The Teachers' Animation Toolkit

MiniDV-based SD or HDV camcorders
These record to cheap mini DV format tapes in standard or high 
defi nition, in 4:3 format or 16:9 widescreen. They support Firewire, 
making them easy to connect to a laptop for stop-frame animation. 
(Some models also support USB 2.) They work with most stop-motion 
software. Standard defi nition fi les can be captured and edited in any 
editing software. (See 5.3 
Animation Software
for choices.)
We strongly recommend this format for schools on a tight budget.
However, these camcorders are getting harder to fi nd, as 
manufacturers are now heavily promoting the new high-defi nition 
formats such as AVCHD (see below).
DVD-R and HDD camcorders
These record video in the DVD format directly to small DVD disks 
or hard drives. This format is not suitable for editing real-time video 
using software such as Premiere. These cameras are not normally 
compatible with stop-motion software. 
Not recommended.
AVCHD camcorders
These record full high-defi nition video in a range of highly 
compressed formats. Most of these new generation cameras record 
straight to memory cards.
PART FIVE: RESOURCES
5.1 ANIMATION EQUIPMENT

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Resources
 123
For smooth real-time editing you will need a fast desktop or laptop 
computer with Core 2 Duo or Quad processors or better. To 
guarantee real-time playback on a wider range of Apple and PC 
computers we recommend capturing your video using a Matrox 
MX02 Mini. This captures your Hi-defi nition video to an edit-friendly 
fi le format in real time. It has
 
HDMI
, 
component
, 
SVideo and 
composite
 
in and out and works at up to 1920 x 1080 resolution
. 
It therefore solves the problem that many of the newer AVCHD 
cameras do not support Firewire. Instead, you can capture live 
action video or stop-motion frames using either an HDMI or 
component cable.
Stop-motion capture is achieved using the bundled software. 
However, bear in mind that your animation will be captured as a 
series of still images, which must be rendered as an animation in a 
software packages such as Premiere Pro. As such, this production 
route is not particularly user-friendly.
The MX02 mini currently costs around £320 plus VAT and comes in 
two versions. The Express card version connects to laptops, and the 
PCIe card version connects to desktop computers.
Another way to capture HD animation from an AVCHD camcorder 
to a desktop PC is to buy a Black Magic Intensity Pro HDMI 
capture card (approx. £150 incl VAT) and software such as Stop 
Motionmaker HDMI (approx. £35) or Stop Motion Pro Action! HD 
(around £190 for a school licence–one workstation). Bear in mind, 
you cannot use the capture card with a laptop.
AVCHD-based video and animation can be edited using Pinnacle 
Studio 14 (around £50), Premiere Pro CS5 (around £320 education 
price), Premiere Elements (around £70) or Edius Neo 2 (about £185). 
Further information on editing software for PCs and Macs can be 
found on p. 136.
Choose the AVCHD format if you are able to invest in fast 
computers and high end animation and editing solutions.

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