Reference Department Training Guide 2009 

Converting Older Analog Video Media to Digital Formats

Week of August 10th

 

About Digital Video Conversion at the Freedman Center

Now that we've tried our hand at a few different audio and video media applications, we'll turn this week to what will be perhaps our most challenging module and exercise.  In addition to audio digital conversion, the FC has the resources, equipment, and software applications to convert old VHS, film, Beta, and other analog video signals into digital format.  As with audio conversion, the FC can help patrons figure out how to digitize video from almost any older format.  The FC even has a videodisc player!  Some may recall these video discs from the early 1980s.  They looked like 33 vinyl record discs, but they played video!  This technology was soon rendered obsolete by the rise in popularity of VHS videotape.  Ask the FC staff to show you a sample videodisc if you are curious.

 

Resources and Equipment

The FC has accumulated many video players in order to accommodate patrons.  Most of them can be accessed and are located near FC audiovisual workstations.  Others can be checked out at the FC front desk.  Available players include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sony Digital Video Cameras

The Freedman Center lends video cameras for 48hr time increments; so, you can capture footage on-site, at home, or wherever you need to go. Bring in your tape and we can help you put your video onto a DVD, into PowerPoint, or online. A tripod is also available for checkout. The Freedman Center provides three (3) Sony DCR-HC21 MiniDV Video; two (2) Canon Elura 100s; four (3) Canon ZR-800s; and one (1) Sony PAL/DCR-HC26.

 

 

 

Toshiba International DVD Player

Can't watch your DVD at home because it is from Europe or Asia? You can watch it here. All of the Freedman Center DVD players are region free. The Freedman Center uses the Toshiba SD-4960.

 

 

 

International VHS Player

Do you have an old home video on VHS that your father filmed in Europe where he was born? You might not be able to watch it at home, but you can capture the film at the FC and convert it to a DVD. The Freedman Center boasts the Samsung SV-5000W.

 

 

 

 

 

8mm and Hi8 Video Player

The FC uses this camera as an 8mm player for anyone that has older 8mm or Hi8 tapes that they would like to digitize. When the Center opened an 8mm camera was not available. It was a common request, however, so the Center decided to purchase one to help out those with 8mm film. The Freedman Center uses a Sony CCD-TRV338 Hi8 camcorder.

 

 

 

JVC SR-VS30 MiniDV & VHS Player

Whether you captured your video using one of the FC's MiniDV cameras or one of your own, you can bring in your MiniDV tape and digitize the video on one of the video workstations. The Freedman Center uses the JVC SR-VS30.

 

 

 

Canopus ADVC300 DV Capture Device

This is the heart of our video capture setup, but you will never see this box because the wiring is hidden from view. All of the video sources run into a switch box, which runs into this box. It converts the analog audio and video signals to the DV standard for capture on a PC or Mac and connects to each video machine via FireWire.

 

 

 

Laserdisc Player

When laser discs first came out a lot of content was made available on these large discs. The FC has one of the mammoth machines here for you to use.

 

 

 

 

 

Film Projectors

Yes, the FC can even help you digitize your aged reel-to-reel video! Video is projected onto a surface that is filmed using a MiniDV video camera, then transferred to a computer. The use of this equipment will require a special appointment. The Freedman Center uses a Eiki NT-0 Self-Threading, 2 blade, 16mm projector; a Kodak Movie deck 455 Dual 8mm projector; and a Sony CCD-TRV338 Hi8 camcorder.

 

What Patrons Can Do at the Freedman Center

• Capture analog video and convert to digital format
• Edit and create high production quality video clips and presentations with special transition effects
• Digitize personal videos for preservation
• Transfer and burn digital video to DVDs, and create DVD menus
• Apply video files to multimedia projects (PowerPoint presentations, video voiceover projects, and instructional or educational media)

 

Reference Interview Tips & Notes

FC Do's and Don'ts

Doesn’t – Instruct patrons on how to edit video.  Basic conversion and DVD burning procedures only.

Does – Help patrons set up computer workstations and software to start the video capture and conversion process

Doesn’t – Provide on-demand video capture fee-based services.  See the Premium Services web page for further information.

Does – Provide video conversion and editing software such as Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Premier Pro.

Does – Provide training opportunities to learn more about video editing through the CaseLearns program.

Doesn't - Store video files on FC workstations in perpetuity for FC patrons.  Patrons can temporarily store such media files on FC workstations in folders labeled with their Case ID/username (letters & numbers) if they need multiple work sessions to finish a project, but all temporary folders will be deleted periodically from the workstations.

Does - Provide temporary storage of video files on workstations for 7 days for 2 gigabytes and above, 30 days for anything smaller.

Does – Monitor the fair use of copyrighted video media at FC workstations.  Staff will inquire about patron projects when appropriate, and workstation computers are regularly cleaned of video files.

Does - Recommend that patrons factor in extra time for working on video projects, especially if they are new to video editing, transcoding, and DVD authoring.  The "times 3" rule of thumb is good to follow.  If you think you need a certain amount of time to get something done, it is best to multiply that time by 3 in planning your project.

 

Top Video Capture Activities

• Music students often make videos of their performances and then create DVD presentations for grant and graduate school applications.

 

To Post, or Not to Post, Video on the Web

As with audio, there are important considerations when working with video media.  Review the comments from our Creative Director of New Media, Jared Bendis:

"When it comes to copyright at Case Western Reserve University - the
first thing to do is to look at the University Copyright policy.

While fair-use exemptions exists within copyright law - it is
important to remember that is is almost never permissible to post,
distribute, or publish copyrighted materials on or across the
Internet.   In an academic environment such as ours it is not uncommon
to excerpt from copyrighted materials to use in face to face
instruction and following the fair uses tests this is often quite
legal.

Logic, however, often fails in these situations.  Copying your
commercial records to CDs is legal - copying your commercial VHS tapes
to DVD is NOT.

Converting home movies and home audio recordings is always legal.
Posting and distributing them is also legal IF they do not contain
copyrighted materials.  For instance, a home movie of me singing a Bob
Dylan song should NOT be posted online.

The staff at the Freedman Center can help guide you in avoiding common
copyright pitfalls and for complex questions can direct you more
knowledgeable library staff members."

Video files can be burned to a personal DVD or storage device.

 

Try It Out

*** Remember that that FC staff can always set you up at a workstation and help you get started ***

*** Remember also that the wiki tutorials can be accessed from any computer, including Freedman Center workstations. ***

This week's exercise will probably be the most time consuming thus far, so make sure to plan accordingly and use the "times 3" rule mentioned above.  This is also a good exercise to do with a buddy.

Try your hand at capturing a video segment from a personally authored videotape, creating a digital video segment, and burning the final product to a DVD.  If you don't have any of your own VHS videotapes, feel free to ask for a sample tape at the FC front desk.

Creating a digital video clip and burning it to a DVD involves a 3 step process:

1. Capturing the analog video signal and converting it to a basic digital file type (AVI) that can be edited and modified
2. Transcoding the AVI file into an MPEG digital video format, a compressed video file type suitable for multimedia presentations and posting
3. Authoring a DVD of the video, which involves burning the MPEG file to a blank DVD and creating a DVD video menu

Patrons often use software packages like Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Premier Pro at FC audiovisual workstations to edit and enhance their video projects and make high-quality, sophisticated video productions.  Additional training and instruction is needed, however, to use these software applications effectively.  We will not cover their use in this week's exercise, but you can learn much more about video editing by enrolling in a CaseLearns multimedia workshop.  Check out the summer CaseLearns schedule for more details.

For this week's exercise,

• Pick up a blank DVD from the KSL Administration office.  They are available at Diane's desk.  Make sure to get a blank DVD, not a blank CD.

• Bring your blank DVD and personally authored VHS videotape to the FC (or ask for a sample videotape at the FC front desk).

• Check out a computer key and audio headphone set from the FC front desk.

• Follow the FC wiki instructions for capturing 1 to 2 minutes of video at one of the FC audiovisual work stations.

• Use the FC wiki instructions for transcoding your captured AVI video clip to the MPEG digital video format.  You can make basic edits to your video clip in the transcoding process.

• Follow the FC wiki instructions for DVD authoring, where you can burn your MPEG video clip to your blank DVD and create a DVD video menu.

• Save your AVI and MPEG video files on the FC workstation in a folder labeled with your Case ID (letters & numbers).

 

Getting Credit

To get credit for this module, please place your authored DVD in my KSL Admin. mailbox.  Make sure to label your DVD with your name.

 

Notes and Comments

***ALERT!***

You'll have another chance next week to win a prize!  So, forge on with this week's module and get ready for the final push next week!

 

CASELEARNS 2009 SUMMER SCHEDULE IS NOW AVAILABLE

If you haven't already, take a moment this week to click the CaseLearns 2009 Summer Schedule tab at the top of the page in this training wiki for the schedule of upcoming multimedia workshops.  Please try to attend as many of these workshops as your schedule allows. These workshops will enhance your knowledge of multimedia and the FC tremendously!

 

It's worthwhile to study the University Copyright Policy in detail.  Take some time this week to study the links on the policy web page and learn more.  If you have further questions, you can always contact Karen Oye or Jared Bendis for more information and clarification on fair use.

Particularly for video projects, it is worthwhile to use the "times 3" rule of thumb when planning your project time in the FC.  If you think you'll need 30 minutes to edit, transcode, and author a DVD, for example, plan on 1.5 hours.  More often than not, you will need extra time to work through your project.  This is also good advice to give to library patrons who ask about multimedia processes in the FC.  It will usually take longer than they think, especially if they are trying it for the first time.