DVD Home Moviemaking: A Beginner's Guide

Technology has finally caught up with the home moviemaker. For a modest investment, camcorder junkies can now turn their vacation footage into an epic on the order of Gone With the Wind. Well, okay, watchable maybe. Helpfully divided into topical chapters, this excellent beginner's guide teaches viewers about the hardware and software needed to convert footage from camcorders into the digital realm, as well as other materials such as still photos and artwork. The program also covers transcoding (i.e., converting one digital video format to another), the various formats used in home DVD burners (DVD+R and DVD-R), and tips on how to “budget your bits” for the 4.7 gigabytes (about two hours of full motion video) each disc holds. In addition, viewers will get a refresher course in the basics of good shooting, with pointers on avoiding the dreaded “shaky-cam,” as well as techniques for capturing the action in typical home video situations. DVD extras include a technical term glossary and DVD-ROM content such as templates and backgrounds, software demos, production checklists, and more. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block)