 To make Machinima with the 360, or any platform that uses RCA cables, one of the things you'll need is a video capture card or something similar that uses a USB port. You can also use these for transferring anything that can be sent to your TV by RCA cables to your computer and then to DVD, you can even transfer 8mm film to DVD, as long as you can use RCA cables (or s-video). Here is an example of a RCA to USB capture device, you'll need to shop around for the one that fits your needs best. Note: This is not a description of a TV tuner, a TV on computer device is usually just an antenna input and it may prove diffucult to record and edit any video, impossible without a desktop recorder (see PC section).  These devices are usually marketed as a VHS to DVD converter, or to copy other old video formats to DVD. Most come with VHS to DVD software, luckily for machinimakers these programs include some basic editing features. Unfortunately, machinima as a whole hasn't gotten the attention of businesses enough for them to make any specific video capture software for our purposes. Luckily we can use the programs already available because we need many of the same features of those programs. Windows Movie Maker is one of these programs, it will work for basic editing and is usually included on computers for free, however you get what you pay for. Hardware like the above video capture device (Dazzle, Pinnacle studio software) come with programs slightly more advanced and yet easy to use. With these types, like most if not all, you record what is displayed on the TV pixel for pixel, that means machinima made in games with no way to remove the HUD will show it. If your computer has an available PCI slot you can also choose to buy a video capture card, they work in essentially the same way as a separate box, but are internal to your computer. But, with a seperate box you can use a laptop for portablility Note: Machinima will take time, the more time you put into it the better it will be. |
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