Multimedia

Table of Contents

1. Multimedia Software

2. Dubbing workstation

3. Video

4. Audio

5. Making a deliverable product

6. Multimedia for the web

7. Advanced multimedia production
    

Multimedia Software

Multimedia software can be very complex and confusing for the novice. It is usually well worth your time to watch some introductory training videos when using a multimedia software for the first time. Atomic Learning maintains a repository of introductory videos on many of the multimedia applications we run in the SILS lab. Some of the advanced videos are behind a pay-wall, but most of the basic tutorials are free.

Some manufacturer-produced, software-specific tutorials and support pages are linked below.

Cross-platform (installed on both our PCs and Macs)

Adobe CS4 Master Collection

Adobe Creative Suite Support Page

(Links below go to individual product support pages)

• Acrobat 9 Pro - pdf production
• After Effects - video special effects
• Adobe Bridge - visual media manager
• Contribute - web content management system
• Device Central - previewing and testing mobile content
• Dreamweaver - web design
• Encore- DVD authoring
• Flash Professional - interactive multimedia
• Fireworks - website and application interface prototyping
• Illustrator - graphic design for print
• InDesign - graphic design
• Photoshop Extended - image editing
• Premiere Pro - video editing
• OnLocation - direct-to-disk recording and monitoring
• Soundbooth - audio editing
• Version Cue - workgroup file management

Audio

Audacity - open source sound recorder and editor

Express Scribe - transcription software. Mac version can play wav, mp3, and aiff formats

Adobe Soundbooth - audio editing

Apple OS X

(note: the lab runs iLife '08; links may be for the similar, current version of iLife) - iLife is Apple's integrated multimedia production suite.

Apple video tutorials

• iPhoto - digital picture management
• iMovie - good choice for begining video editing. This handout provides an overview of the iMovie workflow.
• GarageBand - produce music and soundtracks
• iWeb - template based web design
• iDVD - interactive DVD production

FlipShare - Flip cam video management

Photo Booth - use iSight camera to take pictures

QuarkXPress 6.5 - desktop publishing

Windows 7

Windows Live Movie Maker (video tutorial)

Windows DVD Maker

Roxio Creator DE (user guide)

OpenOffice.org Draw (2.x user guide - the lab runs OpenOffice 3)

Pixela ImageMixer 3 SE

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Dubbing Workstation

The multimedia workstation in the main computer lab area (PC41) is configured specifically to support the dubbing, copying, and capturing of several different media formats (i.e. converting VHS tapes to DVDs). It is equipped with both a Dell Optiplex 745 and an Apple Mini - simply toggle the monitor to select the desired computer input or ask the Lab Attendent for assistance.

• Convert VHS tapes to DVDs
• Convert MiniDV tapes to DVDs
• Burn DVDs with the Pioneer DVD recorder
• Make a Blu-ray (high definition) DVD of your Vixia footage
• About the workstation hardware

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Video

Campus Equipment Resources

Equipment checkout page - SILS has tripods and digital video cameras to check out

UNC Media Resources Center SILS faculty and students can also use the MRC to augment our equipment offerings.

Support

Apple iMovie (Apple video tutorial) - Installed on all lab Macs. Good choice for begining video editing. This handout provides an overview of the iMovie workflow.

Adobe Premiere Pro - Professional video editing, available on both lab PCs and Macs

Record video with Apple iMac's built-in iSight webcam

Tips on shooting video (Current TV training resources) - Multimedia is most satisfying if you take the time to learn some basics and plan carefully.

Introduction to editing (Media College)

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Audio

Basic audio tips - this article was written with radio production in mind, but ensuring that your audio recordings are high-quality will prevent headaches in the long run, no matter what your recording.

Zoom H4n quick start guide

About the Zoom H4n digital audio field recorder

Many SILS students are interested in audio because they are doing interviews for research. At the heart of any interview is storytelling. Whether for public radio or for your Master's thesis, all interviews will be improved by thinking about how to coax stories out of your interviewee. Here are some short videos by Ira Glass, host of the radio series This American Life, on storytelling.

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Making a deliverable product

Most multimedia software requires you to "export" or "share" a finished version of your project. For instance, you cannot send someone an iMovie .rcproject file for them to view your movie unless you also send the entire folder where your original media is stored. Instead, you have to export a self-contained, finished deliverable product. A few options for exporting video are described below.

Create simple DVDs with Apple iDVD (Apple video tutorial)

iMovie export options (see the section titled "QuickTime" for creating files you can play on any computer)

Publish movies from iMovie to YouTube (Apple video tutorial)

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Multimedia for the web

Introduction to streaming video (Media College)

Web multimedia tutorials (W3C)

Guide to video file formats (YouTube)

Guide to video compression (Vimeo)

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Advanced multimedia production

Wacom CTE-630 graphics tablet

The Graphire3 pen is a cordless, pressure-sensitive, freehand input device. It is used in graphics applications for image editing and creating natural-looking pen and brush strokes. The pen works in tandem with our Wacom graphics tablet. Ask the lab attendent for the pen.

How to hold a Wacom pen (video)

User manual (contains useful how-to information)

Creating interactive DVDs

Creating a Custom DVD with Apple iDVD (video)

Getting started with interactive DVDs using Adobe CS4 (video)

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