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Back Issues:

December 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

The Softer Side of Blank Media

by Charles Fulton
Just what your video equipment needs.

It's Camcorder Season!

by Jennifer O'Rourke
Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other Winter festivities, 'tis the season of celebration, beautiful images, family and fun.

Annual Article Index

by Charles Fulton

Columns

Viewfinder: A New Path

by Matthew York
A New Path

Basic Training: Gearing Up for Battle

by Michael Reff
Before you grab your gear and hop on your trusty steed, you need advance preparation to successfully ride off into battle.

Lighting Your Video: Back to the Hardware Store?

by Jim Stinson
Lighting accessories can be as easy to make as a trip to the local hardware store.

Video Editing : The 3-Ring 3D Title Circus!

by Bill Davis
And in the center ring: the amazing, the gigantic, the most impressive typography known to mankind... Ladies and Gentlemen! Feast your eyes on 3D titles!

Sound Advice: The Sounds of the Holidays

by Hal Robertson
From festive feasts to memorable moments, sound matters on holiday videos! These audio tips can help you make the most of the magiv of your cherished celebrations.

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

BluffTitler | particleIllusion | Datavideo SE-500

by Charles Fulton
Datavideo SE-500 Video Switcher. WonderTouch particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X. Outerspace Software BluffTitler 3.0.

liquid lens|Premiere Elements 2.0|Photoshop Elements 4.0

by Morgan Paar
How Does $45,000 Sound for Your Next Video? Two New Elements From Adobe. A*STAR has developed a tiny liquid lens that mimics the human eye

November 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Camcorder Accessories: Lenses and Filters

by Pat Bailey
Shooting better video by understanding how to use camcorder lens accessories.

Using the Force: Editing Software Buyer's Guide

by James DeRuvo
Editing has come a long way with the computer and editing software.

Shooting a la Mode

by James DeRuvo
Explanations of all those non-standard modes that today's camcorders are capable of shooting.

Columns

Viewfinder: Vidcasting

by Matthew York
Vidcasting

Basic Training: Lenses - The Long and Short

by Jim Stinson
Wide-angle and telephoto lenses render images differently from the way we naturally see things. Skilled videographers can exploit these differences to create effective shots.

You TV: Every Person is a Broadcaster in Broadband Land

by Kyle Cassidy
From home movies to Hollywood blockbusters, your broadband Internet connection is prepared to deliver video.

Illuminations: One-Light to Cover them All

by Jim Stinson
Budget and creative lighting are just a couple reasons why you'd want to shoot with only one lighting instrument.

Illuminations: One-Light to Cover them All

by

Video Editing : The Kindest Cut of All

by Bill Davis
In the beginning, there was the cut. The usual editing conventions dictate that most of your transitions should be cuts. Let's step away from the transitions palette for a while.

Sound Advice: Rip It Good

by Hal Robertson
When a good song comes along, you must rip it... A guide to extracting tracks from your audio CDs (of material that you're entitled to use) for your video projects.

Test Bench

Departments

New Titles

by Kyle Cassidy
  • Creative Titling with Final Cut Pro
  • Total Training for Adobe Photoshop CS2

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

New Gear

by Charles Fulton
  • Serious Magic HDV PowerPak for DV Rack
  • LowePro Ridge series Camcorder Bags
  • FutureVideo Media Commander MC-20PRO Jog/Shuttle Dial

Canon HDV Camcorder | Blu-ray Disc vs. HD DVD

by Morgan Paar
Canon announces its first HDV camcorder. Adobe, Dell, HP, Intel and Microsoft are now banding together to make HDV. The next generation of DVD

Special Issue 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Microphones Take Flight

by James DeRuvo
Microphones Take Flight

Tripods in a Supporting Role

by Teresa Echazabal

From DV to HDV, From Small to Big: The Digital Camcorders Buyer's Guide

by Laura Martone
From Small to Big: The Digital Camcorder Buyer's Guide

A Ray of Light: A Buyer's Guide for Lights and Reflectors

by George Furukawa

Editing Systems

by Pat Bailey

Monitors

by Michael Fitzer

DVD Authoring and Burning Products

by Bill Davis

DVD Recorders the New VCR and More

by Bill Davis

What's in a Bag

by Laura Martone

Choosing the Best Audio Mixer

by Hal Robertson
On the output side, mixers include the same connector options: XLR, ¼", RCA and even Euroblock.

Choosing the Best Video Switcher

by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
Like Hal, the computer in 2001, a Space Odyssey, it's the brain and central nervous system of a production. Like Hal, the switcher could kill that production if it isn't up to the job.

Batteries not Included

by Bill Davis
Batteries not Included

Columns

A Buyer's Guide Special Edition

by Brian Peterson

Departments

October 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Tools For the Creative Digital Artist

by George Furukawa
Whether you're making movies, or corporate videos, in a virtual production world, having the right video effects are nowadays as important as acquiring that Big Name actor once was.

Untangling the Connection

by Morgan Paar
An introduction to Videomaker's Guide to Video Connectors

DV Demystified

by Bill Davis
A comparison of DV camera formats.

Columns

Viewfinder: A New Way

by Matthew York
A New Way

Video Production Tips

by Jim Stinson
Many of the little things that you learn from from a lifetime of planning, directing, editing and producing videos can easily be applied to life as a whole.

Green Screen Lighting

by Jim Stinson
Virtual green screen sets are no longer just for the privileged Hollywood bigwigs.

5 Steps to Great Video Production

by Randal K. West
Every successful shoot starts with a good plan.

Video Editing : Logging Software, Evolved

by Bill Davis
A critical part of the process is having some kind of timecode linked to all of the frames that are captured by your camera.

Sound Advice: Surround on the Cheap - Part 2

by Hal Robertson
Last month, we made the pitch for upgrading to surround sound. This month, we'll take raw materials and craft them into a complete DVD sound environment

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

New Titles

by Jim Stinson
New Titles - Technology of V/A Streaming & Total Directing

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

LaCie pocket-sized encoder | Music 2 Hues thematic music

by Charles Fulton
Pocket-sized hardware MPEG-1 and -2 encoder that attaches to the FireWire. Design templates compatible with many DVD authoring software titles.

Dragon Portable Hard Drives | Pinnacle Studio Plus 10

by Morgan Paar
Dragon 2.5 fits in the palm of your hand. Acquisition of Pinnacle by Avid. Burn a DVD directly from a camera or VCR.

September 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Model Release Form

by Jennifer O'Rourke
A Videomaker sample release form to use when hiring talent for your next production.

The FYI on NTSC, VGA and ATSC Monitors

by Michael Fitzer
The FYI on NTSC, VGA and ATSC.

Video Capture Card Roundup

by Kyle Cassidy
VHS, Hi8, USB, FireWire, PCI, 8mm... confused on how to fit it all together? Don't be. We've got the ticket to your video capture dilemma.

2005 Videomaker/Digital Juice Short Video Contest Call for Entries

by Charles Fulton
It's time for the 19th Annual Videomaker/Digital Juice Short Video Contest. Take a chance--put your video skills on the line, and you might just win some great video tools.

Columns

Viewfinder: Style

by Matthew York
Style

Basic Training: Shoot to Show or to Edit

by Randy Hansen
"Shoot to Show" and "Shoot to Edit" are two different styles requiring different methods of planning. No one knows these techniques better than a run-and-gun News Photographer.

Illuminations: Pulling the Plug

by Jim Stinson
In order to light that night scene in the field a mile from your house, you'll need a couple hundred 50-foot extension cords, or some other AC power alternatives.

Wardrobe & Make-Up

by Bud Elliott
Looking Good: Tips for the Director

Intro to Genres

by Morgan Paar
If you see visions of your first Indie Film, or you're just having fun with the kids, making movies can be fun. Whether it's a Thriller, a Western, a Comedy or a Romance, they all have one thing in common: they follow a specific Genre.

Video Editing : Manipulating Time

by Bill Davis
Tempis Fugit. If you're not up on conversational Latin, that's

Sound Advice: Surround on the Cheap - Part 1

by Hal Robertson
There are many techniques to creating proper surround sound projects, but you don't have to invest your mortgage on a full-blown surround system to achieve them.

Test Bench

Departments

Tweaks: Driving Hard

by Kyle Cassidy
Keeping your Hard Disk at Peak Performance.

Your Tips

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

Pyro A/V Studio | HD stock footage | Kanguru 16x DVD duplicator

by Charles Fulton
New Gear: ADS' Pyro A/V Link FireWire converter box. New HD stock footage collections

HDV support for DV Rack | Cell phones support video | Podcasting

by Morgan Paar
HDV support for DV Rack now available from Serious Magic. H.264 is the best looking video compression to date.

August 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

48 Hour Film Challenge

by Tad Rose
If you haven't heard, there's a new video contest coming to a town near you. It's called the 48-Hour Film Project.

Tripods in a Supporting Role

by Teresa Echazabal
Choosing the right tripod doesn't have to be a shaky experience. Follow these simple guidelines and you will be on your way to a smoother, more professional-looking video presentation.

Out of the Box, Into the Edit

by Pat Bailey
Understanding the advantages and limitations of turnkey editing systems.

2005 Videomaker/Digital Juice Short Video Contest Call for Entries

by Charles Fulton
It's time for the 19th Annual Videomaker/Digital Juice Short Video Contest. Take a chance--put your video skills on the line, and you might just win some great video tools.

Columns

Viewfinder: How do You Feel about Making Video?

by Matthew York
How do You Feel about Making Video?

Basic Training: Shooting the Four Seasons

by Randy Hansen
"Neither Rain nor Sleet nor Dark of Night..." will keep the dedicated videographer from capturing the essence of the seasons... and you can too, with these tips from the pros.

Illuminations: On-Camera Lighting

by Jim Stinson
Lights mounted on camcorders are fairly crude and often frustrating; but there are times when you just gotta have 'em.

Video Editing : Make Room for Data

by Bill Davis
How to sequence files, audio files, graphics, and all manner of other digital work files populating your virtual folders or scattered around your desktop.

Sound Advice: A Little Balance

by Hal Robertson
A quick overview of the differences between balanced and unbalanced audio, along with the benefits of using balanced audio.

Test Bench

Departments

New Titles

by Jim Stinson
DVD Authoring with Adobe Encore DVD
  • Total Training: Adobe Premiere Pro, Set 1
  • MyDVD 5 for Windows

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

Panasonic AG-HVX200 | Newest Version of Vegas | DV-to-DVD Wizard

by Charles Fulton
AG-HVX200 can capture HD footage onto memory cards at both 1080i and 720p. VideoStudio 9 includes a new DV-to-DVD Wizard and chromakey.

Blu-ray is on the Way. Disposable Camcorders?

by Morgan Paar
Video industry news. Blu-ray is on the Way. Disposable Camcorders?

July 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

What's in a Bag

by Laura Martone
Choosing the right protection for your equipment.

Microphones Take Flight

by James DeRuvo
A brief overview of microphones for the videographer.

Cracking the Video Time Code

by Pat Bailey
Unraveling the perplexity and complexity of using video time code.

Beef it Up: Basic Hardware Requirements for Editing

by Joe McCleskey
What to buy, what to buy? The toughest decision to make when building an editing system is "Where do I begin?" Here's an easy-to-follow guide to get you started.

Columns

Viewfinder: Sundance Visions

by Matthew York
Sundance Visions

Basic Training: Shooting on the Go

by Jenny Hanson
Videographers rely heavily on tripods to get smooth, steady and level images. While essential, they can be a hassle when there's no time for setup.

Illuminations: Color Temperature Strategies

by Jim Stinson
Coloring your video world with light is more than just turning on a few lamps and setting a good white balance - light is often a mixed bag.

Lighting Terms

by Jennifer O'Rourke
Glossary of lighting terms used by videographers.

Video Editing : Using Still Photos in Video

by Bill Davis
The Civil War not only changed American history forever, but it changed the future world of video editing.

Audio Advice: Traveling Sounds

by Hal Robertson
Probably the most important audio tool in your kit, normalizing analyzes the audio in a video clip and boosts the volume so the peaks are at maximum volume.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Jennifer O'Rourke

Your Tips

by Morgan Paar

Ulead Video ToolBox Home Edition | Telemetrics TelePod

by Charles Fulton
Ulead Video ToolBox 2.0 Home Edition offers batch conversion. USB Mach 1 Speed Charger can recharge NiMH or Li-Ion batteries at the same time.

NAB Round Up |Panasonic1080i/720p HD camera | JVC GY-HD100U

by Morgan Paar
Panasonic displayed its much anticipated 1080i/720p HD camera. JVC debuted its new HDV camera, the GY-HD100U. Sony HDR-FX1 HDV camera

June 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Plan Ahead When Choosing a Video Switcher

by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
Choosing a video switcher (also known as a video mixer) is an important decision for most video producers.

DV or HDV? Digital Camcorder Comparison.

by Laura Martone
DV or HDV? Which camera is best for you. Guide to finding the camcorder that's right for you.

Columns

Viewfinder: HDTV

by Matthew York
HDTV

Basic Training: Winning with Composition

by Kyle Cassidy
When one shot flows into another seemingly seamlessly, you've got the makings of good shot composition.

Illuminations: Lights for Different Jobs

by Jim Stinson
You can't tell the players without a scorecard, so here's the roster for video lights and what they do.

Edit The Plan: Part 3 of Production Planning

by Jim Stinson
Planning for post-production will re-focus your vision of the program you want and then help you create it with the material you've got.

Video Editing : Multicam Editing

by Bill Davis
The Golden Age of live TV mastered the multi-cam technique, but for many of us, editing a multi can be a nightmare. Not anymore!

Sound Advice: The Natural Approach

by Hal Robertson
Waves crashing, seagulls screaming, kids laughing... all elements of natural sound that enhances every story and boosts the impact of your video.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Quick Focus

by Morgan Paar

Digital Juice | Vlog It Easily Adds Video Content to Blogs

by Charles Fulton
Digital Juice Jump Backs volume 21-24 60 frame-per-second libraries. Serious Magic's Vlog It! is designed to help add video content to blogs.

Hitachi DZMV730A | Avid purchases Pinnacle | HDTV field monitor

by Morgan Paar
Hitachi Image Engine boasts a 20 percent improvement in video noise reduction and 20 percent longer battery life. Avid in the purchase of Pinnacle.

May 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Express Yourself: An Introduction to Scripting and Storyboarding Software

by Bill Berg-Hillinger
Let's get real. We work and play in a visual medium where scripts and storyboards strive for a certain look. Whether you're a writer, director or producer, if it doesn't look right, it lowers your chances of getting seen. But here's some software to help with that next script or storyboard presentation.

A Ray of Light: A Buyer's Guide for Lights and Reflectors

by George Furukawa
Light up your world with possibilities with the right light for mood, intensity and dimension.

2005 Videomaker Expo Wrap Up

by Charles Fulton
Thousands of attendees converged on the Pasadena Conference Center from February 3-5, 2005 for Videomaker Expo West.

Columns

Viewfinder: Why do People Like Stories?

by Matthew York
Why do People Like Stories?

Basic Training: What were you THINKING?!

by Jennifer O'Rourke
Have you ever wanted to wrestle a camcorder away from Uncle Buck while at a

Illuminations: Moving Targets

by Jim Stinson
In lighting a subject in motion, focus on the important points in the movement path.

Movie and Video Production Planning Part 2

by Jim Stinson
Part 2 of a 3 part series on movie and video production planning.

Video Editing : Family Time: Cutting the Album

by Bill Davis
Leave the emotions at the door, and let the long shots fall to the edit room floor, and you'll create a family album masterpiece that even strangers will admire.

Sound Advice: Hooking Up

by Hal Robertson
The best microphones and mixers in the world aren’t much use if you can’t get the pristine audio into your camera.

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Morgan Paar

In Box

by Morgan Paar

Digital Hotcakes | DV switcher | Panpilot camera stabilizer

by Charles Fulton
Wedding essentials Collection includes beginnings, endings, intros, outros, transitions, wipes, overlays and seamlessly looping backgrounds.

Sony Vegas 6 | DVD Dual-Layer Writing | Canon Mini DV Cams

by Charles Fulton
Sony Media Software Announces Vegas 6. Nero Announces DVD-R Dual-Layer Writing Capability. Canon Announces Three New Mini DV Camcorders.

April 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

DVD Recorders: The New VCR and More

by Bill Davis
Out there in the great home video marketplace, clearly VHS is fading, and DVD video is on the rise.

DVD Authoring and Burning Products

by Bill Davis
The home DVD production dam started breaking down when computer manufacturers started equipping their products with DVD burners.

2004 Videomaker Contest Winners

by Charles Fulton
We are very pleased to present the winners of the 2004 Videomaker Short Video Contest as picked by Videomaker Magazine subscribers.

Columns

Viewfinder: Reaching Larger Audiences

by Matthew York
Reaching Larger Audiences

Basic Training: The 9 Classic Camera Moves

by Brian Schaller
Camera moves can make your project look super professional or incredibly amateurish depending on how well you use them.

Illuminations: Mopping up Spills

by Jim Stinson
Excluding light where you don't want it is as important as painting it where you do.

Plan the Shoot: Part 1 of Production Planning

by Jim Stinson
Meticulous planning will enable you to shoot the program you developed and then edit the show you shot.

Video Editing : DVD Menu Authoring

by Bill Davis
How to keep that freshly burned DVD from moonlighting as a coffee-table coaster.

Sound Advice: Can You Hear Me Now?

by Hal Robertson
A few simple tricks to find the best way to record and edit your narrator.

Test Bench

Departments

Tweaks: Kill Your Background Apps!

by Kyle Cassidy
Keep your editing system running smoothly and improve performance and stability.

DV Caddie Shoulder Rest | Digital Video Solutions 3D titles

by Charles Fulton
DV Caddie Shoulder Rest, Focus Enhancements MX-4 Video Mixer, Digital Video Solutions TitleWaves

CES Camcorder Roundup. Quick observations on the new camcorders.

by Charles Fulton
The average camcorder is featuring longer optical zoom lens. Samsung has joined the fray of manufacturers offering DVD-based camcorders.

March 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Bringing Pixels to Life

by Hal Robertson
A Guide to Animation Software.

One Mean Post-Production Machine (In Your Own Bedroom or Briefcase)

by Morgan Paar
12th Annual Guide to Computer Video Products

Columns

Viewfinder: Producing More Enjoyable Video

by Matthew York
Producing More Enjoyable Video

Basic Training: The (Alien) Sky's the Limit!

by Kyle Cassidy
Your color creation palette is limited only to the imagination when you understand how to use the simple video filters in your editing software.

Peer To Peer File Sharing

by Kyle Cassidy
Peer to Peer Could be the answer to your Video Distribution Questions.

Illuminations: Get Creative with Cookies!

by Jim Stinson
It's time to get interactive with Videomaker and make your own cookies. No baking necessary, and the only "ingredient" is your imagination.

Video Editing : HDV Editing!

by Bill Davis
Feel the video world shaking? The first rumblings of the HDV shake-up are going to change the footings under the video production industry in the coming years.

Sound Advice: Doin' the Bump

by Hal Robertson
Using bumper music and segues in your productions.

Test Bench

Departments

Tech Support

by Joe McCleskey

ViviClip editing software | MooGear DV Capture |InterVideo

by Charles Fulton
DV Pro editing software for Windows XP. Wizard-driven disc burning applications. DV Capture 1.0 captures DV video easily via FireWire.

Western Digital Cooler-Running Hard Drives | Video Toolbox 2.0

by Charles Fulton
Western Digital Announces Cooler-Running Hard Drives. Leitch has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Inscriber.

February 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Mix and Match

by Hal Robertson
A buyer's guide to audio mixers.

Best Products of Year

by Joe McCleskey
The best consumer video products of 2004, as selected by the editors of Videomaker.

Columns

Viewfinder: Give Narrating a Try

by Matthew York
Give Narrating a Try

Basic Training: 11 Steps to Add Some Spice to Your Video

by Kyle Cassidy
Give some pizzazz to your videos with a few simple techniques.

Illuminations: Diffusion for Contrast Control

by Jim Stinson
Instead of filling outdoor shadows with reflectors, try controlling highlights by diffusing them.

Jargon: Shooting Terms

by Charles Fulton
Shooting Terms

Video Editing : Tips for Editing Montages

by Bill Davis
When random pictures come together to create a single compelling collection.

Sound Advice: Working the Room

by Hal Robertson
Getting a handle on acoustics during your shoot.

Test Bench

Departments

In Box

by Charles Fulton

Video Help from Videographers

by Charles Fulton
Our subscribers give advice, and share lessons learned in their videography experience.

Video News

by Charles Fulton
Video industry news. Knowitallvideo.com. Update: Dreamer. ManiaTV!: Live TV on the Internet

New Gear

by Charles Fulton
  • United Media Multicam
  • Sony DVDirect
  • Turtle Beach Video Advantage PCI

Focus MX-4 Video Mixer | Sony Professional HDV Camcorder

by Charles Fulton
Focus Enhancements Ships MX-4 Video Mixer. Plextor Ships SATA DVD Burner. Sony Unveils Professional HDV Camcorder.

January 2005 Table of Contents

Feature Stories

Shooting HDV

by Matthew David Wachsman
High definition video gives more to the viewer, but it asks more of the shooter. What do you need to know to begin?

Show it on the Big Screen!

by Charles Fulton
There's a new type of projector in town that attaches to video and computer sources, thanks to advances in image output technology.

Music in a Box

by Hal Robertson
Suspense! Drama! Romance! Laughs! The emotion of your video can change with a click of a mouse with various ways to get music and sound effects into your video.

Roll 'Em!

by Jim Stinson
The world is full of rolling stock, just waiting for you to ride it while you shoot amazing moving shots.

Columns

Viewfinder: New Beginnings: a New Look for a New Year.

by Matthew York
New Beginnings: a New Look for a New Year.

Basic Training: Camera Magic

by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
All the tricks and techniques of in-camera effects that take your ho-hum video from the ordinary to the brilliant with these savvy shooter's tips.

Illuminations: Why Three-Point Lighting?

by Jim Stinson
Conventional three-instrument lighting makes more sense when you understand the reasons behind this classic method.

Video Editing : Feel the Power!

by Bill Davis
Make your PowerPoint-style meeting slideshows sing, by creating presentations that include video elements.

Sound Advice: Audio Isolation

by Hal Robertson
In order to ensure the quality of your audio, grab a pair of headphones and put them to good use. Better audio awaits you.

Test Bench

Departments

Ulead DVD Workshop Express | Adobe Premiere Elements

by Charles Fulton
DVD Workshop suited to intermediate DVD authoring.Wedding collection of backgrounds

Hybrid Computer DVD Recorder | Turtle Beach Capture Board

by Charles Fulton
Sony Announces Hybrid Set-Top/Computer DVD Recorder. Turtle Beach Video Advantage PCI Capture Board. InterVideo DiscMaster 2 Gold and Platinum.