Digital Video For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

by Keith Underdahl (Author) "In 1996, I read a technical paper on a new technology from Apple Computer called FiveWire..." (more)
Key Phrases: audio toolbox, audio rubberbands, capturing analog video, Windows Media, Windows Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
 “…gets to the stuff you really want to know…required reading.” (Nothern Echo, August 2006)

Product Description
So you have a camcorder and visions of being the next Spielberg. But how do you progress from shooting so-so footage to showing your own finished movie? Digital Video For Dummies, 4th Edition gives you the know-how and the show-how! Find out how to shoot and edit great movies, using iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or Adobe Premiere Elements to add the finishing touches like special effects and your own soundtrack. With the latest information and lots of illustrations and screen shots, this friendly guide walks you through:

• Getting your computer ready to work with digital video (complete with information about FireWire)
• Choosing a camcorder, including features to look for and features that are useless
• Digitizing old VHS videotapes to preserve memories
• Purchasing other movie making gear, including audio and lighting equipment
• Shooting better video, with tips on lighting, panning, using the zoom, and recording better audio
• Creating your own sound effects such as footsteps, bones breaking, fire, thunder, insects buzzing, and more
• Capturing digital video using iMovie, Windows Movie Marker, or Premiere Elements
• Editing, including understanding timecode, organizing and previewing clips, and assembling clips in Storyboard and Timeline
• Adding transitions, titles, and special effects
• Importing and integrating video from phones and digital cameras
• Using audio rubberbands in iMovie, Premiere Elements, and other editing programs
• Adding narration, importing and working with CD audio, and adding a music soundtrack

Keith Underdahl has extensive professional video production experience developing kiosk and marketing videos for Ages Software. Realizing that you’ll want to polish and premiere your movie, he includes information on:

• More advanced video editing, including animating video clips, improving light and color, compositing video (bluescreen or greenscreen), and more
• 13 categories of video effects, ranging from blur and sharpen to transform
• Working with still photos and graphics
• Sharing your video online using QuickTime (/QT), RealMedia (.RM), or Windows Media Video (.WMV)
• Making tapes or burning DVDs in 9 steps

With a handy cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts, a chart comparing 10 video editing programs, a glossary, and more, with this guide you’ll soon be saying “Lights, camera, action” and producing your own movie attraction.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 4 edition (February 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471782785
• ISBN-13: 978-0471782780
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,674 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Books > Entertainment > Movies > Video > Technical
  #23 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Telecommunications > Television & Video
  #31 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Digital Music > Audio & Video Editing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Digital Video Guru Course in a Book, February 4, 2004

By	V. Salazar "SuperStar Admin" (CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Digital Video for Dummies, Third Edition (Paperback)

"3rd Edition" I would recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a Video Editing Guru. Now there isn't much fame or glory in such a title, and I'm not implying that after reading the book you will be able to instantly break into the "Pro" video editing business either. But it does give you some useful information on how to digitize those video clips and turn them into a respectable home movie or corporate presentation.

The book is very much based on Apple's "iMovie" and Pinnacle's "Studio 8". You'll skip around a bit because of the 2 different programs it explains, but you're really just getting 2 books in one if you ever decide to dabble in the 'other' program. If you're using a video editing program other than these, you may want to pick a different book.

Well organized and "dumb-ed down" enough for the beginner. The projects and included clips on CD Rom keep it interesting. I learned about many tips that I plan to use all the time in my projects now. Good work Underdahl!

Based on what I've seen in this book, I would definitely check out the Adobe Premiere Dummies book by the same author if I decide to move up to that program. I'm confident that I would not be disappointed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Primer, April 13, 2006

By	J. Hahn (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Digital Video for Dummies, Third Edition (Paperback)

I wish I had bought this book initially.
I was pretty new to digital video. I had lots of questions about transferring, capturing analog, audio, and so far this book has answered them. It would have saved time to buy it first.
I'm using the digital video for a vidcast.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is the one, March 21, 2007

By	C. Nguyen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're new to video editing, it is the one for you. It'S a good start