Digital Video Magazine is not some dense, jargon-filled reference tome. Instead, it focuses on practical shooting and editing techniques, and shows you how to start (and actually finish) that video project you have in mind--in less than a day. You get a thorough grounding in the basics of digital video, from how to get a good close-up shot and how to add a sound track to your video to how to organize your videotapes. Digital Video Magazine is platform- and software-neutral, truly making it the guide for the moviemaking masses.

This Magazine is divided into six chapters. The first two chapters deal with the tools required for taking and using digital video, essentially the camcorder, computer, and software. There is a good discussion on basic camera controls, including numerous photographs to illustrate their location and use. The different types of available video tapes are reviewed. There is also an excellent discussion of timecode and its relevance to editing. Digital Video Magazine teaches the science and technique of studio voice and sound effect recording, editing dialog and music (the techniques are different), processing, and mixing. 

Digital Video Magazine discusses the actual shooting of a video. Various topics, such as tape structure, the three basic types of camera shots, and several different types of coverage, are discussed in detail. This matter concludes with a discussion on lighting and sound. Basic fundamentals, such as labeling a tape, preparing a tape log, and culling the tape, are reviewed and also discusses the actual process of editing a video. Editing the video and sound tracks are examined along with the addition of text and special effects. 

Digital Video Magazine concludes with a discussion on creating a CD-ROM or DVD using a compressed version of the final video tape file. A lot of creative individuals have taught themselves how to produce and edit pictures by reading this magazine, and comparing what they do with what's being broadcast on tv. But you can't teach yourself how to polish a soundtrack this way. There are too many interconnected factors. For instance, decisions you make while editing dialog can influence how effective your music score will be. And trying to improve part of a track by ear -- tweaking a knob until things seem better -- can make them much worse later on.