HIT:TECH: iMac DV, iMovie, DV camera, video editing

[Linda Slacum <lslacum@ccps.org>]

Below is my original post and replies I received.  Thanks to everyone
who took the time to reply to my query.

>Colleagues,
>We are looking for advice about hardware to purchase which will work
>together to produce student multimedia productions.  Our desire is to
>have students take digital video clips, import them into the iMac, edit

>them using iMovie, export them back to videocassette format.  Since we
>have limited funds we need to purchase the best hardware that is
>compatable.
>
>iMac DV.....What amount of memory is the minimum?
>iMovie.....Any certain version best?
>DV camera .....Make, model.....Any special connections, cables, etc.
>
>Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in
>advance.
*******************************************************
Check the Apple web site  www.apple.com  Also, MacWorld is a
good place to look for what you need.
*******************************************************
iMovie is easy and fun.  Get at least
128 M of RAM.  I think most of the DV models come with either 64 or
128.  A lot of places are offering extra RAM for free now.  The newest
version of iMovie should come already loaded on the computer.  It is
iMove 2.  You can download lots of free transitions and goodies to go
with it.  Make sure that you get a camera with RCA
(composite/analog/however you want to say it) IN and OUT.  Some cameras
don't have both in and out. Out is the most important if you want to put

it on regular VCR tapes.  We got the Canon Elura.  It works great.  The
old verson of it is below $1000.  I know the new verson is more pricey.
I don't know if you can still find the older version that we got.
******************************************************
Apple recommends 128MB of memory
Digital 8 DV cameras are the least expensive method for use with
firewire
(I have a Sony but here Canon is excellent)
Make sure you get a DV camera!!!!
iMovie 2 comes with all new DV Macs for free (not sure if you use
Windows)
******************************************************
I'd get the most expensive Imac so that you'll have the largest hard
drive
and most memory.  You might even want to double 128 memory.  As for the
iMovie, the one that comes free w the Imac should be fine.  Last year, I

had trouble using Avid Cinema within the At Ease on Imacs.....
*****************************************************
I am in charge of the video production
team (basically 6 tyh grade).  We have an imac DV (ones from this
summer).
You want to add memory right away.  We are at 128 and could use more.
We can
do about a 20 minute movie with all the bells and whistles before we run
into
trouble.  We have a CANON Ultura...although the newer model has a
different
name, maybe allegra or something.  We love it.  It has the big
viewfinder...menu options for lighting such as low light, spotlight, sun
and
sand etc.  The big plus for us is that the battery stays in the camera
and
recharges in there (and you can use it plugged in at the same time)  You
of
course need fire wire (although I think the new imac DV's come with
it).  All
the other components come ready shipped with the camera.  WE did find
that we
need a microphone to do our little news broadcasts to pick up the voices
of
the announcer.  There is a microphone that comes with the computer to do

voice overs in imovie.  You need  imovie 2 and any updates that you can
have.
 You also want that computer hooked up to the internet so you can
download
updates and sound bytes etc.  We also have a vcr so that we can transfer
the
movie to VHS because so many people still use that to view the movie
(parents
at home etc.).  A tripod is a must, but ours came free with our camera
deal.
When you are already to go visit www.atomiclearning.com and check out
their
imovie 2 tutorial.  It is also posted somewhere on the apple site.
**********************************************************
We have a DV camera and a laptop that we use with it.  The camera is
a Canon ZR-10, purchased online for &732.  All  prices otherwise are
about
$899.  The camera  uses a small tape, about the size of a deck of
cards (small deck).  I believe each tape is 90 mins.  We have an Apple
Powerbook with imovie software.  It comes with Firewire which I think is
the
software.    The laptop was about $2500.   None of our G3's had the
firewire, which can be purchased separately for about $100 I think. The
imovie software can edit DV and can edit audio as well.
You can add music too.  I wish I could say more but I can't - we've only
had
the stuff for about a month.  One final piece of information:  The
finished
movie can be transferred to videotape for playing on the tv, or the
camera
can plug into the tv  for viewing.
**********************************************************
--
Linda
****************************************************************
Mrs. Linda L. Slacum, Library Media Specialist
Cherry Hill Middle School
2535 Singerly Road, Elkton, MD  21921
410.996.5024  or  410.996.5020
lslacum@ccps.org (school)  or  lindas@delanet.com (home)
http://www.ccps.org/ccps/chms/home/home.html
http://www.ccps.org/ccps/ccemo/home/home.html
****************************************************************

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