Multimedia Production: Definitions, Video Editing, and Audio Formats

Fundamentals of Multimedia Production

Media Types: Text, image, video, and sound.

Professional Standard: Macintosh.

Multimedia Production Stages

1. Capture: Obtaining different media components containing the multimedia product, and storing them in computer formats.
2. Editing and Integration: Editing each medium and integrating them all into a multimedia product, adding effects.
3. Presentation: Using the appropriate device depending on the type of multimedia creation done.

Digital Audio Concepts

Streaming: The action of receiving real-time multimedia information over the Internet.

Digitalization of Sound: The process of converting the analog sound signal into a digital signal.

Sound Formats and Quality

• WAV
• MIDI
• MP3
• OGG
• WMA
• Real Audio

WMA: Compressed files known for good sound quality.

Sound Frequency: A measure indicating the highest number of repetitions of any phenomenon or occurrence per unit time (unit Hz). 1 Hz equals one vibration per second, typically up to 20 KHz.

Video Capture and Hardware

Capturing a Video: Transferring video and pictures from the source device to the computer.

Videocamera Formats and Storage

• Mini DV and Digital 8: Use medium or digital tape (approx. 60 min video). Connects to the computer.
• DVD: Supports approximately 20 min and is read by the computer's DVD reader.
• Hard Drive and Memory Card: Supports internal hard drive or removable memory card. Time varies with size. Connects via USB or FireWire.

Video Editing Workflow

Video Movie Maker Steps

1. Open the File menu and select Video Capture.
2. Select the video capture source.
3. Enter a name for the file and specify the location where you wish to save it.
4. Specify the format in which you want to capture the video.
5. A dialog box appears that allows you to view the film and capture the desired fragments.

Video Technology and Terminology

Most Used Video Formats: MPEG, AVI, DIVX, and DV.

Codec: Software that compresses video and audio files so they take up less disk space.

Frames Per Second (FPS): Indicates the amount of static images displayed in one second.

Video Post-Production Terminology

Editing a Video

The process that includes all operations performed during the production of a movie (menu, film, frame, transition, and clip).

Mounting of a Movie

Consists of inserting different clips in the chronological order that they will be displayed.

Clip

A video segment or a still image.

Cutaway Shots

Short, related shots that were recorded separately and inserted later.

Effects

Applied within a clip to modify its appearance, such as simulating an old movie look.

Transitions

Used to soften or emphasize the shift from one clip to another without changing the clip's content.

Rendering

The process by which video effects, transitions, titles, etc., are transformed into a sequence of frames.

Popular Distribution Channels

Computer, DVD, Internet, email, phones, TV, and radio.