Digital Video...

Videoblogging week started this week so I decided that I should talking about the basics of digital video. What camera to use and how to put footage on the computer and then how to edit the footage. Important subject to takle for those of you who are interested in documenting the world around you. Of course there are other technicalities that I won't go into here right now.

First off you need a camera. A video camera (camcorder if you will) not much different than the one pictured to the left. Of course one can get a much more expensive camera called a prosumer for just over a thousand. A prosumer camera is close to what the professionals used but available for use by consumers. Indeed a prosumer camera is not a good idea for use in making vacation videos. A basic entry level camcorder can cost about $300 or $400.

Finally you have to connect this camcorder to a computer. For the most part though there are plenty of computers available with a connection for a device whether a digital camera, camcorder, Ipod, mp3 player, etc. First off make sure your camcorder has a connection that will allow you to download your footage to a computer. Does it have a Firewire connection or a USB connection? And then determine the type of cord you'll have to use. When you buy a cord to connect your camcorder with a computer not all are created equal. Just look at the connection available on your computer vs. the one available on the camcorder and then find the cord that will connect your camcorder to your computer.

On the other hand, there are those computer that may not have a connection to a camcorder. Especially firewire, so that will require you to buy a card. I had to buy a card for my laptop in order to start downloading some of my footage onto the laptop. You can buy a card for use in a PC as well as a laptop. Such a card for PC and laptop will look like this.

For a PC

For a laptop

Finally, how can you edit this video. Well it's probably common to see Windows Movie Maker utilized especially on PCs because it comes with a Windows computer. There is also Adobe Premier that is used to edit video. But there are many choices out there that I'm not going to even go into today.

But those are the basics. If you have an interest. Go on and have fun.