Lemak Lemang

Which way Digital Video?

Aug 11, 2006 20:36

Douglas Spotted Eagle, an American movie editor who also scores for Hollywood soundtracks, was in Kuala Lumpur on August 11 to conduct a two-day audio-video workshop, and to give a preview of what lies ahead in High-Definition Video (HDV), if digital video needs an urgent next step.

Douglas Spotted Eagle... Picture by Jeff Ooi

A group of us--tech journalists, professional photographer John Ishii and myself, the blogger--spent some time with him, talking about his music and his native flute, his penchant for video editing using Sony Vegas, and the number of how-to books he has published. We also sought his views on which one between HD-DVD and Blu-ray DVD would be the next Betamax, the ultimate loser of the video format war.

Ishii, who hails from the Washington state, also asked him how to handle stricter security checks recently enforced by the UK and US airport authorities in the aftermath of foiled attempts to explode passenger aircraft midair using improvised explosive devices (IED). You know, professional photographers don't normally check in their expensive gear in the cargo.


CHECK-IN CAMERA EQUIPMENTS. Douglas suggested three measures in dealing with airport security procedures that have been coded red for the US Atlantic route. First, insure all your camera equipment now that you have to check them in. Two, make sure the check-in camera container is properly padded to avoid shake impact. Three, get the airport shrink-wrap service to prevent pilferage. Last but not least, use your mobile phone camera to take a picture before the security guys check in your "cargo" onto the conveyor belt. That's the proof before possible tampering.

Douglas quoted occasions when his shrink-wrapped check-in equipment was knife-cut by the security in US airports, though traveling from Israel to any countries seemed much less eventful.


Picture by Jeff Ooi

VIDEO FORMAT WAR. What format war? The jury is already out, said Douglas.

He is of the opinion that both HD-DVD, pioneered by Toshiba and backed by major movie studios, and Blu-ray DVD, promoted by Sony and supported by an army of consumer electronics and computer companies, are technically competent and comparable to each other. Both formats use blue laser for optical pick-up.

However, data storage will be the decider, he explained.

Blu-ray offers 50GB of storage, backward compatible to today's DVD structure (though the player must be new enough to handle playback), and most importantly, Sony has already committed to supporting it in the upcoming PlayStation 3.

Blu-ray is also capable of five-layer data storage, so High Definition (HD) and standard DVD content can be accessed without having to flip the disc.

On the other hand, the HD-DVD format comes in 15GB, 30GB and 45GB capacities. It was also announced that HD-DVD will ultimately debut a version that puts a movie encoded in conventional DVD on one side, and a high-definition version of the movie on the other. Yes, it's a double-sided disk and you have to get up from the couch to flip the disc.

He said, ultimately, market acceptance of the DVD format will be determined by dollars-per-gigabyte in both the professional- and consumer-grade video equipment.

Douglas added that the development of HD-DVD has primarily reached the ceiling for data storage capacity, and breakthrough is unlikely. As such, it will qualify to be the Betamax (which lost to VHS decades ago as the industry standard for video tape) of the 21st Century.

Douglas said that, despite the fact that major movie studios--the major suppliers of DVD content--are banking on HD-DVD.

OK, it's noted that Blu-ray had its greatest boost when Paramount Studios announced its endorsement of the format in October 2005. There are now about 100 movie titles retailing in Blu-ray. Noted, too, that currently the retail market has seen consumer/prosumer HD cameras on the shelf. Amateurs can now record HD footages using the miniDV tape, and then view it over HDTV or transfer it to a compatible PC with the option to burn onto Blu-ray disc format. Your Christmas shopping will be exciting this year-end!

MUSIC. Whoever thinks Douglas plays only New Wave on his native flute is wrong. He has played with a most diverse assortment of bands, from Yanni to KISS. Enough said?

So far, he has recorded 14 solo albums and collaborated on more than 300 CD, film, and television projects. His music, according to the bio, is heard in a wide range of films from "Last Samurai" to "Star Wars-Ewok" cartoons. Must check it out.

His biggest project, however, must have been his 2005 musical compositions for PBS monster series, "The War that Made America".

VIDEO. His favorite editing tool is Sony Vegas, which he helped input on the upgrade cycle since the Sonic Foundry days. However, his entry into video-editing was sheer accident. He discovered the marvels of the video art when he had a layover in between concerts, and he has never looked back since.


Using cigarette smoke to enhance a dull frame of an image when it was taken--Picture by Jeff Ooi

Now widely recognized as an authority in the video and audio production world, Douglas has authored 21 books. Some are technical, which include subjects such as Apple's Soundtrack, Sony's Vegas, Adobe's Encore, and DV Basics. He also co-authored HDV: What You NEED to Know, and Instant Vegas.

As a videographer, Douglas has shot, edited, and produced media that has found its way into 12 Emmy-nominated productions, and won several.

He has also won many awards for his documentaries, including Toubat: A Journey of the Native American Flute and The Way of the Powwow.

Douglas, whose family name is Spotted Eagle (and he read out his full-length surname that took up about 30 syllables, we prefer "Spotted"), is a giant in the video and audio industries, having received Grammy, Emmy, DuPont, Peabody, and many other awards. (See his Web site here.)

Douglas' visit was arranged by multimedia solutions provider Midstream Online Sdn Bhd and supported by Sony Malaysia.

For further information on the video-editing solutions reviewed by Douglas, you may contact Midstream Online (Attn: Ms Juliet) during office hours at 03-7875 1922, mobile: +6012 2122 838, fax 03-7875 1822 or email: register@midstreamonline.com.

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