Exercises - CR

• General:
  • learn about capturing of various media types; and
  • learn about equipment and software involved in capture, storage, processing, and playback.
  
  
• Work with RealAudio: Please follow the instructions.
• Work to turn in from New Media Center: 2 captured photographs, one short (up to 30 second) audio segment, and 1+ still(s) from video for Dr. Lee that will be carried out at the New Media Center during class or after. Alternatively, you can use source material appropriate for your home page or for your project effort, that you bring in.
• Instructions related to NMC use:
  • You can work during the class visit or at other times that the NMC is open.
  • The NMC schedule is posted on the bulletin board outside the entrance.
  • If you wish to reserve a particular computer you can ask the NMC staff to do so.
  • Materials to capture for the class will be left in a locked drawer in the NMC and can be made available upon request, but must be kept in the room and should be returned after use.
  • On any computer you use, create (if not already there) a directory "CS4984" on the local hard disk. Use that to store all files you create, so the GTA can capture what you have done.
  • Please follow all rules of the NMC, be polite to the staff, and learn as much as you can from your experience.
  • After several weeks, the materials must be obtained from the GTA, and results returned to him on diskette or through special arrangements.

  There is a similar collection of material available in McB 110 that you can use, with a sign out sheet nearby.
  

• Instructions on video capture:
  • The videos are episodes of The Machine That Changed the World prepared by BBC, which has given permission for us to capture stills.
  • You should pick out 1+ still images from one of the video tapes based on the list given on the abovementioned WWW page (copies of which are printed and left with the tapes to serve as a paper log sheet of clips).
  • Use FusionRecorder to view and select a short sequence of frames around the point where you wish to capture a still. in McB 110.)
    • Use 1/4 or at most 1/2 for Record Window Size, to reduce the data rate.
    • Use Record to Disk as Record Method since RAM space is insufficient for video.
    • Use Video for the Compressor, and check the Post Compress box.
    • Under Compression, select Image and then fix the settings regarding brightness, contrast, etc.

    Save the resulting short movie on your local disk.

  • Use MoviePlayer to view the sequence of frames, select the one(s) you want, and then Copy one to the Clipboard.
  • Use Photoshop to take the Clipboard file, clean it up, and save a color JPEG file.
  • Please enter the name of the files you create on the paper log sheet when you are done with them, so we can see what has been completed and so that others will capture different segments. Please use your last name and the time to make up the file name, to simplify our record keeping.

  (Use Premiere instead if your system supports that - e.g., if you are using the digital video system.)
  

• Instructions on photograph capture:
  • Each person should select two of the photographs provided by Dr. Lee in envelopes. Be sure to pick ones not yet captured by others.
  • Use one of the scanners to prescan, crop, and capture (as grayscale unless the photo is in color) so that the captured image resolution is no more than 640x480.
  • Work with Photoshop to clean up each image so it looks as well as it can.
  • Store the finished image in JPEG form.
  • Record the file name on the log sheet listing the photographs. Please use your last name and the time to make up the file name, to simplify our record keeping.
  
  
• Instructions on audio capture using SoundEdit:
  • Take one of the tapes provided, and record your name and a full description of the tape on one of the sheets provided.
  • Listen till you find an interesting segment, of at least 30 seconds duration.
  • Record it using 8 bits/sample and at a sample rate of about 22.050 kHz (the program will only allow recording at fixed rates through the microphone port) with no compression.
  • Play it back, look at the waveform and spectrum, and apply any effects appropriate to clean up the recording.
  • Save the file in SoundEdit 16 form for future use.
  • Record the file name on the log sheet listing the photographs. Please use your last name and the time to make up the file name, to simplify our record keeping.
  
  
  
  

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  Copyright 1996 Edward A. Fox