Step one is to make sure that the video editing computer workstation is properly hooked up for your needs. That is, did the last person leave the set up the way you need it. If you are not using digital camcorder and digital video tape, then the conversion kit (Dazzle Converter Kit) must be checked out from the lab assistant and returned when you are finished.
Once this decision is made, then proceed to step two in which the video is edited. It is assumed that composers are not familiar with the details of this process, and online videoclip tutorials are provided for almost every step of the process. Built-in text tutorials provided by the video editor program itself are available to fill in any gaps in the knowledge provided by the videoclips. In this editing phase, this work is generally cut into pieces, and then many options follow. The various pieces could be deleted, copied, put in different sequences, cut into even smaller pieces, and special effects added including transitions, sound effects, opening titles, closing scrolling credits, voice overs, additional sound tracks and more. At minimum, this work asks that you use the video editing program to add an opening title videoclip and a closing scrolling credits clip. In step three, the finished composition is exported into different formats that will be used in different ways. This will include sending the composition back to videotape and creating computer files of the video that can be used on the web and in electronic slideshows. This work should first be exported to the computer's hard drive, not to external storage such as a ZIP disk or CD or DVD. External storage drives as a rule do not have the data transfer rate to keep up with what the computer is sending it, which will either lower the quality of your work or potentially crash the computer and force a restart. When this step is done, step four asks that composers reflect on what has been done, why they did it, and consider further how such work should and will be used.
Step five considers whether the value of additional video compositions is appropriate for you at this time. Such extra credit activity is highly encouraged but optional. Whether you are interested in this option at this time or not, at least read through the options to know what opportunities you may be missing.
Step six is an important closing step. In this step, directions and shortcuts are given for inserting the videoclip files into web pages and uploading them to a web server so that anyone on the planet who can bring up a web page can see your composition. This simple act also dramatically extends the range of your composition capacity in that the video can now be enhanced by companion text passages, still images and other media and in turn enhance these other composition elements. Of further importance, this single step opens up your work to a potential audience of a few hundred million people with Internet access living on every continent of this planet. The restriction to this planet is only temporary. In just a few years one suspects that even the space station wiill have full Internet access.
So, onward to step one! Find and click the link to step one in the left sidebar of this page and proceed.