Wiley Digital Video For Dummies, 4th Edition 978-0-471-78278-0 User Manual
Product codes
978-0-471-78278-0
Chapter 1
Introducing Digital Video
In This Chapter
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What is digital video?
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How video editing works
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Making your first digital movie
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Sharing your movie
I
t is often said that we live in the Digital Age. We call each other on digital
cell phones, we take snap shots with digital cameras, we download digital
cell phones, we take snap shots with digital cameras, we download digital
music from online digital stores to our digital audio players, and when we
make home movies, we make them using digital video.
make home movies, we make them using digital video.
Digital video first appeared over a decade ago. Sony and Panasonic released
the first consumer-oriented digital video camcorders in 1995. Also in 1995,
Apple introduced the high-speed FireWire interface. In theory, FireWire would
allow camcorders to easily connect to computers, making it easy to store
video on your computer and edit that video into professional-style movies. In
practice, few computers back then could handle digital video.
the first consumer-oriented digital video camcorders in 1995. Also in 1995,
Apple introduced the high-speed FireWire interface. In theory, FireWire would
allow camcorders to easily connect to computers, making it easy to store
video on your computer and edit that video into professional-style movies. In
practice, few computers back then could handle digital video.
If you buy a new camcorder today, chances are it’s a digital camcorder.
Likewise, so long as your computer isn’t more than about four or five years
old, you can probably use it to copy digital video from a camcorder, pick and
choose scenes, add some special effects, and turn it into a real movie. This
chapter introduces you to digital video and shows you how easy it is to edit
and share your movies with others.
Likewise, so long as your computer isn’t more than about four or five years
old, you can probably use it to copy digital video from a camcorder, pick and
choose scenes, add some special effects, and turn it into a real movie. This
chapter introduces you to digital video and shows you how easy it is to edit
and share your movies with others.
What Is Digital Video?
Human beings experience the world as an analog environment. When we take
in the serene beauty of a rose garden, the mournful song of a cello, or the
graceful motion of an eagle in flight, we are receiving a steady stream of infi-
nitely variable data through our various senses. Of course, we don’t think of
all these things as “data” but rather as light, sound, smell, and touch.
in the serene beauty of a rose garden, the mournful song of a cello, or the
graceful motion of an eagle in flight, we are receiving a steady stream of infi-
nitely variable data through our various senses. Of course, we don’t think of
all these things as “data” but rather as light, sound, smell, and touch.
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