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More enthusiast microscopists are turning to modern technology
to enhance their hobby or work. I have been involved with many internet and PC technologies since the 1990s and
I thought I might be able to help strengthen your capabilities dealing with the constantly changing tools now at
your disposal. I will try and build up this resource as a solid knowledge base for you to use easily in the future.
Overview
Many other articles in Micscape Magazine deal
with the process of fitting video cameras to microscopes either by way of adapters which can be purchased or made.
This article deals more with the technology of video recording, editing, and distribution via internet technologies,
DVD, and VCD. I have designed it to help you not just capture video at the microscope but to reach a point where
you can share the final results with a wider audience. The process can often appear complicated due to the variety
of methods available and the rapidly changing environment for moving-image capture and redistribution. I will try
and simplify the process by removing the things which I believe are wrong avenues to go down, and by explaining
why you should focus on the things I know will work best.
Video
Capture Process
A camera can be set up to record straight into the computer, onto a video recorder, directly onto a dvd recorder,
or onto an internal tape (analogue or digital). It's a sad indictment that the current state of computer technology
leaves us with a less than than perfect environment where regular 'crashes', sudden computer halts, and software
bugs, thwart the fluidity of the work we do with them. I would recommend then that best way to capture video for
editing and redistribution is to break down the process into secure steps. Simplifying the process means you will
be certain ultimately to capture content without loss.
The stages of the process are as follows:
- record the subject at the microscope onto tape within the
camera (use a camcorder)
- play back the camcorder and transfer the video samples to
your computer with as little detail lost as possible.
- edit the samples using a video editing software suite on your
computer
- add voice-over and music to the edited video.
- send back the final video to a suitable video-tape recording
device (camcorder with inputs)
- retranslate the video on your computer to alternative formats
for internet, vcd, and dvd distribution.
- load internet formatted videos to your web site
- burn vcds or dvds with suitable software on your computer.
The rest of this article will take you through this process.
Analogue
or Digital?
Many of us still own analogue camcorders. With the advent of digital camcorders, the price of analogue camcorders
has become even cheaper, and one is tempted to purchase such a camera because of this. There are distinct disadvantages
with using analogue camcorders which outweigh the price considerations so I recommend all your video capture be
carried out using a digital camcorder.
Analogue
Analogue video would need to be 'digitized before it can be edited or repackaged for dvd, vcd, or internet distribution.
This will require the use of an analogue to digital capture card or device. Such cards are available but still
command a high price if you wish to retain the full frame size you see on a television screen. If you insist on
still using an analogue camera and need to purchase a analogue-to-digital capture card or device, be very careful
about the specifications shown on the packaging. You will need a device
capable of capturing video at rates of up to 30 frames per sec (USA NTSC frame rate), or 25 frames per second (UK
PAL frame rate). The device will also need to capture at full frame (not half-frame, as many cheaper ones do).
Full frame size for NTSC (US system) is 720 x 480 pixels, and 720 x 576 pixels for PAL.
(UK system).
If you use a device or card using a half-frame capture rate, you will only be able to distribute your edited video
via the internet but not on tape, dvd, or vcd, which - as you will learn here - is extremely desirable!
Ideally, the best way to capture moving images from the microscope by way of digital
video and not analogue, even if you are doing no more than capture to tape only. Analogue signals on tape ultimately
lose their strength. Digital signals too but they can be preserved in a variety of forms more stable than magnetic
media: cdrom, dvdrom, vcd, optical disc, solid-state memory chips, and ultimately in the future - holographic mass
storage within glass or a similar compound.
Digital
Digital camcorders are the way to go. The
critical thing about selecting one to purchase is that it has to be able to be fitted to your microscope or, at
least, be made to hover over the eyepiece lens in a stable position. A camcorder with the traditional shape is
ideal as it has a 'nose' which normally can be married up to the eyepiece. I would tend to veer away from cameras
which are square shaped - and without a projected front end. I have always recorded video at the microscope without
actually attaching the camera to it. I simply line up the microscope tube and eyepiece beneath a camcorder held
in a small table-top tripod. It takes a bit of messing around to get the plane level and the camera centered (being
careful not to scratch lenses), but it works for me. However, you may wish to check the lens aperture size of the
camera, its internal thread size, or other means of securing said camera to a scope - ensuring a suitable set of
lens rings or a suitable adapter can be acquired to fix the thing to your microscope.
Some cameras are unsuitable for fixing to a
microscope! As my article is not really about recording at the microscope but more about the technology and process
of dealing with your video once you have it, I must leave it to you and your commonsense to check out as much as
possible the suitability of any digital camcorder for use at the microscope. Maybe we can ask the visitors of mic-uk
and micscape magazine to write in and let us know what camcorders they use on their microscopes and I can publish
a list here later on.
Digital camcorders do not require a secondary device to transfer recorded video samples onto your pc. No digitizer:
its already digital! Another advantage of a digital camcorder is that it can stand as the recording device for
capturing your final edited video back from your computer. Once the final video is back on a new tape and in the
camera, you can easily use this master for making perfect VHS tapes for cheap tape distribution. Every copy a good
one!
If you purchased a digital camera a year or more ago, you may find it does not come with a video dv in socket.
A few years back most digital camcorders shipped to the UK had their dv in capability disabled by the manufacturers.
This wasn't really their fault. They were simply trying to keep the price of their cameras down as they were charged
additional import taxes if their cameras were able to record via a socket... or at least... that's what I am led
to believe. These days, most digital camcorders have dv in capability. A little secret I can share with you is
that most digital camcorders with a dv-out socket can also be used to record video via the same socket. You simple
need to enable the dv-in capability of the camera first. It costs about 25 uk pounds to purchase a dongle or piece
of software whereby your camera can be tricked (reconfigured) to record dv via the dv-out socket. I purchased my
'enabler' via a web site and it works perfectly.
I have included sources for purchasing dv-in enablers at the end this article in the references and resources section.
[jump there now?]
Computer Requirements for recording digital video
Capturing digital video onto a computer is the
most demanding task you will ever use your computer for. You need a computer able to capture at a very fast speed
- where each frame has to be written to your hard disk at speeds of up to 30 times a second. Apple computers Power
Macs are designed to enable digital video capture. Alas, I and most of the world do not own power macs, we own
Personal Computers, with most of them operating under a version of Windows. What I have to say in the rest of my
article is specifically for PC users but the information and processes are the same for power mac and pc use. Just
the tools are a little different.
What your PC needs to have and why.
Firewire Card
Sounds like something out of starwars but in
fact a firewire card is an inexpensive card which enables very fast transfer of data between an external device
and your PC. Most PCs purchased in the last 2 years will probably already have a firewire card. Firewire
technology is also called IEEE 1394. FireWire is Apple's official name for the standard it developed that enables
data transfer at speeds up to 400 Mbps. Apple licensed the FireWire term to companies willing to use it to manufacture
and market their own IEEE 1394 cards. Since Sony develops many products that incorporate the IEEE 1394 standard,
it came up with the term i.Link instead of using FireWire. The core component of FireWire is an expansion card
and cable. A decent PCI FireWire card can be purchased for less than $35. [see references]
UltraDMA ata66 or UltraDMA ata100 or ultraDMA ata133 hard drives
You need a hard drive which spins rapidly and
has a fast seek time. Original drives on pcs several years old are likely to have DMA33 controllers and specification.
They are not really suitable for reliable video capture! Its no good going out buying a super fast disc drive unless
your pc can support it. A DMA ata66 specification drive requires your pc to have a DMA controller capable of running
it at this speed.
I would recommend using a drive with ultraDMA ata66 or faster (100, 133 etc) for video capture. Ideally it needs
to be as huge as you can afford, say at least a 60 gig drive minimum.
Operating System - Windows ME/98 or later - WindowsXP, 2000
Unless you have windows 98 or later (ME,XP,2000)
installed on your PC, you are not going to be able to capture digital video - unless you are a powerMac user
or you have some other operating system installed, e.g. LINUX! Windows 3.x and Windows 95 are both unsuitable for
video capture.
Sound card
Most modern computers come with a sound card already installed so I don't think this will be a problem. Almost
any basic sound card will suffice.
Software - video
editing
You will need a video editing software suite.
These come in many different forms and flavors. The best of which are extremely expensive, e.g. Adobe Premiere!
The process of video editing on your pc requires you to capture samples, order them in some kind of arrangement,
add sound, add effects possibly, titling, and then create a new complete video from the finished arrangement. I
have used several video editing suites and I have provided a summary below:-
Adobe Premiere
The king of video-editing suites as far as most people are concerned, or on a par with Pinnacle Systems Video Editing
suite.
Pluses: comprehensive, reliable, many third party plug-ins, integrates with Adobe Photoshop for single image
work and animation!
Minuses: very expensive, does more than what you will probably need!
Cheapest Price I can find: £539.00 inc. VAT [see references]
MGI VideWave
Low cost and very capable video editing suite. Easy to use. Reliable. Doesn't have the power of Adobe but will
probably serve most of your needs. I use it regularly especially creating web-ready video.
Pluses: cheap, does most of what you need, easy to learn, simple interface.
Minuses: hardly any unless you are making very pro movies for TV or screen.
Price: ordinary edition: $49.95, power edition: $99.95 [see references]
Ulead Video Studio
I once used the Ulead Video Studio suite for analogue capture and editing several years ago. I thought it better
than premiere. In the last year I have tried a cut-down low-price edition of Uleads Video Studio and found it difficult
to get on with due to the interface. I haven't tried their recent version but it seems to boast loads of features.
Probably a good idea to try out their trial version and see how you get on. Price is equal to the MGI VideoWave
Editor which so far is the one I would recommend you start with (the cheaper version) and see how you fare with
the whole practice of video-editing.
Additional things to have on your PC
DVD
Burner
The ultimate go of video microscopy should be to create video on an enduring medium. At the moment, this seems
to be DVD or CD. To transfer your final edited video to either of these you will need either a cd writer or a dvd
writer installed on your computer along with appropriate software to create DVDs.
Its possible to put video onto cd such that it will play back at around VHS Pal quality. This
type of cd is known as a VCD (Video CD) and will be playable on many of the more recent stand-alone DVD players.
I will discuss the VCD format later when I take you through the various video standards and formats.
Sound Editor
If you wish to add sound (music or / and voice-over to your video, it might be useful although not critical to
have sound editing software installed. Most video editing software suites allow basic sound editing, but I think
its worth investing in an independent sound editor. I use Goldwave, which is cheap, reliable, and even has a free-version
(up-to-a-point). Purchase price for their current version is around $42.00 US. [see references]
Sound Mixer
If you really want to go the whole hog, you could also try out their Multiquence software which enables you to
mix tracks together like a recording studio does. I use it but its not critical for your video.[see references]
Music
There are several ways to add music to your video. You can create it yourself and record the final piece as a .wav
(wave file) on your PC then add it to the video using your video-editing software. That's fine if you are musically
gifted. The alternatives are 1) purchase royalty-free music 2) Create your own using a music samples package.
I prefer the latter and quite frankly I know nothing about music at all. Its the one thing I have never been able
to grasp. However, using a music sampling package, I seem able to create some pretty reasonable melodies. The software
comes with a host of music samples from a range of genre and a graphically driven editing system where you simple
position samples along the tracks - thus assembling a piece of music. Using trial and error you will soon put something
together which lends atmosphere to your final video. With the right music-maker software, you can even load your
video into one of the tracks and assemble your music to the video precisely.
I use 2 different packages:-
Magix Music Maker - around 49.00 US dollars
Ejay Music Director Gold - around 29 US dollars
[see references]
Video Conversion / codecs
Although most video-editing software suites will enable you to convert your video to different formats so they
can be used in different environments, you may still need additional tools to convert your final video into vcd
or dvd formats. Video sampling and playback on a computer or other digital device relies on pieces of translation
software called codecs. If you attempt play a video on your pc which has been made say with a video for windows
codec possibly Indeo 5.1, and you don't have that codec installed, the video wont play.
There are as many codecs as there are stars in the sky... well not quite, but there are a lot of codecs about.
I would recommend you get the following ones installed on your PC before you start making videos. I have included
the links to obtain these in the references section and I will deal with the whole issue of codecs and video conversion
in another part of my video-making articles. It deserves a complete article in itself.[see references]
Video
Conversion Software.
I make a lot of video so I tend to have a lot of tools at my disposal. A few of these may prove to be an advantage
for you and help you produce your videos easily for different purposes and environments. I have provided links
in the references section so you can download trial versions of these packages and see if they work well for you.[see references]
AVS Video
Converter
This software converts video files and burn video discs (VCD, SVCD), saves single frames as images, splits and
merges files, adds subtitles, running lines, banners and logos, rotates video, and applies different effects during
conversion. Friendly and understandable interface allows you to perform all the operations without any difficulties.
You do not need to be a professional to use this tool.
Using AVS Video Converter you can:
Convert AVI, MPEG, WMV, DVD movies to AVI, MPEG, WMV, RM
Import single frames and save them as images
Split a video file into several ones
Merge a number of files in one movie
Save parts of a file as new ones
Burn video discs (VCDs, SVCDs)
Add subtitles, running lines, banners and logos to your video
Rotate video
Apply different effects and filters during conversion
Change frame size, compression codec of video stream, frequency, and the number of channels of audio stream and
much more!
The following video formats are supported:
AVI (DivX, XviD, MS MPEG4, Uncompressed, Cinepak and other);
MPEG (MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Video);
VOB (Video DVD, read only);
WMV (Windows Media Video);
RM (Real Networks Video, write only).
Price: US$29.95 [see references]
Cucusoft AVI to VCD/DVD/SVCD/MPEG converter
Cucusoft AVI to VCD/DVD/SVCD/MPEG converter Lite
is a powerful, splendid and simple to use application for AVI to VCD, AVI to DVD and AVI to SVCD video converting.
In fact, it doesn't limit its video source to only AVI but almost all video formats (as long as the Windows media
player can play) to what you need on TV play.
Convert AVI to VCD
Convert AVI to DVD
Convert AVI to SVCD
Convert AVI to MPEG1
Convert AVI to MPEG2
Can control the dimension of output MPEG1 and MPEG2
Standard edition: US$19.95 Professional Edition:$24.95
Trial downloads available! [see
references]
AVD Video Processor
This convertor is not a must-have but is a very useful tool. It captures separate frames from a video file. Control
frame range, size, color and other parameters. Creates animated GIFs from your AVIs. Control GIF frames parameters.
Create animated GIFs and AVIs from your image sequences.
Price: US$24.95
Trial Download Available! [see
references]
3D Video Converter
Its possibly to convert your videos to a 3D format. You will need a special and very clever software suite to do
it but as I use it, I can recommend it to you. Its called 3D combine! A trial version is available and it takes
a bit of getting used to but I would recommend you persevere with it. I will probably write a complete article
on this software eventually because I find it so amazing!
Price: US$34.00
Trial Download Available! [see
references]
Quicktime
Video Player and Encoder
When creating videos for online distribution,
there are two main systems used my internet visitors, and two main browsers employed by these systems to be considered.
Windows and Mac are the current two prevailing operating systems with windows predominantly used on PC architecture
and MACOS on Apple Macintosh computers. One also has to consider the two main browsers: windows explorer and netscape.
Most windows users will be able to play back
your videos in a variety of formats using the Windows Media Player, especially if their main browser is explorer.
However, Apple Mac users and all users employing the Netscape browser would have possible problems playing your
movies unless you also prepare a version formatted to be used by the Quicktime Player. The player enables playback
of .mov files and I recommend you purchase the quicktime player rather than download the free version, as the former
allows you to recode your video specifically as a .mov file. You can purchase this online for around $29.95 US
with versions available for MAC and Windows.
For downloads [see references]
Closing
Everything contained here should provide you with sufficient information to get everything ready to begin capturing
video and to prepare you for editing and converting your samples for further distribution or permanent storage.
In post-reading my thoughts here, I realise it must appear very daunting to consider the whole aspect of making
final videos using our current technology, but I recommend that you do not get put off by this idea.
Making video is extremely rewarding and today we have at our disposal such wonderful tools denied microscopists
of the past. We have the opportunity to record and preserve the things we observe in the small-scale world and
share with others. I will help you discover how to accomplish this through additional articles on the Microscopy
web site subscribers area. So... in the immortal and often over-used modern cliche: "go for it!"
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