CES 2012 Showcases Technological Advancements and Best of CES Awards
Now is your chance to borrow our eyes, ears and feet to find out what went on in Las Vegas and what to look for in 2012.
Reviews
LEDZ Brute 3 Portable LED Light Review
The Brute 3 is a versatile light that is capable of great contributions to beginning and intermediate level videographers as well as reporters and others working on quick productions.
GenArts Sapphire Edge Visual Effects Software Review
The sheer number of presets for extreme film projection, TV screen and lens flare effects, image quality and preview engine are impressive.
Sony Vegas Pro 11 Advanced Editing Software Review
Vegas Pro 11 is a welcome upgrade to this classic professional editing tool.
HP Z210 CMT Workstation Review
The HP Z210CMT is a good base model computer for the everyday video editor.
Tiffen Dfx 3.0 Effects Software Review
Any post production house is far stronger with this software than the price tag would lead you to believe. Tiffen's Dfx 3.0 is worth every penny, and far more.
Pinacle (formally Avid) Studio for iPad Editing Software Review
With the ability to make simple edits and share them over the Web, its applications range from making videos of your kids to making preliminary edits of dailies on a movie set. For the price, Avid Studio for iPad can't be beat.
Columns
Viewfinder: Make a Movie
From the basics of composition and storytelling to the costs of realizing your dream, how to make a movie is a question that newbies and long-time movie veterans struggle with when they begin a new project.
Slick Camera Shots
Good video producers have more than a few camera angles up their sleeves. From trick angles to smooth operation, here are some tips for some slick camera shots.
Catching the Rim Shot with Lighting
Traditional lighting using the key light as your main light isn't always the most interesting design. Try making your rim light the brightest and see how your design sings.
Reader Profile - Russ Fairley
Video creation is sometimes a singular business, but video producers are a social lot who work and play in many areas of video production and love to share their stories. This column introduces you to your fellow video producers.
How to Market Your Video Editing Business
So you're ready to start making money using your editing skills? First you'll need to learn how to market those valuable skills, then you need to find where the customers are. Here are some tips to guide on your way to making money doing what you love.
DIY Sci-Fi Sound Effects
Whether it's Star Trek sound effects, Star Wars sound effects or the many others you hear in the movies and on TV, making sci-fi sound effects is a fun, creative process that everyone should try at least once.
Starting a Production Company: What You Need to Know
Starting a video production business requires more than just composition and framing skills or a large bank account. It require thick skin and a plan to fulfill your vision.
Departments
New Titles: Video Production Handbook - Shooting Movies without Shooting Yourself in the Foot - Cinematography Theory and Practice
Book and Media Reviews
Is Super 8 making a Comeback?
Comments and links to recent Videomaker Magazine Articles written to help people create better video.
New Gear: myFC, Digital Juice, AfterShokz, Sennheiser
The gear you gotta have - The craft of making video takes a lot of stuff. This page is set to bring you the newest latest pieces of video support tools we find.
