CATEGORY: Multimedia

Cool tech at Capitol Communicator event . . .

So I attended a Capitol Communicator  www.capitolcommunicator.com event in DC last evening (9/30/09). 

It was a release party for their new offering, the online SourceBook http://tinyurl.com/y9slotg, which I assume will become something like the “LA 411″ www.La411.com for the mid-Atlantic region.

I always enjoy attending these CC events, as I get to network with a great mix of media peers . . .

. . . and the Capitol Communitor is an excellent e-zine.  (Kudos to the combined business savviness of founders Paul Dunning and Phil Rabin along with fellow marketing team member, Amy Schwab http://tinyurl.com/y8no9cj)

But what also caught my eye at this event was the showcasing of a device called “Boxci” http://www.boxci.com/ created by Bethesda-based A.M.G. (Alternative Marketing Group) www.amgww.com

Read the rest of this article »

What is a “Frame Grab?”. . . (yep, and more about SD vs. HD)

I got a call the other day from a client asking whether taking a still frame from a video (aka known as a “frame grab”) would adequately work as a source for a printed image.

In the days before HD, the answer was almost always, “not unless a grainy shot will work for you.”

300+ dpi (dots per inch) is the standard for quality print.  Television / video is rated at the equivalent of only 72 dpi.

But what about an HD source, as this client’s tape was?

HDTV turns out to be only 72 dpi as well, but the other enhancements of the HD process will allow for a higher quality frame grab. 

So, in short, the HD still frame should work fine for a printed brochure; however, blowing it up to poster size would not be advised.

OK, what’s going on here?  If HDTV is also 72dpi, what exactly are “those other enhancements” that make it look better?

Read the rest of this article »

How might our OCR scanning services help you?

We at Video Labs specialize in media replication.  So why stop at just copying discs and videotape?

We now offer document archiving as well.  And we can do so with OCR scanning.

What does OCR scanning mean?

Read the rest of this article »

Video resolution . . . for the rest of us

OK, so your video editor comes to your desk and says that the video clip you wanted is ”320 x 240,” . . . and you basically rely on the look on his or her face as to whether that is a good thing or bad thing.  Sound familiar?

Let’s see if we can’t help you look a little less like a deer in the headlights in such situations.

Again, my disclaimer, I myself have had my deer-in-the-headlight moments, and I am not a bonafide engineer (I only play one on TV - ok, ok, I couldn’t resist), but over my years as a producer, director and editor, I picked up info along the way — at least enough to help me survive. (though some might say I know just enough to be dangerous, but let’s ignore that, ok?)

With that all said, let’s move on to the topic at hand.  Video Resolution: it all comes down to pixels.

Read the rest of this article »