iBikeRide.com

This is more of a blog of my Video experiences than an experienced review or recommendation of how to create videos. I find every element of video creation a confusing myriad of camera choices, editing software and encoding frankly. 

I've written it more to capture what I do now as a novice and as someone still reasonably new to video creation and learning through trial and error everyday. Hopefully it will start a dialogue to gain more knowledge for me (selfishly) and for others at least as a bare minimum to help avoid some of the pitfalls. So if you are expecting an oasis of knowledge you may more encounter a frustrating mirage of guesses, trials and errors. Be driven by the joy of the end result is my best piece of advice, and enjoy the learning on the way.

So in looking at this world of explosion in Video with millions of YouTubers, Google Video freaks and even Facebook into the act.... I pose 5 simple questions to me and everyone else dabbling and having fun with video:  

1. What type of camera or helmet cam do you use to capture?
2. How to get it off your camera?
3. What software to use to edit it?
4. How do you convert it into a format that works or more can be uploaded to the web and streamed like from a You Tube etc?
5. What tips would you give? 

So my experiences...

What type of camera or helmet cam do you use to capture?

Personally I use my Canon MV Camcorder or my Nokia N95 mobile.

The Camcorder has excellent quality and 60 minutes handy cassetes (I always know how much I have left). My mobile is average quality but more than good enough, but the battery is less and the recording time is less (based on a half gig card...which means nothing to anyone and so I never know how long I have left) NB I could go for an 8 gig card if I  wanted to invest)  Also I don't think I could use a helmet cam with my mobile but with my Camcorder this is no problem (do check your connection type mind).

A good site re: helmet cams and compatabiltiy with recorders is http://www.actioncameras.co.uk

I use a crowbar.hmhh! I feel that way. 

With my Camcorder I need a firewire (IEEE 1394) connector to get it onto a PC and my laptop doesn't have one so I have to go borrow a friends Mac. Pain! As an aside I do hear that both cameras with USB connection and PC's (not just Mac's) with firewire connectors is becoming more the norm.

Also once filmed it takes along time to transfer over with my Camcorder. It's literally a cassette that plays back in real time (normally a 60 minute cassette) until it has passed over the video to my computer..snzzzzzzz!! I use one of two pieces of software and both are great to do this. First is Adobe Premier 3 and the other in Pinnacle Studio 10. They load straight from the camcorder. The Studio software came free with my camera. I prefer Adobe though as it seems to eat up less processing power and so is not so slow. NB I have a slow PC mind.   Adobe also has better editing capabilites in my opinion (see below)

With my Nokia N95 mobile it is much much easier and quicker to transfer with a normal USB lead onto software that came with the phone and the quality is good enough. I then load it up straight into Qucktime Pro.  

What software do you use, to edit it and publish it?
OK when it comes off my Camcorder, then as above I used to let it plug into Adobe Premier 3 (but is very pricey and when the free months trial ran out I stopped using it but I may go back). The editing software is great for effects, transitions, adding slides, audio control, music, the lot. It is cool. This alllowed me to edit it really well and easily. I tried using Studio 10 but it was too slow on my PC. So hard to compare.

From my mobile it came out and straight into Quicktime Pro which is cheaper and easy to use but is limited as you can not add many effects and I found it hard to add music and slides to a video. There is nothing stopping me loading my mobile output alos into the likes of Adobe and editing there mind. I've also used WinDVD a few times and this is really easy to use with good features for editing but has limited encoding facilities which you must consider (see below).

OK once you are happy with your creation and thinking Mr Tarantino move aside all is done, it all just gets silly.

If using Pinnacle Studio 10 or Adobe Premier 3 it is reasonably straight forward. I set it to convert into AVI or flash  at the highest video encoding (1000kbps odd) and frame rate (25- 30odd) and an audio rate of around 48kbps, Then I go pour a drink and pray. 

Using WinDVD may be a good editing tool (that uses little processing power so is also quick) but it has limited encoding facilites for the web. It is really fis or making Dvds. It does not have a web friendly video encoding output. Hence I convert it to disk on DVD as it was intended and clerly the nameconverys. Then as the file length equals the disk length I end up with a 20 minute video with 3 minutes of action and 17 minutes of fuzz and no BBC 2 girl to wonder what is she doing now these days in the meantime!!!

So I upload it into Studio 10 which allows me to convert the time length to what it should be. Then I encode to AVI and use the free "Riva converter" to turn it into a You Tube friendly manageable file.

Either way when ready I make sure the file name is search engine friendly so it can be found by Google and the others. NB they can not read video files only file names so name it well.

Finally I tag it, name it , dress up the description and throw it up on You Tube. You Tube seem to be great at diluting it down. They add their own special preri peri type sauce me thinks.

actually finally I ad it to ibikeride and pray it won't be torn apart too much ;)... bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please share your similar or not experiences in the forum post attached or the comments below. Either works. :

Tips

• When buying a camera make sure you have the capability on your PC /Mac to edit it and have thought through the whole process from camera, helmet cam, software, PC compatibility etc, etc when making a purchase
• Make sure your camera (whatever type) can fit a helmet cam to maximise your opportunities.
• Have enough juice in your camera before recording
• Use a computer with a fast processor it will help
• Whilst filming think of the editing and be efficient
• Minimise your encoding conversions it degrades quality each time
• Invest in good software
• I sense it is easier with a MAC. This is the set up a friend Dave uses http://web.mac.com/davehalton/MTBvideos.co.uk/Teccky_Stuff.html 
• Make sure you encode on a high video quality and ensure it is below the file size of providers like You Tube e.g. 100mb (otherwise you will be very peeved going through encoding again)
• Have the patience of a saint
• Focus on the end result and the resulting fame;)
• Post it here on ibikeride:) 

I have no idea if this post is off any value but I fell suitable exorcised in my pain and love for this. At the end of the day I really do enjoy editing video and producing it I just wish it was a tad simpler. Thank you for listening

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (2)

stumpy_dan said:

... Since writing this I have got some cool advice here on the site. I have just started trialling Adobe Premiere Elements 4 and I like the way I can take the video direct form my camera with no encoding, edit quite neatly with some simple features and then upload direct to YouTube. Far fewer steps. I'm still working on changing the default upload quality settings as I think they are too low but I sense this may be feasible with some playing. Thanks all.

report abuse vote down vote up

November 29, 2007
Votes: +0

stumpy_dan said:

	... Folks Recently downloaded VideoSpin. It's free, simple to use and not bad as a basic editing and publishing tool. You can create your output to file (so you can upload here or your own website or direct to youtube or Yahoo. It's not bad. http://www.videospin.com/ I just put this vid together using it. http://ibikeride.com/component...eo_id,190/
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 23, 2008
Votes: +0

Name

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment Preview