Making Movies on Your Computer

A. Introduction

1. Do I Have What It Takes?

Free Time

Interest and Curiosity

Desire to Learn New Things

Good Work Habits

Good Skill with the Computer/Internet

Adequate Software

Adequate Hardware

Plenty of Patience

2. Why Make a Movie?

Combine different objects into one file

– text, still images, frames, music, sound effects, and motion image files

Provide the ultimate multimedia enjoyment experience

– text, colors, images, motion, music, and sound effects

Improve your computer skills

– audio, video, software, hardware, file management, operating systems

Entertain family and friends

3. What Kind of Camera Do I Need?

Camera Type – analog or digital

Digital Video Camera – long segments recorded on tape

– short clips recorded on removable memory card

– 25 Mbps (to 36 Mbps) with 5:1 compression (max recording speed)

Analog Video Camera – long segments recorded on tape

– 1.5 Mbps with no compression (max recording speed)

Digital Still Camera – short clips recorded on removable memory card

4. What Computer and Operating System Do I Need?

Firewire Capability – 500 Mbps (max transfer rate to hard drive)

USB Capability – Coming on camcorders now

Hard Drive Space

Read/write speed – 4 Mbps for capture and digitizing (min)

File Size (captured, rendered, or saved)

.avi – 200 MB/movie minute (uncompressed, open format)

.mpg1 files – 20 MB/movie minute (compressed, open format)

.mpg2 files – 30 MB/movie minute (compressed, open format)

.rm, .wmv, .mov – 15 MB/movie minute (compressed, proprietary formats)

Operating System File Size (limits length of finished movie)

Win 95 – 2 GB (max)

Win ME/98SE – 4 GB (max)

Win XP – 1,000 GB (max)

CD/DVD Burner

CD – –R/–RW

DVD – –R/–RW, +R/+RW, RAM

5. What Will Movie Making Software Do for Me?

Layout Software

Layout Modes – Timeline, Story Board

Editing Tools – cut, brightness and contrast, rotate, etc.

Transitions – cut, fade, dissolve, etc.

Effects – zoom, speed frame rate, etc.

Titles/credits – text or image to begin/end movie

Music – for background

Sound Effects – for effects

Editing Software

Dubbing filters – 3:2 pulldown, inverse telecine, deinterlace, decimate, etc.

Frame rate – adjust for effects, publishing standards, etc.

Indexing – change video to frame sequence

Sequencing – changes frame sequence to video

Segmenting – splice two video segments together

Audio tools – cut, mix, equalize, pan, echo, etc.

Codecs – compress files

6. What Are the Steps in Making a Movie?

ACQUIRE THE MOVIE STOCK

Acquire raw media stock – from camera or other source (e.g., video with audio, clips, images)

Edit raw media stock – with layout software or other program

LAY OUT THE MOVIE

Layout media stock – in movie software program

Add features – title, captions, transitions, special effects, credits

Add music – background, sound effects

RENDER THE MOVIE

Select distribution method – computer, TV, set top player, Web online

Select movie parameters – video pixel size, A/V quality (bit rate)

Select video parameters – video format (e.g., .avi, .mpg1, .mpg2, .mpg4, .rm, .wmv, .mov)

– compression codec (e.g., Cinepak, Indeo, Microsoft)

Select audio parameters – audio format (e.g., PCM, .mpg, .wav, Dolby AC-3)

SHARE THE MOVIE

Transfer movie file – to media (e.g., digital/analog tape, CD, VCD, S–VCD, or DVD)

– to Web host (e.g., Sony, Panasonic, Cannon, Pinnacle, Sonic)

ENJOY THE MOVIE

View movie – on player (e.g., TV/VCR, CD player, DVD player, computer)

– on Web (e.g., download, stream)

(NOTE: Movie and media must conform to strict physical and logical format specifications.)

B. Review of Sample Media, Collections, and Folders

1. Stills – Details, Thumbnails, Film Strip, Properties>Advanced

2. Videos – same as above

3. Video Frames – same as above

4. Music – same as above

5. Sound Effects – same as above

6. Projects – folder for laid out movie (before rendering)

7. Movies – folder for final movie (after rendering into desired format)

C. Review of the Windows Movie Maker Program

1. Review of the Movie Maker Desktop

Menu Bar – File, Edit, View, Tools, Clip, Play, Help

Tool Bar – Shortcuts to most useful commands

Movie Tasks Box

Capture Video – Capture video, Import video, Import pictures, Import audio/music

Edit Video – Show collections, View effects/transitions, Make titles/credits, AutoMovie

Finish Movie – Save to computer/CD, Send to email/Web, Send to DV camera

Movie Making Tips – Capture video, Edit clips, Add titles/effects/transitions, Save and share movies

Explorer Box – shows hard drive, collections, effects, transitions, and titles/credit

Player Window

Control Bar – Play/Pause, Back/forward, Split clip, Take picture, Full screen

Timeline/Story Board Tracks

Timeline Tracks – Video/Transition/Audio, Audio/Music, Title overlay

Tool Bar – Audio level, Voice–Over, Expand/contract timeline, Rewind, Start

– Show Storyboard/Timeline

2. Review of Capturing Video and Importing Media Stock

Capture from Video Device –

Importing Videos –

Importing Pictures –

Importing Audio or Music –

Importing Sound Effects –

3. Review of Editing the Movie

4. Review of AutoMovie Making

5. Review of Finishing a Movie

D. Using the Windows Movie Maker Program

1. Overview of Movie Maker Projects

Simple Slide Show – make slide show with still images

Complex Slide Show – add to simple slide show

Simple Manual Movie – make a movie by hand

Complex Manual Movie – add to simple manual movie

Simple AutoMovie – make a movie automatically

2. Making a Simple Slide Show

Start in Storyboard Mode

Edit the Pictures – rotate, adjust color, adjust B&C, adjust size

Import into Collections –

Layout the Pictures –

Play Slide Show for Effect –

Edit the Slide Show – volume, picture durations

Save Slide Show Project –

Render Slide Show Movie –

Play the Movie –

3. Making a Complex Slide Show

Start in Storyboard Mode

Start with Simple Slide Show– pictures already in place

Add Title – place in series/parallel

– add title animation

Add Credits – at end

Add Transitions – between pictures

Switch to Timeline Mode

Add Background Sound – to cover entire slide show

Add Sound Effects – at selected places on timeline

Play Slide Show for Effect –

Edit the slide Show – fade in/out, video effects

Save Slide Show Project –

Render Slide Show Movie –

Play the Movie –

4. Making a Simple Manual Movie

Start in Storyboard Mode

Edit the Videos – rotate, adjust color, adjust B&C, cut

Import into Collections –

Layout the stock – pictures, videos

Play Movie for Effect –

Edit the movie –

Save the Movie Project –

Render the Movie –

Play the Movie –

5. Making a Complex Manual Movie

Start in Storyboard Mode

Start with Simple Movie – videos and pictures already in place

Edit Video – capture video frames

Add Video Frames –

Add Title –

Add Credits –

Add Transitions –

Add Video Effects –

Switch to Timeline Mode

Add Background Sound –

Edit – volume, pan, duration, effects

Add Sound Effects –

Play Movie for Effect –

Edit the Movie –

Save Movie Project –

Render the Movie –

Play the Movie –

6. Making an AutoMovie

Will Run Automatically in Timeline Mode

Requirements of AutoMovie – select multiple clips (> 30 sec), pick style, 30 sec audio, use wizard

Selecting Multiple Clips –

Pick Style – add title, credits, and background music

Follow Wizard –

Play AutoMovie for Effect –

Edit the AutoMovie –

Save the AutoMovie –

Render the AutoMovie –

APPENDIX

A. Basics of Video Files

1. Common Movie File Extensions

.avi – computer – – – – – – – – – uncompressed stream of interlaced frames

.mpg – computer – highly – intra/–inter – compressed stream of progressive frames

.mpg–j – computer – higher – intra– – compressed stream of progressive frames

.gif – computer – lightly – intra– – compressed stream of progressive frames (motion clip)

(NOTE: File formats like doc, .jpg, .avi, .mpg, .mov, etc. vary per method and details

they were created with. This is not obvious but confusing and frustrating.

Fortunately, software exists to look inside a movie file.)

(NOTE: Welcome aboard the digital revolution. The entire entertainment industry is moving

from line–based, two–field, interlaced to pixel–based, one–frame progressive transmissions.

Look at the difference in TV picture quality the next time you’re in Best Buy!)

2. Common Hardware Encountered in Movie Rendering, Storage, Distribution, and Playback

Computer – creates and plays .avi, .mpg1, .mpg2, .mpg4, .rm, .wmv, .mov files

CD disc – holds any type movie file for computer playback

VCD player – plays .mpg1 file, 352x240 pixel image (384x288 max), 1.15 Mbps FBR, stereo

S–VCD player – plays .mpg2 file, 720x480 (720x576 max), to 3 Mbps VBR, stereo

DVD player – plays .mpg2 file, 720x480, (720x576 max), to 6 Mbps (12 max) VBR, stereo

Web streaming – plays .mpg4 file, image size, etc. adjusted to fit download speed

Tape – data stream converted to tape format when movie printed to/from camera

– analog or digital (720x480 pixel image)

(NOTE: Movie players require that movie (file and media) conform

to strict physical and logical specifications.)

3. The Challenge of Making a Movie on a Computer

So many file and media formats to deal with and choose from

Media source – tape, TV, movie, Web download, still image

Media capture – camera, computer, recorder

Media editing – computer software

Media rendering – computer codecs, bit rate, etc.

Media distribution – computer, tape, TV, CD, VCD, S–VCD, DVD, Web download

Media player – computer, CD, VCD, S–VCD, DVD

So many steps – acquire camera, HW, SW, and media stock

– digitize, deinterlace, edit

– layout, tweak

– render (for physical/logical disc and player)

– burn (to physical/logical disc and player)

– distribute (to view one way)

Everything is so big – computer, files, sound system, time frame, Web speed

Quality is so different – small video (160x112) – tinny audio (8 bit, mono)

– large video (720x480) – digital audio (32 bit, 192 KHz, theater surround)

4. Looking Inside a Video File

Download Virtual Dub from http://www.virtualdub.org/

File information – file type, format, content, data rate, duration

– video frame size, frame rate

– audio format, mono/stereo, sampling frequency, data rate

– can also use MovieID program

File compression – codecs, effect on file size

Types of frames – progressive/interleave, intra, key, delta, predicted, dropped

Frame rate – relation to player hardware

Other parameters – relation to player hardware

B. Basics of Video Capture and Digitizing

1. Open Capture Software

2. Connect Camera to Capture Card (Firewire or AVDV port)

3. Turn on Camera

Capture software recognizes camera

4. Select Capture Settings

Select hard drive destination for capture

Select virtual or real capture

Select file name for captured video

Select type of scene capture – auto, manual, or time stamp

5. Start Capture

Video captured to hard drive

6. End Capture

7. Turn off Camera

8. Review Capture List

C. Basics of Editing Video Clips

1. Download Virtual Dub from http://www.virtualdub.org/

2. Types of Video Files

Simple .jpg image stream (intra–) – as .mpg–j file

Simple non–compressed image stream – as (raw) .avi file

Segmented stream of individual files – as multiple .avi files

Compressed stream (intra–/inter–) – as .mpg file

3. Video File Details

File information – can also use MovieID program

Types of frames – key and delta (compressed file), others

Frame rate – relation to player hardware

File compression – effect on file size

4. Editing Videos

Selecting frames (and, frame sequences)

Extracting frames

Deleting frames (i.e., cutting)

Cropping videos

5. Segmenting Videos

From video clips

From images

6. Sequencing Videos (i.e., indexing)

7. Filtering Videos (i.e., dubbing)

COMMON DUBS

Null transform

Rotate

Adjust levels

Adjust brightness and contrast

Sharpen

Saturate

Smooth/Blur

COMPLEX

Stabilize (i.e., deshake)

Remove flicker

Remove noise

Adjust hotspot

Remove logo/text

Resize

FRILLS

Add borders

Add subtitle

Add logo overlay/animation

Add fill color

Invert colors

TRANSITIONS

Fade In/Out

D. Basics of Editing Images

1. Download Irfan Viewer from http://www.irfanview.com/

2. Editing Image Files for Intended Use

Reducing image file size for Emailing

Cropping – delete useless information

Resizing – reduce viewing size

Resaving – reduce file size

Fixing problems

Dark and dull – adjust brightness, contrast, or gamma

Blurry – adjust sharpness

Special effects

Adding text – captioning

(Note: Use layout software first to cull and discard pictures.)

E. Basics of Editing Audio Clips

1. Open Music File in Editor

2. Cutout Undesirable Portions

3. Change pitch/key and/or tempo

4. Sync (i.e., beatmap) Music Clip to Other Music Clips in Movie

5. Add Effects, as desired (e.g., volume, fade, pan, echo, flange, reverb)

6. Combine/Mix Music Clips, Loops, Stabs, Synths to Produce Clever Beats, Melodies, Harmonies, etc.

F. Basics of Movie Layout and Editing

1. Components of a Movie File

Video Track – locked with audio track (can unlock, if needed)

Audio Track – locked with video track (can unlock, if needed)

Video Overlay Track – titles, scrolls, credits

Background Music Track – continuous background sound

Sound Effects Track – enhancements to background sounds

2. Steps in Laying Out a Movie

Capture/Acquire Raw Media Stock

Videos (with audio) – with video camera

Motion clips – with video or digital still camera

Frames (i.e., images) – with video or digital still camera

Background music – from CD, tape recorder, music library, Web download, etc.

Sound effects – from CD, tape recorder, sound effects library, Web download, etc.

Select Layout Mode – storyboard or timeline

Add Title – made with layout software or other

Lay Down Media Stock – video, motion clips, frames

Add Captions – made with layout software or other

Add Transitions – made with layout software or other

None (cuts)

Fades (in/out)

Dissolves

Hollywood (i.e., complex)

Add Video Effects – made with layout software

Zoom –

Speed ups –

Color effects – sepia, B&W

Alpha Channel – i.e., keying

Hollywood – i.e., complex

Add Credits – made with layout software or other

Add Background Music –

Add Sound Effects –

3. Steps in Editing a Movie

Video Clips – quality, duration

Video and Audio – synchronization

Background Music – synchronization, volume, pans, and fades

Transition – consistency, duration

Overall – B/C, saturation, music volume/pan, pacing, continuity, synchronization

G. Basics of Movie Rendering, Movie Quality, and Movie Players

1. Movie Details (i.e., video and audio combined)

File Format

.avi – raw, uncompressed (may also be compressed)

.mpg1 – mpg for VCD

.mpg2 – mpg for S–VCD and DVD

.mpg4 – mpg for streaming applications

.rm – for Real Player

.wvm – for Windows Media Player

.mov – for Apple Quick Time Player

Streaming (Bit) Rate

Dialup – < 56 Kbps

ISDN – 128 Kbps

Broadband – >128 Kbps

LAN (network) – >10 Mbps

VCD – > 3 Mbps

DVD – > 3 Mbps (12 Mbps max)

Web streaming – variable based on client

Sampling Type – constant or variable bit rate

2. Video Details

Frame Rate

NTSC – 30 fps

PAL – 25

Movie – 24

Animations – various <24

Frame Size

Analog

VHS – 230 lines

NTSC – 480 (to 525)

PAL – 525

Digital

VCD – to 384x288 pixels

VGA – 640x480

S–VCD/DVD– to 720x576 (max)

3. Audio Details

File Format

PCM – pulse code modulation (no compression)

.mpg – compressed

.wav – compressed

Dolby digital – AC-3 (proprietary format)

Sampling Rate – 32 KHz, 44, 96, 192, 384, …

Bit Depth – 8 bit, 12, 16, 24, 32, …

4. TV Resolution

Analog

NTSC – 400+ lines

PAL – 525 lines

Digital

480p – 640x480 pixels, progressive scan

720p – 1280x720 pixels, progressive scan

1080i – 1920x1080 pixels, interlaced scan

1080p – 1920x1080 pixels, progressive scan (HDTV)

5. Movie Player Details

Windows Media Player

Current V 8.0/9.0 are best media players

Has many options for viewing/adjusting audio or video

Can surf web pages

Supports mpg4 streaming video

Real Networks RealOne Player

Lots of stuff in your face

Can surf web pages

Has many options for viewing audio or video

Can buy premium version

Can buy RealProducer to make movies

Supports mpg4 streaming video

Apple Quick Time Media Player

Can buy premium version to make movies

Can save downloaded movies to hard drive

Supports mpg4 streaming video

(NOTE: The above variables are just a sampling of the many details related to movie making.)

(NOTE: Movie file and media must conform to strict physical and logical specifications based

on player requirements.)

(NOTE: Render a small portion of the layout early and review critically so you can eliminate problems or avoid a large re-edit and re-render later on.)

H. Basics of Movie Storage and Distribution Media

1. Types of Video Camera Storage Media

Videotape – analog or digital

Removable disk (digital) – coming on market now (ISO or UDF format)

Memory card (digital) – can use .mpg file content directly without conversion (e.g., email)

Computer disk – copy file to hard drive (MS–DOS/Windows)

Floppy – copy .mpg1 file to floppy (MS–DOS/Windows)

Tape – copy .avi file to tape (VHS analog)

VCD disc – burn .mpg1 file to CD (–R/–RW formats)

S–VCD – burn .mpg2 file to CD (same approach as VCD)

DVD – burn .mpg2 file to DVD (+/–/RAM formats)

Internet download host – upload file to Web site (MS–DOS/Windows)

Web streaming server – .mpg4/.wmv/.rm/.mov file upload/download to/from Web

2. Video Storage Media Basics

Media Types

Video Tape

Analog – to tape capacity (SP–1 hr viewing, LP–2 hr, XLP–6 hr)

Digital – to tape capacity (1 1/2 hr)

CD – 640MB storage capacity, 1 hr, poor quality

VCD – 640 MB storage capacity, 30 min, better quality

S–VCD – 640 MB storage capacity, 15 min, good quality

DVD – 4.7GB storage capacity, 2+ hrs, excellent quality

Media Formats

On Video Tape

File type – Audio/video

Analog format – VHS, VHS–C, S–VHS, S–VHS–C, 8mm, Hi8, interlaced

– up to three separate tracks, 0–4v pickup

Digital format – Digital 8 (D8), Mini DV (DV), Micro DV (DV)

– 720x480 pixels, 30 fps, FBR, intraframe compression, progressive

On Memory Card

File type – Audio/video (.mpg–j extension)

Digital format – 25 fps, non–interleaved, .mpg extension (mpg–j)

File type – Still/Interval Still (individual compressed files)

Digital format – .jpg extension

On CD – per burning method selected (file and media)

On DVD – 720x480 pixels, 30 fps, VBR, intra–/inter–frame compression, progressive

File Size

On Video Tape

Analog format – to tape capacity

Digital format – to tape capacity

On Memory Card

Video/Audio type – to memory card capacity

– 128 MB card (~90 min play at 160x120 pixels with audio)

Still/Interval Still type– to memory card capacity

On CD, etc. – audio/video file type

Frame Size and Resolution

On Video Tape

Analog format – 400 (VHS) to 525 lines, fair quality, degrades with time

Digital format – 352x240, poor quality (CD)

– 720x480, excellent quality (DVD)

On Memory Card

Video/Audio file type – to 320x240, poor quality

Still/Interval Still file type – to 1600x1200, good quality

On CD, etc – increasingly larger file, increasingly better quality

(If autorun desired, must prepare startup files before burning a CD/SVCD.

This step is automatic with DVD burning software.)

I. Basics of Hardware Cables and Connections

Coaxial/RF – one wire inside threaded sleeve

(TV) – video and audio blended RF signal

(both) – oldest, analog, cable TV, lossy, prone to interference

Composite – one wire (copper pin and friction cuff with RCA connector)

(RCA) – video and audio blended frequency–based signal

(both) – analog signal varies widely depending on quality of cable

S–Video – four–wire cable (terminated in round connector, like on keyboard)

(video) – video signal only (luminance, chrominance, and two grounds)

– better analog video signal transmission than above

Component – three separate cables (copper pins and friction cuffs with RCA connectors)

(video) – video signals only (luminance and two color difference signals)

– thick cables, better analog quality than above

¼ Inch – two or three wires to carry mono or stereo signals

(phone) – audio signal only, subject to RF and magnetic interference

(audio) – tip, ring, and sleeve contacts, old style cable and connectors

1/8 Inch – two to four wires to carry mono, stereo, other signals

(mini) – tip, ring, and sleeve contacts

(audio) – thin, lightly shielded, fragile cable

XLR – two twisted pair ,heavy wires with ground (e.g., mic cable)

(Cannon) – balanced signal, audio only

(audio) – durable, heavy shielding provides best audio signal

USB – four wire cable (terminated in rectangular connector)

(both) – video and audio signals

– fast digital data transfer, better than any analog quality

Firewire – four–/six–pin u–shaped connectors

(both) – video, audio, and other signals

– fast data transfer, designed for digital, best quality

J. Basics of DVD Authoring

1. Open Movie in Layout Software

2. Create Menu(s) at Beginning of Movie

3. Mark Chapters of Movie (automatic or manual)

4. Create Buttons or Objects to Hotlink to Chapters

5. Establish Links Between Buttons and Chapters

6. Create Forward/Backward Buttons to Link Menus

7. Title Movie (Necessary, if more than one movie on a DVD)

K. Helpful Movie Making Software

1. Movie File Format Identifier

– MovieID

2. Image Editing

– Irfan Viewer

– Print Shop

– Paint Shop Pro

3. Video Editing

– Virtual Dub

– TSMPG

– Layout software

4. Video Layout

– Windows Movie Maker

– Muvee Producer

– Virtual Edit

– VDO Sun

– Movie Zone

– Screenblast

5. Audio Editing

– Sound Stream (Easy CD Creator)

– Acid Music