[MWForum]RE: MW project to video

[Wendy Petti]

Hi Lisa,

That sounds like a *great* project!

You need a scan converter to convert the computer image to an image that can
be captured and viewed on TV without flicker.  That is because computers and
TVs have different "refresh rates."

Here is a URL which gives a lot of useful information about scan converters:

http://www.commspecial.com/10quest.htm

Although most scan converters are used to project a computer monitor's display
directly to a large TV, I'm pretty sure that the cables can also be connected
to a video recorder to capture your project on videotape.  (Connect the
equipment in this order:  computer -> scan converter -> VCR -> TV so that you
can monitor what you're capturing as you're running and recording the
project.)

I used to use a "TVator" scan converter but that was quite a few years ago and
I wouldn't know what specific product to recommend at this point.  Since you
only need it for one day, if you need a high-end one for best quality I wonder
if you might be able to rent one from some kind of digital recording studio or
something like that.  I haven't tried pricing them in a long time.  Run a
Google search on "scan converter."  I bet you could find one on eBay too, but
as the article points out, there is a large range of quality, so be careful.

The article points out that some low-end scan converters only deal with 640 x
480 resolutions and even if they can accept higher resolutions they only
display a 640 x 480 portion at one time.  That could actually be just fine if
you set your projectsize to 640 x 480 and then line things up properly.  That
way the project will fill the whole TV screen after filming (instead of having
a black border around it in presentationmode).

Do you really mean BETA format for the video, by the way?  I thought BETA
became pretty much obsolete about 15 years ago!

Wendy Petti
OWL's MicroWorlds in Action
http://mia.openworldlearning.org
Math Cats
http://www.mathcats.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com
> [mailto:mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com]On Behalf Of LRichter99@aol.com
> Sent: Friday, September 26, 2003 1:35 AM
> To: mwforum@lists.mathcats.com
> Subject: [MWForum]MW project to video
>
>
> Through my Cosmic Thinkers organization, I've formed a weekend
> programming club in which my young MW programmers get involved in
> the community and help other kids by working on projects for local
> non-profit organizations.
>
> We've been requested by one group (Art and Creativity for Healing
> -- art4healing.org) to put together a Public Service Announcement
> for them.  In my discussions with the director, it was clear to me
> that MicroWorlds could do it all, and exceptionally well.  From
> scanning in sample artwork, to recording kids' voices, to animating
> their logo (three bold paint stripes), to using their art angel as
> a walking/flying narrator to their story....  Not only would it be
> a wonderful challenge for my kids, but it would also be a terrific
> product for the organization, since it would be artistic, and
> designed and created by kids for kids.
>
> As a PSA, it would get tremendous exposure, for my kids and
> MicroWorlds alike.  However, because it is to be run on local TV,
> the requirements state that it be on Beta videotape.
>
> Now I know this is hoping for the impossible, but is there at all a
> way of getting an MW project in video format...without actually
> filming the computer screen as it is running?  I've done some work
> with video editing, converting from analog to digital to movie
> files and streaming video files,etc., but capturing an executable
> program file as video eludes me.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> Many thanks.
> Lisa Richter
> Cosmic Thinkers in Laguna Beach, CA
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