Capture Video – Now and Then: 5 Ways Video Technology Has Changed

Now and Then: 5 Ways Video Technology Has Changed

When Capture Video launched 15 years ago, the work we produced for our clients was of the highest quality … at the time. Over the years, technological advances have transformed professional video production.

Now: HD
Then: SD

Today, we shoot our clients’ videos in High Definition (HD). While shooting a video in HD doesn’t change how it is made or how it can be used, the finished product is of higher quality: HD videos have a higher aspect ratio (typically, 16:9 compared to 4:3 for SD) and they support greater color depth (10 bit as opposed to 8 bit), resulting in a better viewing experience with images that are more true to life.

Now: DVDs, Blu-Rays, and Internet
Then: VHS tapes

When Capture Video first launched, many of our clients wanted their finished video delivered to them on VHS tapes, with multiple copies so they could send them by mail or courier to current or potential clients, colleagues, partners, or media. Occasionally, we would author CD-ROMs. Today, it is de rigueur that we deliver videos to our clients on DVDs or Blu-ray discs. We also deliver a lot of videos online – with no physical deliverable at all.

Now: YouTube
Then: Adam Films

Speaking of the Internet, you may not remember the website Adam Films, but it was, essentially, a precursor to YouTube that launched 15 or 16 years ago. The idea was that people could post their short films online for others to watch. I saw this as the wave of the future, but the site failed because the technology that existed at the time wasn’t good enough to support it. Do you remember how long it took to download a video in 2000?! So long that there was only one 4 MB video on the Capture Video website when we launched. Online videos were not practical then. Businesses were limited to using video in paid or earned media, or showing it live in a sales pitch, demonstration, or other event (and crossing their fingers that the on-site AV would work as expected). Today, businesses can use video on their websites to draw people in or for search engine optimization (SEO) or they can establish their own YouTube channels. And they can still show them live, via the Internet, anywhere, anytime, on their laptops, tablets, or smart phones, or share them instantly through live streaming or by sending a link via email.

Now: 3 TB
Then: 30 GB

Over the last 15 years, storage capacity for hard drives has soared while price and size have shrunk. Take a look at this article from 1999 predicting the availability of a 30 GB hard drive for about $200 in 1999. Right now, you could buy a 3 TB external hard drive that will easily fit in your briefcase or laptop bag – that’s 300 times as much storage as that 30 GB hard drive – for $109 on Amazon. This gives clients the flexibility to have big projects, such as extensive training, delivered on one storage device instead of multiple DVDs or videotapes. Of course, HD footage is a lot bigger than SD was (where file sizes are concerned) so we video production companies REALLY need those 3 (or in our case 12) TB drives!

Now: Final Cut Pro, Adobe Creative Suite
Then: Avid, Media 100

While Capture Video was using non-linear editing in 2000, the development and improvement of software like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere have made the post-production process quicker and more affordable. We no longer have to spend $15,000 for one editing computer, and can get a lot more power for a lot less money. For example, we can render a complex 2D animation done in After Effects in less than a day, whereas we once had an AE project render for 6 days back in 2000. Thanks to software advancements, we are also able to incorporate more diverse and sophisticated graphics and animation, including 3D modeling and augmented reality, in our clients’ video productions.

Capture Video combines its knowledge of the latest technology and trends, more than 15 years of experience, and a creative perspective to deliver videos that engage, educate, and inspire viewers. Can we help you capture the attention of your audience?