http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Forums Topic: Using free stuff en Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:31:46 +0000 http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39722 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:52:26 +0000 domineaux 39722@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>ChrisColorado</p> <p>I'm going to dropping on your blog frequently. I've not gotten to the software place yet.  I just received my HDR-SR12 today, and the tripod is still in transit.</p> <p>Right now I'm trying to get the stuff together and then I start the big learning curve.  LOL</p> <p>Are you saying the MAYA PLE is free, no timebomb or anything to cut you off?</p> <p>Maya is supposed to be the dog that hunts for what it does, which would make it a great choice to learn if you don't have to buy it. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39710 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:43:06 +0000 chrisColorado 39710@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> <p><em>You mentioned Maya PLE you DL and are working with now.  I think that is an other point that should be made. If a software is too expensive for you to begin with, why spend a lot of time learning it.  Afterall, even if you love it you can't afford it.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>You should meet my friend Russ who thinks the exact opposite! He told my about PLE and said to quit learning freeware since the places who give you jobs want you to know the pro stuff. You are both right. <strong>Either way can be argued and I'm open to both options.</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p><em>You might also think about mentioning the retail price on each reviewed item.  Guys like me... If the price is more than I want to pay I won't even waste my time thinking on it.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>It's freeware, hence it's free - so far. There are some programs in my book that have special prices/deals or are shareware and I will mention these in their respective chapters. Maya PLE for instance is NOT for commercial use. <strong>Domineuax, you can think about the programs that have chapters so far. All of them are FREE!</strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em>I have no current 3d or animator software, which I've got to look into.</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>That I can help you with. <strong>Blender</strong> has a chapter now and i'll be using it again in a few minutes. There is a wiki (Blender 3D: Noob to Pro) I recommend for learning it and the chapter has a link to it. The program itself is extremely useful and I like it a lot, even though it is Dutch and some things, like Importing don't quite mean the same thing. Also no cut, copy and paste, but the program is still amazing and is used by many pro 3d people and companies.</p> <p>This is the truth as I see it.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39673 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:31:41 +0000 domineaux 39673@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>ChrisColorado blog/book idea is good.</p> <p>I plan to check out the site. </p> <p>DL and running trial/eval versions of complicated softwares is a very futile effort.  I've spent days working and learning a program and found one thing it did not have that I needed.  All that work for nothing, not counting the times the software is buggy.  Buggy goes with shareware software. Be prepared for issuses using shareware and betas.</p> <p>IMO, a good blog with comments can build a complete review of a software.  That is, if commentors are actually making constructive responses and not just I'd buy it or no kinda stuff.</p> <p>There will always be what I call company ferrets that will get onto the boards and hipe their software or bad mouth someone elses.  I don't trust reviews on seller sites, because most reviews are not honest.  If I have not choice I will read through the reviews, but still I'm careful.  Afterall, the seller wants people to buy the reviewed stuff... there is always a link to buyit now.  LOL </p> <p>You mentioned Maya PLE you DL and are working with now.  I think that is an other point that should be made. If a software is too expensive for you to begin with, why spend a lot of time learning it.  Afterall, even if you love it you can't afford it.</p> <p>You might also think about mentioning the retail price on each reviewed item.  Guys like me... If the price is more than I want to pay I won't even waste my time thinking on it.</p> <p>Kudos to BarefootMedia for your linke to the Daz3D.</p> <p>I have no current 3d or animator software, which I've got to look into.  A free copy of the Daz3D was more than I would have expected to find. Thanks for that.  Also your comment about the software you are using that was reasonably priced.  I can sure do that as well.</p> <p>Again,...good thread and thanks to all </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39666 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:02:02 +0000 Cubulo 39666@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I basically only use trials.  I will buy my favorite when I run out of trials.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39635 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:53:07 +0000 chrisColorado 39635@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hey domineaux!</p> <p>To help new readers find what they need quickly in my blog/book, I just added a feature in the Table of Contents where certain chapters are highlighted whether they are the best in their section or whether they are good for beginners who know "zip about zip".</p> <p>Good luck and may you find the best freeware for you.</p> <p>Chris</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39618 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:58:49 +0000 domineaux 39618@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'm new to video creation. Therefore, you could say I know zip about zip.</p> <p>I've found just like with most all projects, finding competent information is difficult.</p> <p>When you are new to a technology that is for sure. </p> <p>Forums are always a good starting point, not reviews, because posters will tell the whole truth as they see it.</p> <p>Sure you have to weed through the complaints made, etc.  That is why we have a brain to sort out the chaff from the wheat.</p> <p>I'm going to visit alot of the sites mentioned in this thread.</p> <p>I do have money to buy stuff, but you can still throw money away on software and not get what you need.   </p> <p>I think this is a good informative thread, thanks to all participants.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39590 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:22:17 +0000 mcortez 39590@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I am so jealous. I am so busy I barely have time to get in front of my computer these days, let alone have time to take my camera out and take some footage. I really appreciate all the interesting suggestions.</p> <p><a href="http://www.vinpowerdigital.com/">dvd duplication </a></p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39495 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:21:27 +0000 chrisColorado 39495@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Ha! Good one. LOL</p> <p>I have 256 MB of RAM and am having trouble teaching myself Adobe Premiere Pro. All that freeware uses is miniscule compared to pro stuff. I fit two freeware programs on my 512 MB flash drive to make room on my laptop. I don't want to mess with video cards, but looks like I'll have to teach myself something else.</p> <p>Thanks for the compliment. Enjoy the new blog chapters!</p> <p>So, yes. I'm the ultimate cheapskate perhaps - NO video card, Flash Media Camera, using internet freeware a lot, on a laptop, 256 MB of RAM. go figure.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39478 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:28:43 +0000 MJ 39478@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi Chris</p> <p>Your freestuff is excellent!</p> <p>You mentioned that you are using a notebook to edit on...whats the RAM size &amp; dows it have an upgraded video card?</p> <p>I am having difficulties with my computer(notebook) and editing software. It has 504RAM...Apparently I can't upgrade my video card..</p> <p>Anyway, it seems you are having much success so I thought I would check it out with you.</p> <p>Cheers</p> <p>MJ </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39474 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:24:03 +0000 chrisColorado 39474@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>OK, new chapters are VirtualDub, the promised Avidemux and Blender and also GIMP. I will be taking a break to finish my 7th short film - The Earthling. Enjoy! Blender should keep you busy. </p> <p>Check it out: <a href="http://videomaker.com/community/blogs/freeware/">http://videomaker.com/community/blogs/freeware/</a> - this link actually works, unlike the one above.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-39092 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:15:17 +0000 chrisColorado 39092@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I added Cinelerra to the list. Thanks!</p> <p>So far, I've reviewed Windows Movie Maker, Avid Free DV, Audacity, Anim8or, Microsoft Photo Editor, media-convert.com(I know, not a freeware, but it's awesome!) and Riva FLV Encoder.</p> <p>I spend a good amount of my freetime learning Blender, so that chapter will be truly awesome!</p> <p>Go to Blog: <a href="http://www.videomaker.com/blogs/freeware/">http://www.videomaker.com/blogs/freeware/</a></p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38542 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:24:13 +0000 ralck 38542@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Chris, another program that I just found out about, if you don't know about it already, is Cinelerra.  It's a free and open source program I think mainly designed for Linux, but they might have a Windows or Mac build... I haven't looked into it enough yet.</p> <p>Here is the wikipedia page about it:<br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinelerra" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinelerra</a></p> <p>I plan to play around with it a little later and see what it's like.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38539 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:57:05 +0000 ralck 38539@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Chris,</p> <p>To get back to you, I was playing around with Jashaka 2.0 and couldn't figure it out either!  I had trouble just importing a video or image so I think you got even further than I did!  According to the website, they promise lots of tutorials to using version 3.0, so hopefully that will be helpful. :-P</p> <p>I've got an idea for your book, Chris.  You could do a chapter about free and/or open source operating systems like various forms of linux.  Ubuntu is pretty easy to learn for someone used to windows.  I would think a mac-only person might have a little bit more of a learning curve, but I could be wrong.  The cool thing about this chapter would be that you could show that it's possible to make a free editing machine that can do just about everything you'll want (at least for the majority of the low-budget videomakers out there).  You could discuss things like Ubuntu and Fedora as the more windows-like systems, and then things like freeBSD and Gentoo as some of the more experienced systems.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38538 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:09:01 +0000 chrisColorado 38538@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Jay, yes there are totally free, good solid editor out there. Keep an eye on my blog and as the chapters for the book appear, read them. I'm still finding software. There's a lot of great sites! I will use all of them, unless they're only for Mac, because I don't own a Mac.</p> <p>Grinner, you are basically the same as me, though I don't get a movie done a month, except at work and they're wildly varied genres, mostly corporate/promo.</p> <p>Thanks everybody for your input. this book is going to be FANTASTIC!!!!</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38535 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:13:12 +0000 Aspyrider 38535@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hey Chris, are there any totally free editors out there? Do you use them? Any good?</p> <p>J.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38530 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:22:05 +0000 grinner 38530@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>where there is a will, there is a way.</p> <p>I average about one docuemntary a month and have for quite some time. I scout the locations, play line producer in setting up the shoot, play director in orchestrating, play camera dude and host at the same time (usually while racing a car) and then I edit it myself, animate my own grafix, do my own sound design, ect. I even distribute it myself.</p> <p>you can check it out here:</p> <p><a href="http://moddinart.com/">http://ModdinArt.com</a></p> <p>I made the site in flash, learning as I went. I am picthing the show myself, with no agent. It's the one man band approach/perspective thats it's selling point.</p> <p>Never wait on a budget to create. You wish ya created more later in life.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38523 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:02:15 +0000 BarefootMedia 38523@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I used Lightwave shortly after it came out to do several animations for a title sequence of a series I produced for a local government agency.  I tried Blender and found it next to useless.  That's because I couldn't locate any decent 3D objects to use.  On the other hand, at <a href="http://www.daz3d.com," rel="nofollow">www.daz3d.com,</a> they profit by selling high quality 3D objects (mainly for use in creating 2d stills for publication.)  So they give away a full function 3d animation program (now with a lip-synch function) with a ton of objects to build an environment for the figures they've provided.  Additionally, they give away something new every couple of weeks.  The interface is easy to use and more or less intuitive.  (I've moved up to Carrara 3D Express, now around $60.)</p> <p>Audacity is also a top notch audio editor.  I use it to remove noise and equalizing when I need it.  I actually use it as my audio editor in Vegas.  While it is kinda limited on the "render to" settings, I really only use WAV's when editing, so no problem.</p> <p>Celtx is really cool because in addition to using standard script formats, it can also generate prop lists, schedule field shoots &amp; automatically get a cast &amp; crew list then give estimates for expenses.  I don't use it much since very little of what I do is scripted.  But Celtx ROCKS.</p> <p>Of course open office totally mirrors Microsoft Office in all functions, including reading all the formats.  So you can write in a word processor, calculate in spreadsheets, create power-point presentations (great for sales presentations) and create databases.  It is the best supported freeware I've used and the learning curve is pretty much non-existent.</p> <p>And I'll close with a program I found on the mother lode of freeware Download.com (used to be C-Net.) It is called MPEG Streamclip 1.1 and while it doesn't do a lot, it does it really well.  I use it to trim movies I shoot with my MP4 web sharing camera.  I like it because it is even easier to use than any NLE I own.  But the real strength comes in converting video files into MP4's.  It has the option to use a two-pass compression for great quality with amazing compression.  I used it to convert a 706 MB AVI file into a 32.4 MB MP4.</p> <p>Excellent forum postings by the way.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38520 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:46:53 +0000 chrisColorado 38520@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I now have a blog here on videomaker for the freeware book I'm writing. It's called Free Stuff: Making Movies for Nothing. Check it out! <a href="http://videomaker.com/community/blogs/freeware/">http://videomaker.com/community/blogs/freeware/</a></p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38338 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:33:58 +0000 chrisColorado 38338@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'm using Jashaka 2.0. Know of any good tutorials outside of the website?</p> <p>Most of this software is under GNU public license. There are others under similar licenses. I read these to make sure, and so far haven't found any problems. ONE EXCEPTION: Maya PLE specifically says "Not for Commercial Use" on it's welcome screen. The point is of course that you buy the real Maya.</p> <p>You raise a GOOD POINT. I will put info about this in the book as well.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff/page/2#post-38337 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:06:11 +0000 ralck 38337@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Chris,</p> <p>Are you using the 2.0 version of Jahshaka, or did you somehow get a preview of 3.0?  I just downloaded version 2.0 to play around with, but haven't yet.  There's a lot of talk online that 3.0 will be a lot better... I guess I'll just have to play around with 2.0 and find out when the new version comes out.</p> <p>Here's another question about all this free stuff... what are the license restrictions?  As brought up in a different thread, we found out that academic licenses aren't the same as retail licenses... do these freeware apps allow us to use the content we create with them in commercial endeavours?  I'll start reading up on some of these licenses, but I invite others to help out. :)</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38331 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:50:02 +0000 chrisColorado 38331@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Jahshaka is a free version of After Effects for the most part. The only problem with it is there's barely any tutorials or documentation out there. It has so many buttons in it's dark gray interface, that it's intimidating. I've tried messing around with it, but it just shuts down after a little. And talk about slow! But it may be my "clicker happy" mouse finger. I'll slow down and see what happens. If I can get it to work, it'll be great!!</p> <p>Blender, on the other hand, is one slick program! All I've done so far is practice resizing the interface and changing windows, clicking buttons, moving around the 3D View port(so little time!) and it's way cool! Blender has a really good tutorials book in wikipedia which is kept up and running by Blender users everywhere. It's great!</p> <p>I'm thinking of starting a freeware blog and posting chapters from the book which is getting pretty good sized by now. Haven't done a blog before, so that'll be interesting...</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38324 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:36:05 +0000 cdanddvdpublisher 38324@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I've heard good things about Jahshaka; if you try it out, I'd love to hear what you think</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38273 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:55:23 +0000 chrisColorado 38273@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>That's what I call "dishonest" personally. I would disqualify you if this was a contest. The point is, with a little planning, you might have got it done before it ran out. Maybe I'm harsh, but i always try to be honest and got laughed at in college because I wouldn't(and still don't) renew trials under another name or get my software under the table from friends.</p> <p>Anyway, thanks D0n.</p> <p>More info on freeware. <strong>Jahshaka sounds amazing!!!</strong> The website claims that it's Video, Audio, Compositing and 3D Animation software all in one. And it's free. I find that hard to believe, but will look into it and let you know.</p> <p>Blender is amazing also.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38225 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:36:14 +0000 Coreece 38225@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>entertaining thread...I just wanted to add a lil tip that I learned while I was racing the trial circuit. </p> <p>On the last day of the trial I was rushing to get my project completed before the 12am deadline.  I was expecting the software to just shutdown if I was still using it as the dealine passed, but it kept running as long as I didn't close the program or shutdown my computer.  I was able to get six extra days out of the trial untill my computer crashed.  When it started back up...trial was over.  I suppose I wouldn't recommend continually running your computer 24/7 but perhaps you could just throw it in standby, just to get those few extra days...if needed.</p> <p>does this method disqualify me from the race?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38213 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:15:50 +0000 D0n 38213@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><a href="http://gimp.org/" rel="nofollow">http://gimp.org/</a></p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_Composer" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_Composer</a></p> <p><a href="http://developer.apple.com/samplecode/QuartzComposer_WWDC_QCTV/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://developer.apple.com/samplecode/QuartzComposer_WWDC_QCTV/index.html</a></p> <p>I use a custom quartz composer patch to overlay a logo, (and rss news feed from my website) over the video feed from my robots dv cam to the display panel on the robot. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38211 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:18:04 +0000 chrisColorado 38211@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Yeah, VirtualDub Mod has more features. Thanks! Will add it to the VirtualDub chapter. Also Celtx and openoffice get their own chapters in the new script writing section.</p> <p>Also, if anyone's ever used any of these can you tell me what you thought of it? I'll add it to the book.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38147 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:34:26 +0000 ralck 38147@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> ChrisColorado,</p> <p>Take a look at VirtualDub Mod.  I used it very breifly.  I don't know how it differs from VirtualDub, but I'm pretty sure it adds more features.  If I remember correctly you can export as more formats at least.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38132 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:16:08 +0000 chrisColorado 38132@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks for the celtx info! I'm not big on writing scripts at all anymore, and was focusing more on postproduction needs, but this works. Thanks for the input! openoffice also sounds interesting.</p> <p>Hey D0n! are gimp and quartz composer software?</p> <p>For everyone's info, I started writing the chapter on VirtualDub two nights ago. VirtualDub was started by a guy in college so he could rip Anime cartoons. All it does is import an AVI or Mpeg-1 clip, trim it and export as AVI. It can't even export Mpeg-1. Might be useful in rare situations, but not a normal video editor, per se. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38110 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:13:59 +0000 faqvideo 38110@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Check Ulead VideoStudio. It's coming with the free trial.</p> <p>As for free substitute to Microsoft Office, it's available at <a href="http://www.openoffice.org" rel="nofollow">www.openoffice.org</a> fully functioning.</p> <p>Lots of free stuff is coming out of open source community. Ubuntu 8.04 (Linux based OS) is coming with free office package and image editor. I have installed Kino, free video editing software, but it crashed every time I tried to open AVI file. Did not have much time to play with it, but if anyone has positive experience with Kino, please share your thoughts.</p> <p><a href="http://www.faqvideo.com">FAQ Video</a></p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/using-free-stuff#post-38081 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:35:17 +0000 D0n 38081@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> gimp.</p> <p>quartz composer </p>