Edit to the Maxx - The Art of the Digital Cut - Part 1

Introduction
I suspect that most folks who buy a camcorder truly believe they will edit the video they shoot. For some, editing means removing video where something has gone wrong. (Unless you’re doing a Bloopers Reel!) For others, video editing is a way to create a polished visual story. For the majority of shooters, their intentions likely lie somewhere in between. They want to cut bad video out, “fix” shots, rearrange shots, and add titles.

Despite the best of intentions, some of us find ourselves shooting more and more video and “somehow” never quite getting our editing projects completed. Worse, as we get further and further behind in editing our work, we lose our motivation.

For many, the obstacle is the complexity of modern editing software and the inadequate documentation provided by the software manufacturer. The Edit to the Maxx column is for these folks. Every other week, I will provide you with real, straightforward information that will enable you to edit video and audio. As the weeks progress, I will go deeper into the art and technology of video editing. You can provide feedback by using the Comments option at the bottom of each column.

Our prime objective will be to focus on learning to edit video using a non-linear editor (NLE). Although we will primarily work with standard definition digital video (DV), we will also use various NLEs to edit high definition video (HDV). Right now, I can hear a chorus of questions.

Is this tutorial for folks who have never edited? Yes. And don’t worry; I will introduce all the necessary NLE terminology (Capture, Bins, Timeline, Export) as we move through the tutorial.

Is the tutorial for folks who already have some editing experience? The answer is, again, yes, but if you use a different editor than we will be using, you will need to be open to new ways of working. Is the tutorial for folks who have PC? Yes. A Mac? Yes, we will be using a cross-platform NLE.

Will I have to buy an NLE? No, we will be using Avid’s FreeDV NLE. I have picked FreeDV for several reasons, most obviously because it is free! Now that Adobe no longer markets Premiere for OS X, FreeDV is also the only NLE that runs on both XP and OS X. Moreover, unlike most low-cost NLEs, FreeDV functions almost exactly like Avid’s professional products.

Does this mean I will be learning to be an Avid editor? Yes and no. You will be learning to use an Avid. Moreover, you will be able to easily move-up to Avid’s professional XpressDV or XpressDV Pro. However, the tutorial will not teach you to edit in the “Avid way.” Instead, I will be showing you how to use an Avid NLE in a far simpler way than if you took a course in Avid editing.

Now I’m hearing screams from users of Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Vegas, and EDIUS about what may seem like my endorsement of XpressDV and XpressDV Pro. Relax, guys and gals. What’s important about learning to edit with a product compatible with professional systems like XpressDV is not that these are best NLEs, or that they are even my favorite. Rather, these products have most of the capabilities a professional requires. Moreover, they function in a manner similar to other editing systems. That means you will be able to transfer most of what you learn to your favorite NLE.

With these questions answered, here is what you can expect from The Art of the Digital Cut. Simply put, this is about the “steak” and not the “sizzle” of editing. Each year, NLE designers add dozens of capabilities to their products that enable editors to create dazzling videos. In the industry, these capabilities are called sizzle. Sizzle is typically used to “punch-up” poorly shot video and/or inadequate storylines.

The Art of the Digital Cut tutorial will focus on both shooting great video and editing this footage. The NLE capabilities we will focus on are those that support logging, capture, organizing, trimming, color correcting, and audio EQ, as well as timeline creation. These fundamental capabilities support digital cutting that advances your story rather than distracting your audience with “cheesy” effects and transitions (a wonderful description coined by my students). Of course, you will also learn how to use filters and transitions to add a little spice.

Avid FreeDV's registration page.

Now that we have previewed what is ahead, it is time to download FreeDV. The main site for Avid FreeDV is www.avid.com/freedv/index.asp. However, I'll save you time by providing the system requirements for FreeDV. Please that confirm your system meets minimum requirements before proceeding, as this can save you hours of frustration. PC owners, you need to confirm that your system has at least: Windows XP Professional; a 933MHz Pentium III, a Pentium 4, or a Pentium M processor; 1GB system memory (1.5GB recommended); a qualified graphics card (Avid recommends an NVIDIA Quadro 980 XGL or an NVIDIA QuadroFX 1100); plus an IEEE-1394 port, or a qualified DV I/O PCI card.

I’m not sure why Avid specifies XP Pro, because I am running XP Home with no problems – so far. Despite Avid’s suggestions, I would recommend at least a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 or a 1.8GHz Pentium M. (I’m using a 3.2GHz P4.)

For Mac owners, the requirements are: Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later; 1GB system memory (1.5GB recommended); 667MHz or faster G4 or any G5 system (single or dual processor); a graphics card supported by Apple; (Avid recommends the NVIDIA GeForceT4 Titanium); plus a FireWire port. I have installed FreeDV on both an iBook G4 (with 1GB RAM) and a 2.0GHz dual G5 (with 2GB RAM.)

You should also consider joining Avid’s Support Forum at www.avid.com/exchange/forums/38/ShowForum.aspx. I recommend you do so after you download and install FreeDV but before you start the application for the first time. That way, should you receive any warnings or errors during startup, you will be able to search for help immediately. At that page, look for the Avid Free DV folder. Inside the folder, you will find hundreds of messages from FreeDV users.

Before you download FreeDV, I need to alert you to the fact that Avid Free DV software is provided “as is.” This means Avid does not guarantee this software's compatibility with any particular computer system or various components installed on it. Additionally, Avid does not assume any technical or customer support responsibilities for Avid Free DV by phone, e-mail, or fax. Likewise, I will not be able to provide support for FreeDV, nor will I be able to answer questions about the Tutorial.

Ready? To download FreeDV version 1.6.1 for the PC or FreeDV version 1.8.1 for the Mac, click to this download page: www.avid.com/forms/freeDVRegDownload.asp. You will need to provide all the information requested. When you have done so, click the Submit button and then download the version you want.

An install screen from Avid FreeDV

Once downloaded, you install FreeDV as you would any XP or OS X software. When requested, supply the two authorization keys that were emailed to you. Now it is time to start FreeDV by double clicking its application icon.

When FreeDV is launched, you will see “Yes, and don’t show again” plus “Yes” and “No” buttons. Click the “Yes, and don’t show again” button. Next you will be presented with a box in which you must type the name Avid sent email to. For example, “Karna Kat.”

Now, the application will connect to the Internet and present “Go” or “Later” buttons. Unfortunately, every time you launch FreeDV this dialog box will appear to give you the “opportunity” of buying XpressDV or XpressDV Pro. I suspect by the time you have encountered this message a dozen times you’ll vow never to buy an Avid product (a fact seemingly lost on Avid’s marketing department). Unless you want to spend the money, click the “Later” button.

Avid FreeDV's new project window

Now you will be presented with the Select Project dialog box. Be sure to write down the folder path displayed, for example: /users/Shared/AvidFreeDV/Avid Projects/steve (OS X) or C:Program FilesAvidAvidFreeDV/Avid ProjectsSteve (XP). I know you will want to enter the application, but we will have to postpone that until next time. (The screenshot above shows an example of a New Project called “Camcorderinfo 1.”) So, go ahead and click the Quit button.

Coming up...
Over the coming weeks we will cover the following topics: Planning Your Shoot, Logging Your Tapes, Planning Your Edit, Capturing DV/HDV, Create a Sequence, Clip Trimming, Add Clips to a Sequence, Basic Timeline Editing, Precision Timeline Trimming, Add Video Effects (Filters) to a Clip, Work with Audio, Add Transitions, Use Video and Audio Inserts, Create Titles, Export to DV/HDV, Color Correction, and many more.

This Week's Shooting Tip
During the next week, you can get ready to begin editing by shooting one “scene.” A shot covers one topic, such as getting a milk carton from a fridge. A scene, in turn, is composed of one or more shots.

When shooting, be sure to cover the scene from multiple angles without zooms and with only a rare pan or tilt (sweeping the camcorder from side to side or up and down). Here is a tip on how to easily do this. Rather than shoot many short shots; shoot the entire action from beginning to end from three or four different positions around the fridge. At each position, use a wide-, mid-, or close-up as appropriate. For example, from the rear you should use a wide-shot, while a shot of the hand grabbing the carton should be a close-up.

Good shooting!

Next Column...

*

Steve Mullen owns Digital Video Consulting located in Las Vegas. DVC has been supporting videographers for over a decade with seminars, consulting, training, and tutorials. A Contributing Editor for Video Systems for many years, he has also written for A/V Video, Camcorder, DV, Etown, millimeter, The Perfect Vision, Video Pro, and Video Review. Steve taught at Rutgers University and the University of the Arts, and most recently has published two eBooks: the Sony HDV Production Guide and the JVC ProHD Production Guide.