Online Video Editing

Originally published in Outpost Magazine

Even if you’ve been hiding in some remote corner of the world, chances are you’re aware of the mania that is online video. Suddenly everyone is a Spielberg, rushing to upload clips for the world to see. With Google’s US $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube, the largest online video community, it seems it’s also here to stay. Not that it’s a new thing. It’s been possible to put video on the web for sometime. The difference is that now it’s so easy for the non-techie to do, and that’s what makes services like YouTube so popular. It’s the first time that amateur videographers and professional directors find themselves in the same arena in front of the same crowd. Creating, uploading and sharing video means the possibility of reaching the masses is now within everyone’s grasp.

And now there’s another band of websites coming over the horizon. These not only allow you to upload video, but also rearrange, add music and tweak timelines without downloading software. Startups like Jumpcut, Break and Motionbox provide free tools that let you mix video clips online. Though they aren’t in the same ballpark as professional editing applications like FinalCut and Avid, they offer surprisingly sophisticated results and are simple to use. Still, they make it possible for us travelers lucky enough to capture that rare African ritual in the middle of the Mozambique jungle, we can upload, edit and add it to our travel blog from anywhere with a decent internet connection.

Two of the best online editing services are, in fact, Jumpcut and Motionbox. Jumpcut was first out of the blocks, but Motionbox, its only real competitor, is quickly gaining ground. Both are similar in that they offer real-time video editing through any web browser, meaning you can view changes while editing, mimicking desktop applications. After uploading your video, usually limited to 100 MB in size (about 10 minutes), you can reorder, add music, photos and transitions all online. For sharing, you can email to a friend or embed into a webpage. Both offer a comprehensive list of features, including splicing in clips from other videos using the same service. Meaning you don’t even need your own video—you can cut someone else’s.

Of course, if reaching the masses is your goal, YouTube, with over 50 percent of the market share for video websites, is your best bet. Its numbers are staggering—100 million video views a day and 65,000 videos uploaded daily. Plus, it’s easy to use, has good video and audio quality and if you have a blog, simple to embed into your webpage. You can also create play lists, subscribe to tags, as well as to other users’ uploads, and comment on videos. However, for editing it offers nothing—yet. But if Quick Capture, the recently added function that allows users to upload direct from their camera, is any indication, online editing will come soon. Quick Capture also allows users to record video directly to YouTube from cameras plugged into their computers, making it easier to broadcast straight to the web.

These are only a few of the hundreds of video services that are already changing the publishing and broadcasting landscapes. Market researchers say the amount of people watching everything from home videos to blockbuster movies on the web now outpaces those watching good ol’ fashioned TV. So get out there and shoot your stuff. We now all have the means to be the next Ian Wright and, if our work is good, reach a wider audience than we’d ever dreamed.

5 Tips for Shooting Video

1) Tripod: After the camera, a tripod or monopod is the next most essential piece of equipment. Nothing is worse than a shot that’s shaking like someone on a trampoline. The tripod also let’s you get yourself in the shot. No tripod? In a pinch, lean against a tree or wall to steady yourself.

2) Zoom: Yes, it’s fun, but resist the temptation. The tighter you zoom in, the more pronounced even the most subtle camera movement appears. It looks bad online, and unnecessary movement increases your file size and slows down the video stream. Unbearably annoying to viewers with a slow connection.

3) Framing: Mentally divide the shot into thirds vertically and horizontally, kind of like a tic-tac-toe grid. Where the lines intersect is where you shoot the action. Avoid centering subjects and try to not cut off people’s body parts in long shots. But like every rule, once you know it, you can learn how and when to break it.

4) Lighting: Proper lighting dramatically increases video quality. The easiest solution is to shoot outdoors. Morning or late-afternoon are the magic hours. Also shoot with the sun at your back. If indoors, turn on all the lights, open the curtains and use the camera’s built-in light.

5) Audio: Most cameras come with a built-in microphone but unless you’ve purchased a $5,000 camcorder, it probably picks up a lot of extraneous noise. A handheld external mic that plugs into your camera will cut down on distracting background noise.

Pay Per View
Some video services pay for content. Break pays $400 for user-generated videos. They’ve apparently paid out $300,000 since inception. It doesn’t have great editing features, nor does it reach as wide an audience as YouTube, but if you’re cash strapped and need to buy your flight out of the jungle, it might be just the ticket. Others to check out: Metacafe, Revver and Guba.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at 8:51 am and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. Add to del.icio.us.