XDCAM

XDCAM is an optical disk based professional video system introduced by Sony in 2003. Its features include tapeless optical disk recording of DVCAM, MPEG IMX and, in the XDCAM HD variant, HDV video data, as well as MXF metadata and a low resolution AV proxy stream, on a disc similar to a Blu-ray disc called the Professional Disc, which holds 23.3 GB of data in the PFD23 version and 50 GB in the PFD50 version.

The XDCAM range includes cameras and decks which act as drop-in replacements for traditional VTRs allowing XDCAM discs to be used within a traditional tape-based workflow. These decks can also serve as random access computer drives for easy import of the video data files into non-linear editing (NLE) systems via IEEE 1394 and Ethernet.

Adobe ClipNotes

Adobe Clip Notes helps Accelerate client review and approval by creating an embeded video PDF file which can then be emailed or uploaded to the client. The client can than review the video within Adobe Acrobat creating timecode-specific comments. Once review stage is complete, a ".xfdf" file is sent back to the editor and then the view comments are mapped to the original video timeline.

HDV Tapes

Sony's Digital Master HDV Tape offers the highest quality recording media for the consumer or profesional making the step-up to an HD recording medium. It is the recommended media for Sony's high definition recording for independent film makers, advertising agencies, and other videographers with improved image quality, and the professional 63 minute tape duration. The DVM-63HD features 90% fewer errors and 50% fewer dropouts compared to DV Reference tape.

DVD

”Digital Versatile Disc” (Formerly Digital Video Disk.) is an advanced type of CD-ROM that holds a minimum of 4.7 gigabytes (unit of storage) to a maximum of 17 gigabytes of information. They are compressed using the MPEG codec, which stores only the changes from one frame to another instead of the entire frame. There are recordable and rewritable versions.

• DVD-Video - DVD-Video is the video (motion picture) element of the DVD format. This format can be played with a standalone DVD-Video player (What you will know as a DVD player) or a suitably equipped PC. I say 'what you will know as DVD player' because this is only one of the formats interpretations and player's for other interpretations of the format will appear over time.
• DVD-ROM - DVD-ROM is the general computer version of the format, this works in much the same way as the current CD-ROM format, however it holds over 5x-10x as much data. DVD-ROM's are used in the same way as current CD-ROM's, all you need is a suitably equipped PC.

VHS

”Video Home System” used by most VCRs as the recording medium. This recorder/player machine uses 1/2 inch video tapes that are designated T30, T45, T50, T90, T120, and T160. These numbers indicate the recording capacity in minutes of the cassette in standard play mode. The capacity is doubled and tripled in the long-play and extended-play modes if the machine is so equipped. BETA was a competitor but could not compete.

CD-ROM

”Compact Disk Read-Only Memory” is a polycarbonate with one or more metal layers capable of storing digital information. The most prevalent types of compact discs are those used by the music industry to store digital recordings and CD-ROMs used to store computer data. A "read only" disk which can be displayed on your computer. CD ROMs contain 650 (or 700) megabytes of data.

DVCAM

Holds up to 3 hours of digital quality video. Preferred CCC format – compatible with in house cameras and decks.

Multi-media

Using a computer to present multiple types of media simultaneously, in an integrated manner. These can include sound, graphics, video, text, animation, or any other form of information representation. Unlike video, which must be viewed from beginning to end, multimedia is presented in a non-linear fashion i.e. the user is able to control the flow of information.

Final Distribution Medium

CCC can output and distribute to VHS, CD-ROM, DVD, DVCAM, DV, BetaCAM, Digital BetaCAM, HDV, mpeg1, mpeg2 and to any web based format.

Making a Production with CCC

To start a production you need four things. An idea with a purpose, a target audience, a final distribution medium and a budget. With these in hand, CCC can then begin to work with you in the production process to develop your idea into a fully scripted, produced, edited and finished piece of work.

Timecode Window Dub

This is where we take raw footage and do a direct copy of this footage to a VHS, but we turn on the time-code window in the top left hand side of the screen. This gives you a reference in seconds, minutes and hours as to where you are in time on the video. This can then be used in conjunction with a Edit Decision List sheet to tell us which shots you want from the video, and (more importantly) which shots you don’t want.

Camera Tape

A camera tape is the tape that the cameraman has used to shoot the material for the programme you are making. Also known as a wild reel and contains the raw footage from the shoot. Concept uses DVCAM as the standard for our Camera Tapes.

Edit Decision List

A edit decision list is a sheet that allows you to tell us which in and out points you want off your camera tape. The list has a column for the in point, written in hours, minutes and seconds, (eg 01:02:24 = 1 hour, 2 minutes and 24 seconds), a column for the out point, also written in hours, minutes and seconds, and a column for the description of that particular shot. This can then be used later to identify which shots you want to have in your programme.

Digitising

Digitising is basically the process of capturing the footage from the camera tape into the computer for digital editing purposes.

How CCC Edits Your Video

Firstly, get the tape to us. We will make a “timecode window dub” of the footage. You take the timecode window dub, and some shotlist sheets away with you. Go through the timecode window dub bit by bit and write down the in and out points for all the shots you want to use in your production. When you have finished this, fax us the shotlist sheets and we can enter all these in and out points into one of our digital edit systems. We can then digitise the footage ready for editing.

Editing a Programme

Once your material is digitised, one of CCC’s editors takes over. Graphics are created, voice overs recorded, music is located, animations are prepared and the edit can begin. You are most welcome to be involved in the editing process, and often this can make the edit quicker and more cost effective if the job is particularly complicated. If the editor is working directly to a script, he/she will generally make a first cut of the programme, then you will be invited in to review the progress of the work. All editing is performed digitally at CCC, allowing us to control quality and always maintain a very high standard of output. Once your programme is edited to your satisfaction, the editor will output it to the final distribution medium, be it VHS, CD or DVD etc.

Creating a Multimedia CD-ROM

Designing and creating a CD-ROM is a complicated process, BUT through experience CCC has developed a production process that allows a consistent and manageable flow of work to complete multimedia projects on time and in budget. To begin, it is best to consider what outcomes you require from the user of the multimedia. This can range from simply showing a promotional video, through to fully interactive inductions whereby the user answers interactive questions, then gets their results emailed to the supervising officer on completion. CD-ROM based multimedia is complex to create, but the final outcome is outstanding in its impact.

Rendering

When you create motion graphics on computer, you need to render the effect to video. For example, we want to move a bit of text from the top of screen to the bottom as an animation. You set up your movement from top to bottom of screen. Next you preview the motion on screen to make sure the text moves as you would expect. When you have the animation ready to go, you need to turn this into a video file that can be imported into your video editing program. The process of turning your animation into video is called “rendering”. Rendering can take 10 seconds, or it can take an hour, depending upon the complexity of the animation you have made. Rendering is also required for special effects used in video editing. Generally, we have to render our project before we output this to tape or to DVD to ensure the video is at digital broadcast resolution and ready for final output.