You’re already aware of QuickTime’s amazing ability to play virtually any media file you have on hand, but you may not be aware of the full extent of its media capture and creation capabilities. Using QuickTime 7 Pro and a few effective techniques for capturing and preprocessing projects, you can achieve professional-quality results, every time. Before you start shooting, there are several useful tips to keep in mind.
“QuickTime 7 Pro offers tremendous H.264 encoding capabilities for incredible-looking results.”
—
Glenn Bulycz
Senior manager, QuickTime,
Apple Computer, Inc.
Effective media creation techniques
Join Glenn Bulycz, senior manager, QuickTime at Apple, as he introduces you to effective media creation techniques using QuickTime 7, from initial capture through preprocessing and simple editing.
QT video: creatingmedia_...
Duration: ~ 5 minutes
Click for QuickTime Movie Help FAQs.
Bringing your subject to light Good lighting is the foundation of any successful media project. Be sure to pay attention to lighting, and ensure that light is coming from multiple directions. If you are capturing a close-up of an individual speaker or performer, you may need a more elaborate lighting system to add depth to your shots. Consider 3-point lighting (keylight, fill light, backlight) or other more sophisticated lighting schemes to bring your subjects to life.
Keeping it simple If you have the luxury of shooting in a studio, make sure to shoot your subjects in front of a black background and have them wear plain or solid colored clothing. This will allow QuickTime to concentrate on the action and the presenter, versus encoding busy backgrounds and clothing.
You’ll also want to capture as much video as possible. If you can shoot progressively, ideally using a tripod, and keep your camera rolling, you’ll have plenty of video and b-roll to edit to achieve the best results.
Engaging viewers through framing Effective framing techniques can help you engage viewers, adding variety to an otherwise static shot. Consider when it’s best to produce wide, medium and close shots. If you’re just introducing viewers to a site, consider a wide shot that establishes scale and context. Medium shots frame the subject while eliminating visual distractions. Tight shots are best for capturing reactions, emotions or extreme details. You’ll want to capture only what’s necessary, especially if you are creating a webcast and delivering your movie over tighter bandwidths.
Capture made simple Whether you’re a professional or a consumer, you have several options when capturing media using QuickTime 7. You can record audio and video in real time with QuickTime 7 Pro. Professionals seeking the highest quality can use hardware options like Kona SD, an uncompressed QuickTime card for high-end audio and video capture.
QuickTime 7 Pro offers two new features that help you achieve terrific results. First, you can choose the best capture format for your intended audience—H.264, MPEG-4, or device-native format like DV—within the QuickTime 7 Pro preferences. And, you can capture audio-only for creating podcasts. The interface for both audio and video capture is incredibly intuitive, with an easy start and stop button. You can also use QuickTime 7 Pro for simple editing. Cutting unwanted sequences is a cut-and-paste process using QuickTime 7 Pro. Preprocessing to maximize results Once you’ve captured media, you’ll need to preprocess video content prior to encoding to control what information your codecs receive. For instance, setting image parameters—cropping, scaling, and so forth—for your intended media is essential. You’ll also need to adjust color and brightness.
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