Method

The use of commercially available video editing software allows for enhancements like drawings, tracking, and quantitative data. The video is edited to provide more meaningful instructional demonstrations (Liebermann & Franks), which are particularly important for athletes in early stages of learning (Hughes & Franks).

These websites have been developed using the open source content management system Drupal. The platform allows the site to be interactive, consistent with web design for the Web 2.0 paradigm. Special modules were employed to handle video uploading and conversion to Flash media format.

The process basically included three steps: (a) arranging for subjects and taking digital video, (b) capturing and editing the data on a computer, and (c) encoding the video and uploading it to a website. The following is a list of common technical characteristics in the process:

  • Most subjects were video taped using standard digital video cameras (30 frames per second)
  • Video Import: IEEE 1394 (Firewire) wire and capture card
  • Editing software: Dartfish ProSuite (Version 4.5) or Adobe Premiere
  • Video Encoding: Windows Media format(WMV)encoder using Dartfish (set to 1.6 Mbits/sec or "CD quality") and AVI files using MPEG-4 Codec in Adobe Premiere. Flash video presentation on website encoded using FFMPEG converter.

NOTE: Additional methodology specific to CyclingAnalysis.com is linked here.