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First Before
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Free Video
Tools
I have been
doing video
for most of
my life.
During those
years, I
have
accumulated
a lot of
stuff; Video
cameras,
tripods,
lighting
equipment,
cables,
video
adapters,
editing
software,
computer
cards of all
types,
camera bags,
connectors,
etc, etc,
etc.
Some of
this I have
bought at
video supply
stores, some
I purchased
via the mail
order
businesses
advertised
in these
pages, and
some I
bought at
auctions,
swap meets
and garage
sales.
However, my
favorite
equipment
came to me
free.
Sometimes
people would
just give me
stuff they
no longer
wanted.
Sometimes,
they were
quitting the
video biz
and hand to
clear out
their
garage.
Others were
upgrading
and needed
space for
their new
toys.
Now, one of
my favorite
places for
getting free
stuff has
become the
Internet.
There is a
wide range
of video
related
stuff that
can be
downloaded
and used on
your
computer-edited
projects.
This
includes
video
editing and
titling
software,
music, sound
effects,
clip art,
still
digital
photography,
video clips,
special
effects,
cool
transitions
and much
more. There
are many
people
making
plug-ins for
popular
video
programs
like Adobe
Premiere and
AfterEffects.
You can also
find lots of
filters and
special
effects,
colored
backgrounds,
transitions,
etc. for
other
programs. I
have also
found a
whole bunch
of cool
production
tools like
footage
calculators,
camera &
desktop
video
editing
set-up
files, audio
editing
programs and
waveform
monitors.
What is
an Internet
Download?
There are
several
classes of
Internet
downloads.
There is
freeware –
software
that is
posted on
the Internet
for use by
anyone with
little or no
restrictions.
For example,
many images
and video
clips can be
downloaded
off the
Internet and
used free –
in your
personal
video
productions.
However, you
may be
prohibited
from using
them in
commercial
money-generating
projects.
In addition,
Freeware may
not be
supported.
If you got a
problem, you
may be on
your own to
figure it
out. Even
worse, it
may harbor
viruses and
bugs that
could
actually
damage my
system. Even
though by
nature I am
a cheap guy,
I am quite
careful
about
downloading
freeware.
For regular
commercial
programs, I
hardly ever
review the
“read me”
files when I
do an
install. For
freeware,
reading
these files
and
instructions
is a must.
In addition,
before
downloading
freeware,
check out to
see how many
other people
have
downloaded
it and if
there are
any
complaints.
Of course,
always use a
virus
checker.
Another
type of
downloadable
programs are
shareware.
Shareware
are
inexpensive
but fully
functional
programs
that you are
supposed to
use for a
while and
then pay
for. If you
do not pay
for it
within a
stated
period, the
shareware
may quit
working or
it may keep
nagging you
to pull out
your credit
card and
actually pay
for it. As
shareware is
a business,
you usually
have less to
worry about
regarding
bugs and
viruses.
Good
shareware
also comes
with
thorough
instruction
and how-to
files. These
people want
you to
download and
use the
software.
There is
demo ware or
“crippleware”
which is a
limited
version of
commercial
software.
Demo ware
comes in a
few flavors
– sometimes
it is full
version of
the program
that can
only be used
for a month
or so. It
may also be
a full
version
except that
everything
you create
just happens
to have the
company name
splattered
right across
it. On the
other hand,
crippleware
is more of a
light
version of
the
program. It
enables you
to test out
and use the
program for
a long
period.
However,
many of the
coolest
special
features are
not
activated or
supported.
The makers
would like
you to try
these light
versions of
their
software,
see what you
are missing,
and then buy
the full
working
version.
As these
are
essentially
commercial
programs,
demo ware,
crippleware
and light
versions are
usually
better
supported
regarding
help, FAQs
(frequently
asked
questions)
and web
sites than
most
shareware
and freeware
products.
The final
category is
content.
This
includes
stock video
footage,
music, sound
effects and
digital
still
images.
Numerous web
sites out
there
provide this
kind of
content.
Some are
commercial
web sites
like AOL and
some are
small
personal
sites.
Content may
be protected
or it may be
totally
free. The
rules vary
with each
site and
each file.
What to
Watch Out
For?
Virus,
malicious
programs and
spyware are
very common
on the web.
Freeware and
shareware
can be
malicious
and have
hidden
payloads. As
mentioned
earlier,
read reviews
and what
other people
have said
about the
program.
Check out
the fine
print - many
"free"
programs
include
hidden
"helper"
applications
that can
take over
your
computer or
hijack your
Internet
cruising
sessions.
These are
called
spyware,
scumware and
adware...
All about
Spyware and
Adware and
how to get
rid of it
These
include
programs
like
BrOdcast
(dssagent),
Conducent
DLL,
Conducent,
Comet
Cursor,
Cydoor,
DoubleClick,
FlyCast,
Gator,
Netsetter
server,
Onflow,
Radiate,
SpeedBit,
Web3000 and
WebHancer
Make sure
you always
run new
programs
through a
good virus
checker.
Also, even
though it
can be
tempting,
don't use
install over
the net
unless you
are
confident
that this is
a safe
program for
downloading.
If you are
using
Windows
Explorer,
set your
security
applications
correctly to
prevent
rogue
programs and
web sites
from taking
over your
computer..
Finally, use
a good
firewall
like the
free
ZoneAlarm
stuff.
Where
to get this
stuff?
There are
various ways
to find free
video stuff
on the
Internet.
You can use
a general
search
engine like
msn.com,
search.com,
infoseeek,
altavista,
etc., and
just type in
what you are
looking for.
A better way
is to go to
specific
download
sites like
www.download.com,
www.cnet.com,
www.shareware.com,
aol.com,
www.tucows.com,
jumbo.com,
etc. Most of
these sites
review the
software and
also include
user
comments.
You can use
peer to peer
programs
like
Gnutella and
Kazaa to
find
programs and
applications.
You can
find
commercial
demos at
shareware
sites or you
can go
directly to
the
company’s
web site.
Here are a
few cool
commercial
sites that I
found that
have lots of
demos and
free stuff:
www.adobe.com
- free
downloads
include demo
versions of
AfterEffects
and
Premiere, as
well as
graphics and
web design
programs
like
PhotoShop,
GoLive and
Live Motion.
You can also
download
free
plug-ins for
all of
these,
including
the fully
paid
commercial
versions.
www.digitalorigin.com
- This site
offers a
selection of
cool demo
software for
doing video
editing and
animation.
You can get
free demos
of programs
like
IntroDV,
EditDV
Unplugged,
EditDV,
RotoDV, and
RotoDV Web.
www.ulead.com
- This
commercial
site serves
up a bunch
of 15-day
tryout
versions of
their
popular
video and
graphics
tools
including
VideoStudio,
MediaStudio
Pro,
PhotoImpact,
Web Razor
Pro and many
others. You
can also
download
freeware
that
includes
photo and
imaging
programs, as
well as
animations,
fonts,
images, and
video
templates.
Here are
some cool
shareware
and freeware
Macintosh
Programs and
Tools:
Hack TV is
a freeware
video editor
for Ale
computers. I
found it on
the
www.apple.com
website as
well as
www.cnet.com.
VideoScript
is for Apple
computers
and uses the
multimedia
capabilities
of QuickTime
to provide
an
integrated,
easy-to-use
environment
for working
with digital
video in
real time.
VideoScript
enables you
to create
special
effects,
detect
movement,
and perform
a variety of
complex
image-processing
tasks. You
can even
create a
digital
security
system that
detects
movement
from a
camera at
home and
emails the
time-stamped
images to
you at your
office
Apple just
announced
that iMovie,
their
complete
video
editing
solution,
will be
available as
a free
download
from the
www.apple.com
website.
On AOL, I
found
several cool
video
editing
programs for
Windows
computers.
This
includes TZ
Videocutstudio
- a tool for
viewing and
editing all
kinds of
movies (AVI,
DAT, MPG,
MOV, QT).
It enables
you to
easily cut
scenes from
existing
video and
paste them
together to
create a new
movie.
In
addition, on
AOL, I found
the Tran Man
ONE PASS
Video
Editor. It
is a
prosumer
entry-level
desktop
video
editor,
titler and
special
effects
generator.
Program that
edits by
using
computer
controllable
decks (with
LJack or
VISCA
controller).
It supports
time code
and
simulated AB
rolls, and
has digital
video,
overlay
capabilities
and over 350
effects.
Video
Pro-Titler,
also on AOL,
enables you
to create
professional-looking
titles for
your
videotapes,
using a
variety of
typestyles
(fonts). It
offers many
advanced
features for
the
experienced
computer
user,
including
transitions
between
titles, a
loop
function
that allows
you to
repeat
titles or
effects,
text flash,
multiple
fonts in a
single
sequence,
and can
create
simple
animation.
On
MSN, I found
the
Zwei-Stein
Ver 2.06
Multitrack
Video
Editing
System -
a Non-Linear
Video
Editing
program with
up to 256
Tracks each
with up to
64 effects.
It has an
extensive
intrinsic
effect and
filter
collection.
The free
version is
fully
operational
but provides
reduced
output
resolution.
Also via
MSN, I found
Videobox, a
program that
plays all
movie clips
and .wav
files in a
folder --
one right
after
another. The
supported
movie
formats
include
.avi, .mov,
and .mpg. It
uses a
VCR-like
shuttle
control to
manage
playback.
This
evaluation
edition
plays to the
end of a
directory,
but the
registered
version
continuously
loops
through the
contents of
a folder.
Other
Windows
based video
tools
include:
FlickerFree.com
offers a
free light
version of
VideoFramer,
a digital
video editor
that
features an
easy-to-use
and
intuitive
interface
and has the
ability to
import a
number of
image
formats. The
multifunction
window
combines the
import,
plug-in, and
information
windows into
one window
to make a
less
cluttered
layout.
VideoFramer
is a true
32-bit
application
for use with
Windows 95,
98, 2000, NT
4.0 with
Service Pack
3, and
later. The
full version
costs $89.95
IFilmEdit
from
Cinax.com is
a simple
video editor
for MPEG-1
files.
It
provides an
editing
suite for
standard
30-fps and
low
frame-rate/low
bit-rate
MPEG-1
files,
including
combined
audio/video
streams as
well as
video-only
and
audio-only
streams. It
can splice
together two
or more
downloaded
or real-time
streamed
MPEG-1 files
or to delete
unwanted
frames from
an MPEG-1
file. This
demo is a
30-day
trial.
www.mediawaresolutions.com
offers a
free 14-day
trial
version of
MyFlix, an
integrated
tool for
searching,
editing, and
playing MPEG
video. You
can select
any frame in
an MPEG
movie, play
it forward
or backward,
step forward
or backward
a frame at a
time, and
much more.
MyFlix can
convert your
video into a
thumbnail
index of
still frames
that
summarizes
the entire
video. You
can create a
custom MPEG
movie using
the built-in
editor or
save any
frame as a
still image
to print.
The
registered
version of
MyFlix costs
$39.95
Video Man
(http://www.stoik.com/)
is a desktop
video editor
that
features a
multi-track
SMPTE
timeline,
previews,
transitions,
dynamic
filters,
trimming
functions,
titling, and
motion-path
controls.
Other
features
include a
video-capture
utility, a
library of
predefined
and
customizable
dynamic
filters and
transitions,
and an Auto
Insert mode
that will
allow you to
capture
clips from a
TV or VCR
and compose
your own
movies with
titles,
sound, and
special
effects.
This trial
version
expires
after 15
days. The
full version
costs $49.
For unusual
fonts, check
out Famous
Fonts:
http://www.eliteentertainment.net/famousfonts/index.html
http://pico.i-us.com/
- This is
great site
with lots of
links to
graphic
filters,
transitions
and
plug-ins.
Visitors can
get a free
download of
“Harry’s
Filters”.
This
collection
of filters
and effects
works with
Adobe
Photoshop (3
and above),
Adobe
Premiere 4.2
& 5, Adobe
After
Effects,
Adobe Photo
DeLuxe (1
and above),
Jasc
Paintshop
Pro (4 and
above),
Micrografx
Picture
Publisher 8,
Fractal
Painter (4
and above),
Ulead Photo
Impact (3
and above),
Corel
PhotoPaint
(6 and
above),
Corel XARA,
CiEBV
PhotoLine (3
and above),
Canvas,
Macromedia
Director,
Macromedia
Fireworks
and Datatech
ImageMan (6
and above).
You can also
download a
free “light”
or
crippleware
version of
Plug-In
Commander
for managing
plug-ins.
This site
also
contains
lots of
information
and links to
other video
sites.
http://www.thepluginsite.com/
- This site
offers lots
of free and
commercial
plug-ins for
programs
like Adobe
Premiere,
PhotoShop
and After
Effects.
www.camcorderinfo.com
- This new
site has
links to
many
freeware and
commercial
demos, as
well as a
site for
downloading
free MPEG
stock
footage to
use in your
productions.
You can
download a
bunch of
free
Teleprompter
programs
from here as
well. I
also found
WTCC II, a
freeware
program that
functions as
a four
function
time code
calculator
that
supports
calculations,
and
conversions,
in: NTSC,
Drop-Frame,
Non
Drop-Frame,
PAL, Film
Feet and
Frames,
Decimal, Hex
and Octal
values.
http://www.tebweb.com/tbvideo/
- source for
graphic
backgrounds
and set up
utility
http://www.postforum.com/
- great
source for
Macintosh
programs
files and
programs.
This
includes
animation,
MPEG,
QuickTime,
logging,
etc. types
of files and
programs
http://www.videouniversity.com/downvide.htm
you can
download
demos of the
leading
computer
editing
products
like
Commotion,
EditDV,
RotoDV,
MediaCleaner
Pro and
Adobe
Premiere
Here are
some other
shareware
and download
sites:
ZDNet
Software
Library
www.zdnet.com/downloads
TuCows
Shareware
tucows.tierranet.com
Simtel.Net
Shareware
www.simtel.net
Info-Mac
Shareware
www.info-mac.com
CNet
Shareware.com
www.shareware.com
PC Video
Tools
AVIedit - AM
Software
www.am-soft.ru
DDClip -
Multitrack
nonlinear
video and
audio
editor
www.softlab-nsk.com
EO Video -
Media player
/ converter
/ joiner
www.eo-video.com
QuickEditor
- QuickTime
movie
editor
wild.ch/quickeditor
VideoMach -
Audio/video
builder and
converter
www.gromada.com
Virtual Dub
- Video
capture/processing
utility
www.virtualdub.com
Free, free,
free.
I only hope
that you
have a big
hard drive
to store all
of these
great
freeware,
shareware
and
commercial
demo
programs, If
you do
download and
use
shareware,
it usually
only costs a
few bucks to
register it
and get the
final
product.
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