Raising 100,000 Voices Technical Information for Video Production

Recommended Equipment and Software

Camera: Memory-based camera (no video tape) which saves video as files on a memory card or internal hard drive. With this type of camera, video already exists as files and there is a better chance that your existing computer will be able to handle the video. I would recommend cameras similar to the Kodak zi10. These record HD and SD video and have a microphone input. These and similar cameras are available on amazon.com for around $100. Computer (PC / Apple / Linux): Minimum Configuration (HD camera) Processor Intel Core 2 Duo Operating System XP / OSX / Processor Speed 2GHz or faster Memory 2GB or more Video Card Nvidia GeForce Series ATI Radeon Series System Hard Drive 250 GB 32MB buffer SATA Video Drive 500 GB 32MB buffer SATA

The video drive can be an internal or external hard drive that doesn’t hold system files. It is used to hold video and project files. The minimum configuration for HD video is based on editing video recorded in HDV, AVCHD, or other low-bitrate MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 based codecs (most non-pro HD cameras).

Software: The only software you will need to complete this project is the software that comes with your camera to transfer the video from the camera and video editing software. PC Software: *Black Magic’s De Vinchi Resolve ( lite) Free * Pinnacle Studio HD (download) $59.95 Pinnacle Studio Plus $99.95 Pinnacle Studio Ulitmate $129.95 Elements & Photoshop Elements $149.99 Adobe Creative Cloud $49.99

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These are basic editors that will do everything needed for this project. It will import video from most cameras, edit, add effects and titles, and burn to DVD. Ultimate has a few more options and effects and Ultimate Collection contains a green screen. Pinnacle Video Spin Available at videospin.com. Free version of Pinnacle Studio. Basic video editing, some effects and titling.

WinFF Free Video format converter to convert videos from most popular formats to other formats. Can be used to create the MPEG-4 submission files. This program will also fix Flip camera files so they can be edited more smoothly.

*NEW additions to our list this year: Apple Software: iMovie Basic video editing. Comes with new mac

Adobe Premiere Elements & Photoshop Elements $149.99 These are basic editors that will do everything needed for this project. It will import video from most cameras, edit, add effects and titles, and burn to DVD. Ultimate has a few more options and effects and Ultimate Collection contains a green screen. had problems crashing on a lot of computers last year. This shouldn’t be a problem with a newer computer and a good quality gaming graphics card.

FFMPEGx

Video format converter to convert videos from most popular formats to other formats. Can be used to create the MPEG-4 submission files. This program will also fix Flip camera files so they can be edited more smoothly.

Production Process Pre-Production (January): The pre-production phase includes developing ideas and doing research for your project. The output of this phase is a shooting script, which is the document that serves as the instruction manual for your video. Depending on the complexity of your project, this could take days, weeks or months. If you spend a lot of time here, the rest of the project will go much more smoothly. The steps:  Allow the groups to come up with ideas Brainstorm about topic, treatment, style, plot, characters, etc  Create script based on outcome of brainstorming session and research  Create a storyboard series of individual frames, comic of your movie idea.  Make a list of locations, with props, talent and shots needed at each location  Get written permission and releases for all locations and talent involved Page 2 © URMC 2015

 Encourage groups to create one or two videos instead of one per person.

Production (February): The production phase is where you acquire all of the assets you will need to make your video. You will shoot video, record audio, create/purchase/download pictures and music, etc. If you follow your script and schedule your time efficiently, you should be able to complete this phase in a few days. The steps:  Shoot video stay on track with your storyboards or scripts.  Record voice-over narration if any  Collect or create other assets such as graphics, music, sound effects and photos

Post-Production (March): Once you acquire all the assets the script called for, you are ready to put them all together using your video editing software. Put your video on the timeline so the audio makes sense, add pictures, extra video (called b-roll). Add transitions between shots, such as dissolves. Add titles and sound effects and you’re done. An experienced editor could do it in a day or two, but it could take beginner weeks just to learn to use the software efficiently. You may want to do a small project to learn to use the editor before tackling the big project. The steps:  Capture video and put all other assets needed for editing into the computer  Edit video  Export video as a MP4 file with AAC audio.  Burn a data file to CD or DVD, or a thumb drive to deliver to WXXI

Specifications for deliverable video: This is the specification for the video you will deliver to WXXI: If you are using a DVD to deliver your video file use DVD-R discs (Not DVD+R or DVD+RW) Three minute MP4 file. This is a file with a .MP4 extension that contains H.264 format video and AAC audio. The video bitrate should not be lower than 6 Mb/s (6000 Kb/s) or higher than 8 Mb/s (8000 Kb/s). The audio stream is AAC format with the sample rate of 48000 bit rate, no less than 64 kbs in stereo. Audio should be peak at -3dB. Technical Assistance Available: Contact Russ or Steve by phone or email weekdays between 9am and 4pm to help solve problems that may arise in the production process. There is a PC editing suite available at the University of Rochester Medical Center that has Adobe CS3 and other useful tools. Contact Info for technical assistance: Russell Lunn Steve Fasone 300 Crittenden Blvd Room 1-9072 Phone: 585-275-2657 Email: [email protected]

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