How to process, store, and edit video and photos

As with the directions for videotaping a class session, this isn't going to substitute for in-person training, but will hopefully be helpful as an overview or reminder.


Preparation
1. Set up your laptop to access the project server so that you will be ready to transfer files there later.  To access the server, connect to smb://physicsdata.spu.edu/classes (or from project laptops, look in the Apple menu under Recent Items for the item called "classes").  The login is "scherr" and the password is "EnergyProject."  Navigate to 2010 Summer; you should be able to figure out where to put things within that.
2. Enable yourself to view .mod files without having to convert them first.  Instructions here.  (If you are using a project laptop, this step may have been done already.)
3. Get the free program called Handbrake, for converting .mod files to .mp4 files.

Data processing and storage
1. Take the memory card out of the camera and put it into a card reader attached to one of the processing laptops.  Rename all the .mod files according to the following formula:
E1 100624 1330 Amelia.mod
The first letters signify the course, the first string of numbers is the date (year, month, and day, 2 digits each: the example is June 24, 2010), the second string of numbers is the time that the file was created (1:30pm - the time is recorded as part of the file information so you can always look there; use military time so that they automatically are in the right order), and the name is the name of the microphone wearer.  The course codes are as follows (I don't pick the titles): 
UE1 and UE2 = Understanding Energy 1 and 2, the courses for elementary teachers
E1 and E2 = Energy 1 and 2, the courses for secondary teachers.
2. If any of the .mod files are unquestionably 100% trash (just a test video, something like that) you may throw them out; but please make this decision very carefully; you're throwing out the original.  Don't modify the .mod file.  If there's helpful editing to be done, do it on the .mp4 you're about to generate.
3. Copy the labeled .mod files to two places: (1) the project hard drive and (2) the project server.
3. Rename all the .jpg (photo) files according to the following formula:
E1 100624 947 T1.jpg 
where everything is as for movie files but instead of the name, you have the table number (T1, T2, etc.).
4. Copy the labeled .jpg files to two places: (1) the project hard drive and (2) the project server.  
(There.  You're safe.)
5. Use Handbrake to convert the .mod file to an .mp4.  For "Format," choose "Mp4 file," and for "Video Codec," use "MPEG-4 (FFmpeg)."  Set the quality to 100%.  When the conversion is complete, check the resulting movie for basic technical sufficiency.  (Does it have sound?  Does it look okay?)  Assuming all is well, store the resulting .mp4 in (1) the project hard drive and (2) the project server.
6. Erase the camera card (trash all the files and then empty the trash) and put the card back with the cameras.


Episode selection
8. Select interesting episodes.  You should be able to locate the good stuff pretty efficiently based on your field notes.  Try to keep a single episodes down to five minutes at most.  
9. Record the location of the episode within the larger file, using a text file that you save nearby.
10. Use QuickTime Pro to create new files of your episodes.  (Select the part you want with the sliders below the playback cursor, then choose Edit -> Trim to Selection.  Immediately "save as" so that you don't overwrite your whole movie.)  Label episodes as follows:
E1 100624 CatchyName.mov
11. You guessed it - file your episode on the drive and on the server.
12. If you can, transcribe and caption your episode using InqScribe.  Instructions here.  Save the Inqscribe file in the usual places.  Note:  Transcription is analysis, and transcribing short episodes is often quite interesting and satisfying.  Use the hundred-dollar headphones.  Inqscribe makes captioning as painless as it could possibly be.


Reflection and sharing of insights
13.  Talk to your office buddy about what you saw today.  Yes, this fun task is one of your important responsibilities!
14. Make a blog entry.  As I've said before, the exciting thoughts and cool observations you will be having/making are one of the very important outcomes of your participation, and documenting them will be part of your daily activity while you're here.  When you're referring to a particular group or incident, include a screen shot or photo.

15. Read someone else's blog post and comment on it.