Where do I go to learn about synchronizing video and audio?

[pisces7378]

I have already searched on Amazon.com for books on the subject, but they seem to focus on the business of it all or artsy fartsy books on ways of composing music for films. I just want to know where would I go to learn about what I need to buy in order to get something like this off the ground. The reason I ask is because I need to know before I go and order a ton of books on the subject just how realistic it will be that i can do this on a home budget. I don't want to find out AFTER I have bought $3,000 worth of gear that I will need $6,000 more before I can even begin to think about doing some real "showable" work.

Where would you guys stear me towards a "product list" so to speak; listing what I would need, approximately, to do a soundtrack for a commercial, feature film, or coorperate video?

Here is what I will already have...

Carillon PC Digital Audio Workstation
Pent IV 2.0 GHz
512 Mbs of 400MHz RDRAM
20 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive (for running applications)
80 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive (for audio)
Matrox G550 Dual head Graphics Card (with two monitors)

Logic Audio Platinum v. 5

MOTU 2408mkII sound card/24-input Audio interface)

Mackie 1604 pro 16 Channel mixer

What else will I need?
i.e...
What will the video be playing on that I will be synchronizing everything too? What is the industry standard? I have heard the word "U-Matic Video" used with this before. Is that a real thing or do things just work on normal VHS cassetes? If so what kind of VCR? I can't believe that some "Media Market" VCR can do the job I am talking about.

I have seen things about synchronizers and slave drivers et cetera... but nothing cut and dry. Where do I go, or who do I call to get the cut and dry? Any good books?

I have searched the web, and I don't really even know what to call what i am trying to. it is hard to search for things on the web when you have no terminology to search for.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks mates,

Mike

 

[charger]

There are a couple of ways to go. One would be to get a good PC video editor, and work only with digitized video and digital video. If you want a pro deck, you will be working with either S-VHS or 3/4" video tapes. These decks are very expensive, and it would be best to have done at least an internship in the video post-production before you buy one.

On the purely digital side, you can get an internal all-in-one system for around 3 grand. For a professional system, like an Avid or Media 100, you can easily spend $25,000. Then there's always the Mac G4 + Final Cut Pro path which would cost you about 5000$.

There's a lot of stuff that you may need depending on which route you go, including a device to read and write timecode to and from your source deck, a blackburst generator, and some other miscellaneous gear. I'd recommend taking a look at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ and checking out their products and their selection of books.

It would also help to live in a place where you can get work, or some exposure to the industry, or an internship, like LA, Vancouver, or New York.