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Getting Footage Online: Labeling, Exporting & Uploading

Labeling Your Tape

  • Make sure your tape is labeled with STATE/CITY/LAST NAME/TAPE NUMBER.  (Example for Cleveland, Ohio: “OH / CLE / MORRISON / #1”)
  • Keep your labeled tapes in a safe place as Video the Vote may contact you at a later date to obtain a copy of your footage.

If you are in an area with a VtV Command Center or Upload Facility skip to the last step. If you are NOT in an area with a VtV Command Center or do NOT have a local leader that has organized an Upload Facility:

Exporting Your Clip: Encoding Settings

Note: Clips should ideally be 0:30 – 3:00 in length.  Please try and only have relevant content but don’t spend too much time on the editing as time is of the essence to get the clip up. Do not include on-camera contact information in your clips. You can upload .mov, .wmv and .avi files. Here are export instructions on 2 of the most common file formats:

QuickTime Export

  1. Export from iMovie, Final Cut, any QuickTime based program Win/Mac
  2. Export -> Export setting, QuickTime Movie or .mov
  3. Option -> Video Settings
  4. Compression Type H.264
  5. Data rate restricted to 2000 Kbit/sec
  6. Optimized for download
  7. Encoding Best Quality / Multi-pass
  8. Frame Rate 29.97 fps (30fps) or Same as Source
  9. Size should be 720 x 480 or original image size
Audio Settings
  1. Option -> Sound Settings
  2. Format: Linear PCM
  3. Rate: 44.100 kHz
  4. Sample Size: 16 bit
  5. Channels: Mono

WMV CODEC Settings

  1. Export from Windows Movie Maker or other windows based programs
  2. File -> Save Movie File || save to My Computer
  3. Movie Settings >> other settings >> video for local playback (2.1 Mbps)
  4. Frame Rate 29.97 fps (30fps) or Same as Source
  5. Size should indicate 720 x 480
Audio Settings (default by setting above)
  1. 44 kHz
  2. 16 bit
  3. mono

Naming Your File:

Please save your file using the following convention:
state.city(abbv.).lastname.tape#.clip#
Example:  ohio.colu.jones.tape2.clip3
Note that 'tape#' corresponds to the physical tape, and 'clip#' is the label for each clip on a given tape.  This lets us track the file back to the source tape and videographer.

Uploading Your Clip: 

http://www.videothevote.org/upload

  1. Go to: http://www.videothevote.org/upload
  2. Enter the same email address you registered to VtV with
  3. Complete out the submission form - select the most appropriate type of problem.  If necessary, add your own unique 'tags' (keywords)
  4. Click the 'Browse' button, then select the clip you wish to open
  5. Click 'Submit' to upload the file
It may take quite some time to upload the file - you will be presented with a notice when it is complete.
 

Upload Command Center:

If you are in an area with a VtV Command Center or have a local leader that has organized an Upload Facility
  • Make sure your tape is labeled with STATE/CITY/LAST NAME/TAPE NUMBER.  (Example for Cleveland, Ohio: “OH / CLE / MORRISON / #1”)
  • Put the tapes into one of the envelopes we provide.  Write the essential details on that envelope – your name and phone number, the location of your report, and what the report consists of (i.e., “Chicago, IL, Precinct 24: Provisional Ballot issued over ID confusion.”)  Also include your name and address and indicate if you want to retain the original or copy of the tape.
  • Call your local leader and ask for a tape pickup from runners.  Depending on urgency or availability, you may be asked to deliver it to the Command Center yourself or upload it at home or a café.