A brief introduction to video production. Please also look into the section on our mediaeducation.net web and the links which we have enclosed in the "Useful links" category within this web.

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Camera technology

There is vast range of video cameras available all with differing standards making it difficult to decide what fits your needs the best. With this chapter we hope to give you an overview of what is available and what advantages and disadvantages different appliances have. Nearly all existing cameras can be used for educational projects but they are not all equally suitable when it comes to the editing process.

One thing which we consider to be so important as to mention it here already is using a camera with a microphone input. This enables you to use an external microphone which improves the sound quality enormously.

Tape based cameras (SD, standard resolution)

Digital tape based cameras have been around for a long time now and are still good enough to be used for educational projects. They use small mini-DV tapes and need a firewire lead and a firewire socket with your computer for editing. These cameras are now generally being phased out but they still offer the highest compatibility with editing software (such as Moviemaker).

Memory based cameras (SD, standard resolution)

Memory based cameras are the most common and use flash cards as the main recording medium. Higher spec cameras have hard discs but these offer no advantage but are rather more sensitive and consume more power. Memory based cameras are easy to use and it is quite easy to transfer the video material to the computer. Not all editing software works with memory based cameras although a lot of the cameras come with a basic editing programme. Possible Models: Canon FS100/200 (with microphone input)

Tape based cameras (HD, high resolution)

High definition is a recent addition to the video camera market. As the name suggests - they offer a higher image resolution and look a let better on a HD screen. Tape based HD cameras (HDV) are popular in the semi-professional market but are being phased out in the consumer market. At this moment they work better with editing software and are less power demanding in terms of computing. Models we use: Sony HC9 and Canon HV30/40

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDV

Memory based cameras (HD, high resolution)

Memory based cameras are becoming the standard in the high-definition range. Again we don't use hard discs for reasons mentioned above. The cameras use the AVCHD compression which is at this moment needs good computing power. Having said that, Apple's iMovie works quite well with AVCHD. Models we use: Panasonic SD100/300

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD

What is important when I use a video camera?

Using a video camera is straight forward. The technical requirements for using a video camera are very low and primary school children can already handle a camera without any problems. We would like to mention a few things here which might be helpful for your projects.

Preparation

A couple of things here which are obvious but often get forgotten. Make sure that the camera battery is fully charged before you start recording. A spare (charged!) battery is a useful accessory if you plan to record more material. Also make sure that the recording medium (tape, cards, ..) has enough space left for what you plan to do. Think of additional leads if you want to watch the material afterwards on a monitor.

External microphones

The sound quality of the videos for language projects is very important. You can alternatively record a voice-over in the editing stage. An external microphone can help tremendously since it gets closer to the actor / presenter / sound source. Make sure that the batteries are charged and that the microphone is switched on. It is best to check the sound quality with headphones during the recording. There is nothing more frustrating than missing sound once all the recordings are finished.

Zoom and pan

It is tempting to use the zoom during the recording but we are generally not allowing this feature. The zoom is very good for changing the focal length before you record but a change during the recording is often distracting. It can also make the editing harder. The same applies to constant panning or tilting. Particularly younger children often feel that they need to cover everything through rapid movements, but it is more important to concentrate on one frame.

Tripod

A tripod can be very helpful for static shots and close ups. Especially if you work with younger children who find it harder to keep the camera steady in their hands. A tripod also allows more children to be part of the recording process by looking into the LCD screen together. Make sure that the tripod is heavy enough, so that it can not be knocked over too easily.

Safety of the camera

A long strap attached to the camera is a good safety measure. Don't use the camera in wet weather unless it is well protected.

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Editing technology

You need hardware (computer) and software (editing progammes) for video editing. Most current computers are suitable for editing. Netbooks or other lower range machines are not fast enough for proper video editing. Having said that you can definitely use them for photo stories. If you use a tape based camera you need a firewire socket (1394) with the appropriate lead. There is alot of video editing software around, here are three examples which we use for our projects:

Microsoft Moviemaker

Moviemaker is comes free when you buy Windows XP / Vista. It is a basic programme which is good enough for lots of projects. You have one main video track with options for titles, video effects and additional soundtracks. There are enough options to export the video material for online streaming. Moviemaker works well with tape based cameras but is not compatible with most memory based cameras.

Apple iMovie

iMovie is the Apple equivalent to Moviemaker. It is part of the iLife package which is normally included with every new Macintosh. iMovie has also one main video track with options for video effects and additional sound. It is more versatile with different video formats including HDV and AVCHD. It is designed to work with iDVD, so that you can create your own DVDs as well.

Adobe Premiere Elements

If you would like to take your video skills further you should look into editing software such as Premiere Elements. The software costs less than 100 Euro and offers you the option to overlay many video tracks, putting images on top of images. The software is also versatile in terms of what cameras are accepted and also offers the possibility to create your own DVDs.

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What are the basic steps of video editing?

With every editing cycle you need to go through three steps:

1. Capturing
Capturing means that the video material is copied on to the computer hard disc. With tape based cameras you do this in real time with a firewire lead. Memory based cameras can be either connected through a USB lead (especially hard disc and mini-DVD cameras) or through a card reader (flash card cameras).

2. Editing the video material
Now you are ready to edit the material, the core activity. In this step you will make the clips shorter, get rid of clips you don't want to use and change the order of the video clips. You can add visual effects such as colour or brightness, change and add video transitions such as wipes or blends. Titles and subtitles can be overlaid on any videos or added at the beginning or end of the video. Sound effects and music can be added to make the message of the clip stronger.

3. Exporting your video film
Once all editing is finished the edited video will be exported. A new video file will be created which can be then played independently from the editing software. This file is needed if you want to stream your video. The streaming portals give you directions about the compression parameters. The exporting process can be quite time consuming if you want a very good quality and you might need to export and upload the videos a few times if you have higher expectations.

A final note. Most editing programmes offer lots of video and audio effects. Lots of these can be very interesting but you need to watch out that most of the editing time is not spent playing with effects and choosing fonts but rather on the actual message of the video clip.

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Streaming your video

After you have exported your film into a video file you can upload it on a streaming portal such as youtube.com, teachertube.com or vimeo.com. You need to do following:

1. Create an account with the streaming portal

2. Upload the video file

3. Give the file a title, a short description and some tags

The information about your video clip is important if you want other people to find your clip. If you just put in "our first video" it will be unlikely that anybody will find your film. Think of appropriate titles (such as "Catalan words - body", a good description what the clip is about and some useful tags such as "catalan, language, primary school". And make sure that you click the appropriate category (such as "education").

Make sure that you observe privacy issues. Don't provide any personal details (this includes postal and email addresses) of the students without wirtten consent.
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The streaming platform will give you a url which you can copy and paste and share with students, family or other interested colleagues. You can also embed the uploaded video onto your website or blog.