by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Over time video production has evolved from 8- and 16-millimeter film to VHS and cassette tapes to DVDs.
For about 14 years, Easy Edit Video has also evolved with those changes. Recently, the company upgraded its facility to support the latest technology in video production and is now Northeast Florida’s largest DVD and videotape duplication center.
“The renovation was done to accommodate changes in the industry,” said David Zuckerman, president of Easy Edit Video. “More people are moving towards DVDs and High Definition.”
The new non-linear editing suite that specializes in High Definition offers customers a relaxing atmosphere where they can sit and watch as Video Editor Erin Kohler edits their videos. There is a plasma screen on the wall and twin computer screens that Kohler works off of.
Zuckerman said the editing suite is used a lot for highlight reels for high school and college athletes or to make corporate videos.
“You can do anything you can imagine,” said Kohler.
Zuckerman added that many clients shoot their own video and Kohler edits in music, titles and special effects.
“We can edit in High Definition, but we haven’t seen too much of that yet,” he said. “We won’t see a huge push to High Definition because consumers aren’t buying the cameras yet because they are $5,000 to $6,000.
“It (High Definition) is where the future is going and we want to be prepared to have those resources here.”
Another service that has also become popular is converting video to Flash or QuickTime files so it can be used on Web sites. Kohler added that video can also be converted for use on PowerPoint presentations.
Another area added during the renovation is the new soundproof audio booth, which is used primarily for voice-overs and is uniquely designed and equipped with an AKG microphone.
“In the past we did voice-overs here and they weren’t the best quality or we contracted them out,” said Zuckerman. “Now we can do voice-overs here and we don’t have to contract out.”
The DVD duplication room, where 50 percent of the company’s business comes from, also saw an upgrade. Thirty DVDs can be duplicated at the same time and there are three printers to print the DVD labels. Clients can either design their own labels or Easy Edit Video can design them.
“A man came in on a Friday asking for 3,000 DVDs to be made,” said Zuckerman. “We had all of them done by Thursday.
“I built the business on a fast turnaround based on quality and service.”
Zuckerman sees a bright and busy future for his company for a variety of reasons.
“Converting VHS tapes to DVD, I think, is going to continue to be huge over the next 20 years as we transition from tape to DVDs,” he said. “It is a huge part of our business.”
Right now, Zuckerman said they still have customers bringing in 8-millimeter, Super 8, 16-millimeter film and slides of old home movies to convert them to DVD.
“It is that premise — transferring film to DVDs — that will bring us very good business for many years,” he said. “Statistics show that one out of every four households had a film video camera from the end of World War II to the early 1980s and we are still transferring that film today — 20 years later.”
Zuckerman explained that Easy Edit Video, which is in Baymeadows, will continue to evolve as technology evolves.
“What we do, we will do in the future regardless of what we are using today,” he said. “We are still going to capture the image, edit the image and preserve the image.”
Easy Edit Video serves a wide range of businesses in the community, the government, military and public service needs.
“We take care of everyone we can in this town and it is a good balance,” Zuckerman said about having a wide range of customers from individuals to businesses. “Our niche has always been consumers and small businesses who need video production services.
“We work on two levels — consumers on personal stuff and businesses on professional stuff.”
The renovation began earlier this year and Zuckerman said they have worked out all of the kinks and his staff is prepared to take the business into the next phase of video production.
“Thirteen years ago this equipment was a lot different than what we have today, and 13 years from now the equipment will be different from today,” he said. “But we will still be doing the same thing only with new technology.”
Easy Edit Video offers many other services to both businesses and individuals. For more information about its services, visit www.easyeditvideo.com or call 730-9999.