Technical+Talk

**Software** (this is not an endorsement of any software, just for educational purposes)

**Windows Movie Maker** Because it is free, and compatible with PCs, the schools for this pilot program are using Windows Movie Maker. (Some schools are running Windows 7, others Windows XP) While Windows Movie Maker is an obvious option as free software, there are many limitations and some hurdles. One major issue is that of Soundtrack. Movie Maker only allows one Audio Track, besides the video track. If students wish to have Narration AND Music at the same time, (usually the case) they have three options: 1) Use another software tool to record Narration and Music, and then import that track to Movie Maker. (Install Audacity Audio Software http://download.cnet.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10058117.html ) 2) (XP ONLY) Lay down the music track FIRST, so that it comes in with the title. Any volume mixing needs to be done in advance. Then, lay the narration track AFTER the music track. That track can then be dragged OVER the music track, but cannot drag to the very beginning, or they snap out of place. 3) Render the movie with either the music or narration in the audio track, then open another movie, import the 1st rendering, and then add the other audio track needed. Windows XP Movie Maker download: http://download.cnet.com/Windows-Movie-Maker-Windows-XP/3000-13631_4-10165075.html Windows 7 Movie Maker download: http://download.cnet.com/Windows-Live-Movie-Maker/3000-13631_4-10965753.html?tag=mncol;2

**NEWS FLASH!!**
 * Windows Movie Maker 2.6 for Vista / Windows 7 (RUN the OLDER SOFTWARE on your new system)**

If you find the old version more usable, you can use this version on your newer system! (The newer version does NOT allow for overlapping music and narration, or overlaying pictures over the video track. Nor does it allow for easy or precise photo placement editing. This is one solution) Woo-hoo!

Download: [|www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=34]

**iMovie** Because it is a part of the Mac iLife suite, and compatible with Macs, this is a great option for those schools running a Mac system. From CNET: iMovie makes viewing and working with video as intuitive as enjoying your photos. A built-in library automatically organizes your video, so all the clips you've captured and movies you've created are just a click away. With its revolutionary interface, iMovie makes it quick and easy to browse your library and create new movies. And iMovie is built for sharing. In just a few steps, you can add movies to your website, publish them on YouTube, and create versions for iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. Read more: [|Apple iMovie for Mac - Download.com] [|http://download.cnet.com/Apple-iMovie/3000-2170_4-7469.html#ixzz1pfMZyVQj] http://download.cnet.com/Apple-iMovie/3000-2170_4-7469.html?tag=mncol;1

**VideoPad** From CNET: NCH Software's VideoPad Video Editor Professional is a full-featured video-editing tool that is surprisingly easy to use. It can combine numerous clips and soundtracks in a wide range of video formats into movie projects, or build an entire production out of a single clip. It supports drag-and-drop editing, real-time effects previews, format conversion, importing and exporting files, captions, narration, and more. It can burn DVDs, HDs, and Blu-ray discs and output video to portable devices. It can also capture video from camcorders and other devices. There is a free 14 day trial version, and the software can be purchased reasonably. (about $40 for home edition, multiple license discounts) http://download.cnet.com/VideoPad-Video-Editor/3000-13631_4-10906278.html

**Adobe Premiere Elements** From CNET: It's by far the most professional of the consumer-level video editors, and as before it can be intimidating and isn't for the dabbler. If you'd prefer to turn out attractive videos quickly, look to [|Ulead VideoStudio 9] ; but for creating polished videos on a budget, Adobe Premiere Elements 2 can't be beat. It is a system hog, so be sure you have lots of free space. (about $80-100) (I use it for splitting student recorded mp4 clips, and then converting and exporting, so it is useful)

Free online editing suite, created for PC based Digital Storymapping. They also have online communities, mapping, embedding, audio and image "postcard" activities. Very interesting site. http://psbeta.com http://ps3beta.com/story/create (then click the Create a Digital Story at the bottom of the page. The free software will load)
 * Place Stories **

From CNET: As for the basics, PowerDirector can import and handle most of the video file types you would normally come across. You can also use it to easily add text, effects, and transitions; edit audio; capture video; burn discs; and share content online. Plus, it has intuitive, icon-based navigation and ample thumbnails, making it quite easy to zip around its interface. Free 30 day trial, then $100. Read more: [|CyberLink PowerDirector - Download.com] [|http://download.cnet.com/CyberLink-PowerDirector/3000-13631_4-10483012.html#ixzz1pfN7Y3Do] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Audacity** This is a great free tool for recording narrations, as well as mixing narrations with music for import into Movie Maker. http://download.cnet.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10058117.html
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Power Director **

A free web-based image editing tool, much like Photoshop, except that all editing is done online, then imported back into the computer. I haven't tested it enough to know if it increases spam or not? http://pixlr.com/ http://download.cnet.com/Pixlr-Editor/3000-2192_4-75532481.html?tag=mncol;2 Pixlr-o-matic - Turn your images into Retro Pixlr Grabber - Take screen shots cleanly. http://download.cnet.com/Pixlr-Grabber/3000-2378_4-75147132.html?tag=mncol;1
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Pixlr **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Final Cut Express** If you have the budget and serious time for your project, this is the cream of consumer video editing software. As the newer cheaper version of Final Cut is now available, this will be unavailable at some point. With more features, it does have more of a learning curve, but most effects that students want are available in this software. (- almost too many options are available, and it would require more commitment of time to the editing process).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">**Video File Conversion** Very soon, as we start incorporating videos into our digital storytelling projects, students may run into compatibility issues between their camcorder videos and the Windows Movie Maker software. In an effort to head this off at the pass, here are some video format conversion tools. Be sure to test them first, as I've had some weird results. At the moment "Freemake Video Converter" is my converter of choice for going from AVCHD or MP4 to WMV files. (Some AVI files need an extra Codec, and aren't always compatible with XP) Each school has its own security issues, but these were all reviewed on CNET:

Convert video free to AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, 3GP, DVD, MP3, iPad, iPhone, PSP, Android phones. Video to MP3 with one click! Another great tool: Rip & burn DVD! Convert YouTube to MP4, AVI, etc. with Freemake! Guaranteed result. Unlike other "free software" options, there are no limitations or hidden costs. They also have a Video Downloader software tool, and are working on an audio converter. Well worth donating to these folks!
 * Freemake Video Converter**
 * www.freemake.com**

http://www.aunsoft.com/video-converter/ http://download.cnet.com/Aunsoft-Final-Mate/3000-13631_4-75328994.html?tag=mncol;2
 * Aunsoft Final Mate Video Converter**

http://download.cnet.com/Any-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10661456.html
 * Any Video Converter (FREE!)**

http://zamzar.com/ http://download.cnet.com/Zamzar/3000-2094_4-10849044.html?tag=mncol;1
 * Zamzar** (no download required, emails the converted file, but is limited in file size)

http://www.nchsoftware.com/prism/index.html http://download.cnet.com/Any-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10661456.html?tag=mncol;7
 * Prism Video Converter**

www.koyotesoft.com (also has FLV converters for youtube, etc.)
 * Koyotesoft Converter**


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 22px;">Special Effects **

(Youtube video []
 * Green Screen: Premeire Elements VIDEO MERGE**

Click TIMELINE view in lower LH, and click on RH Folder: Project, this will isolate two clips to be merged. Drag and drop the BACKGROUND video into a lower channer of the video timeline. (EX: Video channel 2) Drag the foreground video (recorded in front of a GREEN or BLUE screen) to a video channel ABOVE the background channel. A VIDEO MERGE prompt will appear on the screen, answer YES.

To Tweak it, click the EDIT tab. To adjust EDIT VIDEO EFFECTS > VIDEO MERGE > You can use the eye dropper to get the green to appear more evenly.

Be sure to light the background evenly, and light the actor in front to help define them against the screen. Make sure they are not wearing the same color.

EDIT VIDEO CLIP: Drag Video Clips into the Video Layer. Go into TIMELINE view, in the lower screen, to be able to edit the video clips. Play the video to the point that you wish to split. PAUSE the video, and click the SPLIT button on the right. Then RIGHT CLICK and REMOVE the part you don’t want. (You can also highlight the part you don’t want, and then click the SCISSORs or hit delete to cut) TO OVERLAY: Drag the Video Clip to the AUDIO TRACK instead of the video. Drag the picture you want into the video track. You can adjust the length of the image by dragging the sides of the photo clips to the desired length.
 * Picture overlay (XP Version only) (Overlaying Pictures over video audio track)**

(this sort of works, but is not as precise as the XP version... Only for those with patience... good luck)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Pictures over the Video Track Audio – MOVIE MAKER WINDOWS 7 **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> 1. Load an MP3 file of the same # as your video clip into the Audio Track, just below the video
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">2. In the spot where you want to cut to just the audio with pictures, find the same area in the MP3 file, and TRIM the clip to expose just that spot.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">3. Split the video clip (Video Editing/Trim) and insert the photos where you want them, adjust the timing with the Video Editing menu. You might have to "round up" the length of the video, to match the photo length, as photos are edited into even number lengths (ex: 2 seconds vs. 2:44).