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Adaptec DVPics – An
inexpensive and easy way to edit
your DV tapes
If you have already made the move to
shooting DV, you are probably amassing piles and piles of those little
DV cassettes filled with wonderful family moments and events. There
are several ways you can edit them. Most DV camcorders offer both DV
in and out. This means you can edit your DV tapes by simply recording
the good part of one tape onto another tape. Of course, this requires
two DV camcorders. Many
DV camcorders also offer limited editing capabilities. In other words
you can add some basic effects, titling and audio dubbing. Being that
this is DV, you can go back and forth between the two camcorders over
and over, without losing any quality.
However,
if you really want to do a good job of editing your digital tapes;
cutting out all the bad video, re-arranging the scenes,
adding cool transitions and effects, as well as adding sound
effects, voice-overs, and other professional touches, you need to use
some kind of computer-based nonlinear editing system.
If
you don’t have a computer, you can use one of the all in editing
boxes from companies like Casablanca or Applied Magic, However, that
will set you back $1500 or more.
If
you have a computer with a built-in 1394 connections like many new PCs
or Macintosh computers, all you really need to do is to add a DV ready
software package like Dazzle’s MainActor or MGI’s Videowave. Mac
owners can upgrade their iMovie to iMovie2 or invest in professional
software like Final Cut Pro.
If
you rely on a laptop computer, you will need to use a PCMCIA to 1394
card adapter that enable your laptop computer to input and output DV
video and audio, and also include software for editing and enhancing
your video.
However,
if you are like most of us, you probably have a slightly out of date
Pentium II or Pentium III computer.
Depending on your pocketbook, you can spend a lot of money (500
and up) and get a semi-professional solution like the Dazzle DV Now
AV, the Matrox 2500 or the Pinnacle DV500 Pro. These are great
products for editing and outputting video but because they use
proprietary codecs, they will not allow you to connect various 1394
peripherals. The big difference between an inexpensive card like the
DVpics and pro cards that cost $500 and up is that the expensive cards
usually come bundled with a sophisticated video editing software
program that usually allows you to control your camcorder, proprietary
codecs that speeds up the rendering of transitions and effects.
Many of these more expensive cards also provide multiple,
simultaneous video streams.
However, for a lot less money, you can get a system that
bundles a basic 1394 converter card with the appropriate video and
editing software.
The
new Adaptec DVPics package is an excellent and affordable solution to
those who need to edit their DV video on a PC based desktop computer.
(The Adaptec DVpics will also work on older Macs with an available PCI
slot). With a list price
of under $90, this package includes the Adaptec AFW-4300 Firewire Host
adapter as well as the easy to use MGI Videowave SE digital video
editing software. Once installed, this combination of hardware and
software will enable you to capture DV from your camcorder, edit it
together to create the project of your dreams, and then export it back
to DV videotape. Of course, you can also save it as a multimedia file
and burn it to CD-ROM or DVD, or even send it out over the Internet.
The
Videowave SE version that comes bundled with DVpics provides a wide
range of transitions and effects. I was very impressed with its video
capture capabilities. Once set to the right capture device, it worked
like a charm. Not only does it capture video and audio from your DV
camcorder, it can even control the DV camcorder’s various mechanical
controls. When I plugged in the camcorder, I was able to play, rewind,
fast forward – all remotely using the software over the 1394 cable
to the camcorder.
The
Videowave 4SE software also includes the scene detection feature that
automatically cuts captured video into a series of individual clips.
Every time scene detection sees a big change in the image, it
separates that section into a separate audio/video clip. This can be
very helpful and save a lot of time starting, stopping and rewinding
your camcorder to get the right in and out points.
After
you have captured a long sequence of shots to VideoWave, you go back
and then apply scene detector. It replays the sequence in high speed
and quickly separates the various scenes into individual clips. You
can adjust its sensitivity to cut on smaller changes or larger
changes. It’s real neat to watch it do its magic.
By
the way, using this feature will train you in one good videotaping
technique – starting your tapes a few seconds early and letting it
roll a few seconds long after the action has stopped.
I
need to clear up one point of confusion about digital video.
You may have heard a variety of DV related terms – DV,
digital video, 1394, i.Link and Firewire. These are all different
branding terms for the same technology – all based on the IEEE
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard.
Another technical term you should be aware of that is associated with
1394 is OHCI. This stands for Open Host Controller Interface and is
the standard that enables any other OHCI device to communicate with
your computer over the 1394 cable or bus.
In
other words, once you have installed the Adaptec DVpics or AFW-4300
Firewire host adapter, you can also use it for a variety of
peripherals in addition to your camcorder. On the market today, you
can find a cornucopia of 1394 scanners, printers, hard drives and
sound systems, with many more to come.
FireWire
and Video Editing
Many
video professional video editors use both a proprietary card for video
editing and production and a general 1394 card like the Adaptec
AFW-300 for OHCI devices. The professional video editing gear often
uses a non-OHCI driver for their DV inputs that has been customized
for their specific hardware. A
user of one of the pro cards who wants to use OHCI peripherals would
have to temporarily deactivate the proprietary driver, re-boot their
computer, and let it start windows and load the standard OHCI driver.
When they want to once again use their pro video card, they have to
reverse this process and re-install the custom drivers. This is not
fun.
By
using both a pro 1394 video editing card and a general OHCI card like
the DVpics AFW-300, the user can simultaneously use both the
professional video editing system as well as standard OHCI
peripherals.
The
AFW-4300 provides three 1394 connectors that can transfer up to 50 MB
of data per second on each. The 1494 standard enables daisy-chaining,
connecting one device after another. Theoretically, you could daisy
chain 62 different devices. However, most camcorders only have a
single DV jack so they would have to be on the end of that chain.
1394
devices are also hot pluggable. That means you can disconnect devices
and add new devices, all without having to re-boot your computer.
Installing
the System
The
Dvpics AFW-4300 Firewire card is a 32 bit PCI card. You first need to
turn off your computer, open up your computer and find an available
PCI slot. You can use either a 32 bit or a 64 bit PCI slot. Stick the
card in, screw it down and close up your computer. Turn on your PC.
Your Windows operating system should automatically recognize the new
hardware and load the appropriate OHCI drivers.
If
you are comfortable with Windows configuration and system settings, it
is also recommended to set the card to operate on a higher number IRQ,
9, 10 or 11.
For
Macintosh computers, you will need to install the latest Macintosh
Firewire drivers from the included CD-0ROM.
After
installing the card and the MGI software from the CD, you just need to
connect your DV camcorder and you will be set to go. Unlike many
manufacturers, Adaptec has thoughtfully included the appropriate six
pin to four pin cable required for connecting a DV camcorder to the
1394 connectors. Most 1394 peripherals include their own six pin to
six pin connector and their own set of drivers.
Installing
and using the VideoWave4 SE software –
The
Bundled version of MGI VideoWave 4 is the light or SE version (Special
Edition) that does not have some of the more powerful features and
capabilities of the full version. This includes the ability to capture
MPEG, the cool TimeWarp feature that enables to speed up or slow down
your videos, color, brightness and contrast adjustments, and sample
overlay clips for home and business.
The
SE version also does not include some of cooler transitions and
effects found on the full version. However, you can purchase the full
version from MGI (www.mgisoft.com)
for only $99. The full version is also found bundled on various other
editing products. I have also seen it sold at stores like Fry’s with
a mail-in rebate for the full cost.
Installing
the software is simple. Stick in the CD and just follow directions.
Configuring VideoWave is a bit more difficult. I found that the
camcorder needs to be connected and on for the VideoWave software to
find and recognize it.
The
first step is capturing your video. After you have installed the card
and software, attach the DV cable to your DV camcorder and turn it on
in Play mode. Remember, If the camera is not on when you load
VideoWave, the VideoWave software will not recognize the video source.
Follow VideoWave’s simple directions for configuring your video
and audio capture settings. If the DVPics card is the only video
capture device on your computer, the program should come up
pre-configured ready to go. If you are like me with a MPEG card and TV
Tuner card already on the system, you’ll need to select the correct
video and audio sources.
The DVPics card should come up as Microsoft DV camera and VCR or
TIConnect.
Once set, you can begin to capture scenes from your camcorder. You
can do it manually by hitting play on the camcorder and then hitting
record Audio and Video on VideoWave as the appropriate scenes come up.
Or you can use the auto scene detection capture mode which captures a
long sequence and then later splits it into smaller, more manageable
scenes.
As you capture your scenes and clips, they are loaded into the
library. When you load in Scene Detection clips they are stored as sub
libraries under the original clip in the library. Once all the scenes
are loaded into the library, you can then click and move them to the
storyline running across the top of the screen. You can play
individual clips or the whole collection.
Once you have all your scenes loaded onto the storyline you can
then go to one of several other functions to fine tune your
production. The cutting room application enables you to edit the
individual scenes by setting specific in and out points, You can also
split an single scene into multiple scenes, you can extract the audio
to use as a sound file, and you can even grab a single frame and save
it as an image file.
You can also use the Color Effects control to Turn
a color video into black and white, or apply a Sepia effect to
simulate an old movie. The Selenium effect can be used to simulate a
moon light feeling.
Once
your scenes are about the right length and in the right order, you can
use the transition application. The bundled SE version includes
dissolves, corner, vertical and horizontal wipes in various
directions, reveals, and image push and slides. You simply click on
the transition effect located between your clips on the storyline and
then select the appropriate transition from the transition library.
You can even adjust the length of the effect. The audio also
automatically transitions from one clip to the other.
Speaking
of audio, VideoWave includes a relatively powerful audio editing
application that enables you to associate up to six audio tracks per
video clip and each can have their own volume levels and starting/ending
points. There’s even a
repeat function that replays a clip. This is great for creating a low
volume background environment track.
Other
functions include the ability to add text and titles, Text
capabilities includes various font style and size, colors, shadows and
more. There are several preset motion paths (the way the text moves on
and off the screen) and text effects (size and color) to choose from,
or you can create your own text style and motion path.
A very
useful effect is the Video Mixer that enable you to create
sophisticated layering effects, similar to that done by million dollar
editing systems. You can have a scene fade in to replace the
background, or enlarge from a center point and then slide off to the
side, or any other combination using the choices provided. You can use
image blend to create a dream sequence in your story, or as a
transition to a new scene. The
Shadow Effect is a part of Image Blend, and allows you to apply a
shadow to the foreground clip. This can give the foreground clip a
sense of depth.
Once you
have applied all your effects and the production looks the way you
want it, you use the Produce command to save it to the correct final
format. You can save a finished production as a MPEG 1 file for use on
CD-ROMs or DVDs.
You can
save your production as a RealVideo or Microsoft Windows files for use
on the web, or you output it to your DV camcorder and save it on
DV tape. You have a lot of choices.
The DVPics
package, combing the Adaptec AFW-4300 Firewire adapter card with the
MGI VideoWave video editing program is an inexpensive, easy to install
and simple to use video editing solution for those who are capturing
video with a DV camcorder. For under $90, you can create productions
that rival those produced by much more expensive systems with a much
harder to master learning curve. Yes, the transitions and effects may
take a bit longer to render, but at this price point, this is a hard
combination to beat. Finally, I was very pleased about how well the
two products work together. This is a definite winner.
Adaptec
www.adaptec.com
MGI
www.mgisoft.com
Copyright 2001, Internet Video Mag
Inc. All Rights
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