Basic Video Editing

This video from the scribes at Videomaker magazine offers a quick-study guide to the essentials of assembling high-definition digital footage on a home computer. Although some tech savvy is required, the presentation is very basic: no differentiation is made between various image file formats, the Macintosh vs. Windows argument is not addressed, and competing software-editing suites are not evaluated. Better parts of this fast-paced, six-part program include a nice demo of working with audio; tips on avoiding continuity errors; and a discussion of the oft-abused “transitions menu,” overuse of which will “take the viewer out” of a movie. Unfortunately, Videomaker doesn't use third-party examples to illustrate principles, and the scattershot approach zigzags between the simple and the complex—addressing situations in which the user is putting together a straightforward home movie and those that involve complicated storyboarded productions with pre-planned, multi-camera narrative shoots. While offering some solid and helpful information, the production suffers overall from trying to be all things to all users (as well as some grievous spelling errors in segment headings). Also available is the related title Advanced Video Editing. Optional. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Cassady)