Friday, August 1, 2014

If Your HDMI Cables Are Too Short, What Can You Do?

A pretty common problem that comes with the advent of HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) becoming the new industry standard for transmitting TV signals is how to select the correct length HDMI lead. In the old days when everything was carried by RG6 Coaxial cable, it was possible to run the signal over pretty long runs and then simply cut the cable to length and fit a coax connector and simply connect it to the TV. Although RG6 cable is still used to connect the satellite dish to say for example a Freesat+ receiver, the output from the box to the TV will now invariably be a HDMI cable.
Another complicating factor is the popularity of hanging Flat screen TVs on a bare walls or over a fireplace. Obviously nobody wants HDMI cables tacked along the wall, so invariably the cables are being buried in the wall and normally run from the TV to a nearby built in unit which will house the satellite receiver. What makes selecting the correct length of lead is that it is not possible to simply extend or shorten the lead. In general there is a good selection of HDMI cables ranging from 1m all the way up to 20m, with the upper limit being due to the level of signal loss that occurs in cables that are no longer than 20m.
No matter how well you plan it there is always a possibility the the cable will too short. For example the HDMI input on your new HD TV is in a different location than you expected, or you decide to mount the TV in a slightly different location. There are 2 options when it comes to extending a HDMI cable.
The first and simplest option is to simply use a HDMI coupler which comes with sockets on both ends into which to insert HDMI cables. This option is both inexpensive, compact and does not need a power supply. It is however only suitable to use when the combined length of the 2 cables is less than 20m.
The other option is to use a HDMI repeater, which is a powered unit that both joins 2 HDMI cables together and also boosts the signal. Normally this unit is used when combining HDMI leads where the combined length is over 20m. The need to have the unit plugged in and its cost are certainly issues, but this is an essential unit on very long runs.
A final note on HDMI cables is that in general over short runs, the difference in the signal loss between a low cost and an expensive HDMI is pretty minimal. Where spending the extra money is worth while is on long runs of cable. Most of the cost lost HDMI supplier don't do budget level cables that are longer than 5 or 10m.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Video Game Demographics

Video game demographics involve the study of video gaming habits of people of various ages. It requires a variety of primary and secondary research techniques such as telephone and personal interviews, analysis of market surveys, trade journals, and company literature.
The demographics of video game players and the related studies reveal that video gaming is mainly an adult-oriented form of entertainment! Video games are played extensively by both men and women too. Almost 60% of the Americans play video games.
Demographic is the common name for population studies. Video game demographics involve the analysis of different demographic variables such as how many people are playing video games, age of the average gamer, gender of the gamers, what they play and how video gaming affects television viewing. Recent studies show that people have accepted video games as an important entertainment medium.
According to video game demographics, 39% of people who play computer and video games are women. Forty percent of online gamers are also women. Thirty five percent of game players are usually under eighteen years, and 65% of game players are over eighteen years old. The average age of a video game player is 18 years old. Video games are widely used by 18 to 34 year old people. People in this age range spend more time in playing video games than watching the television.
Video game industries make the most of video game demographics. They identify the characteristics of their customers using this. The information provided by video game demographics can be used to enhance the quality of their service.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Reasons To Hire a Professional Video Production Company

Digital video production is a powerful way to promote business online. It can drive traffic to a website and boost search engine rankings effortlessly. Videos are also like a salesperson for the company, working 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The experience of video professionals is hard to find within the business' pool of employees. The experience of the director, cinematographer, and editor can be gauged by looking at their reel or portfolio. If they do not supply samples of their work, then businesses should not hire that company to create web videos.
Every video should be produced with the goal of achieving the business' objectives. Businesses should create a blueprint of what they want to see or get from a video. A blueprint includes the concept, script, and storyboard. Even if a business does not know what to do with all of that, they can outline a basic idea of what the message should be.
The video company should look over the blueprint and build a video based off of it, incorporating the elements the business wants while successfully transmitting their message and goals. The video production company should supply their own blueprint to the business before creating the video, making sure it matches their goals.
It is important to determine if the video will feature real employees from the business or hire professional talent. Specialized video talent can make a big difference on the final video, but they are also more expensive.
To save money, start a business-wide audition for roles in the video. This can also transform into an exciting team building opportunity and it can improve employee satisfaction. Getting involved in something that fun can break up the monotony of work.
Once there is a concrete concept for the video in the works, then a plan of how it will be executed needs to formulate. The video production company and the business need to work together to make budgets and schedules. The video company needs to book key personnel, equipment, and locations. A simple video may only take a few hours of planning. Large productions take days.
Many corporate videos can be shot with a small group of key personnel. However, bigger productions require a bigger crew. This can range from production assistants, sound engineers, lighting techs, and hair and makeup artists. These people can go a long way into making large production videos possible, but they will also be more expensive.
The camera used in production will make a big difference in the quality of the final video. The nicer the camera also creates larger costs on top of the fee for the director or camera operators. This can be a few hundred dollars a day to over a thousand. If the video is for the internet only, a DSLR camera with a high quality lens kit and a capable shooter will be enough.
The video may be shot on location at the business, in a studio, or at a third-party location. Shooting on location at a business is free. Renting a studio can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a day. Additional locations may be free, but might add additional time to production to work around existing schedules and outside interferences.
Post production is where the raw footage is edited into a polished video. This can take a long time to edit and there are many extras that might go along with it. Titles, motion graphics, sound mixing, and color correction will add to the look and feel of the video, along with the cost of the video.
There may be charges for things likes rendering, encoding, and outputting. Businesses need to ask video production companies for a clear breakdown of post-production services in the estimate. Businesses also need to find out about the revision policy and determine exactly how the video will be delivered to them.