Organizing Images with Aperture



In this video you’ll learn to rank and sort images in Aperture. You’ll also learn about contact sheets and Web galleries for client review. You can also visit the website
www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.
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Digital Convergence Podcasts for DSLR Filmmakers

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I was recently interviewwd about a new book – From Still to Motion: A Photographer's Guide to Creating Video with your DSLR

Here's the Podcast – DIGITAL CONVERGENCE EPISODE 6
Episode 6 features Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman, who are two of four of the co-authors of the new book from Peachpit: From Still to Motion.

In this episode, Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman talk about what to expect from their new book. Taking a platform agnostic approach and covering a wide range of budgets, they discuss a broad range of topics including unexpected lessons learned, do-it-yourself lighting, camera support and motion, post-production and color grading, sound, stop-motion and time-lapse and a wealth of other topics. I hated to cut short this conversation - it's our longest episode yet. But it's well worth hearing.
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Scoring and Sound Design in Soundtrack Pro



Soundtrack Pro is a powerful tool for scoring and adding sound design elements like sound effects, Foley sounds, and ambient noise. Check out this video as we take a project from Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack Pro and back to Final Cut Pro. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.


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Use Apple Pro Apps? Time to Update.

Use FCP, Aperture or Logic? Be sure to download the Apple ProKit 5.1 update to fix memory leaks –


About ProKit 5.1 (Leopard & SnowLeopard)
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This ProKit Update fixes issues with user interface software resources that are shared by Apple's professional applications.
  • The issues addressed include:
  • Corrected an issue with improper scrolling behavior.
  • Resolved memory leaks for improved performance.
  • Addressed layout of interface elements in certain application alert windows.
The update is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Aperture, Final Cut Express, Soundtrack, Logic Pro and Logic Express.
Get it here – http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1008

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OK Go’s Amazing Rube Goldberg Machine

This is a great music video and engineering feat.




Plus check out this great article from Wired that goes behind the scenes.

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Cool iPhone Apps for Video Pros

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If you're a media pro... here are a few iPhone/iPod Touch apps to check out. I've not played with all of these yet, but they've all been recommended to me (or I've used 'em).



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Create a Client Screener Disc



Check out this video to learn more about creating a screener disc for your clients. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.

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Chroma Key is Everywhere



Here's two free resources to help you out

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Free Pass to NAB or $100 Off Conference. – Expires Febraury 19

nab
It's almost time for NAB – The National Association of Broadcasters Conference. If you want a free NAB pass for show floor or to save $100 on any conference — then here's a great offer. Thanks to Creative Cow, visit http://tinyurl.com/nab10cow and enter code CC01 and save — good thru February 19.

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New Canon Final Cut Pro plug-in to be released

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(February 5, 2010) Canon's EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple's Final Cut Pro was released today. This new plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro.

The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately.

The EOS E1 video plug-in is a free download available at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/finalcutstudio/. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

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How to Film the Impossible

I found a great series on YouTube... an old show called Horizon from the BBC. This episode is entitled "How to Film the Impossible" and features an in-depth look at Industrial Light and Magic.

Here is part one



The other parts are after the jump

Read More...
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Using Premiere Pro to Organize Video for After Effects

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There are lots of reasons to use Premiere Pro (even if you’re a Final Cut Pro editor). One of the most compelling is to organize After Effects projects.

  1. Create a new Premiere Pro project and match its settings to your primary footage format.
    2 Import a folder of QuickTime movies into a Premiere Pro project. You can even import a Final Cut Pro XML file to bring a sequence in without needed to do anymore media management.
  2. Edit the clips as needed into sequences.
  3. After your clips are edited, just select them and press Command+C to copy them to your clipboard.
    5 Switch to an open After Effects project and press Command+V to paste the clips using Dynamic Link. The clips (with handles) will move from Premiere Pro to After Effects.

For more tips like this, check out the book
Video Made on a Mac.



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Shooting JPEG vs. Raw

When digital cameras became commercially available, the memory cards used to store pictures were very expensive. Photographers could not afford multiple or high-capacity cards, so they wanted more images to fit on a single, smaller card. Smaller file sizes would also enable consumers who lacked an understanding of digital imaging to attach photos to email with minimum technical headaches.

With these two scenarios in place, manufacturers turned to an Internet-friendly format, JPEG. It was a proven technology, and one that was familiar to many users. A JPEG file looks for areas where pixel detail is repeated, such as the color white on every key of your computer keyboard. The file then discards repeated information and tells the computer to repeat certain color values or data to re-create the image. The drawback is that a JPEG file is lossy, so every time you modify it and re-save, additional compression is applied to the image.

Newer digital cameras, generally the pro models, offer newer formats, usually called raw. These raw (or native) formats have several benefits over shooting to JPEG. The images are usually captured at a higher bit depth, which means that the pixels contain more information about the color values in the image. Most raw files have a depth of 10, 12, or even 16-bits per channel instead of the 8 used by JPEG. This raw format also has a greater tonal range, resulting in better exposure for shadows and highlights.

Figure_09_10

The image on the left is how the camera captured a JPEG. Making adjustments to the image is possible, but will lead to more degradation in image quality. The image on the right is a properly developed raw file. Working with raw files gives you access to greater control over an image.

The raw file captures the unprocessed data from the camera’s image sensor. While your camera may contain settings for sharpness, exposure, or lighting conditions, the raw file stores that info as modifiable information and captures the original (unmodified) data that came through your camera’s sensors. Each manufacturer treats the format differently, using a proprietary format. Fortunately, Photoshop and Aperture frequently update their raw technology to support the newest cameras on the market.

Because the raw data is unprocessed, you must essentially “develop” the image data within Photoshop or Aperture. You can choose to adjust several options related to the image, as well as the lens and lighting conditions. You can “tweak” the image after shooting it (as opposed to JPEG, which is limited to the settings you had when shooting).

For more tips like this, check out the book Video Made on a Mac.


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DPI vs. Resolution

One misperception we hear time and time again is about resolution. For the record, video graphics are not 72 dpi. First off, dpi stands for dots per inch (as in printing). Photoshop measures graphics using pixels per inch (ppi).

Figure_09_01

The resolution of this photo has been reassigned from 300 ppi to 72 ppi. The Document Size (in inches) has changed for printed output. The pixel dimensions and file size remain unchanged at 1920 x 1080 pixels (for a 1080 HD video project).

When dealing with video graphics, resolution doesn't matter. The same HD video file can play back on a laptop, a television, or on a digital projector, and the total number of pixels won't change. To see this clearly, stand really close to a big-screen HD TV; the picture looks soft. Now find a smaller display with an HD signal; the picture looks clearer. This is because HD is HD; the bigger the screen the larger each pixel is displayed, but again resolution doesn't change.

Figure_09_02

Figure 9.2 The enlarged area shows the individual pixels that make up the butterfly image.

Setting Photoshop to Measure in Pixels
Out of the box, Photoshop is set up for a print workflow (biased isn't it?). This is easy to fix with a simple preference change. You can set rulers and other tools to measure using pixels by default (which will make designing for the video screen easy).
  1. Launch Adobe Photoshop.
  2. Press Command+K to call up your Photoshop preferences.
  3. Click the Units & Rulers preference tab.
  4. Click the Rulers menu and set it to pixels.
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Eco-Comedy Video Competition

cef
Just got an email from the Center for Environmental Filmmaking which is offering a $1,000 prize.

They are running a contest for filmmakers to create a short, funny video for YouTube which communicates a clear message that strongly motivates a specific behavior change (for example, driving a fuel efficient car, turning down thermostats, or donating to a conservation cause).

Submissions must:
  • Be humorous!
  • Address a critical environmental issue
  • Be an original production
  • Reach a broad audience beyond just environmentalists
  • Be less than 4 minutes

Submissions are due by March 1, 2010. The winner will be announced at American University on Tuesday, March 23 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.

For more information regarding submission guidelines and contest rules, visit: http://www.environmentalfilm.org.



0 Comments

Sneak Peek at new Adobe Tech

I have seen this first person.. and it is AWESOME. Tons of real-time performance in Premiere Pro and 64-bit Operating Systems. It can also be tied to a really fast graphics card for better performance. The app runs INSANELY great and will hopefully propagate through other Adobe apps like Photoshop and After Effects.



for more information on hardware, check out these blogs:    http://blogs.adobe.com/VideoRoad/2009/11/three_words_youll_be_hearing_a.html    http://blogs.adobe.com/VideoRoad/2009/11/more_on_the_mercury_engine.html    http://blogs.adobe.com/genesisproject/2009/11/technology_sneek_peek_adobe_me.html#more

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Creative COW NAB Party

Creative Cow's NAB Party Announced – Join Me & Dread Zeppelin on Monday Night. Details here.... tickets will be free - but limited. It's AWESOME!

"Well, it's official. Monday night, April 12, 2010, at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino finds Creative COW: YEAR 10 in full swing with a closing set by the legendary Dread Zeppelin. We are celebrating because 2010 marks the 10th year of Creative COW, and who better to welcome COW members to Las Vegas than a reggae-based band of killer musicians playing Led Zeppelin hooks with an Elvis impersonator leading the band?"

Here's the details.

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Multicamera Trimming in Final Cut Pro

Want to refine a multicamera edit? Learn how to harness the power of trimming to refine the timing of your shots.

To download sample files, visit www.peachpit.com/videomac.



0 Comments

Resize Video with After Effects

resizer
Do you ever need to size video for web or multimedia? Instead of wasting time processing those clips with your video compression software – use After Effects. You can get cleaner scaling and much faster processing times using AE.

To make things easier... I have made a template project to save you several steps. You can download it here.

Download it
here (it's my Birthday gift to you)

These templates are designed to convert an HD source to a variety of output formats.
  1. Select either the 1080 or 720 source folder.
    2 Locate the correct target format and open the template.
    3 Import a QuickTime movie of your HD source.
    4 Highlight the layer called Replace Me.
    5 Hold down the Option/Alt key and drag your replacement footage onto the solid layer to swap.
    6 Change the comps duration to match your footage layer’s length by choosing Sequence > Settings.
    7 Add to the Render Queue and render to taste.

Feel free to share this post and the link – tinyurl.com/aeresizer

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Editors Retreat This Week

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I head to the Editors Retreat event in Miami tomorrow (this is my sixth time going - it's that good). Lots of great networking and training events for all. I'll have some resources (and hopefully one of my sessions posted this week). Hope to see some of you at the event.

An intensive, interactive environment for TV, video and film editors that fosters creativity and the exchange of ideas at the highest level.

  • Four Days of Sessions in Multiple Tracks.
  • Award-Winning Keynote Speakers.
  • Daily Social Networking with Experts.
  • Numerous Prizes.
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We Got That B-Roll

This is a funny video (thanks to John Nack for pointing it out). For those not in the know, b-roll is typically stock footage that helps illustrate what a video project is about. It covers up the A-roll (or talking head and narration parts). For those in the video industry, you'll love the "That's not B-roll" line.





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Shot Types –The Language of Cinema

When shooting a scene, you'll typically favor getting multiple shots. This process is referred to as getting coverage. Just as a single photo can say so much, combining multiple angles together can tell the story better (letting you show interesting details or emotions). This process is important because it allows for more flexibility in editing. You can choose to condense, action, cover mistakes, or even direct the viewer's attention with a variety of shot types. These shots have a language of their own. Knowing the most common shot types lets crew members talk to each other.

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Wide Shot (WS) – A wide shot (also called an establishing shot) is useful to show the entire subject. With a person, this usually means seeing from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet.

Read More...
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Video Data Rate Calculator for iPhone

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AJA Video Systems, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, announced today the release of AJA DataCalc. AJA DataCalc is a free storage requirement calculator designed for video professionals and is available now as a free download from the Apple iTunes Store here.
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Calibrating a Computer Display

Want to learn how to do a basic computer monitor calibration? Check out this video.
To download sample files, visit www.peachpit.com/videomac.




0 Comments

Timecode Burn In with Compressor

Want to compress your footage to another format and add timecode burn in at the same time? With Compressor you can! Be sure to check out this step-by-step video as we add timecode burn in via Compressor. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.



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ProRes for PC

prores_prores_icon20090722
Apple's ProRes Codec is a great tool for professional video editors. Apple has released a version that let's PC users and editors read the files created on a Mac. This is great for video and mograf folks. It's a free download. I made a new tiny URL for my Windows friends.. http://tinyurl.com/prorespc
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Creating Transparent Video with Adobe After Effects CS4

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Transparency plays a key role in the success of animation and interactivity. By embedding transparency into graphic elements, you can composite together different elements created at different times, allowing for true flexibility.

The alpha channel is the technology behind transparency in computer graphics. It first evolved in the late 1970s at the New York Institute of Technology and then continued to be refined at Lucasfilm and at Pixar. When you employ alpha channels embedded into footage layers, transparency data can travel seamlessly between After Effects and Flash.

You can create alpha channels in several ways. One common technique you can use for video footage is chroma key technology. By shooting elements against a blue or green screen, you can easily remove the background. This technology is hardly new, making its first appearance at RKO Radio Pictures in the 1930s. The popularity of chroma key technology has grown immensely, bringing the technology and tools within reach of most content creators.

KEEP READING AT PEACHPIT.com

Get the Book

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The New Drobo is Awesome... Come Learn More

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We've been playing with the new Drobo Elite at our offices at absolutely love it. It's a great 8 bay unit (for desktop or rack-mount). It's fast enough for HD video editing, it can expand as you grow, and it works fantastically well.

Join me for an educational seminar on Thursday, December 10, 2009 where we review how it (and the rest of the Drobo line) can benefit video editors, motion graphics artists, and videographers.

The event starts at 8:30 AM Pacific / 11:30 AM Eastern. Its a 30 minute seminar and you can ask any questions you want.

We've been putting it into play with our tapeless workflow and have been very pleased.

Sign up for your spot here –
http://bit.ly/7vhDJr




0 Comments

A Great Sale at Kelby Training

ktweb

A great sale over at Kelby Training... I have a few titles up there too.

"An annual subscription ensures uninterrupted and unlimited access to our entire library of photography, Photoshop®, web, and creative design courses. You'll also never worry about missing out on new courses (posted weekly) and you'll instantly save $100 annually (when compared to a monthly subscription)."

The sale is $179 for a year's access. You also can get a great book bundle for free. Three of Scott Kelby's top Photoshop and Lightroom books thrown in to sweeten the deal.

"Enter code CBCKNOV at checkout to receive The Pro Photographer Bundle (while supplies last). HURRY! Offer expires December 31, 2009"

Visit Kelbytraining.com for more information or to subscribe.
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Calibrating a Camera with OnLocation



Want to see a real-world calibration of a camera using OnLocation? Be sure to check out this video for a detailed demonstration.You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.
0 Comments

New Training Video Released

It's always nice to get name-checked on Scott Kelby's blog (he is the number one technology author in the world after all).
ktdslr

"Just Released: “Editing Video Shot With Your DSLR” Online Class

Video guru, photographer, and Photoshop World instructor Richard Harrington just released a new online class at Kelby Training Online called Editing Your DSLR Video on a Mac, and it answers so many questions about this booming new area of creativity for photographers. If you’ve got a DSLR that shoots video, you’ve got to catch Rich’s class (here’s the link)."
Thanks Scott – He called me a photographer... guess I'm moving up in the world =)

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DSLR Video Shootout

shootout1

Head on over to ProVideoCoalition and check out my new article – an
in-depth overview comparing the Canon 5D, Canon 7D, Nikon D300S, and Red One. Lot's of other goodies and a ton of video clips as well.



0 Comments

Interested in DSLR Video?

album.php
I've launched a new Facebook group for those interested in DSLR video.

The page serves two purposes.
1. I'll share what we're learning about DSLR Video.
2. I'll let you know things about the new book and DVD I'm developing.

I hope you can stop by and join us.

We've got a ton of
video clips posted to give you ideas.

We've also opened a
forum, so please post a question or comment.

0 Comments

Get More Out of Your Mac

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Have you seen our new book? Be sure to check out the Facebook group for more resources.

We've also got a new podcast series too with free tips and practice files.
Web or iTunes for free.

"On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating professional video. With all the tools available though, it can be a daunting task to decide which ones offer the best solutions for combined efficiency and high-level results. How can you effectively communicate your vision to clients and crew? How should you calibrate your camera for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it better to do your keying in After Effects, Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do you manage large amounts of media and a multitude of formats for multiple software applications?

In Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers and much more. Chock-full of practical advice and step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides insight on the critical components of production and postproduction that can make all the difference when you're up against a tight budget and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you with project files and high-definition footage so you can follow along with the examples, as well as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice techniques to all your video projects."


0 Comments

Clean Up Your Mac's Hard Drive for Free

daisy
I just found a great shareware tool called Daisy Disk that graphically shows the contents of your hard drive. It gives you a great visual map of what's on your drive and makes it easy to drill down and clean up files. The best news? It's currently free as part of the MacHeist promotion. Visit their site and solve the puzle (look at the top banner for a clue). Then tweet your results and you get the software for free.

daisy_use

For example... I saved over 1.5 GB of space in just a few minutes.

  1. I used it to identify some HUGE template files for Apple Motion on my internal drive.
  2. I then opened up the files with QuickTime Pro. They were Photo-JPEG and Animation codec files (both beefy).
  3. I converted the Photo JPEG to Apple ProRes 422 and the Animtion to Apple ProRes 444.
  4. Voila.. space saved.

daisyba

I am currently on a seek and destroy mission to locate large downloads and forgotten files. If you are a little weary, back up your drive before you start the purge in case you trash a needed file.

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Editors Retreat

Recharge Your Creativity and Craft • January 13 - 16 • Miami Beach, Florida

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Now in its fourth year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video gather to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!

Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.

Running for 4 days and 3 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.

To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit
www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.

Attendees all receive a huge goodie bag! Right now its valued at over $4500 in gifts:
  • Megasuite from Digieffects $799
  • Plug-in from Automatic Duck $495
  • Plug-in Collection from CGM $199
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 $799
  • Free Training Course from FMC $1,500
  • NAB Post Production Conference Pass $895
  • Music License from Free Play Music $100
0 Comments

New Versions of Adobe Software to be 64-Bit

adobe-logo-survey
Adobe has announced that the next version of the software will run on 64-bit Operating Systems only. It's not all the apps in their suite, but the apps that will most benefit.

"It’s common knowledge among post-production pros that 64-bit operating systems are the best choice for top-of-the-line performance, especially when producing HD or higher-resolution content. After 3 versions of simultaneous 64 bit and 32 bit support for After Effects and Premiere Pro, we wanted to let you know today that CS4 will be the last version of Adobe’s leading video applications to support 32 bit operating systems."

Simon Hayhurst – The Senior Director of Product Management for Dynamic Media

Check out the news here.
 
0 Comments

New Podcast Featured on iTunes

featured

Our new podcast, Video Made on a Mac, is in the New and Notable section of iTunes.

Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman show you how to create professional video on the Mac. In this series, they share videos and project files using real world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite. From pre-production to post, and accomplishing it all within a tight schedule, this podcast series gives you a sample of what you can learn using their book, Video Made on the a Mac.

Be sure to visit the site to get the
free downloadable files or order the book. Be sure to use the code VMMBOOK at checkout to receive a discount.

The new podcast is brought to you by the fine folks at Peachpit Press.
0 Comments

Budgeting with Apple Numbers

For a quick overview on creating video budgets with Apple Numbers, be sure to watch this informative video. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download the budget template.

0 Comments

A Nice Sample of Tilt Shift + Timelapse Photogrpahy

Leave it to Disney to release something visually stunning. This is a great example of tilt shift photography and timelapse animation at the same time.



"See the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida from a whole new perspective. The exclusive video first featured on The Disney Parks Blog was created from a series of photos snapped inside the Magic Kingdom Park. Its a sunrise-to-sunset story told without words."

This is really a nice view.

0 Comments

Want to Learn How to Make DVD Menus?

dvdsp
Peachpit Press has posted a free chapter from the new DVD Studio Pro book. They have a free chapter and hands on media files on how to create custom DVD menus (just click the Sample Content tab).

You can view it
here as well a check out the whole book.

"Updated for DVD Studio Pro 4.2.2, this best-selling, Apple certified guide uses striking real-world footage to build four complete DVDs and share a Blu-ray disc. It covers how to use DVD Studio Pro on its own, as well as how to integrate it into your workflow with Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, and Compressor 3.5. Each lesson takes you step-by-step through an aspect of DVD creation and finishing, with hands-on projects for you to complete as you go."


0 Comments

Peachpit Launches Video Made on a Mac Podcast Series


VMM_150
Check out our new podcast series. Join Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman as we show you how to create professional video on the Mac. We share videos and project files using real world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite. From pre-production to post, these podcasts gives you a sample of what you can learn using their book, Video Made on the a Mac. You can use the code MACVIDEO for 35% off and free shipping.

Watch the latest FREE episodes:
Organizing Images with Bridge
Prepping Storyboards for Animation


0 Comments

Perfect Color Balance for Less than $7


qp
One way to address color calibration between your angles is to use a calibration card when shooting. This is relatively easy if you just remember to put a fresh color balance card on your clapboard for each shoot.

One of our favorites is the QP Card, an affordable reference card (http://www.qpcard.se). Priced at less than $5 per card, this is a great investment in accurate color.

  1. They are small and lightweight, easily fitting in your gear bag.
  2. Relatively inexpensive and disposable, so you can use a fresh card periodically. Old cards tend to fade in the light.
  3. It’s adhesive on the back so you can easily attach it to your clapboard.
  4. With a white, black, and neutral grey surface, color correcting with Final Cut Pro’s three-way color corrector is a snap.
  5. $7 spent per shoot is well worth hours saved on color correction. In most circumstances, just three clicks per angle will calibrate across each camera.

0 Comments

The Rise of Field Monitors

Monitor1
I’ve recently spent a lot of time evaluating our production processes looking for ways to improve efficiency.  There were two motivating factors.  First, we’ve pretty much abandoned Standard Definition production, relegating it only to live web events where we are streaming the content or where the client demands it.  Second, I was working on a new book, Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction Using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite with Robbie Carman.  In it we try to evaluate ways to efficiently integrate Apple and Adobe software into best practices for production and post.

We discovered a lot along the way, in particular that “field” monitors have taken on a whole new life of usefulness. Here are a few of the things we discovered in the last few months of HD production.

Read the article at ProVideoCoalition.com
0 Comments

New Book is Off to the Printer

vmmcover_thumb
This is a book that I’ve wanted to write for a LONG time.

Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction Using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite

Richard Harrington I have just returned my final comments for the new book Video Made on a Mac. We are now compressing the 5.5 hours of HD video lessons that come with this book. This book is SO awesome... (I am not objective, but its the best book I've ever written). If you work with Final Cut Studio and/or Adobe Creative Suite... You need this book. We have filled it to the brim with time saving workflow and practical advice.

Here’s the official blurb – You can order it here on Amazon (it’ll ship in a few weeks).

On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating professional video. With all the tools available though, it can be a daunting task to decide which ones offer the best solutions for combined efficiency and high-level results. How can you effectively communicate your vision to clients and crew? How should you calibrate your camera for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it better to do your keying in After Effects, Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do you manage large amounts of media and a multitude of formats for multiple software applications?

In Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers and much more. Chock-full of practical advice and step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides insight on the critical components of production and postproduction that can make all the difference when you're up against a tight budget and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you with project files and high-definition footage so you can follow along with the examples, as well as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice techniques to all your video projects.


0 Comments

High Definition Review and Approval with Apple TV

atv01
Image courtesy Apple
My production company, like many of yours, has jumped with both feet into the HD waters.  Production is easier than ever with great tapeless acquisition formats.  Post keeps getting simpler with powerful desktop solutions and great breakout boxes.  Seems like the only place it really falls apart is the client review stage.

Sure, you can compress HD clips for web delivery.  Problem is most clients don’t have the monitor resolution, RAM, etc. to view HD (and don’t even get me started on color and contrast issues with the average PC monitor).  You could burn a Blu-ray disc, except at $12 a pop (plus rush courier) that gets pretty expensive (and time consuming). So what’s a discerning post company to do? No the answer is not VHS… it’s Apple TV.

Read the whole story at ProVideoCoalition.com
0 Comments

Final Cut Studio Documentation and Workflows Now Online

documentation_thumb
Need to know the latest about Final Cut Studio? Want to look something up about ProRes from your iPhone? Hate those big printed manuals that waste paper?
While its not a revolutionary step (others like Adobe have already placed their docs online) it is still a welcomed event. Some might wonder if trimming the manuals out allowed the huge price cut?
Regardless… the manuals and an even better Workflows document are now online.
The Apple documentation team has converted all of the documentation for the web.  It is freely searchable and can even be linked to if you need to point to a specific article to help a colleague (an even nicer way to say RTFM).
You’ll find them here at
http://documentation.apple.com/
A great document is also the “Final Cut Studio Workflows.” It’s a little hidden within the Final Cut Pro help library:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutstudio/workflows/
It offers great ideas on how Final Cut Studio applications fit into a post-production workflow.  You’ll also find practical guidance on how Final Cut Studio apps work with one another.
Enjoy.

0 Comments

Final Cut Studio Price Shocker

fcpbox

Yes we all new it would eventually come… the “new Final Cut Studio” was announced. We’ll let the cheers and moans begin after a few days of testing the final release (just ordered mine 30 minutes ago).
But there are a few surprises.. mainly price! Here’s the great news (especially in this economy)
Final Cut Studio 2 – NEW was $1,299
the new Final Cut Studio – NEW is $999
Here’s the best news Final Cut Studio 2 upgrade – was $499 - $699
the new Final Cut Studio upgrade – is $299
I have confirmed… doesn’t matter which version you are upgrading from… I took it right to Apple and got a straight answer.
That is $299 for ANYONE to upgrade from a full copy of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio (except Student or NFR copies).
More on new features soon… but let me just say:
In the current economic client, it’s truly appreciated to see software pricing that respects the long-term customer.  This is a no-brainer upgrade… speed and power without pinching your wallet.  Thanks Apple… I mean it!
Full press release
HERE
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Bringing Video to the Masses

Live from the Voices That Matter conference, San Francisco, author Richard Harrington discusses the factors that have caused online video consumption to grow exponentially over the past few years.



Live from the Voices That Matter conference, author Richard Harrington reveals what’s next beyond YouTube and why offering consumers the ability to download your content is imperative. He also talks about Facebook’s platform, video user statistics, demographics, what constitutes an optimal distribution plan for publishers, and why “video is the new photography.”

0 Comments

Get the Latest P2 Software Get the Latest P2 Software

p2site_thumb
Just last month Panasonic updated their P2 software and drivers.  Of course its not always easy to find where this software lives.  Sure you can bookmark the page, but seems like I always need it when I’m in an edit suite or trying to help someone else out through their problems. So, I have solved the problem once and for all (I hope).
p2URL_big
I used the URL shortening service TinyURL.com to trim the long URL.
While the software is available at https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/desk/e/download.htm that is just too hard to remember. We used the TinyURL service to shorten it to http://tinyurl.com/p2swdl. Just think P2 Software Download and you’ll remember it.

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Stan Winston, Rest In Peace

sw

I’m surprised that more people haven’t talked about this… I am on vacation on a mountain-top (hence a little removed from civilization). I was flipping through the paper and saw this:
Visual Effects Master Stan Winston, 62.

Turns out one of the greatest visual FX and animators in the world passed away on June 15.
I suspect most of you know his name and work. Some of the accomplishments include:

Terminator 2 & 3
Interview with the Vampire
Edward Scissorhands
Iron Man
Jurassic Park
Predator
Aliens
Batman Returns

Be sure to see the history timeline on his site.

You can find a nice overview of him here.

Truly an amazing life and Many of us owe a lot to what her accomplished.

His son, Matt Winston, said his father was in many ways “a big kid” with cool toys who enjoyed what he did and would say, “Just have fun, and success will come.”

Good advice for us all.
0 Comments

Learn How to Scan Photos for Video

scanner

Seems like a lot of folks have forgotten (or never learned) how to scan photos. With this is mind, I offer some practical scanning advice. Several problems can be introduced by those using antiquated scanners with a distinct lack of skill. To get the best results, try the following:

  • Before scanning an image, ensure you have the latest software needed by your scanner. You can always check their websites or use Version Tracker. Having problems with a lack of support on the OSX side for older scanners. I recommend checking out VueScan from Hamrick Software.
  • The most important thing when scanning is to be consistent. Scan all of your photos in at one time if possible.
  • Ensure that the scanner is lying flat, or you may get misregistered scans.
  • Use a gentle glass cleaner whenever smudges appear. Spray the cleaner on the soft cloth, and then wipe the scanner bed down.
  • Make sure your photos are clean before scanning. Never write on the back of photos, instead write on a post-it note and adhere to the back.
  • Place your photos on the scanner straight. Use the edges to help you maintain parallel edges on your photos. If you get crooked photos, try Photoshop CS’s newest automation tool File>Automate>Crop and Straighten Photos.
  • If your scanner allows you, set the white and black points before scanning. Think of this as a white and black balance that you would do in a video camera. This will produce the best tonal range. You can then use Photoshop’s color correction tools to adjust the white and black points as well as make additional color changes.
  • If you are scanning in previously printed items such as newspapers, magazines, books, inkjet prints, etc, you will likely get a moiré pattern. Photoshop scanning the small spaces between the previously printed dots causes this. Most scanners have a de-screen filter in their software. If available use it when scanning previously printed items. If this is not available, run the Median filter at a low value (Filter > Noise > Median).
  • Scan at the quality you need. For video, scan so you have approximately 4,000 by 3,000 pixels. This is generally enough pixel information to perform motion control in After Effects.
  • Save to uncompressed formats such as TIFF, PICT or TARGA for maximum compatibility and disk space usage. The PSD format is great for layered files, but is not as efficient for single layered files. Always save the appropriate file extension for your file type.

0 Comments

New Media for New Government Facebook Group

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Are you looking to stay up on the latest news and network with other new media professionals interested in efficient government? Be sure to check out this Facebook group which helps connect the public and private sectors in this important cause.

You’ll also find 6 hours of free video training to check out on their site. I’m one of the organizers of the group and I hope you can share this info with others. The group is free... the video is free... knowldge is free... let’s make a difference.

Here are the six videos you can watch (in HD even).
  • New Media Boot Camp slides
  • Facebook 101– Why all the Buzz? slides
  • Podcasting and Government slides
  • Blogging to Reach an Audience – Does Anyone Care What You Have to Say slides
  • It’s all About Mobility – Reaching Audiences on the Go slides
  • Producing Video for the Web – Best Practices for Big Results slides

Enjoy.




0 Comments

Handouts from Boston Authors Video Workshops

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I recently spoke at the Authors Video Workshops in Boston. The event was sponsored by the BOSFCPUG & Focal Press. Over two days, I spoke on three topics I am passionate about: Photoshop, Final Cut, and web video.

Here are some of the promised resources.

Photoshop For Video

Professional Color Correction in Final Cut Pro

Producing Video Podcasts and Web Video

Enjoy... reviews on Amazon and iTunes always appreciated.


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3-Way Color Corrector – Final Cut Help

This video tutorial reveals a little known fact of color correcting different actors in a scene with the 3-way color corrector in Final Cut Pro. This tutorial is presented by CreativeCOW.net and is part of a video tutorial series at www.creativecow.net.



0 Comments

90 Percent of Problems are Cable Problems

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Most people assume the worst when their edit system starts acting up. If you’re getting a signal or device control problem, it might not be your machine (or even your software). A $10 cable can tear down an entire edit session. Follow these steps:

  1. Shut down the computer to avoid any improper dismounting of media drives.
    2 Isolate the suspected “problem” device.
  2. Be sure to reseat both ends of the cable.
    4 If that doesn’t work, try swapping out the cable.
  3. Continue to add devices until the problem recurs. Then repeat this cycle.

You might be surprised how many times this works.

Remember, there’s more than just FireWire cables; there are USB cables, RS-422 cables, monitor cables and extensions, and fiber-optic cables. Even your audio and video cables (RCA, BNC, XLR) could be culprits. “What, no video? Oops, my RCA came unplugged.”



fcpbook

Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.






0 Comments

What’s That Exclamation Point?

11-25Exclamationpoint1
A lot of new users call us up asking about that exclamation point or nice green check mark on their image. We tell them that Final Cut Pro has an Artificial Intelligence engine, and it’s approving of the shot or edit. Or, if there is an exclamation point, then there’s content that’s inappropriate for people younger than 18. They thank us and hang up the phone.

After about five minutes, they call us back and ask if we were pulling their legs. Well, Final Cut Pro does have a secret AI engine. If we told you more, we’d be put on double-secret probation, but the exclamation point and checkbox actually mean something
else.

They’re used to determine if your video is broadcast safe/legal. An exclamation point means you’re not broadcast safe, and a green checkbox or one with an up arrow means you’re okay. Now how did this get turned on? Well, the keyboard shortcut for this is Control + Z, so people often accidentally hit it when trying to do an Undo (Command + Z) or a Fit to Window (Shift + Z).



fcpbook

Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.






0 Comments

Camera Support Gives Your Wrist a Break

wristshot(bigger)
While at Photoshop World, I stopped by the Hoodman booth to check out new products. One in particular caught my eye. The WristShot Camcorder Support System takes the weight of the camera and transfers it to your forearm.

I tried a unit out and bought one... its a nice way to get stability and literally take a load off the wrist. The unit is designed to work with cameras up to 10 pounds. What’s also nice is that the unity includes a tripod adapter mount making it easy to switch from your standard tripod to the WristShot unit.

We did a video interview on the product and will have it up shortly. For now, check out the
company’s website.

0 Comments

Convert MPEG-1 for FCP

bbDEMUX – Free

http://sourceforge.net/projects/macbbdemux
BBdemux
I stumbled across this great piece of freeware when stuck with an editing problem. My client had some MPEG-1 files they wanted to edit together for their website. While I was able to import them into FCPand set the timeline to 320X240, I couldn’t get the audio to import. Turns out with MPEG-1 files, the audio and video are merged into one track (muxed). This great little app does nothing more then split them apart, but that’s all that was needed and its free!

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Editors Retreat Returns

erlogo

Recharge Your Creativity and Craft • January 28 - February 1 • Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Now in its third year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video gather to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!

Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.

Running for 5 days and 4 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.

To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit
www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.

WATCH THIS YEAR'S VIDEO

0 Comments

Refillable Sandbags

rs
If you go on any professional video set, you’ll see sandbags in use as a protective measure to secure light and audio stands. But traveling with 250 pounds of sandbags can get expensive (and heavy). Instead, try refillable sandbags, which travel light.

When you get to your location you can fi ll them with sand, rocks, or whatever else can be found nearby. A popular model by Lindcraft is made of durable Cordura Nylon with a heavy-duty zipper with a hook-and-loop cover fl ap to keep it shut. www.lindcraft.com/product_details/RS.html.
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Why Every Post House Needs an Apple TV

appletv
There’s been a lot of ho-hum reviews on the Apple TV… too much of this, not enough of that… but these have all been focussed on the consumer space and the living room.  What I’m here to tell you is why video pros should care about the Apple TV (and why we swear by it in my shop).  Here are a few reasons we use Apple TV at my shop, RHED Pixel.

Read More...
0 Comments

Make Your Gray Skies Blue in Final Cut Pro

07-18bGraySkies1_thumb
It’s not unusual for your skies to be washed out. This is often a problem, because video doesn’t offer the same dynamic range as film (the difference between darks and highlights). Fortunately, Final Cut Pro allows you to isolate the color correction, so you can achieve a fix just to the problem area.
1 Apply the Color Corrector 3-way filter, and access the filter’s visual controls.
2 Using the Select Color eyedropper in the Limit Effect controls, select the desired color you’d like to keep.
3 Click the key icon to view the matte. Use the Select Color eyedropper while holding down the Shift key to add to the matte. You can click in the Viewer or Canvas window.
4 Finesse the matte by adjusting the Width and Softness sliders for the Chroma, Saturation, and Luma values in the Limit Effect controls. When the desired color is clearly selected, there will be no holes in your matte. Also, adjust the Softening slider to improve the matte. You may get a better matte by using fewer limiting ranges.
5 Click the key icon twice to toggle back to View Final.
6 Adjust the color balance wheels and saturation of the shot.
You may need to add a second color corrector to finesse the scene or isolate another problem area.



fcpbook

Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.






0 Comments

Cool Video Prodution Widgets for Your iPhone or Laptop

footage_calc_icon
I often find I have too much information to remember (and for some reason people expect me to be able to spout pixel aspect ratio numbers like a multiplication table). Fortunately the fine folks over at Digital Rebellion has solved this (and for free). They offer several video widgets that do important math, these run on a web browser or iPhone (and a couple can run offline as well).


Video Footage Calculator – Calculates how much storage you'll need for your footage type and duration.
WebiPhone versionOffline version

Film Rate Calculator – Determines how much film you need for a particular scenario.
WebiPhone versionOffline version

Aspect Ratio Calculator –
Determines the aspect ratio for different footage formats.
WebiPhone version

Depth of Field Calculator – Calculates depth of field for many camera sensors.
WebiPhone version

Pixel Aspect Ratio Calculator – Determines relationship of Pixels for many digital formats.
WebiPhone version

Lens Angle Calculator – Helps calculate the lens angle for a given sensor size and focal length.
WebiPhone version

Power Load Calculator – Calculates the load on a circuit to see if it is excessive. You can also calculate the minimum circuit breaker size for the given load.
WebiPhone version

These tools are cool, free, and useful.... three points that make them a must have for my iPhone.


0 Comments

Analyze Video Files on a Mac with Video Spec

videospec_0.6_eng
Looking for a useful application to tell you more about your video files? Mac users should check out the free (and still in pre-release) Video Spec software tool. The tool is a little rough around the edges (it has one major bug which is the aspect ratio of DV and HDV is not reported accurately) but it is still truly useful.

• The latest version has been tested on Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard.
• It is compatible with PowerPC and Intel Mac (Universal Binary).
• This version is localized in english and french.


0 Comments

Timecode Burn-in and Encode in One Step

16_tcburninencodeonestep
Timecode burn-in is used to assist in referencing back to parts of show. Typically this has been used on VHS tapes for producers so they can comment on shows, etc. These days it’s more common to use QuickTime files and DVDs for this type of work. Since you’re going to have to encode the video anyway (most likely using Compressor), why not add timecode burn-in at the same time?

Fortunately, a great new feature in Compressor 3 allows you to do this.
  1. Inside Final Cut Pro select the sequence you want to export.
  2. Choose File > Export > Using Compressor.
  3. Inside Compressor select the setting you’d like to apply to the file. With the setting active, select the Inspector window and click the Filters tab.
  4. Choose Timecode Generator.
  5. Change the settings for the Timecode Generator as you see fit.
  6. Apply the setting to the clip in the Batch window.
  7. Submit the job.

Note: If you’re trying to choose the Timecode Generator for an Apple preset you’ll notice there are no filters in the Filters tab of the Inspector. To be able to add the Timecode Generator to one of the Apple presets, you’ll have to duplicate it first (then it becomes a custom preset).



fcpbook

Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.






0 Comments

Fly! (Trim on the Fly)

10-17Fly

It’s possible to trim on the fly. This way you can listen for an audio edit or look for a particular visual cue. Just make sure the Dynamic trimmimg checkbox is marked.

  1. Enter Trim Edit mode, and press the space bar to cycle your trim. The sequence will play around your edit point and loop. The pre-roll and post-roll are set in the Editing tab of User Preferences.
  2. When you reach the desired edit point, press the I key to move your In point.
  3. Press the up or down arrow to move through the Timeline to your next edit point.



fcpbook

Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.






0 Comments

Really Cool Adobe Announcements

adobe_logo_50x50
Adobe showed some awesome stuff at NAB. My favorite was a future version of Premiere that transcribes your footage, then makes the transcription searchable for both editing and publishing to the web. I was going to do an in-depth write-up.... but then I got busy (still will).

In the meantime. Check out this article for details.
http://www.peachpit.com/blogs/blog.aspx?b=a75e92b0-f44f-4dfb-9eb4-96920bcaddc1
0 Comments

NAB Video Blog

I just got back from NAB this morning... here are a handful of videos we produced while on the road.

The Red Scarlet: A First Look


Adobe Media Player at NAB 2008


On the Scene at NAB 2008


The AJA IO HD with Gary Adcock


The Litepanels Micro


The Litepanels Micro


Hope you Enjoy!


0 Comments

What's Your Preference for the Podcast

It's that time of the month... we'd like your input for the monthly survey.

0 Comments

New Podcasting Book About to Ship

My podcasting book is now off the presses and on its way to stores.

Here's Chapter 1

The initial reviews are in:

104-6698576-3377563
"This guide is full of solid information from people who know online video and are in the trenches doing it. It's a must read for anyone who wants to produce professional video podcasts." – Jason Van Orden, podcasting consultant and author of Promoting Your Podcast

"Required reading.Starting with a clear analysis of the nature and business of podcasting it covers the essentials of production and finishes with the all-important topics of delivery, RSS feeds, publishing, and hosting." – Tom Wolsky, vp editorial, National Podcasting System, www.nationalpod.com

"WOW, the accumulated knowledge from 1000s of hours of planning, production, post and delivery essentials delivered in a simple, concise fashiona professional resource manual that needs to be a part of every video production library" –. Gary Adcock, digital artist and technology trainer

"Not just a book about Podcasting, but a full primer on professional audio and video production and digital publishing that is lavishly illustrated and full of practical tips." – Philip Hodgetts, president and ceo, Open Television Network openTVnetwork.com

You can order the book here.


0 Comments

New Plugins for Broader DVCPRO HD and P2 Support

CalibratedSoftware
This is just awesome, Calibrated Software has a bunch of new plug-ins on tap that make it possible to work with MXF and DVCPRO HD codecs. This will streamline P2 workflow for both Mac and Windows users, as well as make it easier to move DVCPRO HD material to a PC. I promise a detailed review soon. The codecs cost $49 each. Here's the info.

AppleLogo QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Apple
For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Mac OSX (Intel) and importing native P2 MXF Files into Final Cut Pro Studio 2 Applications (see Read Me)
Please note: The P2 MXF plugin has NOT been tested in long form projects in FCP Studio 2 Applications and the DVCProHD Codec should NOT be installed if the Apple DVCProHD Codec is already installed.
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.4 (Tiger) - Intel Only
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.5 (Leopard) - Intel Only
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement


MicrosoftLogo QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Windows
For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Windows (see Read Me)

Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for Windows
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement


0 Comments

Speaking at NAB

Looking for some great training on post production, podcasting, or new media? I'll be speaking at several conferences located at this year's NAB conference.
main_logo

Choose the training you need at NAB Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada:

Podcasting Summit    April 11 - 13
This is a can’t miss conference for podcasting professionals and anyone interested in diving into this evolving content delivery method.

New Media 2.0 - Creating and Delivering New Media to New Audiences    April 14 - 15
This new conference is designed for content creators looking to harness the power of the Internet for increased distribution and new audiences.


Post|Production World Conference    April 11 - 16
The largest event of its kind anywhere, this conference delivers high-level training on the latest production and post-production techniques and software.

Producer | Director Workshop    April 11 - 13
This new conference is designed for those content creators who are charged with managing and developing content. Learn new techniques for planning and managing successful video and new media projects.



0 Comments

Photoshop World 2008 in Orlando

psw08-header2
The World's Best Instructors Coming To Orlando
Get instruction and inspiration from more than 40 of the most recognized and respected names in the industry.With more than 100 class sessions, and learning tracks dedicated to everything from photography and graphic art, to motion graphics and Web design, Photoshop World has something for you.
For a complete list of instructors, learning tracks, and class sessions, visit www.photoshopworld.com.

psw-non-napp psw-napp-prices




0 Comments

Great Field Monitor for HD and SD

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We recently "bit the bullet" and bought a "real" HD monitor for our field productions, the Panasonic BT-LH80W . This one is pricey (street price is $2200) but its a great monitor. We can mount it on the HD camera for field work, hang it in a carrier for the director (think a Flava Flav clock) and even run it off batteries.

  • Designed for studio and field applications
  • 7.9-inch low-power, lightweight monitor
  • Built-in waveform monitor
  • Compatible with 1080/24 psf, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i

For more information
www.panasonic.com/broadcast.




0 Comments

On-Camera Considerations

interview2
Here are a few extra tips to help less-experienced on-camera talent or interviewees.
  • Bring at least one alternative set of clothing.
  • Herringbone, stripes, or small patterns do not look good on camera. Avoid vivid patterns, plaids, and geometric shapes.
  • Please keep you’re jewelry simple.
  • Do not wear bright white. Cream, eggshell, or light gray are preferred.
  • Unless told otherwise, maintain eye contact with your interviewer throughout the interview.
  • Relax.



0 Comments

Final Cut Studio On the Spot – 3rd Edition is Shipping

fcpbook 10-43-34
I am very proud to tell you that the new book Final Cut Studio on the Spot is shipping. This third edition has a ton of new things including dedicated chapters on Multi-camera Editing and HD (and the audio chapter is HUGE). In told, more then half the book is new... so if you own a past edition, this update is worth it (and if you don't have it.. then go now). This time Robbie Carman came on board with some helpful tips and tricks.


  • Optimize system performance
  • Create impressive titles with Generators, Motion, LiveType, and Photoshop
  • Work quickly with buttons and keyboard shortcuts
  • Color correct to save vital shots, and keep them broadcast legal
  • Fix and mix for professional-quality audio
  • Design and import graphics seamlessly
  • Integrate with other applications including Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Color
  • Manage media and backup strategies
  • Export and publish finished projects to tape, DVD, or the Web

Get the book
here for the best price.


0 Comments

Interviewer Tips

interview
Becoming a good interviewer is an acquired skill that takes training and practice. For the less experienced, here are a few helpful pointers.
  • “Edit in the Camera.” Encourage short answers and come back to topics again. Better to focus on good, tight answers than trying to cobble together six takes to make your point.
  • Avoid enumeration or the phrase “Like I said before.” It is highly likely that you will use only part of the answer (such as step three, without steps one and two).
  • Ask leading, open-ended questions… being sure to ask a single question only.
  • Don’t be afraid to stop and start over. Do not let an answer ramble on. Smiles and nods encourage subjects that they are ‘on-target’ and can stop trying to talk themselves out of a corner.



0 Comments

Want More on HDV?

cachedimage.axd
Looking to find out more on HDV? A useful book with reading is HDV:What You NEED to Know! By Douglas Spotted Eagle. This book offers useful advice and essential information on HDV workflows. Find out more at www.VASST.com.

“232 pages of information including colorplates, this book also includes a DVD that offers viewers the opportunity to work with HDV from all 4 professional HDV cameras available today including CF 24, 24p, and 24f. The book also discusses products that are available now, and available in the future.
VASST wrote the world's first book on HDV, which has become a resource for over 55,000 readers. The Second Edition delves more deeply into the subject than ever before, containing tips on camera settings, formatting, editing solutions and workflow for every major NLE system, and detailed information on making your HDV video more film-like. VASST has been providing film-look plug in tools for 2 years to the SD and HDV editing world, and some of their tips and secrets are revealed in this book.”

Download a Sample Chapter




0 Comments

Keep Two Sets of Cables Handy

cables
A mantra that we like to repeat often is this: 90% of all problems are cable problems. A bad cable can destroy your production. From pops in the interview, to a flickering client monitor, a bad cable can do all sorts of damage.

Cables are cheap, re-shoots are not. To avoid expensive problems keep two sets of audio, video, and FireWire cables with your camera bag. And when a cable goes bad, toss it and replace it.



0 Comments

Photoshop for Video Chapter 14 Posted

page16_blog_entry280_1
The downloadable bonus chapter on Photoshop CS3 Extended is available to those who’ve purchased “Photoshop for Video.” You will need the password found in the back cover. This code is unique for each book, so be sure to register your code.

If you have your code ready, please visit
http://booksite.focalpress.com/Harrington/ and start to download. You'll find a full-length chapter plus all of the source media needed for the exercises. It’s a big download, so be sure to have a fast Internet connection handy.

For problems or suggestions concerning the site, please contact:
Technical Support.

0 Comments

Great Piece of Freeware for Producers/Directors/DPs

page15_blog_entry97_1
If you need to put together a storyboard, you have lots of options. But the process of laying out the pages and dealing with changes to shot order or selection can get tedious. Fortunately there is a free solution called Directors Boards which alleviates most of the challenges (no, it won't draw for you).

This great program is based on Filemaker, but doesn't need you to have the full program installed in order to run. You essentially load in information regarding the shots including the audio and video columns, shot number, and a thumbnail image. Directors Boards then allows you to organize the shots as well as create a sldieshow presentation or print out professional looking storyboards. The product is cross-platform and free... what more do you need? Well there is a more robust version called Directors Notebook, which we are putting through its paces and will have a detailed review soon.



0 Comments

Understanding Apple's ProRes 422 Codec

page16_blog_entry186_1
Okay... I'll admit that the words "pro video codec" and "white paper" won’t elicit excitement in many of you. But Apple has released details about this new format for video. What is exciting is that you get better quality at smaller files sizes (in plain English things look better and cost less to store on drives). So... maybe you can do something else like skydive to add excitement into the mix.

For those who want the tech-know-how....
check out the white paper. It’s only 11 pages and is filled with great info for video pros who need to create video or motion graphics for mac-based systems.
0 Comments

Final Cut Pro Update

page15_blog_entry199_1
In case you missed it... Apple just released an update to Final Cut Pro. Version 5.1.3 adds a few bug fixes and minor updates:

Render File Compatibility – Render files created on both PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macintosh computers
now work properly on either type of computer. This means you can move machines without having to re-render.

Keyboard Layout Issues Resolved – Several commands to the default keyboard layout that were missing in the previous version.

Issues with Cross Dissolves in Nested Sequences Resolved – Resolves cases in which cross dissolves did not work as expected in nested sequences containing still images with adjusted motion parameters.

You will need to be running FCP 5.1 to install this update. You must have loaded it from the DVD-ROM update (it is WAY too big to download). The 5.1 update is a paid update as Apple has to ship you new media (but it is a really big update for a 'dot release' and is worth it.) Apple offers $49
upgrades and crossgrades that start at $99. This is a phenomenal opportunity to bump up to the whole studio for a bargain price.

For more information about all of the updates,
visit this detailed overview.

Looking for FCP support news as it breaks? Check out
the official RSS Support Feed.



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Aperture to Final Cut Pro Utility

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I was literally just using Apple's Aperture photo manager software for a client session. We were sifting, ranking, and sequencing images for use in a video edit. The whole process was very smooth and professional. The only issue was getting the images quickly into the NLE. Sure Aperture allows for exporting images, but all that organizational work would be lost.

Fortunately I am not the only one who thinks this way. The fine folks over at Connected Flow have released
Aperture to Final Cut Pro. This free plug-in allow you to export images, pick a format, specify transitions, and send it all from Aperture to Final Cut Pro as a sequence with media. This is a super flexible exchange that allows for changes (including scaling) within Final Cut Pro.

Oh... it's free too. If you use Aperture and Final Cut Pro, be sure to
check it out.


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Cool OSX Widget for Aspect Ratio

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I found a great article over at the Editblog as a part of their Useful Tools for Editors series. It's a dashboard widget for OS X that lets you calculate frame sizes for graphics to match a wide range of tape and film formats. The widget is called called Aspect and it's totally free. Grab the widget from this file hosting site by clicking the Download link at the top.

Be sure to stop by and visit the
Editblog for lots of news for video pros. The blog is frequently updated and a source of excellent information.


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Super Cool Audio Recorder for Podcasting and Field Production

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While I was traveling for DV Expo, we decided to pick up a new digital audio recorder. After an exhaustive search, we decided upon the Microtrack 24/96 from M-Audio. This recorder has proven very flexible as we can use it several ways.

  • It can be patched into a soundboard easily with three different connection types
  • It can be connected to a video camera's headphone port to record audio
  • It has an attachable mike for quick voice records of meetings or creative sessions

The feature list is pretty impressive as it offers pro options at a reasonable price. It's important that you download the latest software updates (which are free) but the whole package is great. I love being able to both charge and transfer data via a USB 2 cable. Don't let some of the inexperienced Amazon reviewers throw you off, I trust the recommendation of Douglas Spotted Eagle any day.
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Final Cut Help Gets Some Help from iTunes

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Our new video podcast on Final Cut Pro has been shown some love from iTunes. It's always a great night when you log in and see your podcast featured in the New and Notable section on the front page. We’re really proud of this one as it features five great trainers, Abba Shapiro, Gary Adcock, Chris Phrommayon, Mason Dixon, and Richard Harrington. A new episode airs each week and we hope you find the tips truly useful. Thanks Apple for the kind plug... be sure to subscribe today (it’s totally free). You can get it at iTunes (the preferred method) or manually visit our web feed.



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The Director’s Cut – Now Available

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I've just posted an old article of mine that I really like. It’s called “The Director’s Cut – Digital Video and the Power of the Macintosh.” It’s a fun article that shares a bunch of ideas on pre-production, production, and post. It was originally published in MacDesign Magazine (now called Layers). The article is totally free and showcases a lot of products and techniques that we use to save time and money over at RHED Pixel. I hope you enjoy.


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New Freebies for Video Pros

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I've posted some new items online to help spice up your projects and make your digital life a little easier.

Background Textures from Digital Anarchy
NTSC Test Image (For use with Photoshop's Video Actions)
Power Window/Vignette to enhance Film Look
Over The Shoulder Data Sets Template

I hope you enjoy. If you spot any problems, please let me know.


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New Film/Video Group in NYC

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While at NAB New York, I had the chance to catch up with some industry pros. I just found at that the New York Final Cut Pro User Group has evolved into a broader focus. The group is now called The Motion Pictures Collective.

"The Moving Pictures Collective fosters our professional filmmaking community to enhance their abilities and broaden their overall knowledge and skills to reach their career goals. With post-production as our core competency, we will share techniques, tools, and best practices in all competencies including editing, directing, writing, producing, and shooting. We will also promote member collaboration by sharing our work in a supportive environment and create opportunities for our members to flourish.”

If you live near New York City, be sure to check out one of their
great events.



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Video Preview out of Photoshop CS2

This one came up today when a client asked me about previewing Photoshop graphics on a TV monitor. There's a great product called EchoFire, which lets you preview out of Photoshop using virtually any video hardware. But if DV is good enough for you, then Photoshop CS2 has you covered.

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1. Hook up a FireWire device that uses the DV protocol like a deck or Analog/Digital converter (I like ones from Canopus).
2. Make sure the hardwire is powered up and connected to a monitor, then launch Photoshop.
3. Work with your current document and design as needed.
4. Choose File > Export Video Preview...
5. Specify your Output Mode and Aspect Ratio and click OK.

Preview away



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Final Results of the NLE Survey

The polls are now closed for our August survey.
We asked:
Which NLE do you prefer to use the most?

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We set an all time record for responses. All said, 510 users weighed in... and the results were surprising.

1. Apple Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express (36.27%)
2. Avid Nonlinear Editing Systems (
31.96%)
3. Sony Vegas (
14.12%)
4. Adobe Premiere Pro (
13.73%)
5. Media 100 (
3.92%)

Given the number of respondents, we have determined that the survey is accurate within +/- 4%... That means Final Cut Pros lead was slim, but it still took the top spot.



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Photoshop for Video Podcast Gets Reviewed

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Thanks to Sheila Ward and DV Guru for the write-up on our Photoshop for Video podcast. We appreciate the link and turning people on to our show. If you've never checked out their site, have a look. Its a great community of bloggers posting on digital video and related technology.



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FCP Resuce Saves the Day

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When using Final Cut Pro, it's a little too easy to corrupt your user preferences (especially if you have multiple video decks hooked up). This useful program allows you to quickly backup and restore your user preferences. This shareware program allows you to save the following:
• User preferences
• Audio/Video settings
• System settings
• Windowsettings
• Keyboard setup
• Easy setups

Free download
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