Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Converting a DV into DVD

Converting MiniDV or 8mm tape to DVD

[Make sure that the playback deck and Sony DVD Recorder are connected by a single cable. Also make sure that all of them are connected to their respective power sources! Bring a DVD with you (one can be purchased in the Info Commons vending machine.) ]

1) Turn on the playback deck.



2) Push the “Menu” button.


3) Under “IN/OUT REC”, make sure that “A/VàDV OUT” is set to “OFF”.


4) Insert the tape in the playback deck.

*** Suggestion: play the tape using the playback deck just to be sure that the tape is working properly.

5) Turn on the Sony DVD Recorder.

6) Push the menu button in the Sony DVD Recorder and select “Video à DVD”.

7) Select “DV IN”

8) Push the eject button and insert the DVD.

9) Hit the “Play” button in the playback deck. The Sony DVD Recorder will start recording automatically. (The white button glows with a red outline while recording. You can also press the big white button to record)


***Conversions from tape are in real time i.e., converting the tape requires the actual time it takes to play the footage.

10) Even after all the footage has been transferred, the DVD Recorder will continue to look for video signal until the tape runs out. It will finalize everything automatically at the end of the tape. Or you can stop the recording when you have what you need.

11) Once it finishes finalizing, the recorder will eject the DVD automatically.


Congratulations! You are done!

For more complete instructions, there is a document with complete instructions for using this equipment in the holder next to the equipment.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Thanks!


Jorge and his MEWS video consultants



Thanks to everyone who dropped by our open house last week, met us, and our Jorge consultant. If you missed the chance to have your picture taken with Jorge, drop by during our staffed hours. Come see us to talk about how we can support you in your multimedia projects.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Exporting Files from Audacity

To export the file you are currently working on in Audacity, go to File and then Export.




Give a filename and location and select the format that you want to save the file in. 



For more advanced export options, click on 'Options' button next to the Format drop down menu.



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For more information about file formats  and exporting options,  see the Audacity Manual section on exporting audio. To learn more about using Audacity, try some of the Audacity tutorials.

Recording Audio with Audacity

In order to record your voice on Audacity, check that your microphone/input systems are properly connected, especially if you are not using your computer’s built in microphone. We don't recommend using the inbuilt microphone because the sound quality is likely to be poor. 

Make sure you have the right settings in Audacity.
You can select the input system you are using for your recording session on the drop down menu.  




Now you are ready to record. 
Click on the Red record button and start recording.





You will immediately see a track being built. 




To pause your recording, click on the blue pause button. 
When you are done, click on the yellow stop button. 





You can now edit and export your recording.

For more information on Recording in Audacity:

A Beginner’s Guide To Producing Home Music Recordings With Audacity


To learn more about using Audacity, try some of the Audacity tutorials.

The Very Basics of Loops in Garageband




Tuesday, February 18, 2014

How To Take A Screenshot On A Computer

On a mac computer, a screenshot can be easily taken with the keyboard command Comand-Shift+3 (for a full screenshot) or Comand-Shift+4 (for a partial screenshot). The Mac will give a camera shutter click sound to announce that a picture of your screen has been taken. The file will be on your Mac desktop ready to be used or edited in your favorite photo software.

But have you ever wondered how to do this on a Windows computer?

Unfortunately there is no direct way like with a Mac computer, however you can do just as well by following these quick steps.

1)   If you look down at your windows keyboard, you’ll see that there is a key labeled PrtScn. This stands for “Print Screen”, and this is the button for you.



Note – On a laptop keyboard, you might need to press the "Fn" or "Function" key to access "Print Screen". Just a heads up.

2)   Once you have found this magic button, simply hit it. It will save an image of your entire screen to your clipboard. But you will receive no indication that it has happened. That’s right. None.

3)   Next, open up a program like Paint, Microsoft Word, Photoshop, GIMP or Notepad.


4)   Since you clicked PntScn earlier, and that put your screenshot onto your clipboard, just paste into your open program!


5)   Next, save your document/paint-file. Using Paint, GIMP, or Photoshop is best, because you can save your image in a photo-friendly file-type like JPG or PNG. And BAM. You have successfully taken a screenshot on a Windows computer, my friend. Pat yourself on the back. Take a few minutes for yourself. You are so impressive, knowing how to do this.  

Monday, February 17, 2014

Multimedia Support Needs Survey

Help us better meet your project needs!

The MEWS Teaching Area and its consultants are here to help you with your multi-media projects. Please help us better understand your needs by completing the survey below: