
When you prepare to encode your video you have the option to Encode, Discard or Copy tracks. If you'd like to discard your Video track just click on the Discard radio button under the Output format options. If you already have video that was encoded with a specific audio codec you can just select the Copy radio button to copy the tracks over to your output file.
The Discard or Copy Video or Audio track feature is extremely helpful is you video files that you want to place on a streaming server and you no longer need the video track. Take for example the Wowza Media Server Pro that not only delivers real-time streaming of Flash Video files (.FLV) but can also stream H.264, AAC and HE-AAC files. If you have a library of videos encoded using the MPEG-4 codec, these aren't supported on the Wowza Media Server Pro. You could discard the Video tracks and copy over the Audio tracks with Episode and place the output files on the Wowza Media Server Pro.
What is AVCHD?, and what exactly is HDD?
AVCHD is a combination of AVC (Advanced Video Coding) and MPG2. Some of the newest cameras now support AVCHD which records to a hard drive. You may see the term HDD, which simply refers to (Hard Disk Drive).
To simplify, this technology records High Defination Video within an MPEG-2 transport stream directly to a hard-drive. In fact, the Sony HDR SR12 is completely tapless! It contains a 120 gig hard drive, which is enough storage to record over 20 hours of high defination footage without stopping. It also has the ability to take 10 megapixel still images.
User's of Final Cut Pro can use the Log and Transfer tool to bring these clips into their editing system. You must have one an intel based MAC, and you must be running the latest version the Final Cut Studio software. The conversion process is close to real-time, but it can be automated.
Also, Final Cut Studio converts the video stream to Pro Res 422 which is approximately 4 times the original size of the file(s) that sit on the camera. To make sure you have sufficient space on your hard drive before ingesting the media.
Unfortunately, users of Avid Media Composer will have to convert the footage using a third party software product. I am hopeful Avid will adopt AVCHD technology in their Media Composer product line soon. As a professional alternative, Media Composer supports P2 media in it's native format.
GeniusDV teaches the AVCHD workflow in it's Final Cut Studio 5 Day training class.

The custom presets in Adobe After Effects are a great way to quickly animate your layers. The latest version of After Effects has many different presets to choose from and you can apply them to text, backgrounds or any other layer. The often misunderstood concept about presets is that once you apply them that is all you get. These presets are only a jumping off point, there are several presets that look great just the way they are but every preset is fully editable. The two Genius DV logos here were created using the exact same preset and I just modified the color and the motion for a completely different look. The only way to get familiar with presets is to practice and do not be afraid to modify them. You will be amazed how well these presets work and how simple it is to get the look you need.

