Creating Digital Video

The Digital Video Process

To produce a well defined video project you will need a plan. At every stage of your project you should keep in mind the goals of your piece and the steps it will take you to accomplish your task. Your DV (digital video) project will benefit greatly with a little planning.

The following will help guide you through your process.

• Plan the project
• Shoot and gather material
• Capture and import source materials
• Edit and composite
• Archive, encode and distribute the final product

Plan the Project

• Create an outline
• Develop script
• Develop storyboard
• Create a budget
• Cast the project
• Create costumes
• Gather and create sets and props
• Scout and OK locations
• Equipment check

Shoot and Gather Material

• Shoot video (preferably DV)
  
  • Minimize camera and subject motion
  • Shoot with plenty of light
  • Avoid to many pans and zooms
  • Use a tripod when possible
• Create and prepare text, graphic and photographic images
  
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe After Effects
• Record additional audio
  
  • Reduce outside noise
  • Record digitally (e.g., DAT, Minidisc; 44.1kHz, 16 bit, stereo)
• Gather stock video footage and sound

Capture and Import Source Materials

• Capture the DV
  
  • Use DV format and FireWire connection
  • Use good equipment
  • Capture at full frame rate and high resolution
• Digitize analog material
• Import media into a non-linear editor (NLE)

Edit and Composite

• Using a NLE, assemble the video
  
  • Apple iMovie
  • Adobe Premiere
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
• Using a audio editor, preform any audio effects or clean-up
  
  • Bias Peak
  • Adobe Audition
  • Apple Soundtrack
  • If possible use the Sound Studio (Reservations to use the Sound Studio can be made at the Library Reference Desk.)
• Add visual effect and motion graphics
  
  • Adobe After Effects

Archive, Encode and Distribute the Final Product

• Archive or back-up at all stages of the project
  
  • Video cache
  • CD or DVD
  • Back to miniDV tape
  • Preferably to an external FireWire hard drive
• Encode the video for multiple destinations
  
  • Discreet Cleaner
  • Apple Compressor
• Distribute the video via DVD, CD-ROM, online (Streaming Media), or even to film
  
  • Via DVD using Adobe Encore or Apple DVD Studio Pro

For more information about streaming media at the UW please visit How to Create Streaming Media.