Dixie State College -- Computer and Information Technology
http://cit.cs.dixie.edu/vt/vt3300/
VT 3300 Digital Video Editing
INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Ronald Woodland (woodland@dixie.edu)
TELEPHONE: 435-652-7970
OFFICE: Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 324
Spring 2006 CLASS INSTRUCTION:
1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., MWF (section 01)
Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 120
This course is an introduction to digital video editing. The focus of this class is how to edit and prepare video for
use in web publishing, interactive multimedia via CD-ROM, and making VideoCD or DVD products.
Implementation of the course objectives will be taught using several different types of software as tools to
accomplish the end product. The specific software used is not as important as the concepts, processes, and
techniques that will be learned, which can be transferred to other tools of your choice.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
"Upper division course in the CIT baccalaureate degree program. May also be used as an elective in an
Associate Degree or the Visual Technologies certificate. This course introduces students to essentials of editing
video and audio with computers. Concepts are taught that may be applied to TV & video production, multimedia
authoring, and/or Internet video streaming. Techniques are presented for digitizing video and audio from
standard analogue sources or digital sources, selecting footage from source clips, constructing transitions, titling,
creating and using alpha channel or other matte techniques, and other special effects as needed. Current
hardware requirements/limitations and future technology developments will also be discussed. Upon successful
completion of this course, students will be able to edit and assemble professional-grade video in either
QuickTime or MPEG formats that will play on any computer or that will output to videotape. 3 lecture hours per
week." (Dixie State College Catalog, 2004-2005, pg. 198)
PRE-REQUISITES
VT 1300, VT 2500, and VT 2600. Familiarity with the MacOS and Windows operating systems is assumed. A
good working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator is expected. (Lack of functional knowledge
in these software packages may adversely affect your ability to obtain a high grade in this class.) Although NOT
recommended (strongly), courses that teach the pre-requisite software may be taken during the same semester
as this class.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK and SUGGESTED SUPPLIES:
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Access to a video camera. Digital format is preferred. Digital video cameras must have an OHCIcompliant Firewireª port. Older analog cameras may be acceptible if they have RCA or S-video jacks
for video and audio in/out
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Four or five CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW disks
A USB flash drive of sufficient size (256 MB or larger)
An external hard drive of usable size (40 GB or larger)
(You will use these storage media to backup and/or manage your coursework during the semester)
At least two DVD-R blanks
(You will use these to submit two of the assignments)
Server space (at yoyodyne.cs.dixie.edu) will also be provided to hold your current project(s) between
editing sessions
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Textbook: Getting Started with Final Cut Studio,
Copyright ©2006 by Apple Computer
Published by Peachpit Press. Cost is approximately $35.00.
Dixie State College -- Computer and Information Technology
http://cit.cs.dixie.edu/vt/vt3300/
In case of technical difficulties, you should be very diligent about keeping backup copies of ALL your work.
SPECIAL NEEDS HELP
If you are a student with a medical, psychological, or learning disability and would like accommodations or think
you might have a disability, contact the Disability Resource Center (652-7516) in the Student Services Center,
Room 201. The Disability Resource Center will determine eligibility based on your professional documentation
and determine the appropriate accommodations related to your disability.
ESCAPE CLAUSE
The instructor reserves the right to change the specifics of this syllabus and the schedule (weekly topics of
instruction, assignments, assignment details, due dates, etc.) as determined for the betterment of the class. Any
changes will be announced in a timely manner during class instruction periods.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to teach students how to use the computer as an off-line, non-linear video editing
tool. Students will learn both the technical and esthetic aspects of using video-editing software. Students will
receive several editing projects throughout the semester, which they will be expected to produce on the
computer using video-editing software. Assignments will be tailored to require the application of concepts
presented in class periods. Students will learn to distinguish between effective and ineffective editing techniques
through lecture, in-class demonstration, hands-on practice, examinaton of expert examples, and then completing
the assigned projects.
At completion of the course, students should know and be able to demonstrate the following technical skills:
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How to make a storyboard for a video project.
Understand the difference between various video formats in use today.
How to digitize both video and audio as "raw footage."
How to set in and out points and place the desired video segment on the timeline
How to insert markers of various types, including chapter markers used in building DVD menus
How to create still images for use as graphics, titling, and mattes in the video-editing process.
How to use blue screen techniques for dynamic masks.
How to create static and dynamic mattes for special effects.
How to import images and audio into the video-editing project from other applications.
How to choose the optimum settings to obtain the the best results for the intended purpose.
How to do file management of large video files for your projects.
How to prepare QuickTime files for streaming on the Internet or in interactive multimedia projects.
How to output a completed editing project back to video tape.
How to build an interactive DVD of your edited video.
For information concerning the Visual Technologies program's overall goals and objectives, CLICK HERE.
POLICIES, PROCEDURES and ASSIGNMENTS
Attendance is important to your success in this course; therefore, the grades earned will reflect your attendance
habits (this is a department policy). No points are allotted toward the total points possible to determine your
grade, but attendance will be measured indirectly through various participation events during class instruction.
TEXTBOOK READINGS: Although the textbook was written to take a beginner by the hand, it will be used as a
reference manual in this class. A CD-ROM is included with the book, which contains related files that can help in
explaining the various topics. By using the index and table of contents to find the specific information needed at
the moment, you can jump in anywhere and read those parts most relevant to your immediate questions and
needs. Additionally, each topic typically includes one or more tips, notes, cautions, and cross references. No
specific reading assignments are scheduled in the textbook. However, you are encouraged to keep this book
with you while working on the projects for this class.
Dixie State College -- Computer and Information Technology
http://cit.cs.dixie.edu/vt/vt3300/
TECHNICAL PAPER. You will write a four- to six-page technical paper on Apple's QuickTime technology and its
competitors, such as Windows Media Format. Alternately, you can make a comprehensive comparison between
FireWire and other high-speed bus technologies -- merits, strengths, features, and costs -- that have impacted
the TV and Video Production industry. It is essential for you to understand many of the issues surrounding the
supporting technology for editing and delivering video in digital formats via computers. This paper is worth a
maximum of 50 points. It should be typed and double-spaced. The research paper is due on Monday of week 3
Submit this research paper in electronic format, saved in RTF format. Include a cover page with the following
information:
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Full name and last four (4) digits of Soc. Sec. Number
Class number and section number
Assignment name
Papers without this information may be unilaterally rejected, depending on the frustration level of the instructor.
PROJECTS. There are five (5) projects for the semester. Four of the projects are worth a maximum of 50 points
each, the fifth is a group project and is worth 75 points. See the weekly assignments schedule for descriptions
and due dates. These will reflect techniques learned in the course up to the time of each scheduled assignment.
Project assignments will be graded on three categories: 1) the technical correctness of the project as indicated
by how well it demonstrates your editing skills, 2) its overall design and production values, and 3) how well the
finished video tells the intended story. More points will be given for effective design and storytelling that
demonstrate the concepts learned in class. The points for each assignment will be allocated based on the
standards found in rubrics developed for this course.
All assignments must be submitted on time to earn up to the maximum of 285 points allotted toward your grade.
Due to the various size of finished assignments, they may be delivered using a variety of media, depending on
the specifications. The projects will be presented and discussed in class during the week following each
assignment's due date.
Several weeks are allowed for each assignment to be completed and submitted. This should be enough time to
turn in assignments ON TIME. Points will be deducted for late assignments. Assignments more than fourteen
(14) days late will not be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS!
MID-TERM EXAM. A mid-term test will be given during the ninth (9th) week of the semester. There are 50 points
possible. The written test may be taken at the Campus Testing Center at a time of your convenience. (Click
here for more info. about the Testing Center -- part of Campus QTVR tour.) A standard 100-question ScanTron
card (green ink) is required to participate in the mid-term. Also be sure to take some identification with your
photo. Students arriving for the test without a photo ID and a ScanTron card will be turned away.
FINAL EXAM. A final test will be given during the scheduled finals time for this class period. There are 50 points
possible. A standard 100-question ScanTron card (green ink) is required to participate in the final. Students
arriving for the final without a ScanTron card will be turned away. While the time allocated for the final test is two
hours, you should be able to complete this test in 30 minutes. Any student not present one-half hour after the
final exam begins will be considered a "no show" for the final and will not be allowed to take the test. DO
NOT BE LATE!
To review for both mid-term and final exams, check HERE for example questions and suggested areas you
should know.
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS. An important part of college is learning to set priorities and budget time.
Projects are expected to be finished and submitted on time. Late projects will have points deducted. Projects
more than fourteen (14) days later will not be accepted. This is detrimental to your grade for the course and
should be avoided at all costs. No tests can be taken late -- no exceptions! All lessons and projects are given
specific due dates during the semester. Tests will be administered at the times specified in this syllabus. If you
Dixie State College -- Computer and Information Technology
http://cit.cs.dixie.edu/vt/vt3300/
cannot take a test at the scheduled time, due to an APPROVED reason, you must contact the instructor and
arrange to take the test early. Plan ahead and make sure you deliver your work on time -- just do it.
GRADING PHILOSOPHY: The production values you put into your assignments is a significant factor in the
points evaluation. Adherance to the technical specifications of the assignment will also be checked -- stage size
and color modes are the most-often ignored issues that will lose points. If you hand in all the assignments on
time and score well on the tests, you will receive at least a "C" grade. A higher grade can be earned on the
creative and design components that you add to your assignments. We are all looking for more than the
minimum work required to meet the assignments. If you have questions about what is considered "A"-, "B"-, or
"C"-level work for this course, read this page on establishing grading criteria. If you have further questions,
contact the instructor for this class.
GRADING
Points for course work are earned by turning in assignments and taking tests on time. (See the weekly course
and assignments schedule for the due dates.) Allocation of points for the four major components of course work
are as follows:
50
275
50
50
425
...Research Paper
...Five (5) Creative Projects
...Written Mid-Term Exam
...Written Final Exam
...Total points possible
<>
-- 4 @ 50 points each, 1 @ 75 points
Letter grades will be earned based on the following percentages of the total points possible:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
......95% or higher
......90% to 94.99%
......85% to 89.99%
......80% to 84.99%
......75% to 79.99%
......70% to 74.99%
......65% to 69.99%
......60% to 64.99%
......55% to 59.99%
......50% to 54.99%
......45% to 49.99%
......44.99% or lower
IMPORTANT: Letter grades
below a "C" in any course
designated as part of the Visual
Technologies program cannot be
used toward obtaining a
Certificate of Competency or a
degree. For further information,
contact Dana Kelvington, advisor
for ATE programs, or Shari
Gowers, advisor for four-year
baccalaureate degrees.
Last Updated 01/03/06
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