http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Forums Forum: Production Techniques en Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:15:40 +0000 http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/magix-pro-x#post-41670 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:46:00 +0000 Aspyrider 41670@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Pro-X, the new editor from Magix-AG is out now, Its available here from Magix, <a href="http://www.magix.com/us/video-pro-x/detail/">click here</a>!</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/magix-movie-edit-pro-12/page/3#post-41637 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:34:43 +0000 Aspyrider 41637@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Yes, select FILE/EXPORT then the type of mpeg you want. :-)</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/magix-movie-edit-pro-12/page/3#post-41633 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:48:18 +0000 babyalu 41633@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Another question for my previous post - If we have a video in ts mode, can we convert it in Magix Movie edit pro 12 to mpeg, etc......... when we create the DVD / VCD ?????</p> <p>Thanks,</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/magix-movie-edit-pro-12/page/3#post-41631 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:40:47 +0000 babyalu 41631@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Hi All,</p> <p>I purchased Magix movie edit pro 12 and installed it last night on Vista. There are two problems I have. I don't see the option for multi disc creator ( for PCs and DVD players ) and then, the message " Writing lead out and closing disc, this will take some time ". I downloaded the burner patch, as said here, but still it gives me the problem. Please help !!!!! I need to burn DVDsof my kid's program and send it to another country soon.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>RT</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41624 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:44:14 +0000 stevenpaulr 41624@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Earl, thank you much!  That is what I was looking for.  I have an idea now of what direction I need to be heading. I may have found a line on someone willing to donate some older equipment, so I'm going to see if that pans out before I start the process of purchasing anything.</p> <p>I think videoguys was suggesting the tricaster because they sell it.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41621 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:58:25 +0000 EarlC 41621@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Check Google for anybody with an old Panasonic MX12 mixer. Works well with two camera feed, switching back and forth. Videonics (I think they still go by that name) also has some comparatively inexpensive units in the mixer areana.</p> <p>I am surprised that someone here would suggest NewTek's Trimaster. Sure, it's a wonderful piece of equipment, but did they not grasp that you were looking for a "budget" approach. And Rob, you really need to read a post before offering up questions instead of answers. The first post said: "I would like to be able to display video from cameras positioned in the gym for the basketball games." Pretty clear what he wanted to accomplish. Right?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/schools#post-41619 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:58:45 +0000 NewBirthProductions 41619@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Anyone know of any video production schools that will let you aduit courses?</p> <p>I just don't have the time or money to take a year out of my life to goto school full time.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41613 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:20:51 +0000 stevenpaulr 41613@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I think for right now I'm going to stick to one camera going into a dazzle, and then out to the screen from the PC.  I know it's a dumbed down solution, but I won't have to purchase anything for it.  Then depending on how budgets go I can try to get a tricaster or something similar. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41594 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:18:07 +0000 videoguys 41594@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> check out the newtek tricaster. it is a portable computer with liveswitching of 3 cameras plus fantastic graphics and other great stuff. <a href="http://www.videoguys.com/tricaster.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.videoguys.com/tricaster.html</a></p> <p>gary</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41581 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:38:25 +0000 birdcat 41581@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I looked into live video streaming a few years ago - It was very expensive then and don't know if that's still the case.</p> <p>Back then, the two things I looked at were the Video Brick and Window Meda Server. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41579 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:34:39 +0000 stevenpaulr 41579@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Is there a cheap switcher out there that would be a good solution? </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41577 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:20:46 +0000 stevenpaulr 41577@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> It's going to be live video.  The main purpose is going to be basketball games.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41574 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:48:34 +0000 robgrauert 41574@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Are you going to be showing edited video from the computer to the projector or will the video be live so that students can clearly see, lets say, a speaker who came to the school?</p> <p> If it is edited video. VGA would be fine. You could play the edited videos on QuickTime player and view it in full-screen mode.</p> <p> </p> <p> If it is live video, you may need a switcher.</p> <p> This isn't really my area of expertise, so I don't know if there are other solutions for live video. My instict tells me you'd need a switcher though, and probably cameras with timecode and genlock.  </p> <p> Good Luck </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/need-advise-on-setup-for-k-12-education#post-41573 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:09:43 +0000 stevenpaulr 41573@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I don't know if I'm in the right place or not. First, I'll explain my current setup.</p> <p>I've got a pair of screens with projectors enclosed in boxes in the ceiling of our Gym.  I have VGA cable running up to them.  In a server closet, I have a computer that feeds those.  I have extra cable going to that computer which I could push an SVideo signal over.  As of right now, I can play power point or whatever and display it on those screens. I would like to be able to display video from cameras positioned in the gym for the basketball games.</p> <p>I'm looking for an inexpensive way for that computer to recieve multiple inputs and toggle between them.  The computer does not have a capture card in it at all right now.  I do have a dazzle thing that I could throw in there for a single input pretty easily.  I don't have a large budget.  What would be a cheap solution that I could use?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/broken-pixels-help#post-41571 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:27:48 +0000 cris 41571@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks guys!</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/broken-pixels-help#post-41565 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:56:29 +0000 robgrauert 41565@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Bit rate could be too high on the DVD too...</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-need-a-makeup-kit-for-actors-faces-in-hd-recordings#post-41561 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:33:20 +0000 domineaux 41561@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>The HD brings out every little sweat gland.  Look at the national news on HDTV.  My gosh, those poor anchors have gotta be beautiful</p> <p>It wouldn't surprise me to see alot more women anchors, just because the men just don't look that good on the HDTV.</p> <p>Course... I'm definitely partial to pretty women.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/broken-pixels-help#post-41560 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:31:04 +0000 LDPLDP 41560@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Could be the quality of the DVD disk that you used.  You need to use quality brand DVDs, such as Verbatim.</p> <p>Another hint is to burn your DVD at a slower speed to reduce errors.</p> <p>Finally, it could be the DVD player unless it happens on several DVD players.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-need-a-makeup-kit-for-actors-faces-in-hd-recordings#post-41556 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:22:33 +0000 D0n 41556@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I use a translucent talc powder. alcohol wipes work on sweaty males.</p> <p>now:</p> <p> can you hide flaws with make-up? ...yes</p> <p>can you hide flaws with lighting? ...yes</p> <p>softboxes, striplightlights, umbrellas, ringlights (eg on axis fill)....etc.</p> <p>think soft light, low contrast, and straight on axis (to the lens) fill light. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/broken-pixels-help#post-41554 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:51:56 +0000 cris 41554@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>After I make a movie on my camcorder I edit it, burn it and the reproduction quality it's fine for let's say around a year and after that I can see broken pixels and skipping why is that? ,I guess my question is WHAT IS TH BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL HOMEMADE MOVIES FOR EVER? I even save the dvd in a folder, not boxes to avoid scratchs...<br /> Thank you in advance for your advice!</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-need-a-makeup-kit-for-actors-faces-in-hd-recordings#post-41551 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:19:45 +0000 BruceMol 41551@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><em>"I don't think it will take too much, makeup wisde. Covering up some moles, blemishes, dark circles around the eyes would definitely help."</em></p> <p>It's not easy to accomplish what you think you need to do. Women who wear makeup spend a lot of time finding the right colour for their skin tone. It's not a one colour fits all proposition to reduce but shine. That's why I only carry the matte, I can't carry or mix colours to suit everyone blemish or mole or dark circles.</p> <p>Go with a girl to a "makeover" and ask a bunch of questions. Try different camera angles and lighting, there are some post filters that blur a little, I haven't tried those though.</p> <p>Now I'm wondering if other videographers think it's an issue. I mean, you do want your talent to look their best, it makes you look good too, but how much time and fuss do you put into it when you are on a low budget?</p> <p>bruce</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-in-the-dark#post-41538 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:47:23 +0000 D0n 41538@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> well to avoid noise in the overall image (or video clip) it pays to "shoot to the right" of the camera's histogram, then darken the image in post. If you start off too dark in camera, you can't really get any detial in the shadows, and will be introducing noise to the blacks.</p> <p>the whole frame needs to be within the camera sensors exposure range (ie 3 stops from highlight to shadow) to get maximum detial with minimal noise.</p> <p>This was one image, from a series, I shot yesterday afternoon for a project. In Aperture you set your Raw file conversion settings, and adjustments to one image then stamp those settings to all images from the set. Does illustrate how the technique works as a process. Using low power lighting with camera technique to set the mood for a night scene during the day. It wouldn't be practical to shoot and edit a whole scen on video or still to show a point.... not for free anyways.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-in-the-dark#post-41536 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:37:39 +0000 EarlC 41536@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Looks nice, but I believe the orignal poster wants it even darker, no detail except for faces. Crushed or solid blacks most everywhere else. More of a concentrated lighting effect rather than an overall illumination as your image depicts.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-you-get-to-be-a-certified-video-pro#post-41530 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:13:32 +0000 D0n 41530@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I like to use the word "Certifiable".</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/filming-in-the-dark#post-41527 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:17:30 +0000 D0n 41527@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><img src="http://gallery.me.com/lightexpressions/100288/_IGP4496/web.jpg" /></p> <p>here's a sample from a shoot I'm working on. this is one from a seires. after selectin a final image, I will overlay it with a shot of the bridge, and simply remove any layers from this image to let the other layer show through. Can post a finished sample by wednesday if you like. this technique does work on video.... </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/having-problems-with-green-screen-lighting-approach#post-41515 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:22:05 +0000 paulears 41515@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> As people are saying, you really need to have an even green - no shadows. I too use Ultra, but even that has limits. The real snag is that to get a good key angle on the subject, it generates a shadow - what you need for realistic modelling when you're supposed to be outside. However, this shadow has to land somewhere - moving away from the screen allows it to not land on the screen, but you then need more depth in front of the subject, and I suspect you will run out of depth in the garage unless it's very, very deep. White clothing means colour casts, unless you can add more front light, which adds more shadows and you get into a nasty circle. Experimenting with the key angle so that you remove as much shadow as you can is a good starting point. Can you shoot with the garage door open, putting the camera outside to gain extra depth?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-they-#post-41514 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:05:01 +0000 paulears 41514@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> There's always the issues of quality, but you can spot 'real' movies even when recorded on ancient grotty VHS. The movie signature is all about conventions, and if you break them, you must do it in certain ways. Pick your favourite movie - anything really, but probably something from a major director. Select a scene, and convert what you see to a shot list with timing.You will probably note many things - the most obvious one being the framing and camera movement.  Count how many time (if any) you see a zoom. Probably there won't be any. The camera angles may change and the camera might track in towards or away from the subject, but it won't zoom. It's all to do with perspective - a zoom produces a closer picture, but the foreground and background sizes remain locked together. With a track, the foreground and background sizes change. If the camera is on a jib or boom, changes in height are not that noticable, unless there is something in the foreground - so check shots that have vertical movement to see what things are in the frame, and what happens to them. Check when the director cuts and when they pan - remember that movies mainly use a single camera, so reverse angles might mean a re-light for the alternative angle. Everybody is familiar with Steadicam type shots, but Cinema Verite where the camera does show movement is an alternative. It isn't, though, an excuse for bad camerawork - it's a chance for the camear to become 'part' of the scene, rather than being a fly on the wall, looking into a scene. If you want to look at techniques, then old Hitchcock movies are great - packed full of pretty obvious techniques. Even sci-fi films are good technique sources - the baddies get shot from below, with the camera below the eye-line, with the goodies shown from eye level or above in the fight scenes. Look too for wide angle lenses in close, distorting the faces. People make a lot out of depth of field, but in general, most movies have the entire depth in focus, unless they really want to grab your attention onto certain aspects of what is going on. Sometimes they do have shallow depth of field, but it's always for a reason. It isn't always the background that's out of focus. As I'm writing this, Star Wars is on TV and there's a scen during the battle where the main characters are grouped together in a control room - there are characters at the edges in the foreground and they are soft - and make a kind of 'gateway' into the tension in the centre. (Just saw a video vision mixer/switcher being used to fire the Death Star - never noticed that upteen years ago when I was a kid!) Back to Star Wars - some really nice tracking shots at the end - something easily done. This takes me on to the other pro technique - decent, rock steady pans tilts and jibs, no wobbles. If you have a decent, level floor, see if you can borrow things like flat trolleys - the DIY stores have them. Set up a tripod on one, and a little stool for the cameraman, and get someone to push it around - the pictures have a different quality.</p> <p>Boiling it down to basics is quite easy. In schools and colleges an early assignment given to media students is frequently along these lines.</p> <p>Tell a story - maximum running time 3 minutes.</p> <p>NO editing at all - start and stop the camera only.</p> <p>NO hand held cameras</p> <p>Apart from one shot up to 20 seconds, no other shot more than 10 seconds in length</p> <p>NO zooming in or out whatsoever - Camera on widest setting, if you need to get in close, move the camera</p> <p>This makes you plan and more importantly, think!</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/audience-sound-effects-responses-to-preachersetc#post-41513 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:26:16 +0000 paulears 41513@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Â&nbsp;I suspect the thing you could do, is do it yourself if you have plenty of time and a multitrack of some sort. You need top record some people with different voices, doing the phrases and noises you suggested. get maybe 4 female and 4 males, anyone will do. Record each one with them doing a low voice, mid voice, high voice, loose throat, tight throat - basically as many styles as they can do. You then start to combine them. If your editor lets you pitch shift and stretch, do very small shifts, no more than a tone, probably less and subtle stretches and shortenings. You can easily get to 30-40 different voices. Pan them, a touch of reverb and it sounds great. I started doing this kind of thing in the seventies when we did a series of live audio CDs from pubs - the real audience tracks sounded rubbish, so we made a few of our own and added them, eventually using just our 'pub noises'. You also need to record background - people make a lot of noise even when they are not speaking.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/audience-sound-effects-responses-to-preachersetc#post-41508 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:18:04 +0000 domineaux 41508@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks Chris for the link.</p> <p>Lot's of free sound bits, even if they don't target what I'm trying to do.</p> <p>Thanks</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/videography-for-plays-and-live-performance#post-41500 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:55:49 +0000 EarlC 41500@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>What kind of name is P63?</p> <p>Unfortunately, your response is rather simplistic, uninformed and grossly inaccurate. Following your unsound advice will eventually get someone in serious legal hot water. Maybe not the next time, but sooner or later for sure.</p> <p>Paul's reply is by and large a very accurate and realistic piece of information that stands pretty much just as well in the U.S.A. as in his country.</p> <p>The choice belongs to the individual video services provider, but he or she certainly needs to know that shooting and selling videos of copyrighted materials and performances where the provision has not been legally approved will eventual rear it's ugly litigious head and bite you on the rump. Hard!</p>