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Chapter 9 Shooting Semi-Pro Videos 91

The CCD generates the digital signal transmitted to the camcorder’s recording sec-
tion. Today, most camcorders record to a built-in hard disk drive, recordable flash
memory, or mini DVD disk; older camcorders recorded to videotape.

Because the audio and video signals are recorded digitally, you can transfer them
(typically via a USB connection) to any personal computer and then edit them
using digital movie-editing software. When you record digitally, edit digitally, and
then transfer the digital files to YouTube, you keep a fully digital signal path, which
results in extremely high quality picture and sound.

Examining Camcorder Storage

If you used a camcorder a decade or so ago, chances are it used either the VHS or
VHS-C tape format. Both of these formats were analog formats with limited image
resolution. Today, however, virtually every camcorder records in a digital format,
capable of much better picture quality than was delivered in the past.

The earliest digital camcorders recorded to MiniDV cassette tape. The MiniDV for-
mat is pretty much abandoned today, but you still might have an old unit sitting in
the closet. This format recorded broadcast-quality standard definition video (500+
lines of resolution), at the standard 4:3 aspect ratio.

The MiniDV format was superseded by the HDV format, which recorded high defi-
nition video on the same MiniDV cassettes. Depending on the camcorder, this for-
mat recorded at either 720p or 1080i resolution, along with Dolby Digital surround
sound.

Cassette tape, even in the MiniDV or HDV formats, has inherent disadvantages; it’s
hard to queue to a specific point, and it takes longer to transfer files from the tape
to a computer for editing. For these reasons, most camcorders today record to some
sort of tapeless medium for easier queuing and file transfer.

DVD-based camcorders record directly to small (8cm diameter) discs, using the
DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW disk formats. Depending on the picture quality
level you select, each disc can hold between 20 to 60 minutes of video. DVD cam-
corders record video in MPEG-2 format. Transferring files from a mini DVD to
your computer is a little convoluted, in that you have to rip the files from the disk
to your computer’s hard drive.

A better solution is to use a camcorder that contains and records to a built-in hard
disk drive (HDD), just like the kind you have on your personal computer. It’s rela-
tively easy to connect a cable between an HDD camcorder and your computer to
transfer the video files you shoot. Current models incorporate hard drives from
30GB to 120GB in size. HDD camcorders record video in MPEG-2 format.