What to read to learn about all this?

[BostonDriver]

Hi,

I'm looking to come up to speed on most of what's covered on this site. Right now, I'm able to do basic things like convert .avi to mpeg2 so as to burn a DVD. I've also been able to capture from my cable TV to disk, edit out what I don't want etc. Real basis stuff.

On XP, I use Roxio EMC8, Win/TV-fm (both of which have their upgrades in the mail) along with some other vaious tools. I also dabble with similar SW on BSD and Linux.

What I'm looking for is to understand more about why one would use the "knobs" that exist in the software I use. To do the basics above, I pretty much just used the default settings, wizards (when available) and hope it all works. It is time to take it to the next level. I can google and search here, but I don't yet know what to use as keywords.

My 12 y.o. daughter has FINALLY found something she is interested in. It is all covered on this site. As I learn this stuff, I'm teaching her. I want to keep expanding on what I already know so I can expose her to newer things. At least until the point where she will start knoing more than I do. Then I'll turn her loose on this site.

Can anyone suggest a book that would be a good first step?

[Krispy Kritter]

I don't know of any one place for knowledge. I have found that when I learn new things Iit is often the result of trying to accomplish something specific. For example, converting avi to mpeg2 as you mentioned above. There are many guides and tools for performing this task, by browsing through the various guides, you should get a better understanding of the various settings.

In short, all I'm saying is that by searching or reading the guides to find a solution to a specific problem, yields the best results.

Learning new things, especially in this category, requires a lot of trial and error, patience, and willingness to do a little research.

[BostonDriver]

I don't know of any one place for knowledge. I have found that when I learn new things Iit is often the result of trying to accomplish something specific. For example, converting avi to mpeg2 as you mentioned above. There are many guides and tools for performing this task, by browsing through the various guides, you should get a better understanding of the various settings.

No question. And I'll continue to do so. I can RTFM to see what the settings are. Why one would want to use them is another matter.

In short, all I'm saying is that by searching or reading the guides to find a solution to a specific problem, yields the best results.

Learning new things, especially in this category, requires a lot of trial and error, patience, and willingness to do a little research.

Agreed. But the guides or howtos can be cookbooks at times (assuming they are accurate at all, not out of date etc.)

So I am looking for say, a "must have" book (or URL) that others may know about. They may have stumbled upon it and said "I wish I found this sooner". For example, someone asking a similar question on Unix, I'd have a handful of ISBN's and pointers at the ready. The same for Linux, Networking etc.

Thanks.

[VegasBud]

Can anyone suggest a book that would be a good first step?

A video book would probably be outdated by the time it got printed and distributed. As an information source, this site is more like an encyclopedia than a book, but the information is constantly being updated, so the newest material is always current. I've nearly worn out the g, o, l, and e keys on my keyboard googling for video information, most often being linked back here, to VideoHelp.

Besides Krispy Kritter's advice, I would also add one suggestion. If you want to know what a knob does, twist it, and see what happens. I tend to learn more quickly and completely by just experimenting than methodically accumulating knowledge first and then applying it. Some of my most productive learning experiences have resulted from the equivalent of sticking my finger in the light socket.

[edDV]

Not clear what you want this book to tell you but a good fundamental book intended for the layman is "DVD Demystified" by Taylor. He goes through the fundamentals of MPeg2, DVD SD and HD standards and the market forces influencing standards.

http://www.amazon.com/DVD-Demystified-Third-Jim-Taylor/dp/0071423966/sr=1-1/qid=116189...e=UTF8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0071423966/ref=sib_dp_top_toc/104-8237077-0269562?ie=U...0D#reader-link

Some think this book is too detailed. I think anyone serious about this hobby should understand the topics covered in this book. It doesn't get overly technical. The Cliff Notes route would lead you to Wikipedia.

[dlflannery]

I have the latest edition of DVD Demystified ($45). It's a good book but the coverage of detailed information about low cost video processing and DVD authoring like you find on a forum like this is very small.

I too would love a book that covered these items.

[BostonDriver]

A video book would probably be outdated by the time it got printed and distributed.

Not at the level I was hoping for. I build networking gear, we're using the very boxes I build to exchange this information. That field changes rapidly too, but still, there are some "classics" that I'd put in front of a freshman getting started in an instant. Now perhaps what I'm looking for doesn't exist. I asked to find out.

As an information source, this site is more like an encyclopedia than a book, but the information is constantly being updated, so the newest material is always current. I've nearly worn out the g, o, l, and e keys on my keyboard googling for video information, most often being linked back here, to VideoHelp.

This place is fantastic. I'm so glad I found it.

Besides Krispy Kritter's advice, I would also add one suggestion. If you want to know what a knob does, twist it, and see what happens. I tend to learn more quickly and completely by just experimenting than methodically accumulating knowledge first and then applying it. Some of my most productive learning experiences have resulted from the equivalent of sticking my finger in the light socket.

My motive here is to stay a few steps ahead of my 12 y.o. Nothing interested her until she played around with Movie Maker. Now she's hooked, but in an area I know very little about. I'm looking to be able to show more interesting things so as to keep the fire hot.

I can (and for my work do) as you and Krispy Kritter suggest. BUT.... its kind of hard to twist the knob on a plane for example. I can read on one however. I'm not looking for something instead of doing research as been suggested, but something to complement it, if it exists.

Thanks.

[Nelson37]

DVD DeMystified is good, but not what I would call interesting reading.

I agree with tweaking the knobs. When I started, I took every single setting in TMPGenc and made test encodes with incremental changes. Hundreds of them. Got a few wrong impressions, and some questions unanswered, but a lot of good info, as well. Video is a visual art, reading a description just doesn't do it sometimes.

For practical, interesting reading, I would download and print every Guide on this site. Lots of good, practical info, many example pictures, and also info that is real-world useful. I remember Novell classes where we had to memorize the seven layers of the application stack, or whatever it was. Totally useless info, considering the time and effort wasted this was worse than useless. The Guides are about what people are actually doing with video, and succeeding at. Theory and specs can be interesting, but not often really useful in any practical way.

[edDV]

Other than this site and the tutorials over at doom9, your most productive resources are Wikipedia and Google.

Once you choose specific software, you will often find dedicated forums and support sites.

[grossjamesh]

Try:
"Digital Video Compression", Symes, 2004, McGrawHill.

"Video Compression Demystified", Symes, 2001, McGrawHill