Camera Setting Recommmendations

This Video Guide is to be used along with your camera's user manual and not as a substitute. This guide provides a general overview of important camera's settings and keywords that will help steer you to focused areas in your camera manual. If you do not have a manual, most manufacturer websites have online product manuals that can be downloaded.

What is Aspect Ratio

• Aspect Ratio refers to the width your screen in relation to its height. Ratios are expressed in the form (width:height).
• The two common aspect ratios are:
• 4:3 (Normal) - This is the standard television format used throughout the second half of the 20th Century.
• 16:9 (Wide Screen) - New standard for widescreen TV, DVD and high-definition video.

Setting the Aspect Ratio of your Camera

• Aspect Ratio set to (4:3 Normal)
• There are conditions that can affect the appearance of your video during playback. 
• Our Professional Flash player requires the videos be set to aspect ratio (4:3 Normal).
• Setting your camera on 16:9 will cause video to be compressed and cause black lines on the edges of the flash player.

Other Settings

• Resolution - Choose(680 x 480) or (720 x 480) pixels. Resolution determines the amount of pixel information that appears on your screen. As a rule of thumb, the higher the resolution, the larger the video image.
• Compression - If your camera has the ability to change video compression, set it to the finest setting. Compression is the act of compressing. Video compression is the tradeoff between disk space and video quality. The rule of thumb: the higher the video quality, the larger the video file, hence the more disk space required.
• Frame Rate - If your camera has the ability to change Frame Rate, set it to 30 frames/sec. Frame Rate is the measurement of the frequency at which unique consecutive images are produced. NTSC (North America - TV standard setting)

(Note: Digital Photo Cameras with video (movie mode) will have a dedicated video or movie chapter in the index of the user's guide. Please read this chapter.)

Video Quality Chart

Recommended setting 640x480, 30 frames/sec

Memory Card Capacity (Minutes)

Digital Photo Cameras typically store images and videos in digital memory cards. The following table contains time estimates for recording video, using several popular memory sizes. A Memory card's capacity will vary depending on the camera model, resolution and compression settings. This chart should be used as an approximation only. The rule of thumb: If your Video Resume is less than 2 minutes in length, you will have plenty of space in your 512M memory card.

Transferring Media to Computer

Attaching the Media Device

The first step required in transferring video or audio to your computer, is to attach the media device to your computer. digital cameras and voice recorders that have a USB connection will attach to your USB port on the computer.

Power on the Media Device

Most computer operating systems will automatically recognize the media device when it is plugged in and will place a media icon in My Computer

• If computer recognizes the media device:
• Right-Click on Media Icon in My Computer.
• Copy media files to the computer.

• If computer does not recognize the media device
• Option 1:   Install the application program disk that came with your device.
• Option 2: Install Google Picasa
• Software will copy your video file from camera to the computer

Note: Digital Media manufacturers typically have online product manuals and download media application programs that can be downloaded on their websites.

Video Cameras

Analog Video Cameras or cameras requiring tape media to record video, require digitization of the analog signal to create digital video. This can be done with a special piece of equipment called a converter box. Converter box solutions are typically sold on the internet and consumer electronic stores. The converter box is both a software and hardware solution. The typical converter box set up is the camera plugs into the converter box which plugs into your computer, through USB or firewire ports. Play back your recorded video on the camera, while the converter box captures the analog signal will convert it into a digital file and store in your computer's hard disk drive.

Note: An alternative to the converter box solution, many local retail photo development stores offer special conversion services, for transferring the analog media (tape) to digital media (disc).

Digital Photo Camera

Many Digital Photo Cameras offer a movie mode feature, which captures video with audio.

Web Camera

If you have a WEB CAM connected to your computer, you can record video directly from the camera to your computer. Please make sure you have properly installed the camera and its software. Read the camera user's manual to learn how to record video. If you have problems you will need to contact the manufacturer of your Web Cam.

Uploading Your Media

• MEDIA PROFILE UPLOADER located:   My Account - My Profile - Upload Media
• Blazit media requires video.flv and audio.mp3 file formats.
• Users must be logged into the site.
• Learn how to create a quality video. (more info)

Media - Required Formats

Video & Audio Formats

• Video file format must be flash.flv and not exceed 50 MB.
• Audio file format must be audio.mp3 and not exceed 5 MB.

Converting Your Media

• Do not have the correct format for your media?
• It is easy to convert your media file using a FREE media converter website.
• CLICK HERE - Convert Media Website

Uploading Unedited Media

• EDIT MEDIA UPLOADER located:   My Account - My Profile - Edit Media
• Users must be logged into the site.
• User can upload up to 5 media files at a time (2GB max in size).
• Blazit will contact you once we have received your RAW media.
• Blazit offers a variety of video pacakges.  (learn more).
• Learn how to create quality videos.   (more info)

Media - Required Formats

• When using our media editing services, formats include:
• Recommended Video Formats: AVI, MPEG, MOV, WMV.
• Recommended Audio Formats: MP3

Additional Information

• Video Disclaimer: A video recording with poor video quality will adversely effect the final video rendered.
• If your RAW video is not recorded correctly in the beginning, there is limited ability to improve it. Blazit, LLC will not held responsible for substandard submitted video material.

Remote Studio (we videotape you)

Record Media on Location

• Blazit offers businesses onsite videotaping services, by setting up a remote recording studio, at your business location. We provide the lighting, background, sound and camera expertise. All that is required is a quiet room where we can record your media.
• Blazit's video production team has over 30 years of professional video production expertise. We will make you feel comfortable in front fo the camera. Preparation is key to a successful media recording. Clients that come prepared with ideas about what they would like to say tend to do better in front of the camera.
• Contact Us for more information on Remote Studio.