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April 7, 1998
Since your content is on videotape in analog format, you'll need to capture this content into a digital video format so that you can work with it on your computer. First, make sure that you have set up your computer with an appropriate audio/video capture card, connected your VCR, and set up your video editing software. If you are using the Winnov Videum AV card 
, you can double-check your connections against this
schematic to make sure you're ready to go. You should also have decided what portions of your content you are going to capture for use on the Web. Remember that since you may not have filmed your content with broadcasting on the Web in mind, some of it may not be usable by users
with lower-speed connections. Most capture cards come with their own proprietary software to allow you to perform the capture. You will need to make decisions with respect to specific settings that will affect how the final video will look.
Undoubtedly, your video contains sound as well as images. Choose 16-bit, 22 kHz mono. Choosing this format will allow you achieve better results as you stream.
Due to low client bandwidth considerations, Imaginet team members normally work in a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels. Windows Media Services, however, supports resolutions of 49 x 49 up to 352 x 288 pixels. An important rule to keep in mind is to capture your videos in the same resolution or higher than the end video product you wish to create. This will ensure that you do not lose video quallity.
As a general rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to use the highest-quality compression available to you. If you are going to edit your video before putting it on the Web, you will want to do this before you compress it (as it may be difficult or impossible to do once the video is compressed).
To best determine the frame rate for your AVI file, you will need to consider the connection rates at which your audience will be viewing the videos you create and what subject matter those videos deal with. For example, if your video is of a speech or other scenario where the scene doesn't change much, but it is important to synchronize the speaker's lips with the audio track, you should aim for at least 10 frames per second. If, however, you are dealing with high-action subject matter such as a speeding boat, a frame rate of around 8 frames per second will give you better results. For reference, 8-10 fps is the persistance of motion to the human eye. Keep in mind that the larger the frame rate, the higher your data rate. The trick is to select a frame rate that accurately displays your content without overwhelming your network. Experiment with your video to bring the frame rate down to the lowest acceptable limit.
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