MicrosoftWindowsMovie Maker 2: Do Amazing Things (Bpg-Other)
by Microsoft Press
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (07 January, 2004)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $13.59
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (1)

What a great book!!
PapaJohn, who runs one of the best Movie Maker websites ..., has sunk all of his expertise into an easy to read book.

This book starts of with the basics of using Windows Movie Maker 2 and then goes into advanced topics like, adding special effects, working with sounds, organizing files and sharing your movies through email or on a web page.

John has also included an online companion with demonstrations and walkthru's that can be accessed from his website.

Great book for any Movie Maker user. ... Read more

Isbn: 0735620148
Sales Rank: 26643
Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Bks - Operating Systems    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers    5. Data processing    6. Editing    7. Film & Video - Cinematography    8. Microcomputer Operating Environments    9. Microsoft Windows Movie Maker    10. Motion pictures    11. Operating Systems - General    12. Operating Systems - Windows    13. Computers / General   

Windows Movie Maker 2 Zero to Hero
by Friends of ED
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (31 July, 2003)
list price: $24.99 -- our price: $16.49
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Reviews (8)

Everything About Movie Maker Is Here
I bought this book because Movie Maker 2 is a fairly complex movie editing program, and therefore, not intuitive.
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that this book contains almost too much material, but for the user who really wants to use Movie Maker to make a near professional product, all the tools are covered.
I am new to the world of digital video and this is the approach I used with this book. Read the first chapter to get an understanding of the nature of digital video, then quickly read the chapters covering collections, the story board, and the time line. Finally, skim the rest of the chapters, to get a general idea of what else you can do with Movie Maker 2. Now go to the 3rd project in the back of the book, on making a video of your vacation, and following the outline there, create your own movie from what ever clips you have in your collection. Refer back to the appropriate sections of the book as necessary. Its only by working with the program that you're ever really going to learn it.
There are two good reasons for buying this book. Number 1 is that it does cover all the features of Movie Maker 2, and number 2 is that friends of Ed will answer your questions. I bought this book about a month ago, and have submitted questions to Ed's website twice.On both occasions I got the answer I needed within 24 hours.
TIP: For those of you with a lot of quicktime and real media clips that you want to edit in Movie Maker 2, you will need quicktime pro ($29.00) and RM Converter v2.21 ($28.45) to convert these movies into a format that you can use with Movie Maker 2.

Fantastic for the DV beginner
I knew nothing about editting video when I got this book - I had a PC and a video camera, but no idea even how to plug them together. Like it says on the cover, "From scratch - fast". If you don't need to learn from scratch, then you'll have to skip bits of the book - but the hero projects are worth their weight in gold to any Movie Maker user.

I was surprised by the other review on this page complaining about the book "covering all the bases", so to speak - it's very clear that the book teaches you everything "from scratch" - that's what it's meant to do!

Wish the Content we as Good as the Cover
I cannot honestly recommend this text to you. It is just a mess crammed full of material that is poorly organized.

We don't need to learn Movie Maker from scratch. It's a task-oriented program! Don't spend time telling me what the File menu is, tell me how to add a transition between two frames quickly!

I just don't think the approach in this book is useful for the true Movie Maker user. I'd look into a more general-purpose digital video book that focuses on Movie Maker 2 as the primary software to get the job done easily (such as Perry's Digital Video in a Snap (ISBN: 0672325691)).

Unlike a program such as Excel than an investor or financial planner will want to master in great detail, the Movie Maker user needs to know how to do select things at any one time depending on the job they have to do. ... Read more

Isbn: 1590591496
Sales Rank: 167792
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - General Information    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Data processing    5. Editing    6. Interactive & Multimedia    7. Microsoft Windows Movie Maker    8. Motion pictures   

Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition
by Microsoft
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (11 February, 2003)
list price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Microsoft typically supplements its operating systems with a retail grab bag of utilities and entertainment-oriented applications called Microsoft Plus. For Windows XP, it has released not one but two such packages. The latest, Microsoft Plus Digital Media Edition, sports nearly a dozen perks, toys and tools for those who use their PC as a multimedia companion. Though some will find the program packs its fair share of incidental "fluff", anyone into photos, video or music will undoubtedly find several components both useful and enjoyable.

Digital camera buffs will quickly take to Photo Story, wherein they can organize their favorite pictures in slideshow format, add narration, and create a dynamic sense of motion by manually or automatically zooming or panning across each shot. The end result is flowing and compelling and far less stagnant than a standard still presentation.

The program also has plenty of goodies for music fans, including Analog Recorder, a clever utility that transcribes audio in real time from traditional sources such as cassettes and 8-tracks (cables not included), organizes them into playlists, and efficiently removes pops and hiss via technology licensed from respected pro audio veteran Syntrillium Corp. Slightly less impressive is CD Label Maker, which offers a standard selection of CD labels and templates but unfortunately emblazons a Microsoft Plus logo onto each one. Party Mode stretches your Windows Media Player to fill the entire screen and displays customizable marquee announcements and animations, and the aptly named Audio Converter converts MP3 and WAV files to space-efficient WMA files.

Arguably Digital Media Edition’s most disposable feature is Plus Dancer, a selection of minuscule live action pop-up dancers who cavort on command across the desktop. Conversely, the practical Sync & Go allows users of pocket PCs to enjoy their favorite PC content on their portable. Microsoft rounds out this eclectic package with several tidbits and novelties, including a variable interval alarm clock, eight mediocre Windows Media Player skins, and fifty additional transitions and visual effects for Microsoft’s free downloadable video editor, Windows Movie Maker. --Gord Goble ... Read more

Reviews (128)

Great fun at a great value
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition is not something necessary for the enjoyment of life, but, then, neither is a computer, a cell phone, or a TV, unless you are a diehard couch potato.What this collection of utilities does is add some fun to Windows XP, and it's stuff no other operating system enjoys.I personally use Photo Story and Analog Recorder often, because they are both easy to use and a blast to use, too.The games collection could have been better, but, hey, for a little over ten bucks, why complain?

Not Worth Buying!
While the idea behind this product is great, it just doesn't come out that way in the end.I recently upgraded my video card to GeForce 4 MX 5200, and now the Plus! screensavers (i.e. the aquarium and others) do not display correctly.

The games are okay, but only the Labyrinth is worth playing.There is a link on Microsoft's website to download for free more bonus levels for Labyrinth, but everytime I download the free upgrade, the levels never get installed into the game.The download .exe file is a self-extractor, so there's no way to control it.I have tried to get the extra free levels three times now, and it NEVER works!

If you want the aquarium screen saver, buy the boxed version from SereneScreen!It is EXACTLY like the one in Plus! and only costs $19.oo!This is what I did last week, and the SereneScreen aquarium screensaver works fine on my computer with the new graphics card!

Someone in another review said that Microsoft Plus! was a good example of "bloat-ware".I agree 100% -- lots of pretty packaging, lots of hype, lots of teaser write-ups on the box, but in the end there just isn't much to the package.

It's OK
Don't get me wrong--this isn't a BAD product, but it really isn't very useful, either. I find the dancers are fairly amusing for a while and the analog recorder makes a really easy way to record old tapes, but that's about it. Also, the recorder ONLY records in proprietary Micro$oft .wma format instead of offering a useful-for-editing format like .wav. Because of this, the only time I ever use it is when I am feeling lazy and I have it set my recording level for me.

I would only recommend this product if:
1. Like me, you can get it "Free after rebates" (don't forget about taxes and shipping). Don't even think about paying more than $5 (after taxes, etc) for it.
2. You already know you like a certain feature (like the dancers)--don't get this hoping for something great because you will probably be disappointed
3. You have a lot of extra space on your hard drive and
4. You have a fast internet connection (Downloading dancers requires up to 20MB or more PER DANCER!) ... Read more

Asin: B000085AHH
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)    5. Image Capture Capturing    6. Music    7. audio    8. Sound Editing    9. Video    10. Composting    11. Effects   

Picture It! Digital Image Pro 7
by Microsoft
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (08 August, 2002)
list price: $109.00
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Editorial Review

Digital photo hobbyists finally have a high-quality photo retouching software alternative to Adobe Photoshop. With a user-friendly, streamlined interface, Microsoft Picture It Digital Pro 7 lets you easily apply filters for special effects, utilize sophisticated editing tools, create simple photo albums, and send e-cards of your photos through MSN.

Digital Image Pro 7 provides 3,000 photo projects, 150 filters, and 5,000 images for creating professional photo projects, such as business cards, photo albums, calendars, flyers, and postcards. Filters such as Antique, Black and White, Distort, and Watercolor add instant visual effects to photos. Easily add flash to a photo, remove red-eye, reduce backlighting, and adjust levels to control shadows, midtones, and highlights. Additionally, enhanced Adobe Photoshop plug-in filter support allows users to further enhance their digital photos.

Digital Image Pro 7 leverages existing Office-type user interface elements such as the new file browser, which makes working with your photos much easier without cluttering the screen with excessive navigation elements. The improved user interface makes it easier to capture photos from a digital camera, a picture CD, a scanner, a hard drive, or the Web. You can also precisely edit and save several photos at once using advanced tools like photo batch processing. Our favorite feature of Digital Image Pro 7 is its seamless integration with MSN Photos. You can store and share your photos and order photo reprints, frames, cards, posters, and gifts, all from within Digital Image Pro.

If you need a software package for more sophisticated photo editing, Adobe Photoshop may be the way to go, but for the non-techie photo hobbyist, Digital Image Pro 7 provides powerful base-level features through an extremely simple user interface. --Rich Ting ... Read more

Features

Reviews (19)

A Decent Product, But Not As Good As Adobe Photoshop
For the amateur photographer, Picture It! Digital Image Pro 7 will be a very useful tool.You can adjust resolution, crop and rotate, and add effects to photos quickly and easily.However, for those looking for a more powerful tool for professional-level projects you would be better off picking up a copy of Adobe Photoshop.

For the money, this isn't a bad deal.Just don't expect miracles.Recommended for the casual/amateur user.

Picture It! Digital Image Pro 7
Not as good as I had expected this product to be. I am no longer using it.Did not meet my expectations in the digital camera, saving photos/albums, and printing arena for my Dell computer and HP photosmart printer.

Easy to use
I stepped up from PictureIt! 2001 wand was very pleased with the improved integration of the processes.Making cards, photo albums, business cards is muchmore intuitive.Very good compatibility with my camera, printer, and scanner.Probably not enough tools for pros, but for casual users who want to sit down and get things done it's wonderful!! ... Read more

Asin: B0000696IT
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)   

Microsoft FrontPage 2002
by Microsoft
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (31 May, 2001)
list price: $169.00
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Editorial Review

Convergence seems to be the watchword for the Microsoft FrontPage 2002Web authoring system. Every new edition becomes a bit more like the othercomponents of the Office suite, while also increasingly tying in to relatedMicrosoft products and services. This is vaguely threatening to users who wantgreater freedom to edit HTML and other code directly or who want to call all theshots on their sites' designs, but for most users the expediency of FrontPagemakes these sacrifices worthwhile or even unnoticeable.

With new templates and smart tools ("bots") to help create a wide range ofintranet and Internet pages, version 2002 is even simpler and faster to use thanits predecessors.Users can draw with PowerPoint tools, drag and drop livecontent, and create photo galleries with a few mouse clicks. Publishing isincredibly easy. Beginners will love the wizards, and will find Web authoringmuch easier than expected.

Why do so many people have problems with FrontPage? The main complaint is thatthe output, which tends to be flabby and difficult to parse, can't be edited bythe user and is difficult to run on non-Microsoft servers. This is a problem forthose who've gone beyond using wizards and templates to create their pages, butmany other users are content with the results. The automatic direction toMicrosoft-related services is also somewhat troubling--it would be nice, ifunrealistic, for users to have easier access to the wide range of servers ande-commerce providers available.

Still, for Webbies with fairly simple needs and no desire to spend monthslearning the ins and outs of HTML and XML, FrontPage 2002 is most likely the wayto go. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Features

Reviews (127)

Better off with ground meat... literally...
I started off with FrontPage 97... and gradually worked up to FrontPage 2002.I used to think FrontPage was a godsend, boy was I wrong.Things only work if using MS Internet Explorer for a browser, or just plain doesn't work if your ISP doesn't support it's extensions.

I now use Macromedia Dreamweaver. However, between using FrontPage and being able to afford Dreamweaver, I used a nice product by some folks with a funny name. A product named "HotDog Pro" made by Sausage Software!Funny tho it may be, their software is nothing to laugh at!It is a GREAT product, and costs A LOT LESS than MS FrontPage!

http://www.sausage.com/products.html

Front Page put me in the web business
I read some of these reviews and I must say that 2002 is so deep I think I feel into a hole.As far as the software being difficult, I spent considerable time in the library with some great books.I also bought some books, visual being the best and worked with the software.I took my first order for a web site while I was still learning and let me tell you forms just beat the living hell out of me.What I did was to look at some of the preformed pages of front page and looked at the html andlearned how to use tables with forms and learned even more.

I use front page every day with my ebay items and it is a very professional presentation.

What a wonderful powerful program.I literally have no problem with this program.I don't use the microsoft templates anymore as I make my own using microsoft photodraw v2.

Someday I guess, as I get better I will take some courses in dreamweaver, which I understand is difficult.But Microsoft Front Page 2002 was a piece of software that I was able to challanage myself.Truthfully it is maybe 100 hours of learning and practice, but it is well worth it.

Good job Microsoft, hey, did I say that?In the end if you buy this and think it will be an easy learn, forget it.It is web design.Difficulty is moderate, but you must focus and practice to learn this software.

Take command and get and learn front page, find a good host and boom you are in with a professional website for your business.

This software does not work
Quite simply this software does not work, and I've been using other versions of FrontPage since it first came out--check out the Microsoft web site--they have loads of 'fixes' for this software.None of the web component functions work, and neither does shared borders.I can't imagine that they would continue to sell this. ... Read more

Asin: B00005AFI2
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Web Page Editors (Creator)   

Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 Platinum Edition
by Roxio
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (17 February, 2003)
list price: $49.99
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Editorial Review

The arguable king of CD burning is back, and it's got a bag of new tricks. Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 Platinum Edition takes you by the hand and leads you through all kinds of CD and DVD creation, from data backups and music compilations to photo slide shows and feature films. User friendly to the last, it comes with a massive manual weighing in at almost 400 pages. Unfortunately, however, beneath the shiny surface of this program hide a few snags.

Burning data and music compilation CDs is simple enough with a "drag to CD" function--you can literally drag files from Windows Explorer onto an icon that resizes in the lower right corner of the desktop. More complex burning and copying can be done through wizards or manually.

For DVD authoring, Roxio includes support for every DVD burning format out there. It allows you to create movies, photo slide shows and more. It interfaces directly with digital video recorders to capture footage to the PC's hard drive, from where you can then burn them to a DVD. You can rearrange parts of a movie, trim clips, add sound, and more. The interface is functional at best, though, and casual film directors will pine for a simpler, more graceful solution than this program can offer.

The PhotoSuite applet's interface is overly friendly and not nearly powerful enough. Adding photos from a networked PC was a painstakingly slow process. Worse, once we'd picked out a few dozen photos, we went to create a VCD slide show and were met with an error message that even baffled Roxio tech support.

Another caveat: Easy CD automatically checks for product updates, but it forces you to register the product in order to download them. This invasion of privacy aside, Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 does provide some easy and user friendly features at the cost of clunky interfaces and limited options for power users.--Joel Durham ... Read more

Features

Reviews (198)

Want marginal customer support?Buy any Roxio product!
I purchased the Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 Platinum Edition in November 2004, after Microsoft's SP2 for Windows XP made my Basic 5 version unusable.I've been exchanging emails with Roxio Technical Support ever since.I can burn a data CD only to a CDR (for some reason ECDC 6 does not recognize my CDRWs).I cannot copy a CD using the Disc Copier function.For some reason the ECDC 6 recognizes my burner only through the Creator Classic function.

What is wrong with companies these days?They grab the money and run.Never mind whether the customer gets the functionality they are paying for.

I'll be looking into Nero or Sonic, which I've heard positive comments from live users.

Amazon.com, on the other hand, is one customer-oriented company!

You buy this and loose customer support
Do you know if u ever need to get support, or to download a patch for your paid Roxio software, registration IS required from their website?! Yes everytime you need an software update/patch, you need to login with password. Registration needs an valid email address and your ROXIO software key. Thanks to this COMPULSORY registration I need to keep record for one more login/password combination. And Pray that you don't loose your cd key.

BTW if your cdburner came with a bundle Roxio Easy creator, forget any update / support from roxio since you dont get a cd key. Somehow this is one evil way ROXIO try to get your business. if one day you upgrade your operating system and need to update for the bundle roxio software, you have to BUY the retail version Easy Creator.

Great with Windows 2000/XP; at least partially(!)...
For DVD-Video editing/creating, I use Roxio's VideoWave 7 Professional. For everything else this is great! I've had great success with win2000; it's designed for XP/ME/98 as well. 2000/XP users w/NTFS partitions will be best off; ANY user w/FAT32 partitions will likely experience some craziness! I use Norton Ghost for backup/imaging: so even if my computer spontaneously combusts(!), I can rebuild it pretty quickly. My Fave's- attractive interface, excellent html help, Creator Classic with Disc Copier, AudioCentral, Label Creator, and Drag-to-Disc: these are amazing! With *just these* components & a DVD+/-RW drive, this software *should* actually be pretty stable- it works great on my system! (AthlonXP 3000+; 512MB memory.) Disc Copier copies CDs/DVDs that aren't copy protected, yet I've copied a few store-bought items: a music CD; a cheap PC game CD; an instructional DVD(!); a foreign NTSC DVD(wow!). Creator Classic makes all kinds of discs- Data, Music, MP3, Enhanced, Mixed-Mode, Bootable & more! AudioCentral effectively rips, burns, converts & manages MP3s, WMAs, WAVs & OGGs. It's even greater now with the new mp3PRO Plug-in encoder available at Roxio's website (highly recommended!). I've converted audio tapes, with my analog-in sound card, into high-quality MP3 CDs with professional looking labels! Drag-to-Disc is especially important to me because win2000 (my favorite OS) can't write to CDs/DVDs without extra software help. This is a tremendously versatile package! For most of my CD/DVD needs, this product is all I need! Official Caveat Time- *PLEASE BACKUP YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE INSTALLATION!* Glitches, bugs, hangs & crashes can be experienced all throughout this product. Make sure Windows is up-to-date with all recent service packs & patches. If you install the entire product to see what it can do, then decide you can do without a few features, it's best to uninstall the whole package, restart the computer, and then reinstall only the needed features with their corresponding updates. Check Roxio's support page for common issues/problems to evaluate risk! (Especially win98/ME users!) ... Read more

Asin: B0000899WB
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)    5. CD Recording (Burning, Burners)    6. CD Labeling (Labels)    7. Music    8. audio    9. Creation    10. Sequencing    11. Video    12. Composting    13. Effects    14. Editing   

Screenblast Music Studio
by Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (01 November, 2002)
list price: $69.95
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Editorial Review

Borrowing heavily from respected multimedia authority Sonic Foundry, Screenblast Music Studio is an ideal composition application for PC music hobbyists. Whether you're arranging your own tunes, remixing and adding personal touches to existing songs, merging video with audio, or simply burning compilation CDs, Screenblast Music Studio delivers.

The Music Studio package consists of several components, the most prominent of which is Screenblast ACID Deluxe, a simplified version of Sonic Foundry's ACID Pro. Loops are short, prerecorded musical passages that may be pieced together to create original, royalty-free tunes, and ACID Deluxe's highly intuitive timeline interface allows you to quickly and easily "paint" these loops into complex block-rocking beats of unlimited size and scope. Hundreds of topnotch loops have been included for your enjoyment.

You can later enhance your compositions by recording vocals or traditional instruments (up to two simultaneous tracks at a time), adding reverb and distortion effects, or tweaking the pitch or panning of individual tracks. You may even want to remix songs from your favorite artists or add prerecorded movie clips or graphics to fashion a homegrown music video. After you've assembled all the parts, you can save your masterwork in a variety of formats compatible with both computerized and standalone audio players, or post it online at the Screenblast Web site.

Also featured in the Music Studio suite is Screenblast's sophisticated media player and CD burning application, Siren Jukebox Deluxe. With Siren Jukebox Deluxe, you can record audio and data CDs, rip music tracks to your computer in WAV, WMA, or MP3 formats, and, of course, play audio CDs. The application includes integrated EQ, reverb, and time-stretching parameters, the latter of which allows you to play a song at various speeds while maintaining its correct pitch--an invaluable aid for musicians.

Screenblast Music Studio combines an assortment of semi-professional tools, a slick interface, and a cool mix of loops at a reasonable price, and is therefore recommended to home-based audiophiles and musicians. --Gordon Goble ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you have Acid Music 3.0
Do not bother with this program the same program different name.I would highly suggest this if you do not have Acid Music 3.0.One of the most stable music programs around.Alot better then any Magix program I have used. The publishing to the net is unbeatable and a great file rendering program too boot.

Good Stuff
It's great software at a great price. I bought the program so I could rip and burn CD's but soon found that using the ACid program (2 software apps come in the box- Acid and Siren...I think these are the Sonic Foundry engines)I could also add a soundtrack to my home movies. The box also came with audio clips that I used to sequence a Blues song and that was fun too.

Fantastic New Sony Product
Creating music has never been easier.The interface is very clean and easy to follow.This is a great product if you want to make music. The editing tools are great.This program even comes with some cool loops to get one started.Check this product out! ... Read more

Asin: B00007B5DF
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. CD Recording (Burning, Burners)    3. CD Labeling (Labels)    4. Music    5. audio    6. Creation    7. Sequencing    8. Midi    9. Sound Editing    10. Sound Libraries   

MediaStudio Pro 6.0
by ULead Systems
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

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Editorial Review

MediaStudio Pro is a suite of four digital video applications (as wellas a digital audio program) that work in concert with each other. There areseparate applications for video capturing, video editing, frame-by-frameretouching (video painting), and text and title generation. Switching from oneapp to another is handled through the usual Windows Alt-Tab keyboard combo, orif the sister program isn't already running there is a "switch" menu on top thatwill launch the targeted program.

When these applications work, they work well. The problem is that eachapplication is a bit buggy, and the suite overall is not so easy to use.Although already up to version 6, the programs are not as mature as one wouldthink they would be. The video painting module, for example, worked well with mymouse but refused to move the cursor when using a Wacom tablet. A paintingprogram that doesn't recognize a drawing tablet handicaps the artist usingit.

The video capture module managed to work with the FireWire port on my Compaq andcontrol my DV camera. Capturing footage on the fly (as the tape plays) was easy,but setting up a batch capture proved convoluted. The whole workflow of thecapture module needs to be smoothed out and streamlined.

The audio editing tool is fairly straightforward and interfaces nicely with theeditor, which also works well. I especially liked the Explorer method ofnavigating media elements and the onscreen layout in general. The editor, infact, is the best-working element in the suite.

Overall, MediaStudio Pro has a lot to offer. Its execution and stability leavesomething to be desired, but then again, this is a point-zero release. Uleadsurely will be addressing these issues in a 6.5 (or so) release soon. If so,MediaStudio Pro could be a tool to be reckoned with. --Mike Caputo ... Read more

Reviews (8)

MSP 6.0 VE is the best
I upgraded to MSP 6.0 Full from PYRO DVs MSP 6.0 VEThis was due to slowdown using the Full Version. MSP 6.0 VE is actually better than the full version!, if you dont have a good pc. I do have a good one(AMD/Athlon 1.3Ghz, 256ram, 60gig hd) I can output to my CD burner, and I can use it on my home network, 2 Desktops, 2 Laptops. 3 of them are top-of-the-range and 1 is old, but it works fine. I like the preview window, as it is dark enough to see on my laptop screens and TFT flatscreen monitor. I make movies as a hobby, and this works way,way better than Premiere 6.0 (I have that also). The only reason i recieve slowdown is because i use this through the network, and i have music, all 5 programs, the internet, music composer(for my films), my e-mail inbox, some songs from internet radio, my aol instant messanger, and usually an internet game up(bridge), as you can tell this is bound to slow up a little, if you had a slow PC, but if you had a slow pc you wouldnt be doing all that stuff. This program is tops. Buy MSP 6.0 ve with PYRO 1394dv now!

MEDIASTUDIO is the BEST Sub-$1,000 Video Editor!
I have to hand it to Ulead Systems: Bravo!

MEDIASTUDIO PRO 6 is a terrific upgrade from the older version 5.2.

I also feel it is a much more powerful and fully featured product than the other company's (Adobe) video editing software.

Ulead has chosen to offer a *suite* of separate programs.

I like this approach.

As you master each program, you can improve your skills to the point where broadcast quality commercials, PSAs, corporate training videos, music videos are all within your reach.

MEDIASTUDIO includes a marvelous "Video Paint" program that lets you create animations and special effects such as Star Trek-style phaser beams, etc.

But the big improvements are in the Video Editor.

Ripple editing now offers much more control and power.

Media management options make it much easier to keep track of your still images, video, and audio files.

The CG Infinity module is much, much better than the titler in Premiere and as long as you understand how vector "drawing" works, you can create animation and sophisticated logos.

I believe MEDIASTUDIO is the BEST sub-$1,000 video editor on the market.

An Excellent Product
I have been using MSPro 6VE since it was released with the ADS Pyro earlier this year. I upgraded to the full version a few months ago. I havehad a lot of Fun & Success with the F/X & features such as Picturein Picture, Reverse & Slow motion.

I have had fantastic commentsfrom my audience about the suberb quality of my new generation of digitalvideos.

MS Pro6 has recently been upgraded to 6.0.0.2 with a freedownload from the Ulead site. This includes DV Smartplay which is a boonfor OHIC (Firewire 1394)card users, it makes editing much easier &quicker.

If it has any bugs I haven't seen them, Video Editing is thehardest thing that your computer can do, optimisation is the answer to manyof the problems I have seen posted on news groups.

I have found the VideoCapture module a great aid in capturing stills off my camcorder with it'sprecise controls.

I don't suffer from any crashes with my Celeron 500,128mb Ram, Win98SE & I find it a rock solid programme.

I have notrouble in unreservedly recommending it, the only problem I have is thatit's very addictive :) ... Read more

Asin: B00004RBPK
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Video    3. Composting    4. Effects    5. Editing   

Ulead Pick-a-Video's collection of royalty-free, high-resolution digital video is a valuable resource for freelance and commercial producers. The CD-ROM titles feature all-digital video clips ready for use in several different formats: Type 1 DV, AVI, NTSC or PAL, Photo-JPEG, MOV, and QuickTime MOV. And the best part is there are no royalty hassles. Ulead Pick-a-Video CD-ROM titles grant convenient and unlimited use of all video clips used in professional design projects. There's no need to worry about extra costs based on usage. Video clips can be used as many times or as in as many ways as the user sees fit. Users can alter video without seeking permission. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JYC0
Subjects:  1. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    2. Computer software (programs)    3. Video    4. Composting    5. Effects   

Art Explosion 600,000 Images
by Nova Development
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $79.99 -- our price: $69.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Art Explosion 600,000 is an enormous collection of clip art--a 1,500-page catalog, with 600,000 images in all. Everything is right there in the box: no downloading, no memberships. ... Read more

Features

Reviews (14)

Waste of time and money...
Art Explosion should do just that - EXPLODE!It is just TIME CONSUMING trying to find what you want.The software doesn't have all of the graphics the user's manual does.Don't waste your time buying this... The art in here looks like a third grader's!The FEW that are good (and there are FEW) look amateurish.What a RIP-OFF!!!I can't believe they sell this junk to people.

Good product
I agree with most of the other reviewers; this package is inexpensive for all you get, and the quality of the images is good.I'm using it with Windows XP Professional and have had NO problems with the interface between the operating system and the software.It installed quicky and easily.

I did have a problem with one of the disks originally, but Nova came through with great customer service.Now I'm a customer for life.

Great Big Box of Clip Art
This is great! All of the art is in the box with a nice big book showing all of the images.I read a review that said this was not XP compatible.I have two machines, one with XP Pro and one with XP Home and it works on both with no problem.

If you want alot of great clip art this is the one! ... Read more

Asin: B00001QGVR
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics (Graphic)    3. Multimedia    4. Clip Art   

Adobe Premiere 6.5
by Adobe
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (08 August, 2002)
list price: $549.00
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Editorial Review

The latest upgrade to Adobe Premiere adds useful improvements to this well regarded digital-video editing application, including real-time preview and a title designer. Premiere can take video input directly from digital and analog video cameras, store it on your hard drive, edit it, and output to a variety of video formats, including MPEG-1.

Premiere 6.5's editing screen consists of a number of free-floating windows that contain such tools as a video preview and the all-important timeline and storyboard. The basic operation of Premiere is to load in a series of video clips taken from a camera or a CD, or previously stored on your hard drive, and then drag and drop icons for them onto the timeline. You can then add a soundtrack, transitions, effects, and titles. When all is complete, export the finished video in a format suitable for use on a DVD, Video CD, or for the Internet.

Premiere 6.5 introduces several new features, the most useful of which is probably real-time preview. The ability to see the edits you've made to your video before you render the final version is a huge timesaver. While this feature has previously been available using special hardware, this is the first time it's been available from within the software. You need a fairly powerful PC to take full advantage of the real-time preview. You'll also need a computer with two hard drives, one to hold Premiere and the other for your video files.

Being able to add well-designed titles can make the difference between an amateur and a professional production. Adobe's new Title Designer, included in Premiere 6.5, provides many of the tools users of Illustrator and Photoshop will recognize to add text, rules, and shapes as overlays to videos. Adobe has bundled 90 fonts with Premiere 6.5, selected to produce clear and attractive titles.

Adobe produces a series of effects plug-ins that can be used with Premiere (sold separately as After Effects). Five of these effects (channel blur, blend, lightning, ramp, and twirl) are now included standard with Premiere 6.5, adding to the appeal of this very attractive package. --Simon Williams, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Premiere is premiere!Forgive me for saying that.
I'm not an expert in the field of editing, but I plan to be, and I did have the opportunity to use Adobe Premiere 6.5 (in conjunction with Adobe After Effects, version 5.5, I believe) in a video editing class at my college.I think it's a fantastic program with a lot of possibilities.

While I can't say that I knew what to do with the program when I first sat down with it, I did get a lot of time to experiment.By the end of semester, I was quite deeply in love with the program.I found the A/B editing mode to be very useful - not only for simplicity's sake, but also because of the use of transitions.All the projects I handed in had a simple "fade to the next video bloc" transition in it.

Another thing I really liked about Premiere was that it played my video in real time.In After Effects, the computer system got a bit bogged down and wouldn't play video at 29.97 fps.But in Premiere, if I wanted film to play a certain speed, by George it went.

Capturing the film from camera was also very simple.Hook up the Firewire, tell it to capture, and with one exception (being a college network failure), it captured every time.

If you plan to buy this product, please:

-Have a Firewire connection.(Quite key.)
-Have a large hard drive.I filled a thirty gigabyte hard drive in five months, with four projects' worth of film.
-Have a lot of RAM."At least a gig!" all the geeks in class declared.I worked with 500-some megabytes of RAM, and was told that I was operating at the bottom threshold of memory.More is better.
-Have a good camera.(Oh really, d'ya think?!)
-Have a lot of fun with it.I wish to pete I'd had more than just a semester to work with this program.While not intended to do all the special effects of After Effects or other S.E. programs, it fulfills every expectation I had of it.

Highly recommended!Good Stuff!!

Mini Final Cut.
Oh man, was I relieved when I found Premier 6.5 (after using Crapinnacle Studio 8). You'll find almost all of Final Cut's and after effects's pros here. The whole package, the great effects, includig Adobe's well known and fabulous color distortion and everything. I reccommend this. Totally.

A great cutting tool
Adobe Premiere 6.5 is far from the most advanced non-linear video editing package you can get however let me make this one comment.

- Editing is all about cutting and not fancy effects. The strength of the project is what is in front of and behind the camera not fancy effects.

I would never recommend using any of the effects on any of the non-linear video editing packages anyway. Get dedicated effects packages if you really want to do your special effects well.

In short Adobe Premiere is the BEST cutting software and the EASIEST to use. The learning curve is slightly steep but you will be cutting your footage within a day or two with this one.

An editors cuts and arranges media. Adobe Premiere does that perfectly. I recommend this like no other but if you are looking for pro packages then go elsewhere and be prepared to pay five figures. ... Read more

Asin: B00006GTEL
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Video    3. Editing    4. Music    5. audio    6. Encoding   

Screenblast Movie Studio 3.0
by Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (31 August, 2003)
list price: $99.99
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Reviews (38)

ScreenBlast has been replaced
I recently had correspondence with Sony. They advised me that they shut down ScreenBlast.com on 9/30/04. They confirmed that there will be no updates for ScreenBlast Movie Studio 3.0 in the future, since they have essentially discontinued it. You can imagine my dismay, having purchased this product only 6 months ago.

They did say that they will support it if you e-mail them, but there is no site for User Tips, etc. anymore. Because of my frustration, they sent me all the links to the media (sound, video files, etc.) that would have been available to me at ScreenBlast.com, since I wasn't able to get it before they shut the site down. They also extended me an offer to buy an upgrade to their replacement product, Vegas Movie Studio 4.0, which includes DVD Architech Studio 2.0 (instead of MyDVD).

After enough complaining on my part, they gave me the full version of the replacement product for free. Initially, I felt pretty good about that and felt that they had taken care of me adequately.

That was until after another inquiry I sent them brought me this message: "Our Vegas software will only 100% support capturing from a DV camcorder or DV deck through a standard OHCI compliant IEEE-1394 (Firewire / iLink) board. If you are using any external break-out boxes or capture cards then we can not guarantee that this device will capture video with our software."

I do not own a camcorder and I don't have a firewire card. I have been simply trying to capture a small stash of old videotapes given to me by others, from an analog VCR connected into my computer via an ATI All-in-Wonder 9000 graphics card with TV/tuner. Vegas is incapable of dealing with this. It will record video, but not sound. Sony advises me to use other capture software to accomplish this. A person shouldn't have to use 3 different pieces of software to accomplish capturing a video, editing it, and saving it to a DVD.

I'm pretty annoyed that it appears I'll need to revert back to the old antiquated ScreenBlast 3.0 product to capture video from my VCR with a Sony product. One further note on this is that Sony's really particular about what path you install into, because if you install it where you want it to go, there could be conflicts if other Sony software is anywhere present there.

If none of this is relevant for you because you have no other Sony software on your computer, and you own an appropriate type of camcorder and connection Sony requires, then I can tell you this. ScreenBlast Movie Studio and Vegas Movie Studio look pretty much identical. Vegas adds a few minor things. It's great editing software. If you want to nab some old videotapes via VCR hookup, forget it.

Other reviewers are correct that the software can seem overwhelming at first, but the more you explore it, the more it will seem extremely easy to you. I found that I really liked it after just a short time of poking around until I got how it worked. Reviewing the manual speeds up that process and is worth your time. It's an easy read and pretty comprhensive.

For my purposes though, the fact that it won't allow me to capture from my analog VCR is an extreme annoyance that makes me wish I'd ignored all the complaints about Pinnacle and Ulead anyway and purchased one of those instead. I've essentially wasted my money, in not being able to use this piece of software for the captures I need to do. Therefore, I can't give it any kind of decent rating.

Two weeks of dinging around with the software and contacting Sony, and in the end, I'm pretty darn disappointed. I haven't figured out for sure what my solution is going to be to capture from my VCR. The software that came with my graphics card doesn't offer as high of resolution as Vegas does.

I will post this review under Sony Vegas Movie Studio as well.

Makes me look good!
I bought this software to edit large-format videos that I take with my Minolta Z2 digital camera, which records sound and motion in the Quicktime (*.mov) format.My WinXP Movie Maker can't import that format, and I haven't found a way to make it handle more than 320x240 pixels.I checked other video editing software packages (the ones that allow a free-trial download) and not all of them can import Quicktime files.One more requirement:my Minolta can shoot video at up to 800x600 pixels -- a "knock-your-socks-off" level of resolution.I wanted a video editor that could input and output video files at that level of resolution.

I've found that Screenblast does the best job with the 800x600 format by outputing in MPEG2.MPEG2 is playable in Windows Media Player if it is given the MPEG2 codec (which should have been provided in Windows Service Pack 2 but wasn't).The videos are, if I may immodestly say so, beautiful.They make me look good as a movie maker.

I found, to my surprise, that Screenblast is intuitive.You can start using it immediately for simple editing, and teach yourself the fancy tricks as you go along.It is also powerful enough to be fun.For example, you can brighten up a scene that appears dark because it was shot in low light, or correct for a color cast given by tungsten lights.It is sometimes tempting to over-use the wizardry, which can overshadow the video's content.This is not a criticism of the software, only a warning that "...with great power comes great responsibility."

Very stable with great features.
To briefly re-state what the previous reviews have correctly stated:
1)Much better than the competition.I've tried them.
2)Has all the features 'that you would probably really use' of the high end programs.It is the same as Sony Vegas with a couple of the features that most people would never use chopped out.A couple of the messages still say 'Vegas' in them.
3)Very stable.Has never crashed over multiple large projects
4)You are easily able to take out or lower the volume on a little part of the sound track (if there is an unwanted sound or somebody says a few words that you want to take out).
5)It comes with Sonic MyDVD which is a piece of junk but it does work if you want ugly menus.The latest CD version of Screenblast 3.0 comes with MyDVD 5.23 which is the newest version of MyDVD as of today!Earlier reviews said that their Screenblast came with MyDVD 4.5 which is not true anymore.
**
An earlier Amazon reviewer gave this product 1 star because they said:If you take out a picture then you have to move all of the pictures after it manually to fill the hole.That is not true!Just turn on 'Ripple Edit' and everything moves over by itself.
Another reviewer said it was not stable.Those people need to fix their computers.In my experience (and according to all of the reviews around the internet) this is a rock solid stable program with no crashes.
I have not needed customer service for this program but I think that Sony customer service stinks for their other products but that is another story that doesn't go with this review.
... Read more

Asin: B0000A0VG7
Sales Rank: 433
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)    5. Movies (Movie)    6. Image Capture Capturing    7. CD Recording (Burning, Burners)    8. Video    9. Composting    10. Effects    11. Editing   

Screenblast Movie Studio
by Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (01 November, 2002)
list price: $69.95
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Editorial Review

Screenblast Movie Studio offers amateur and semi-pro movie mavens access to Sonic Foundry's famed Vegas Video interface and many of its most important AV editing capabilities, minus the hefty professional price tag.

At the heart of the package is Screenblast VideoFactory Deluxe, an all-encompassing application that takes you through every step of the movie-making process within a single, convenient interface. You'll begin your cinematic masterpiece by assembling raw components in VideoFactory's Media Pool window. Here, the program stores and displays each element of your movie--be it a video clip, audio clip, or still photo--in a handy virtual gathering spot, regardless of its format and without actually relocating it from its original position on your hard drive.

To fit the various pieces together, merely drag-and-drop each item to its appropriate spot in the program's intuitive timeline window, where five individual tracks wait to be filled. At any time during the process you can reposition or crossfade your elements, add audio effects such as delay and reverb, drop in sophisticated text overlays, record new sounds, or employ a dazzling array of sophisticated scene transitions and backdrops.

Movie Studio features easy, two-step camcorder footage captures and integrated CD burning, but does not support DVD authoring. And, although the retail package doesn't include nearly as many professional video or audio clips as Nova Development's similarly Vegas-like Video Explosion Deluxe, the Screenblast Web site is filled with an ever-growing downloadable assortment of goodies.

A near-professional grade AV production package without the high-end price, Screenblast Movie Studio is highly recommended. --Gordon Goble ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great value considering price and special effects features!
If you're looking for special effects at an unbelievable price, you can't go wrong with Screenblast Movie Studio.Before purchasing this product, I used Pinnacle Studio 8 exclusively.While I like Studio 8 alot when it works, it is riddled with bugs and very unstable (it's constantly crashing).Screenblast Movie Studio has NEVER crashed on me.

The features I really like about Screenblast Movie Studio that Pinnacle Studio 8 does not have (without buying their Hollywood FX upgrade):

*two video editing tracks
*chroma keying (works great with good lighting)
*masking
*transparencies (you can overlay two clips and change the "transparency" of one to get a "ghost" effect)
*zoom in and out
*basic "animation" abilities (using zoom and fly path features)

After playing with Pinnacle Studio for a year, I was ready for more, and this package gave it to me.

This package does the basics just fine (I bought of copy of this for my father rather than Studio 8), and it also have some awesome special effects features that will not disappoint.

depends on whatyou want ... great tools for power users
The product lacks some of the features that I love with Pinnacle Studio 8. The DVD tools in Pinnacle Studio 8. Having used Pinnacle 7 & * pretty extensively, I was curious about this product based on feedback I had received.
authoring in MovieStudio (MS) is lacking, compared to the awesome
If DVD & VCD authoring and making basic videos is your thing, don't stop at MS. Use Pinnacle 8. For basic video editing and creating videos from pictures, it does not get much easier.

However, once your imaginations starts to run wild, you are going to need something more power. I bought MS for that reason, realizing that I will still use Pinnacle 8 for DVD authoring.

Pinnacle 7/8 provides only a single Video track. Splicing in video is possible, but much more painstaking than having multiple tracks (like most decent video editing tools.) MS has two tracks, but even on a single track you can overall (and blend) multiple video tracks! Pretty neat in concept.

Cool features:
* Chroma keyer: pretty much the big winner for me. This allows you to make solid color backgrounds (though not limited to backgrounds) to become transparent in a video (or image) that is to be overlaid unto another track. (Now you can be in a scene with out having ever been there.)

* Much better collections of transitions and video filters out of the box then Pinnacle 8. (MS has 23 dissolve type transitions versus the single one in Pinnacle Studio 7/8). Although lacking 3-D object type transitions, the collection quality is on par with the Pinnacle Hollywood Effects add-on (non-pro version.)

* While Pinnacle 8 is one of the easiest to use editors out there (that I have tried), I prefer the general layout of WS. There seems to be less wasted space.

From the video editing side, I am hard pressed to see what Pinnacle can do that does not seem possible in WS.(I can definitely see the other way.)

As for DVD/VCD authoring, I will not waste my time trying to do it in WS. Now, if you do not have Pinnacle 8, then what I might suggest you consider is to get MS plus a stand-alone DVD authoring kit. Both Pinnacle and Ulead have great packages.

I am interested in seeing how well the codec in WS works. The rendering process in Pinnacle is among the slowest!!

There's more, but I will stop here until I log more time in WS.

Hope this is helpful.

Save your money...download Windows Movie Maker
I purchased the product hoping to burn family videos to DVD.I found that you had to purchase the MPEG add on to do so.I also wanted the ability to add menus to the DVD so it doesn't play like an old fashioned video tape...the product doesn't do that.I found that this product does not offer any more functionality more than Windows Movie Maker which is available for free download from the MicroSoft site.I'm sending the product back. ... Read more

Asin: B00007B5DC
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Movies (Movie)    3. Video    4. Composting    5. Effects   

Inside Windows Media
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (19 November, 1999)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $27.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (8)

Short on technical content.Too light. Too dated.
This text was published in 1999 and is accompanied by a CD of code and utilities.I wouldn't advise installing the CD in an XP environment, but seems fine under 2000, etc.Download the latest Windows Media SDK from Microsoft if using XP.

While the book has lots of interesting overview material, very little is tackled in depth.In fact, much of the book seems like padding around a few technical chunks.The programming content of the book is in chapter 9 and deals exclusively with automating various aspects of Windows Media (e.g. Windows Media Encoder).In this repsect, the title is misleading.

Personally, I was very disappointed to see so little on .avi.The specification of an avi file was only briefly described (you have to go to the web to get avi information of any quality).There is simply no good reason for failing to detail avi.Why Micorsoft doesn't devote a chunk of web pages to .avi is simply beyond me.The authors of this text mention avi only to dismiss it and argue for asf as the better standard.

The comparison between avi and asf is nicely arranged but surprisingly no avi or asf parser is discussed, despite RIFF parsers having been around for years.A whole lyer of background information was simply not there on the origins of these standards.

The two pages on codecs (229-230) are grossly inadequate and give a flimsy overview of developments.For instance, the Intel Indeo codecs are not mentioned at all despite their success with avi compression.

My overall impression is that the book is largely dated by the advent of XP media technologies and egregiously short on meaty technical detail. Unfortunately Microsoft haven't yet produced a suitable programmer's guide to windows media programming.So if you are really stuck and can't spent a few hours conducting intelligent web searches for resources, this book will meet some of your requirements.In the final analysis, however, this book is poor value for its price.

At last! A how to book that lives up to it's name!
I have been designing/maintaining large scale web sites since early in 1995. This is one of the best written books from Microsoft - period. You WILL be able to create and upload your Windows Media creations after reading this book. If you are expereienced working with RealSlideshow Plus, RealProducer Plus and/or GRINS, this book it for you! I highly recommend this book - this is a buy.

Not bad
The book is good with explanations and a lot of can/cannot do could be found in it. The theory is explained mostly well but some times it doesn't provide enough examples. Chapter 4 is well written and I could find all the knowledge I needed. If you need to put together Encoder and Streaming server read carefully chapters 3, 4 and 5. If you need to automate Encoders and Streaming servers Than Chapter 9 can help you, with automating streaming servers just if you know C, if you're a VB guy, simply don't waste your time and go to the SDK. Generally, if automation is what you're looking for and you already have the basic knowledge of Streaming over IP than that's not the book for you. ... Read more

Isbn: 0789722259
Sales Rank: 428170
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books: Web Publishing    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computers    5. Digital Communication Engineering    6. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    7. Interactive & Multimedia    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. Multi-Media Hardware & Software    10. Multimedia systems    11. Operating Systems - Windows    12. Streaming technology (Telecomm    13. Streaming technology (Telecommunications)    14. Computers / Operating Systems / Windows   

Great Digital Media with Windows XP
by Wiley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 September, 2001)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $19.79
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (1)

This guy really knows what he's talking about.
I have read a few things by Paul Thurrott in the past and found his work easily digestible and loaded with great examples.This book is no exception.
It was a gift, and even though I don't even run XP on my machine I would feel confident using XP tools to work with my digital media with this book by my side.The subject matter may be a little simple for the real tech heads out there, but for folks just starting to play with MP3s and digital imagery up to fairly advanced users looking for some excellent tips and tricks this is a great resource.
Pick it up and join the digital revolution! ... Read more

Isbn: 0764536206
Sales Rank: 167636
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Operating Systems    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computers    4. Digital video    5. Interactive & Multimedia    6. Microsoft Windows    7. Microsoft Windows (Computer fi    8. Multimedia    9. Multimedia systems    10. Operating Systems - Windows    11. Operating Systems - Windows XP    12. Computers / Operating Systems / Windows   

Streaming Media Bible
by Wiley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 2002)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $32.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (5)

The ONLY Streaming Media Production Book You Need
It's rare that any technical book covers a subject really well from beginning to end, in an easy to read manner with real-world examples, but this is exactly what the Streaming Media Bible does.

This no-nonsense approach allows the Streaming Media Bible to make even the most complex digital media technologies easy to understand, and more importantly simple to implement.

Not only does the Streaming Media Bible teach you how to implement technology, but more importantly it gives you some in-sight as to various options you have and what you should think about to find a solution that works best for your needs.

... I highly recommend the Streaming Media Bible for the digital media technical person looking to learn real-world techniques.

One Stop Resource on Streaming Media
Steve Mack's "Streaming Media Bible" is your one-stop resource guide on all things Streaming Media.Whether you are a student or a hobbyist looking to get in on the action or if you are a professional in the field looking for a reference manual, the "Bible" is your one-stop resource guide on all that has to do with Streaming Media.

THE CONTENTS:

Like all other books in the Bible series of books, "Streaming Media Bible" takes you all the way from ground zero/step one assuming no knowledge of the subject to advanced topics, all along building up your skill set.By the end of the book your knowledge and skill of the subject, in this case Streaming Media, is enough to start you off well on your way in the field.Overall, not only is it a great learning tool, but later as you progress in the field it can also be looked back at and referred to as a reference manual.

Here are the topics that Mack addresses:

1.Basics of Audio and Video

2.Tools for Production

3.How to record and edit

4.How to optimize your files

5.How to encode your files for the Internet

6.How to install and administer and maintain a streaming media server

7.Other data formats

8.SMIL

9.Broadcasting Live

THE ANALYSIS:

Overall, this book is your one-stop source for all things dealing with Streaming Media.You get an overview of the basics one video and audio production, an in-depth look at web and streaming media technologies, how to develop your content and how to deliver and maintain your content.The book looks at all aspects of the field.By the time you are done with the book you have a very clear picture on how you can go about developing and delivering your own content.The best thing about the Streaming Media Bible (and most of the books in the Bible series) is that not only is it in-depth, it is STILL very easy to read and follow.

EXTRAS AND GOODIES:

The companion CD contains trial versions and freeware of some cool tools for streaming media including: Video Factory, Batch Converter, Sound Forge, Peak VST, BBEdit, UltraEdit-32 and Adobe Premiere.All in all, not a bad bag of goodies.

THE VERDICT:

Overall, Mack does a fine job of covering the various technologies and issues that deal with streaming media.This book was used as a text for an e-commerce streaming media course I took during the Fall of 2002.Whether you are studying this subject independently, an instructor looking to use this book for your course, a novice looking into the field or even a weathered professional, Mack's"Streaming Media Bible" is a fine choice for your library.

Highest Recommendation

To Read This Book is to Understand Streaming
I teach a course on streaming media and this is the book I recommend to all my students. Why? Because it is the most lucid and comprehensive treatment of the topic I have ever found. Like most, I began my education in network broadcasting on the web. I figured that with the evolving nature of streaming players and encoders and codecs,that the internet was all I'd need to stay on top of things. Well, needless to say, I gathered what can best be described as a "neutron cloud" of information, but no structure to organize my knowledge and give it context. Suffice it to say that this book provides the KNOWLEDGE and the STRUCTURE...the HOWs and the WHYs of streaming media. It's deeply informative, yet easy to read and understand. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to establish themselves in the field of streaming media, or anyone who just wants to produce better online audio or video. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764536508
Sales Rank: 113826
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Internet    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computers    4. Interactive & Multimedia    5. Internet - Web Site Design    6. Streaming technology (Telecomm    7. Streaming technology (Telecommunications)    8. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    9. Internet   

Microsoft Windows Movie Maker Handbook
by Microsoft Press
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 October, 2000)
list price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (a.k.a. Windows Me) endowsMicrosoft's everyday operating system with considerable multimedia capability,including video editing. The Microsoft Windows MovieMaker Handbookexplains how to use the video-editing tools that ship with Windows Me toassemble video presentations. Perhaps more importantly, the authors relateknowledge about moviemaking--enabling you to plan and create videos that aremore emotionally moving, persuasive, and technically attractive. They do a goodjob of communicating the importance of high production values in every videocreation, whether professional or amateur, and appropriately place the editingtools themselves second in importance, behind good conceptual thinking.

In a typical section, the authors explain differences in editing styles.Documentary editing in the cinéma vérité style, forexample, involves stringing together clips, often out of chronological sequence,in order to convey a larger truth about the subject. They explain camera moves("dolly in," "pedestal up"), too. Coverage would be better if authors hadincluded examples from famous movies and television shows (the jerky camera in"Homicide," the window in the series of dissolves at the beginning of "CitizenKane"). Sections on Windows MovieMaker and the other Windows Me tools areadequate--it's the background information on moviemaking that gives this bookits value. --David Wall

Topics covered: Fundamentals of cinematography, video editing, and theother technical aspects of moviemaking, as facilitated by the tools that comewith Microsoft Windows Me. Sections deal with planning shots, writing scripts,arranging lights, and capturing video to digital format. Coverage of the WindowsMovieMaker software documents the editing suite fully, from the everyday user'spoint of view. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A book to teach you how to film
Not only the handbook for Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, this book introduces the ways to film to make your home movie more interesting. Instead of shooting without any plan, home video amateurs can really take advantage of the suggestions in the book for better planning to get better entertaining result.

Like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire!
I think this is a good book on Movie Makers by author Seth McEvoy and on the cover it reminds me like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire becuase of the cover!

This is another good book I like.

The pictures are cool.

Puts you in the director's chair.
Microsoft brings the ability to make movies right to the desktop with Windows ME. This book takes that adventure and shows you the techniques that will have you making, editing and showing movies to your friends in no time flat.

Of course you do need to have a camcorder, a computer and Windows ME installed, but other than that this book is all you will need. Divided into three parts, The Basics, Movie Maker and Advanced uses the book makes sure you understand the concepts and best of all you learn as you go.

In Part 1 you learn about making movies, planning, production tools, shooting and editing and finally distributing movies. In part 2 you the chance to take your movies and put them in the Movie Maker application, you'll also start organizing, editing and sharing the movies with family and friends.

Finally part 3 has you doing more advanced techniques like working with stills, adding sound effects and how to use the media player to play the movies you have created. The Cd-rom include has media player version 7, some ready to use videos and stills to practice with, images and sounds and a few other production tools.

If you are into the creation of movies or want to have some fun with home movies this book should allow you the let out the creative genius inside. Overall a very good book. ... Read more

Isbn: 0735611807
Subjects:  1. Agronomy (General)    2. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    3. Computer Books And Software    4. Data processing    5. Editing    6. Film & Video - General    7. General    8. Interactive & Multimedia    9. Internet - General    10. Microsoft Windows Movie Maker    11. Motion pictures    12. Multi-Media Hardware & Software    13. Performing Arts    14. Computers / Internet / General   

JVC GRD30 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and 16x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $449.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The compact JVC GR-D30 is a stylish, go-anywhere digital video camcorder that incorporates all of JVC's key camcorder technologies. This entry-level MiniDV camcorder is 50 percent smaller than models from 2002 (the GR-DVL120) and features a 16x optical zoom, picture stabilization, and JVC's Night Alive feature.

Optics & Audio
The GR-D30 offers a 680,000 CCD with 520 lines of horizontal resolution. Combined with JVC's super hi-band processor, you'll be assured of capturing crisp, clear video. Equipped with a 16x optical zoom, the GR-D30 also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in for incredible close-ups.

The GR-D30 also features PCM digital stereo sound in either 12-bit or 16-bit options. The 16-bit mode offers one set of stereo tracks and achieves the same quality as CD, while the 12-bit mode creates two sets of stereo tracks. Audio dub is possible when recorded in 12-bit mode.

More Features

• JVC's Night Alive feature boosts light sensitivity for a bright picture, even in situations with minimal illumination.
• A 2.5-inch tilting LCD screen for high-angle overhead shooting, low-angle shots, or even self portraits.
• The Picture Stabilizer system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth and stable pictures.
• Record still images onto the video cassette with a "shutter" sound effect in full frame or pin-up mode.
• The Power Linked Operation feature prepares the camera to record simply by opening the LCD or pulling out the viewfinder.
• The IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connections provides fast, loss-less digital transfer to a computer, or dubbing from or to another DV unit.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package includes the GR-D30 camcorder, AC adapter (AP-V13U), battery pack (BN-V408U), shoulder strap, AV cable (mini-3 RCA), and lens cap. ... Read more

Features

• NTSC
• MiniDV camcorder with 16x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom, image stabilization
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and color viewfinder
• Night and low-light shooting
• Special effects for recording and playback
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394)

Reviews (27)

CONDENSATION, OPERATION PAUSED
This model is prone to display this error message for long periods of time. The manual says to just wait it out (1 hour recommended).

Solution: Take a slightly damp cotton swap and clean the moisture sensor.

Remove power from the camera. I remove the battery as well. In the back of where the tapes go, on the left side is a silver component. It's just behind a metal roller that hangs down from a plastic piece over the head. If you look behind the roller diagonally across where the tape goes, you can see a black square on the right side of the silver component. Clean this (gently!) with a moist cotton swab. The swap should get a bit of black gunk off. I'd recommend cleaning it with a dry swab next to remove any moisture. Wait a minute or so to be sure it's dry. Then re-apply power. You should not see a false consensation message for a long time. ;-)

High Hopes But Disappointed
I bought this camcorder for my teen daughter for Christmas in 2003.Per the product description, it is loaded with features and appeared to be a great value.However, after about six months of light usage, the circuit board went bad (according to an authorized repair center) and the camera will no longer charge the battery. We took it for repairs after the warranty period and the cost to fix it is about the same price as buying a new one. We can still use the camera, but I had to buy a charger and extra batts. Considering the problems with this model noted on this and other websites, it would be nice if JVC would offer an exchange program for a less problematic model.

Piece of Garbage
This camera has had many faults do not buy it...

Condensation operation ALL THE TIME!!

Crapped out when we went to Hawaii due to moisture I am assuming ... Read more

Asin: B0000899QP
Subjects:  1. Camcorder (Camcorders)   

Canon XL1S MiniDV Digital Camcorder
by Canon Video
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (08 August, 2001)
list price: $4,999.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Small enough to carry around and costing not much more than a top-of-the-line consumer camcorder, the XL1S produces such high-quality results that it is sure to be the top choice for many independent filmmakers who demand full features and controls. Like its predecessor, the XL1, this camera uses three separate 270,000 pixel CCDs (one for each primary color) for the best picture quality. The XL1S records digital audio, with two channels of 16 bit/48 KHz sound or four channels of 12 bit/32 KHz sound. The body is based on a magnesium-alloy frame for maximum durability. It ships with a 16x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, but is also compatible with other XL camcorder lenses. With an optional adapter, you can use Canon EF (EOS) still-camera lenses--some of which also feature optical image stabilization.

The electronics of the XL1S have many advanced features, including a number of programmed AE modes, as well as both shutter and aperture priority modes. There are two different auto modes, one of which allows you to adjust any setting manually, if you want, and the other, which adjusts every setting automatically and lets you adjust nothing. A spotlight mode automatically compensates for difficulties when shooting a subject bathed in a spotlight. The computer-shooting mode gets rid of monitor flicker that happens when shooting a computer screen. There are also three different shooting modes: normal movie, digital photo, and frame movie. Normal movie mode is for any time you want to shoot video footage. Digital-photo mode records a still image for six seconds on the MiniDV tape and also captures any accompanying audio for a commentary track. The frame movie mode records 30 noninterlaced still images per second, instead of capturing 60 fps interlaced images. This mode isn't intended to be used for shooting video (playback may not look completely smooth). Rather, frame movie mode should be used as a burst, or continuous, shooting mode, like you'd find on a still camera.

The XL1S offers many new and updated features over the XL1. There is a 16:9 shooting mode where electronic lines draw are displayed through the viewfinder so you can compose your shots flexibly for later conversion to HDTV, where 16:9 is the standard. SMPTE color bars help establish a proper color reference for shooting and editing. Interval recording lets you shoot time-elapsed motion video with intervals from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Zebra patterns help you determine overexposed areas in your shot so you can adjust the aperture and shutter accordingly.

Digital Video Format and IEEE 1394

The XL1S is a consummate professional creation tool that supports the established industry standards, MiniDV and IEEE 1394. Support of these standards make the XL1S a flexible video creation tool that interoperates with standard DV equipment and computer editing systems as accorded by engineering, scientific and broadcast communities.

DV Format Technology and Its Advantages

The MiniDV format supported by the XL1S delivers more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution -- a 25% improvement over analog systems. The DV format allows for near lossless transfer within digital editing environments for faster creation, increased productivity and improved production quality of final prints.

IEEE 1394 (DV Terminal)

The XL1S comes standard with a DV terminal that conforms to IEEE 1394 for digital transfer of video and sound, in addition to regular video and audio outputs. The IEEE 1394 (also known as FireWire®) standard allows editing, copying and recording of digital video over a single cable. This transfer format affords improved image and sound quality and is virtually free from generation loss.

The 3 CCD System

The XL1S maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a 3 CCD (charge-coupled device) system with a separate CCD for each primary color (red, green, blue). A beam-splitting prism separates light passing through the lens into individual color components and each is sent to its own CCD. Compared to a single CCD, the 3 CCD system achieves outstanding detail with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video production - wide dynamic range, low color noise, high-contrast detail, natural color resolution and low-aliasing. The 3 CCD system also makes advanced Pixel Shift (for increased image quality) and Low Light Recording (for increased flexibility) possible.

The three CCD image sensors in the XL1S, each with 270,000 pixels, were specifically designed to capture as much image detail as possible and for shooting under extremely low light conditions. The size of each pixel is 72 square microns - 150% larger than the pixel-size on comparable DV models. The result is an approximate 4 dB improvement in sensitivity. This improved sensitivity means that each CCD can capture more information at all light ranges. In super low light, the XL1S still captures crisp and clear digital data. Under extremely bright conditions, the Pixel Shift capabilities of the XL1S greatly reduces vertical white streaks and smears, making it a consummate field recording device for all conditions.

Because human eyes see green more clearly and readily, the green component of a video signal contains 60% of the picture detail whereas the red and blue components together comprise the remaining 40%. With the advanced Pixel Shift on the XL1S, the green CCD is physically shifted the equivalent distance of 1/2 pixel horizontally from the red and blue CCD, and the green signal is electronically shifted 1/2 pixel vertically. This shifting of the green CCD increases the sampling points, resulting in a system that is comparable to 410,000 pixel CCD systems in terms of resolution. With a larger pixel size and the process of Pixel Shift, the Canon XL1S gives wider dynamic range, better low light recording, reduced vertical smears, and high quality still images without sacrificing the highest resolution DV available.

Audio and Video Inputs and Outputs

The XL1S offers a plethora of means by which to get audio and video in and out of the camcorder. The XL1S is designed to handle two types of analog video input and output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. There are four audio inputs and outputs. All connections are on the camera body.

What's in the Box

• XL1S Camera
• Zoom Lens 16x XL 5.5-88 mm IS
• BP-930 Battery Pack
• CA-910 Compact Power Adapter
• DC-900 DC Coupler
• SS-1000 Shoulder Strap
• WL-D32000 Wireless Controller
• SP-100 Shoulder Pad
• S-150 S-video Cable
• STV-150 Stereo Video Cable
• Lens Hood

... Read more

Features

• NTSC
• Three shooting modes: Normal Movie, Digital Photo Mode, and the cinema-like Frame Movie Mode and shoot in 16:9
• Record for up to 90 minutes on one battery charge
• Professional-quality MiniDV camcorder and still c