Video Digitizing Using Avid VideoShop 3.0.2

This documentation focuses on the basic process in which one can follow to record and edit a movie from videotape or laserdisc. For more detailed information, refer to the Avid Videoshop user's guide, which is on a CD-ROM in the FDS.

Step 1:

For best results, check to make sure that both File Sharing and Virtual Memory are off before you begin your work with Videoshop. To do this:

1. From the Apple Menu, choose Control Panels, then choose the "Sharing Setup" control panel.
2. The window that appears should contain two or three sections. The second one should be labelled "File Sharing." If the button in this section is labelled "Stop", then File Sharing is on. Click on the button labelled "Stop" to turn file sharing off. (If the button is labelled "Start", then don't do anything--file sharing is already off.)
3. Close the "Sharing Setup" window.
4. From the Apple Menu, choose Control Panels, then choose the "Memory" control panel.
5. The window that appears should contain four sections. The third one should be labelled "Virtual Memory." If the radio button labelled "On" is highlighted, then Virtual Memory. is on. Click on the button labelled "Off" to turn virtual memory off.
6. Close the "Memory" window.
7. From the "Special" menu, choose "Restart" and wait for the computer to boot up again.

Step 2:

• To record from or watch a videotape:
  • Place the videotape in the multistandard, standalone VCR, (not the VCR which is part of the TV monitor). If you can't see a place to put the videotape in, you need to flip down the front panel of the VCR by pulling the top of the front panel towards you. This will also give you access to the controls for the VCR. When you put the videotape in the VCR, it will turn on automatically.
  • Make sure the small Archer switch box has both of its buttons labeled "1" depressed.
  • Using the switches on the front face of the VCR, choose the proper format for the tape you are using: NTSC, PAL or SECAM.
  • For your convenience, there is also a remote control for the VCR. It it marked "Panasonic" and is narrow and grey.
• To record from or watch a laserdisc:
  • To insert a laserdisc, press the green-lighted button marked "LD" which is on the right side of the face of the laserdisc player. The laserdisc tray will open. Insert the disc you wish to play, with the side you wish to play facing up. To close the tray, push the button marked "LD" again.
  • Make sure the small Archer switch box has both of its buttons labeled "2" depressed.
  • For your convenience, there is also a remote control for the VCR. It it marked "Pioneer" and is black with a large knob at the bottom.

Step 3:

If you want to be able to see the tape or disc materials on the TV monitor as they play, the TV must be on and set to channel "LINE" (the channel before "2").

Step 4:

On the tape or laserdisc, locate the segment of video you want to digitize.

Step 5:

Start up Avid Videoshop...

• At Conn College: Videoshop is in folder MellonFLDev2:Movie Utilities:Avid Videoshop.
• At Trinity: Videoshop is in the folder called Mellon Applications.
• At Wesleyan: Videoshop is in the AppleMenu under "Applications".

Step 6:

Under "Windows" in the menubar, choose "Recording". This will give you access to the menus which you will need to record the video onto the hard disk.

Step 7:

Under "Recording" in the menubar, make sure "Video on" and "Sound on" are checked. You will otherwise be unable to see video or hear sound on the computer screen.

Step 8:

There are at least four places where you can adjust the volume. You may have to make adjustments to some or all of these locations to set the volume the way you want it.

• On the face of the AppleVision computer monitor: using the second and third buttons from the right, on the second row, adjust the volume up and down.
• In the lower left corner of the screen there is a tab (double-click to expand it) or a control strip. Find the speaker icon on it. By clicking and holding down on this icon, you can adjust the volume from 0 (silent) to 7 (loud).
• Under the Apple Menu, in Control Panels, go to the item called "Monitors& Sound." By clicking on the button marked "Sound" at the top of the "Monitors & Sound" window, you can access sliders which you can use to adjust the volume as it comes out of the computer tower. By clicking on the button marked "Monitor Sound" at the top of the "Monitors & Sound" window, you can access sliders which you can use to adjust the volume as it comes out of the AppleVision computer monitor.
• There may be another item called "Sound" in the control panels. If there is, choose "Volumes" from the pop-up menu at the top of the "Sound" window and use the sliders to adjust the volume.

Step 9:

Click on the button marked "REC" to start recording.

Step 10:

Click on "Stop" to stop recording.

Step 11:

The movie ends up in the Recording folder. To access movies in the Recording folder:

• Click on the folder button in the top left corner of the Recording window.
• Scroll down until you find the right movie.
Each recording made is saved as an "Untitled" movie (if there is more than one untitled movie in the folder, yours is probably the one at the bottom, with the highest number).

Step 12:

Now you can edit the movie you have recorded. These instructions will help you to get started. Refer to Chapter 2 (p. 25) in the Videoshop manual for more information.

• Once you have located the movie in the recording folder, drag it into the Sequencer which should be located near the bottom of the screen. If there is no Sequencer window, you can get one by choosing "New" from the "File" menu.
• Click on the framing button (the first button in the upper left corner of the Sequencer window) to open the movie for editing. This will extend the movie into several thumbnails depending on the length of the recorded excerpt.
• Use the Magnify tool (the second button down, on the left side of the Sequencer) to adjust how many frames each thumbnail you see represents. To make a thumbnail represent fewer frames, click on a frame with the magnifying glass tool. To make each thumbnail you see represent more frames, click on a frame with the magnifying glass while holding down the option key.
• To identify sections of video, choose the Select tool (the first button down on the left side of the Sequencer). You can use the Select tool like you would normally use the mouse in a word processor: click and drag to select the section of video you want. If you then click on the play button (second button from the left at the top of the sequencer window), you can see just that section of video. You can delete a section of video by selecting it (refer to 4) and pressing "Command-K" on the keyboard. Note: do not use the Delete key to get rid of a segment of video; this will leave an undesired gap between frames. If this happens, you can connect two segments of video where frames have been deleted, click on the third button from the left on the top of the Sequencer window.
• You can also reorganize the video by cutting and pasting.

Step 13:

When you're done with your recording session, please either save any "untitled movie" files into your user folder or delete them from the recording folder. If you don't save your movies with names, someone may delete them thinking they are trash.

• In the recording folder, locate an untitled movie and single-click on its icon to select it.
• To save your movie, choose "Save" from the "File" menu. Don't forget to give your movie a meaningful name, one you'll remember later. If you don't have a user folder already, create one and make sure you save your movie in it.
• To delete an unwanted movie, click once on its icon to select it, then choose "Delete" from the "Edit" menu and respond with "OK" when the computer asks if you really want to delete the movie. Remember that deleting a movie is permanent, so don't do it unless you're absolutely sure you don't want the movie.

Step 14:

Finally, please turn File Sharing and Virtual Memory back on. To do this:

1. From the Apple Menu, choose Control Panels, then choose the "Sharing Setup" control panel.
2. The window that appears should contain two or three sections. The second one should be labelled "File Sharing." Click on the button labelled "Start" to turn file sharing on.
3. Close the "Sharing Setup" window.
4. From the Apple Menu, choose Control Panels, then choose the "Memory" control panel.
5. The window that appears should contain four sections. The third one should be labeled "Virtual Memory." Click on the button labelled "On" to turn virtual memory on.
6. Close the "Memory" window.
7. Turn off or restart the machine by choosing the appropriate option from the "Special" menu.

Remember, these are just the basics of using Avid VideoShop. More detailed documentation is provided on the CD which comes with it. If you need a more detailed explaination, please refer to the available handbooks or request the help of any one of the Student Technical Support Specialists on each of the campuses, or contact the Assistant Director.