TELEPHONE: 435-652-7970
OFFICE: Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 324
FALL 2008 CLASS INSTRUCTION:
1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., MWF (section 01)
Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 120
This course is an introduction to digital video editing. The focus of this class is the fundamentals of how to edit and prepare video for use in web publishing, interactive multimedia via CD-ROM, and making DVD products. Implementation of the course objectives will be taught using several different types of software as tools to accomplish the end product. The specific software used is not as important as the concepts, processes, and techniques that will be learned, which can be transferred to other tools of your choice.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
"Upper division course in the CIT baccalaureate degree program. May also be used as an elective in an Associate Degree or the Visual Technologies certificate. This course introduces students to essentials of editing video and audio with computers. Concepts are taught that may be applied to TV & video production, multimedia authoring, and/or Internet video streaming. Techniques are presented for digitizing video and audio from standard analogue sources or digital sources, selecting footage from source clips, constructing transitions, titling, creating and using alpha channel or other matte techniques, and other special effects as needed. Current hardware requirements/limitations and future technology developments will also be discussed. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to edit and assemble professional-grade video in either QuickTime or MPEG formats that will play on any computer or that will output to videotape. 3 lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CS 1400 and VT 2500 and VT 2600." (Dixie State College Catalog, 2006-2007)
PRE-REQUISITES
VT 1300, VT 2500, and VT 2600. Familiarity with the MacOS and Windows operating systems is assumed. A good working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator is expected. (Lack of functional knowledge in these software packages may adversely affect your ability to obtain a high grade in this class.) Although NOT recommended (strongly), courses that teach the pre-requisite software may be taken during the same semester as this class.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK and SUGGESTED SUPPLIES:
- Access to a video camera. Digital format is preferred. Cameras using miniDV tapes for recording must also have an
OHCI-compliant Firewireª port. However, cameras using SD cards or hard drives to store video while recording are becoming more common.
These cameras typically use a USB port to transfer files, rather than "capture" video. Older analog cameras are not recommended, but may be
acceptible if they have RCA or S-video jacks for video and audio in/out. They will require a digital converter to allow video
capture to a computer.
- Storage media to backup and/or manage your coursework files during the semester
- Multiple blank DVD-R/RW disks (to hold data and files)
- A USB flash drive of sufficient size (2 GB or larger)
- (optional) An external hard drive of usable size (120 GB or larger is preferred)
- Multiple blank DVD-R/RW disks (to hold data and files)
- At least four DVD-R blanks (to submit finished work in two of the assignments)
- Server space (at yoyodyne.cs.dixie.edu) will also be provided to hold your current
project(s) between editing sessions
- Textbook: Not Required
- Suggested Reading: Editing Digital Video, by Robert M. Goodman & Patrick McGrath
Copyright ©2003 by McGraw-Hill Compnaies, Inc.
Published by McGraw-Hill Press
ISBN: 0-07-140635-2
Cost is approximately $35.00.
Further, because of the large file sizes that develop in video work AND the extensive amount of time invested in editing projects, backup and storage space become even more important that usual. You should be very diligent about keeping backup copies of ALL your work. Bad things happen, especially as deadlines approach. Files and work get lost, even with the best of project management. In the event of technical difficulties, you will be happy to have a backup stored elsewhere.
SPECIAL NEEDS HELP
If you are a student with a physical or mental impairment and would like to request accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center (652-7516) in Room 201 of the Student Services Center. The Disability Resource Center will determine your eligibility for services based upon complete professional documentation. If you are deemed eligible, the Disability Resource Center will further evaluate the effectiveness of your accommodation requests and will authorize reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for your disability.
ESCAPE CLAUSE
The instructor reserves the right to change the specifics of this syllabus and the schedule (weekly topics of instruction, assignments, assignment details, due dates, etc.) as determined for the betterment of the class. Any changes will be announced in a timely manner during class instruction periods.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to teach students how to use the computer as an off-line, non-linear video editing tool. Students will learn both the technical and esthetic aspects of using video-editing software. Students will receive several editing projects throughout the semester, which they will be expected to produce on the computer using video-editing software. Assignments will be tailored to require the application of concepts presented in class periods. Students will learn to distinguish between effective and ineffective editing techniques through lecture, in-class demonstration, hands-on practice, examinaton of expert examples, and then completing the assigned projects.
At completion of the course, students should know and be able to demonstrate the following technical skills:
- How traditional broadcast television works
- What the various worldwide broadcast standards are for NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and ATSC
- What are the digial equivalents of these standards and how they are used in video editing.
- What are the current best practices for streaming video online
- Which codecs yield the best quality/performance/file size ratios for various media
- How to make a storyboard for a shooting, editing, and delivering a video project.
- Understand the difference between various video formats in use today.
- Understand the various data compression methods in use today.
- How to capture both video and audio as "raw footage."
- How to set in and out points and place the desired video segment on the timeline
- How to insert markers of various types, including chapter markers used in building DVD menus
- How to create still images for use as graphics, titling, and mattes in the video-editing process.
- How to use blue screen techniques for dynamic masks.
- How to create static and dynamic mattes for special effects.
- How to import images and audio into the video-editing project from other applications.
- How to choose the optimum settings to obtain the the best results for the intended purpose.
- How to do file management of large video files for your projects.
- How to prepare QuickTime files for streaming on the Internet or in interactive multimedia projects.
- How to output a completed project back to video tape.
- How to build an interactive DVD of your video project.
POLICIES, PROCEDURES and ASSIGNMENTS
Attendance is important to your success in this course; therefore, the grades earned will reflect your attendance habits (this is a department policy). No points are allotted toward the total points possible to determine your grade, but attendance will be measured indirectly through various participation events during class instruction.
TEXTBOOK READINGS: Although the textbook was written to take a beginner by the hand, it will be used as a reference manual in this class. A CD-ROM is included with the book, which contains related files that can help in explaining the various topics. By using the index and table of contents to find the specific information needed at the moment, you can jump in anywhere and read those parts most relevant to your immediate questions and needs. Additionally, each topic typically includes one or more tips, notes, cautions, and cross references. No specific reading assignments are scheduled in the textbook. However, you are encouraged to keep this book with you while working on the projects for this class.
TECHNICAL PAPER. You will write a four- to six-page technical paper on Apple's QuickTime technology and its competitors, such as Windows Media Format, Real, DivX, etc. Alternately, you can make a comprehensive comparison between HDMI, FireWire, and other high-speed bus technologies — their merits, strengths, features, and costs — that have impacted the TV and Video Production industry. It is essential for you to understand many of the issues surrounding the supporting technology for editing and delivering video in digital formats via computers. This paper is worth a maximum of 50 points. It should be typed and double-spaced with documented references and bibliography, using either the MLA or APA styles to format your paper. The research paper is due on Monday of week 3
Submit this research paper in electronic format, saved in RTF format. Include a COVER PAGE with the following information:
- Full name and last four (4) digits of student ID number
- Class number and section number
- Assignment name
PROJECTS. There are five (5) projects for the semester. Four of the projects are worth a maximum of 50 points each. The fifth is a group project and is worth 75 points. See the weekly assignments schedule for descriptions and due dates. These will reflect techniques learned in the course up to the time of each scheduled assignment. Project assignments will be graded on three categories: 1) the technical correctness of the project as indicated by how well it demonstrates your editing skills and matches the project specifications, 2) the overall design and presence of production values, and 3) how well the finished video communicates the intended story through effective use of the video medium. More points will be given for effective design and storytelling that demonstrate the concepts learned in class. The points for each assignment will be allocated based on the standards found in rubrics developed for this course in the online grading area of the CIT web site.
All assignments must be submitted on time to earn up to the maximum of 285 points allotted toward your grade. Due to the various size of finished assignments and depending on the specifications, they may be delivered using a variety of media. The projects will be presented and discussed in class during the week following each assignment's due date.
Several weeks are allowed for each assignment to be completed and submitted. This should be enough time to turn in assignments ON TIME. Points will be deducted for late assignments. Assignments more than fourteen (14) days late will not be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS!
MID-TERM EXAM. A mid-term test will be given during the eighth (8th) week of the semester. There are 50 points possible. The written test may be taken at the Campus Testing Center at a time of your convenience. (Click here for more info. about the Testing Center -- part of Campus QTVR tour.) A standard 100-question ScanTron card (green ink) is required to participate in the mid-term. Also be sure to take some identification with your photo. Students arriving for the test without a photo ID and a ScanTron card will be turned away.
FINAL EXAM. A final test will be given during the scheduled finals time for this class period. There are 50 points possible. A standard 100-question ScanTron card (green ink) is required to participate in the final. Students arriving for the final without a ScanTron card will be turned away. While the time allocated for the final test is two hours, you should be able to complete this test in 30 minutes. Any student not present one-half hour after the final exam begins will be considered a "no show" for the final and will not be allowed to take the test. DO NOT BE LATE!
To review for both mid-term and final exams, check HERE for example questions and suggested areas you should know.
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS. An important part of college is learning to set priorities and budget time. Projects are expected to be finished and submitted on time. Late projects will have points deducted. Projects will not be accepted if over fourteen (14) days late. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, REGARDLESS OF THE EXCUSE! This is detrimental to your grade for the course and should be avoided at all costs. No tests can be taken late -- no exceptions! All projects are given specific due dates during the semester. Tests will be administered at the times specified in this syllabus. If you cannot take a test at the scheduled time, due to an APPROVED reason, you must contact the instructor and arrange to take the test early. Plan ahead and make sure you deliver your work on time.
GRADING PHILOSOPHY: The design quality of your assignments is a significant factor in the points evaluation. Adherence to the technical specifications of the assignment will also be checked -- document size and color modes are the most-often ignored issues that will lose assignment points. If you hand in all assignments on time and score reasonably well on the tests, you will receive at least a "C" grade. A higher grade can be earned on the creative and design components you add to your assignments. I am looking for more than the minimum work required to meet the assignments. If you have questions about what is considered "A"-, "B"-, or "C"-level work for this course, read this page on establishing grading criteria. Additional information can be deduced from the published rubrics for each assignment on the VT GRADES page. If you have further questions, contact the instructor for clarification.
GRADING
Points for course work are earned by turning in assignments and taking tests on time. (See the weekly course and assignments schedule for the due dates.) Allocation of points for the four major components of course work are as follows:
| 50 | ...Research Paper | |
| 275 | ...Five (5) Creative Projects | – 4 @ 50 points each, 1 @ 75 points |
| 50 | ...Written Mid-Term Exam | |
| 50 | ...Written Final Exam | |
| 425 | ...Total points possible |
Letter grades will be earned based on the following percentages of the total points possible:
|
IMPORTANT: Letter grades below a "C-" in any course designated as part of the Visual Technologies program cannot be used toward obtaining a Certificate of Competency or a baccalaureate degree. For further information, contact Marci Olsen (molsen@dixie.edu), advisor for Applied Technology Programs, or Shari Gowers (gowers@dixie.edu), advisor for 4-year baccalaureate degrees. |
Last Updated 08/20/2008
Send questions and comments to
woodland@dixie.edu
