Create video magic at your desktop

By Keith Shaw
Network World, 07/22/02

We can't say enough about Serious Magic's Visual Communicator Plus software, which lets users create their own "newscast" that rivals the quality seen on many professional television broadcasts. The software costs between $100 and $150 (we recommend the $150 Plus version, which adds a green Chromakey screen backdrop and clip-on microphone), which is much less than what professional video companies charge for their services.

We don't think this software will put professional video companies out of business - but it still addresses the needs of several users at companies that can't afford these services. For example, a CEO who wants to give an address to stockholders via video would probably go with the pros. But a human resources vice president who wants to give a weekly update on benefits could use the software to provide a video newscast. Adding video to a company's internal (or external) communications at the nonexecutive level can be accomplished easily with this software. What PowerPoint did for static presentations, we think Visual Communicator will do for video communications.

The software can be installed on a Pentium III Windows PC with at least an 800-MHz processor and a Web camera. In our tests we preferred using our more expensive digital video camera, but it works well with just a Web camera.

The user interface is broken down into three areas - a video screen at the left shows you the image from the camera, and on the right is an area for you to write a script. In another area, you insert actions that tell the software what to do, including inserting a video clip or playing music. Dozens of examples of premade shows are included, such as introductions from an anchor who can then send it live to the reporter in the field. Also included are several effects, including transitions where graphics can fade in or out. One word of caution - simple is better, otherwise your show will end up looking like a bad PowerPoint animation presentation.

After you've written the script and figured out all the video effects, it's time to rehearse. After hitting the rehearse button, the script will roll up the screen like a teleprompter. When the words hit the shaded red line (very close to the top of the screen so it seems like you're looking at the camera), you recite the script. After you've rehearsed, it's time to record. You can then publish the final product on different video formats (.ASF and .AVI) with different options for the screen size, audio transmission rate and frame rate. You can post your show on a Web site or e-mail it. Once you get comfortable with the controls of the software, creating a complete show takes about 15 minutes. The end result - a professional-looking broadcast - will simply amaze you.

The V-Screen (the green background sheet that provides a Chromakey effect) can add to the TV studio effect, as your show can now "report" from different locations (the software includes several cool backgrounds).

The software was addictive - we kept coming up with new ideas and ways to use it. We settled on creating a newscast that gave weekly updates on our company's bocce league. Another great feature of this software is that it doesn't limit your creativity. We could add our own V-Screen backgrounds, create our own title graphics and add our own music and video very easily. The software works with standard .JPG graphics files, audio .WAV files and video .MPG files.

The price might make you to think it's a consumer product, and several items included in the software should appeal to consumers. But we think the core software will appeal to many business users who want to find a new way to communicate with employees for a fraction of the cost, yet retain a professional look and feel.