Digital video in the classroom FAQ

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What is digital video?

With digital video, picture information is stored in the form of numbers (like a CD) which means that it can be copied and edited without the loss of quality that you get when editing VHS tapes.

What is non-linear editing?

Traditional video editing, using tapes, is linear- you do edits one after another in order. Digital editing on computer can be non-linear: you can do your edits in any order and rearrange them. It means that students can revise their work easily, as they would with word-processing or DTP.

At what age can students edit digital video?

We’ve used iMovie software with students as young as seven, and ten-year-olds use the programme very successfully.

What sort of computer should I use?

If at all possible, you should have a separate computer that you have set up specifically for digital video.

Apple’s iMac and iBook computers are the most straightforward computers for classroom digital video. They come with a powerful but very easy-to-use editing package (iMovie) and built-in Firewire sockets for connecting a camcorder. See Digital video on a Mac.

To edit on PCs, you need a fast PC, a capture card and suitable software such as Pinnacle or Adobe Premiere. Windows XP includes a basic video editing package (Movie Maker 2). See Digital video on a PC.

You can never have too much memory and storage: get plenty of RAM and as much hard disc space as you can afford.

How do I get digital video into the computer?

If you have a digital camcorder, you can connect it directly to any current Apple computer. You can also connect it to a suitable PC if it has a Firewire capture card fitted.

I have an analogue camcorder. Can I do digital editing?

Yes. If you have a a G4 desktop Mac (rather than an iMac) or a PC, you can buy an analogue capture card.

If you have an iMac you’ll need to convert your footage to digital format before you edit, which means you’ll need a digital deck with ‘analogue in’, or an analogue to digital converter.

What sort of digital camcorder should I buy?

For digital editing, ‘DV in’ is the key feature. This means that, as well as the computer receiving video from the camera, it can also record video out to, and control, the camera. Unfortunately many camcorders in the UK have this feature disabled, as it attracts extra EC duty. DV-in camcorders start at around £500.

If you’re using Apple’s iMovie software, you also need to ensure that the camcorder you buy is compatible with iMovie. There is a list of cameras that Apple have tested at www.apple.com/imovie/shoot.html Some camcorders that aren’t on the list will, in fact, work.

What if I have a digital camcorder without DV in?

There are ways round this: some cheaper camcorders can be reprogrammed to accept DV in using plug-in ‘widgets’ from Datavision or (for some Canon cameras) using codes available on the Web (http://www.xs4all.nl/~bbouwens/dv). Both of these may invalidate your warranty.

What other features should I look for?

Most camcorders have ‘analogue out’, which allows you to transfer completed material from your digital camcorder to VHS. It also means that, if your software allows it, you can play back from the camera to a monitor while you are editing, so you can see what the footage will actually look like on TV.

If you want to use footage on analogue formats (like VHS, VHS-C or 8mm) your camcorder or deck needs to accept ‘analogue in’ so that you can connect an analogue camcorder or deck.

Other points to consider are ease of use and handling. Smaller camcorders are more suitable for Primary children, but heavier semi-professional camcorders will probably have better image quality (using 3 chips - one for each colour) and may have interchangeable lenses. Some of the smaller cameras are 'bottom-loading', which means you have to take them off the tripod to change tapes, which is best avoided.

The lens is important:

How wide is the optical zoom range? Does the lens have a true wideangle setting, for dramatic perspective and for filming in confined spaces? (Very few small camcorders do.) If in doubt, try it out, or ask what the equivalent focal length would be on a 35mm still camera: 35mm or less is best.
What is the maximum aperture? The wider this is (i.e. the smaller the number) the better the quality when you're filming in low light.

What tape format should I use?

The relevant digital tape formats are miniDV and Digital8. They record video in the same way; the difference is that miniDV uses small tapes specifically designed for digital use, while Sony’s Digital8 camcorders record digitally onto 8mm videotapes. miniDV is more common. Digital8 cameras in the UK don’t have DV in, though this can be enabled with a ‘widget’.

How can I find enough disc space for my students’ projects?

Digital video takes up a huge amount of disc space (3.7 megabytes a second) so even a 60Gb drive will fill up eventually if you let your students leave all their projects on the computer. The simplest way of making enough space is to insist that they log their material and work their edits out on paper first so that they only import what they need. This should mean that they work more creatively and efficiently.

You can plug in external Firewire hard drives, though check before buying that the drive is fast enough for video work. The LaCie range are stackable and good value, and they also make portable (but more expensive) Pocketdrives.

If you're really short of space, you can insist that students export their projects - either to DV tape, or to small Quicktime files - and then delete them from the computer once they have finished the project.

Removable media can be used for archiving and backup up work: DVD probably offers the best combination of disc capacity, convenience and reliability, but rewritable DVD drives are still expensive. For short projects, CD-RW is an alternative. The top-of-the range iMac now includes a combined DVD-R (which records to non-rewriteable DVD discs) and CD-RW drive.

Do I need a separate deck as well as a digital camcorder?

Using your only camcorder as the edit deck is the cheapest solution in the short term, but it has two disadvantages:

it ties up the camcorder, so you can’t have one group filming while another group captures footage
your camcorder will wear out more quickly if it is used for editing as well as filming.

The ideal solution would be to have a separate miniDV deck, so that one group of students can be editing while another group are filming. (Sony’s GVD300 is a high-quality miniDV deck with a reputation for reliability. You can also buy the GVD-900, a more expensive version with an LCD screen.)

Another solution is to have a camcorder with DV in/out which you use for editing, and to have additional, cheaper camcorders for filming.

A third option is JVC’s HR-DVS1, a combined miniDV and S-VHS deck.

How much do digital video tapes cost?

It depends where you buy them. Electrical superstores can charge very high prices, but specialist photographic or video retailers may sell miniDV tapes in multipacks of 3 or 5 for around £6-£7 a tape. On the Internet, you may be able to find them for less than £5 a tape. You do not need tapes with Cassette Memory at £14 each.

What accessories do I need?

Here’s a basic list:

tripod with a quick-release plate (it doesn’t neeed to be too heavy, as miniDV camcorders are light)
headphones to monitor sound while filming. Check that they work properly with your camera and won’t damage students’ hearing
a microphone with a windsock ( a foam cover so that you can film outside without wind noise.)
tieclip microphones for interviews
spare camcorder batteries (you can buy ones lasting up to four hours) and perhaps a separate charger
a neck strap, if not supplied, to avoid expensive accidents when your students are handholding. Use a proper broad neck strap: thin string or cord could cause students to throttle themselves.
padded carrying bags, or aluminium cases, if your equipment is going to be carried around.

Other desirable accessories are:

an external monitor, so you can view your video as it would appear on TV. If your classroom TV has an oblong SCART connector you can use that.
a protective cover so that you can use your camcorder in the rain.
a wide-angle adaptor if your camcorder doesn't go wide enough.
a boom to hold the microphone above the action (you can tape it to a broom handle instead!)

A variety of cables can be useful (but remember trailing cables can cause a tripping hazard):

male to male minijack, so you can copy audio from a cassette or minidisc player into your camera or iMac
a long phono lead and a female-to-female 'coupler' which will make it easier to move the camera around while displaying its picture on the TV screen. You connect the yellow video plug from the composite video adaptor to it, then plug the male end into your SCART adapter or directly into the monitor. This is useful when teaching camera techniques to your students.
alternatively, if both your camera and TV have S-VHS sockets, you can use an S-VHS lead for the same job.
an extension lead for your external microphone.

Lighting

Lights are cumbersome and can be hazardous in the classroom. It's best to only use them when you have to, with older students. Film lights are expensive: builders' lights are a cheap alternative favoured by low-budget filmmakers.

A Lastolite folding reflector - or a large piece of expanded polystyrene - can be used to fill in harsh shadows.

Do I need to supervise my students when they’re filming?

It depends on your students (and your area). Consumer miniDV cameras aren’t as robust as professional equipment. It may be safer for you to load tapes yourself, as the mechanisms are fragile. Camcorders are also very popular with thieves, and some teachers have reported incidents of students being mugged for the school camcorder when out filming.

Tom Barrance

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