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• The following sections take a global look at application fields for digital video. This includes the reception of TV programs via the Internet, digital television on the TV at home using a set top box, video processing on the PC and video conferencing via the Internet or a dial-up network. Video Processing For Home Users - Part 1 Video processing on the PC at home is a relatively new development and has only become realistic in the past two years. A significant requirement for successful video processing on the PC is high-performance hardware. This includes a hard disk drive with sufficient space (not under 10 GB) as well as enough system memory (at least 128 MB RAM). The analog or digital video signal is input to the PC via an interface board. In this way, video with differing qualities can be digitized and then processed on the PC. A standard video recorder with S-VHS or VHS recording capability can be used for video output. However, a more elegant solution is the conversion of the video clip to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format. One the one hand, the lossy conversion of an analog video signal is eliminated, and on the other, MPEG compressed videos can be saved on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The spectrum of products in the important sub $400 segment is fairly thin and is concentrated on vendors such as Fast , Iomega and Pinnacle for interface boards. For those who don't require extensive editing functionality or post-video audio processing, the purchase of a hardware MPEG encoder is the best solution. An MPEG encoder is used to create compressed MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format video files in real-time. This makes it possible to record video signals from any source onto the hard disk drive of a PC and then to banish them onto a CD-R or CD-RW using any inexpensive CD writer. A standard CD-R (650 MB) can hold up to approximately 65 minutes of MPEG-1 video. CD-R's aren't suitable for MPEG-2 files; roughly 15 minutes would fit onto them. Unfortunately, this means that you'll have to wait until a standard-compliant DVD writer is available for these.

• Without doubt, analog transmission using NTSC , PAL , or SECAM technology carries a high penalty with respect to image quality losses as the latter requires several intermediate analog stages. NTSC is the transmission standard for the Northern America, Europe has PAL and SECAM. In addition to that, video recorders that use VHS or S-VHS cassettes for analog video recording are widespread. In remains inevitable that during the transition phase from analog to digital, both standards exist side-by-side. However, analog devices can only be connected to digital models via a corresponding interface and a converter stage. For example, a set top box can receive digital television but this signal has to be converted again for analog televisions that are in widespread use. However, the connectors that exist for this task (SCART, S-VHS or Composite/Cinch) only incur minimal losses. In the field of non-linear video editing, the MJPEG format has established itself as a pseudo standard. The space-saving MPEG-1 format that has been on the market for a long time has established itself in the home user sector. All the films on somewhat outdated video CDs (e.g. at Karaoke bars) are stored in MPEG-1 compressed format. The most important digital interface is the IEEE 1394 , also known as 'Fire Wire '. Most digital video cameras have such an interface and there is a growing number of PC peripherals that incorporate a FireWire interface. MPEG-2 has been constantly gaining in importance since the appearance of DVD. For example, broadcasting studios and companies that manufacture DVDs (DVD authoring) work with video data in this format. Set top boxes also receive their signals in digital MPEG-2 compressed format. Summary: the future of digital video belongs to IEEE 1394 and MPEG-2.

• Aaaaand Action! Video Editing with DVStorm SE From Canopus

  Analog And Digital In One In the last test , we took a close look at the Canopus DVRaptor-RT. Now we've moved on to its big brother, the DVStorm SE. The fundamental distinguishing features of the DVStorm are, in addition to its digital 1394/Firewire port (i.LINK), its analog inputs and outputs for video and audio. For those of us with only an analog camera, or even for anyone who just wants to have a digital version of analog VHS cassettes, this is a valuable add-on. The first release of the DVStorm got off to a rocky start. The card didn't always work stably with Adobe Premiere 5.1, which was included with it. In response, Canopus wiped the slate clean for its Second Edition (SE), dumping Adobe Premiere 5.1 and developing its own editing software, Stormedit . It might not have been as comprehensive as Adobe, but it still offered almost exactly the same realtime effects. Just recently, though, the plot took yet another twist - the DVStorm SE Plus costs an extra $200 and is being bundled with Adobe Premiere 6.0. Now that the drivers and the Premiere plug-ins have matured some more, you can expect the system to operate more stably. Listen closely, and you'll hears users heave a collective sigh of relief. The StormSE Up Close & Personal A glimpse of the slot bracket reveals which devices can be connected to the DVStorm SE. digital: 1 x IEEE1394/Firewire (i.Link) analog: 1 x composite video-in (RCA) with adapter 1 x composite video-out (RCA) with adapter 1 x S-video in (mini DIN 4pin) 1 x S-video out (mini DIN 4pin) 1 x stereo audio-in (mini jack) 1 x stereo audio-out (mini jack)