My job title has nothing to do with video editing. However, part of my job is to shoot and edit training videos for our Field Service Technicians in the PC industry.

Videographer,ENG,SNV operator. CBS affiliate. Tallahassee, Florida.

For my day job, i'm the manager of computer systems for a small manufacturer. However, since we're such a small company, any task that involves any computer related, photography, video, or artistic work ends up on my desk. I've used most of the Sonic Foundry tools for producing demonstration videos of our new products to send to potential customers and marketers as well as a few in-house training videos.

For my evening & weekend hobby i do quite a bit of taping and editing of weddings, concerts, plays, youth group activities and projects, etc. Sometimes i even get a buck or two for it, but i'm much more likely to get a nice dinner ;)

My job description is owner, editor, and yes, janitor at my company. I have been self-employed since 1992 so I guess I am a professional at this and hence, qualified to comment. Surf to http://www.modlsport.com for a peek at what we do and make for a living.

I use antiquated hardware as my daily driver in the edit bay; a real time two track NLE called VM/DPR. Cuts and dissolves constitute over 99% of all edits. In the studio we shoot and record to DVCPRO (Panasonic AJ-D850 edit decks), and distribute on VHS. In the field, a gaggle of Sony PD-150 camcorders are what we use. Occasionally a clint will want something captured on a "real' camera and thus, we rent as needed (and bill for it too).

In any case, audio is far more important than video in a production and a significant equipment investment is made there, i.e. pairs of Lectrosonic 200-series wireless mics, Sony ECM-77 lavs, and Electro Voice RE-50 stick mic for interviews, Sennheiser ME-66 shotguns, etc. Why pairs? Back ups.

In my experience, amateurs invariable don't realize the importance of audio and concentrate on cameras and computers. The best picture with shitty audio makes terrible video. The converse is also true, adequate cameras and great audio make good video. Get both (and folks who know how to use the tools) and you make great video - and a decent living too.

As soon as I get off my butt and get some hardware for a VV3 workstation, along with software called ReelDVD from Sonic for authoring, and an S201 DVD recorder from Pioneer, we'll be delivering on DVD too.

My only advice for aspiring videoographers? DO something, i.e. make a video. Then make another. Then another. I've lost count of how many enthusiastic folks say they want to make videos, but then wilt at the dauting task of actually 'doing' something - and end up sitting on their butts condemmed forever as a wannabe.

You can do it!

Good luck,

John Beech - GM (and janitor)

Very good advice, as I made the transition from still photographer to videographer, saying yes to every prodject I could get my hands on, often wondering how in the hell am I going to pull this off, and be prepared not to sleep much during crunch time.

And it took awhile for me to understand the importance of audio, but I whole heartly agree you... as the sign say "just doit"

Dan

I'm a Voice-Over announcer. I provide voice services to people who produce video for industrials, documentaries and commercials. I use VV3 to piece together video demos of my work, to help me get more work -- most of it coming from 1/2" tape.

I recently put together a DVD of recent voice projects and started distributing it instead of my Audio CD. For some reason, the DVD seems to have been more effective than my audio CD, so I'm putting more effort in to distributing the DVD than the Audio CD. Couldn't have done that without VV3. Also used VV3 to put demos on the web, and some silly stuff for some professional organizations I belong to.

Even though I'm really an amatuer with video, many of the people who have seen my work (professional video folk with high-end systems) are quite surpised with the video quality I achieved with my cheap little VV3 system.

Travis
http://www.announcing.biz (Demos produced with vv3 are online.)

hm...maybe there's a trend with vo talents and vv3.

Former premier user, now smiling and switching to vv3 after a week of use.
VV3 is used to keep my affiliate video demo reel up to date, and to work on fun projects for my kids and family.

Sean Caldwell
www.seancaldwell.com

Musician [bass player]. Daytime job is at a theme park [Legoland California]. I run the "project" studio there. I use SF 5.0, Acid 3.0, started using Vegas Audio 2.0 [for its multitracking], then upgraded to VV3. Suddenly, I'm in demand for video projects, in the park. So,I'm having to learn fast.

Our studio was set up primarily for audio, but is chianging rapidly. Will be attending VAST in L.A.