Newbie looking for ideas..

[HaleC.]

I'm new to video making and just want to know where to start. I have Sony Vegas8 Pro and Camtasia 5. I really, have no idea what to do. I want to start tinkering with Vegas and Camtasia but I would think I need an idea of what to record so I can start learning how to do edit, etc Anyone have any ideas? Ideas as in, what to do as my first project.

Thank you for your time,
Hale C.

[rumplestiltskin]

"feeding time"

[tinker]

You really have two different software to learn. Camtasia is a screen capture software.
They have pretty good video tutorial on how to start. Look at it and start learning now.
Sony Vegas is for DVD creation. If you have any video digital recording, load it into Vegas and try.
If you have a digital camera, you can use fire-wire port to import your movie in and start editing.
Vegas is a complex software, so it will take time and practice to learn.

[HaleC.]

You really have two different software to learn. Camtasia is a screen capture software.
They have pretty good video tutorial on how to start. Look at it and start learning now.
Sony Vegas is for DVD creation. If you have any video digital recording, load it into Vegas and try.
If you have a digital camera, you can use fire-wire port to import your movie in and start editing.
Vegas is a complex software, so it will take time and practice to learn.

Thanks for the reply. Exactly what I was looking for and more.. But I can't help to ask, what was your first video that you made?

[PuzZLeR]

Everybody has different tastes in video, in video formats, in video sources and in video needs. Our reasons for doing it won't benefit you. If you must know, I first started working with music videos since they are small clips and easy to store and learn from. Now I have thousands of them in digital, even from the VHS tapes I've accumulated as a child. It's still my passion.

Your passion may be very different. Think about it.

But I wouldn't recommend you start working with video for the sake of wanting to work with video. You must have a motive, like you want to edit a production, or archive a TV show, or compress a movie to a smaller size, or digitize family VHS tapes, etc.

It's a very demanding, complex and time-consuming hobby, and without a motive, and a passion for it, I wouldn't recommend it.

[Nelson37]

I would recommend starting with a known good, DVD-compatible video, mess with it, put it on disk, and compare with the original. Rip a commercial DVD for your first source.

Making a Youtube vid of elephants romping in the daffodils or HiDef footage of your family for future generations are completely different projects. Making a demo commercial for TV distribution or archinving HD sources are completely different projects.

Some faint clue of your source(s) and target(s) would be helpful.

Are fancy effects a WOW or a Whoop-de-do for ya?

My original (and still current) goal was simply archiving TV programs for future use. VHS conversions I quickly gave up on after observing the obtainable quality from both types. Most valuable learning experience? Converting a DVD with DVD2SVCD (not the other way around), first getting the program to work, then studying the log file and understanding what every process was and why it was there. The output quality from this prog, compared to other methods, told me all I needed to know about which methods were better.

That process took quite some period of time. A LOT of reading, and trial-and-error.

[stantheman1976]

I'm new to video making and just want to know where to start. I have Sony Vegas8 Pro and Camtasia 5. I really, have no idea what to do. I want to start tinkering with Vegas and Camtasia but I would think I need an idea of what to record so I can start learning how to do edit, etc Anyone have any ideas? Ideas as in, what to do as my first project.

Thank you for your time,
Hale C.

Are you a church person? That's where I've learned a lot. I go to a church where no one else doe what I do so my pastor has ideas sometimes he solicits me for. Every time I did some project I'd learn something new and get a little better. When we'd have events like festivals or community wide gatherings I'd film and edit a highlights clip for our website.

If you're into music find some local musicians and ask if they mind being taped. Offer to put the performances on DVD or if they have a website make clips and upload for them.

School beauty pageants and events are another place. Call local schools and ask about filming events and selling copies for a fair price. Some may want to split what you take in and some will be willing to let you keep whatever you sell for providing them a service.

You could also find family or acquantances who are getting married or know someone getting married. Offer to film the wedding free or cheap.

There are tons of places to gain experience. Or if you're not looking to do your own stuff just record TV shows or music broadcasts.

[tinker]

Thanks for the reply. Exactly what I was looking for and more.. But I can't help to ask, what was your first video that you made?

My first video was my recording of a new kayak ride done with digital camera.
I use Premiere for editing, similar to Vegas.
My friends tel me that Vegas is better, but I guess it is what you get used to and how much do you know how to use any software.

[edDV]

Many Vegas tutorials here
http://www.blue7media.com/vegas/