Preserve recorded memories, set up a camera, match lenses and displays, and prepare an edit or screening. Choose a practical guide for the next step, then explore the equipment history behind digital video.
Begin with preservation guides for tapes, discs and files. Use the camera guides for model-specific recording and transfer choices, the production guides for processing and editing, and the viewing guides for displays and HD DVD playback.
Connect devices and preserve recordings
HDMI: Choose the Right Connection and Troubleshoot It
Match HDMI ports, cables, video modes and audio settings, then isolate missing picture, dropouts and sound problems.
MiniDV Tapes: Preserve and Transfer Your Recordings
Inventory MiniDV recordings, check playback and capture compatibility, and keep verified originals alongside convenient viewing copies.
HDV Format: Identify, Capture and Edit Older HD Video
Distinguish DV from HDV, preserve the intended tape output, and interpret frame size, interlacing and progressive recording correctly.
DVD Camcorders: Transfer Recordings from 8 cm Discs
Identify camcorder disc types and recording modes, check finalization and drive compatibility, and preserve a complete copy before converting video.
Lossless Video Codecs: Masters, Editing and Viewing Copies
Understand what lossless compression preserves, choose a file strategy, and verify picture, audio, metadata and backups after conversion.
Panasonic P2: Copy, Verify and Preserve Camera Cards
Preserve complete P2 card folders, handle spanned clips, check audio and metadata, and verify backups before releasing a card for reuse.
DV Disk Recorders: Transfer and Check FireStore Footage
Identify a FireStore FS-4 variant, copy existing recordings through the correct interface, preserve companion files and verify segmented clips before editing.
Portable Media: A Field Backup Workflow for Photos and Video
Plan storage capacity, copy complete camera media, verify independent backups and keep a clear release record before reusing a card on location.
Archos AV400: Preserve Recordings and Check Playback Compatibility
Copy and verify AV400 media, distinguish playback formats from filenames, and separate existing files from analog recording and historical service features.
Use the video transfer log for tape, disc and recorder projects, or the P2 card-offload log for structured card copies. Use the field backup log for independent copies while traveling.
Set up a tape camcorder
Canon HV20: Recording Modes, Connections and Footage Transfer
Identify your Canon HV20 recording mode, check picture and sound, and choose the right connection for tape capture, TV playback or card photographs.
Sony HDR-FX1: Controls, Recording Modes and Transfer Checks
Plan a repeatable Sony HDR-FX1 camera test, check exposure and sound, and preserve the intended HDV or DV output during tape capture.
Canon Optura 30 and 40: Video, Audio and Transfer Choices
Identify Optura 30 and 40 differences, separate MiniDV tape from memory-card material, and check audio, widescreen playback and a sample transfer.
Three-CCD Camcorders: Imaging, Audio and the Sony HC1000
Understand three-chip color imaging and check Sony DCR-HC1000 tape, card and audio choices without confusing sensor specifications with recorded video.
Shoot, edit and screen
Steadicam for Small Camcorders: Balance and Practice
Set up a small mechanical camera stabilizer, diagnose balance and handling problems, and practice repeatable moving shots with the equipment you own.
Digital Video Effects: Keys, Layers and Clean Composites
Understand fill, key and alpha channels, build a simple layered video composite, and diagnose edge, scaling and export problems.
Digital Cinema Delivery: From DCP to Test Screening
Coordinate a digital cinema handoff with the venue, identify the correct DCP and CPL, arrange KDMs when needed, and verify picture, sound and subtitles before the show.
Canon HD Lenses: Match Mount, Image Coverage and Camera
Evaluate Canon broadcast and cinema lenses by exact mount, sensor coverage, control requirements, back focus and a recorded camera test.
Digital Media Processors: Decode, Scale, Encode and Display Video
Trace the video-processing path and check codec, profile, bit depth, resolution, software and sustained performance before relying on hardware acceleration.
For a venue delivery, collect the version, requirements and test results in the screening handoff checklist.
Choose displays and disc playback
Wearable Displays: Check Connections, Fit and Video Playback
Evaluate video glasses by their input requirements, optical fit, screen behavior and actual playback with the devices and apps you intend to use.
HD DVD: Identify the Format and Plan Playback of a Collection
Identify HD DVD discs, check an exact player and display chain, document playback and understand the format’s 2008 discontinuation.
Portable players and recorders
Personal Multimedia Recorder
RCA’s 2006 LYRA X3000 announcement, including analog recording and proposed DIRECTV transfers.
Published January 4, 2006
Mobile DVR
Archos AV 700 coverage from 2005, combining portable viewing with scheduled recording.
Published May 23, 2005
Portable Media Player
Directed Electronics’ 2005 PMP3520 portable player and recording features.
Published July 12, 2005
Pocket Multimedia Center
The Archos Gmini 402 announcement from 2005, with storage, playback and synchronization features.
Published October 27, 2005
ZVUE Portable Media Players
A 2005 preview of ZVUE players and their proposed Windows Media compatibility.
Published October 10, 2005
Portable Media Center
The 2004 Windows Portable Media Center launch, including Creative and Samsung devices.
Published July 9, 2004
iSee iPod DVR
The iSee 360i accessory’s 2006 approach to adding video recording and playback to selected iPods.
Published January 5, 2006
DivX DVD Walkman
The 2006 Sony D-VE7000S portable DVD player and its DivX playback announcement.
Published June 17, 2006
Portable Videos
A 2005 agreement to bring action-sports and instructional downloads to ZVUE players.
Published December 30, 2005
Wearable displays and disc-format history
MyVu Personal Media Viewer
A 2006 account of MicroOptical’s myvu viewer and its connection to video iPods.
Published January 11, 2006
Mobile Video Eyewear
Scalar Teleglass and Kopin microdisplay technology as described in 2005.
Published July 5, 2005
Protected HD Copying
A 2007 introduction to Maxell iVDR storage and its protected-recording system.
Published March 20, 2007
HD DVD Player
Toshiba’s 2005 prototype demonstration during the development of HD DVD hardware.
Published October 3, 2005
Digital Video Expo history
Digital Video Expo
Historical coverage of Digital Video Expo West, held in Los Angeles in December 2004.
Published December 6, 2004
Digital Video Conference
The program announced for Digital Video Expo East in New York in July 2004.
Published June 26, 2004