Web videos have tons of potential practical applications. Video blogs are becoming increasingly popular due to the ease of shooting and production. This recent video blog by Al Thompkins, as reposted by Dan Misener on his blog, shows how to make short videos on the cheap using a “Flip” camera, some simple editing software, and your own ingenuity. It isn’t as hard as you would think.

The Flip camera is a video camera with a “flip-out” USB port that allows you to plug it directly into your computer without a cable. It is available inexpensively, at a price point of around $200 as opposed to the expected $1200 for a digital video camera in the past.

This brings the realm of the video blog into everyone’s reach. Mr. Thompkins runs through the technology and software needed to work with a Mac; it is easily adaptable to a PC simply by just changing the software package to something like Podesk which is tailor-made to produce video blogs and video podcasts.

CBC shows have been taking advantage of this video format and have been posting their own short web videos; check out the following links to get the feel.

Spark – How To Make A Radio Show
The host of “Spark” and co-staff produced this how-to video.
http://www.danmisener.com/archives/334

R3TV (Radio 3 TV)
http://blip.tv/file/258335/
This contains some fun stuff, a music video, and interesting commentary in the manner of an internet video rather than a sleekly produced TV Show.

ZeD:
http://zed.cbc.ca/go?c=ZedCandidHomepage
While cancelled, the videos on this page try to keep the feel of an amateur internet video and give you the general idea of what is possible.

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	CBC Radio 3, How Shows Work, Other Internet, Podcasting, Production Gear	Posted at 1:45 pm (03 May 2008)

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which is just wrapping up today, Belkin released a new product called The Podcast Studio.

In essence, you plug an iPod into the gadget and hit Record. It has a built-in mic, but also comes with 1/4″ and XLR jacks (!) for pro-audio needs. The device also has gain controls, a low-pass filter, and a built-in compressor/limiter. It records in uncompressed WAV file format.

Here’s what the main control panel looks like.

It will be available in the U.S. in June for $100 and is compatible with the 5G iPod video as well as the 3G nano.

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	Production Gear	Posted at 11:14 am (11 Jan 2008)

Each week when I descend into CBC Vancouver to do my technology column with CBC Radio morning shows, I pass this long line of computer and TV monitors. This one seemed to be new this morning.

I don’t know what any of this means, but it’s COOL. I want it in my house.

So… er, what exactly does all this mean?

– Tod

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	Fun Stuff, Production Gear	Posted at 1:08 pm (15 Nov 2007)

CBC Television is experimenting with using the free consumer video application Skype for on-air use.

The new foreign-affairs program On The Map has used it a couple of times and CBC producer Christian Weller says the video quality is “as good as satellite” when used over the CBC’s dedicated Internet channels.

Still, there are bugs. The Skype-dedicated computer sits in a rack at CBC Toronto and “every time someone walks by the rack, it jiggles the mouse and Skype’s little Transport Window pops up on the screen.” And during their first Skype interview (with a documentary producer in Gaza) it went great. Too bad the technicians were so distracted by the success of the feed that they forgot to hit Record.

“There are so many different shows at the CBC that don’t have any money,” Weller says. “They can’t afford to pay for a full [satellite] video feed. This is so much better than doing a phone interview and just showing a photo of the guest.”

Christian says he’s more than happy to talk to other shows and show how they can use it too. Look him up in Groupwise.

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	On The Map, Production Gear	Posted at 10:46 am (03 Jul 2007)

In today’s edition of Todbits:

• NPR to launch news show aimed at younger listeners
• An audio mixing board for your iPod?!
• Neilson introduces the 27-hour ratings day
• BBC facing nearly $4 billion funding gap
• No merger for Sirius and XM
• …and will Jim Shaw’s temper tantrum kill the CTF?

[Read more →]

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	Production Gear, Sirius Satellite, The Media Landscape, Todbits: Notes from the Outside	Posted at 1:46 pm (23 Jan 2007)