Win Money with Video About your Tax Refund

In our Video Bits & Bytes segment, Mark tells us about the demise of a popular blogging site, one we're sorry to see go... And he also has news on several new camcorders that have recently passed the doors of Videomaker Central. Derek has some Video Sharing news on fora.tv, an online discussion on worldwide political, social and cultural issues ... and are you getting money back from your federal income tax? Derek found a site where you can win prize money by uploading a video on what you plan to do with your refund.

Win Money with Video About your Tax Refund

How to Make Your Own Boom Pole, Blimp, and Windscreen

Believe it or not, audience members are more likely to forgive poorly captured video than poorly captured sound which means that capturing clear audio is an incredibly important task. But it isn't as easy as it sounds. As such, we've decided to help you in your quest for quality audio by showing you how to make your very own microphone boom pole, shock mount, and windscreen using easy to find materials from any big box retailer.

How to Make Your Own Table Top Dolly

If you've ever had need to make a product look sleek and dynamic or just wanted to lend a bit of movement to a low-angle shot, you've probably found the table-top dolly to be the best tool for the job. This video will show you how to build the body, the axles, the wheels, and the camera mount for a table top dolly that can add both character and dimension to your next production.

How to Make Your Own Matte Box

Any good cinematographer can tell you that controlling light is an important part of the job. Good lighting makes subjects look more flattering and sets the mood of your entire production. Here, we show you how to measure, cut,glue, and assemble a simple and inexpensive matte box that will keep your shots free of stray light and looking clean and pristine.

How to Design a Professional Sound Mix in Post

You've captured great audio and brought it into the editing timeline where you've synchronized and cleaned it up even further. For one final touch before releasing your masterpiece to the masses, we'll show you how to design a professional sound mix in post, using ducking, frequency gaps and normalization to give your audio a particularly professional polish and set it in a class all its own.

How to Sync Dual System Sound

Capturing flawless video and awesome audio is certainly a crucial part of the process, but if the two aren't properly synchronized in post then the results will surely be disastrous. We show you how to bring it all together using timecodes, slates and waveforms, and synching software, to keep your project's timing on track and looking and sounding it's absolute best.

How to Mic Groups of People

Recording great audio is the goal but how exactly do we accomplish that? In this segment we discuss miking scenarios for recording studio interviews, conference rooms, live events, and film acting so you'll be ready to capture awesome audio in every situation.

How to Use Audio Effects and Filters in Post

In this training video we show you some tools for sweetening your mix and and even correcting those inevitable audiosyncracies. Soon you'll be using Audio Effects and Filters such as the EQ, Lowpass, Highpass and Notch filters, as well as compressors, limiters, and reverb, to have your audio sounding its absolute best.

How to Use Compressors, Limiters and Noise Gates

Now that you've recorded all the various components of your audio track, and have them carefully assembled on your timeline, it's time to add a professional touch. In this segment, we show you how to ensure that your audio is well balanced and free of both low end noise and high end distortion by using compressors, limiters and noise gates to sound its very best.

How to Record Voice Overs

In this segment we show you how to prepare a recording booth and choose proper audio equipment. Once you know the ins and outs of recording and editing voice overs, your narration will be solid and carry as much impact as the rest of your production.

How to Manage a Crew

Here you are: on set, cast and crew standing by waiting for your instruction to get the shoot rolling. Everyone on set needs to work to achieve a common goal. As the director, it's your job to keep the production moving efficiently.

How to Get Good Performances from Actors

A major determining factor in how your story is told is the performances of the actors. Every director wants good performances, but even that isn't enough. What you want is the right performance. In this segment, we go over how to prepare your actors before the shoot, and how to direct them during the shoot.

How to Block Shots

Before you start to roll camera, you and your team need to know what the actors will be doing and where they'll be positioned. This step is called blocking, and it's an important step in determining the technical direction of your shoot. This video looks at what to do before you shoot, as well as handling changes that come up while you shoot.

How to Organize a Shoot

In this how-to training video we show you how and why to assemble a storyboard, organize your resources, and manage a production schedule. When film-making, time is money, and being well organized will keep you on time and, more importantly, under budget.