CasablancaExpert

Need Help Finding Replacement Casablanca Trackball?

Here is another question I received recently from a member of the Casablanca community -- you'll find a treasure trove of additional tips, tutorials and answers like this on my website at www.CasablancaExpert.com

QUESTION: Chet, I have need to replace the Logitech trackball that came with my Casablanca editor and I am having a difficult time finding one -- any ideas where I might locate a replacement?

ANSWER: First I had to confirm the specific model and found this is called a 'Logitech TrackMan Marble'.

I did a little digging around and discovered that you can find that specific Logitech model from the Google online store here

The VO Button in Audio Mix Menu

This past week on the Cassie Tips List, a colleague asked how to best record a voice-over (narration) - so the talent could read the script while viewing the video playing back (from the storyboard).  I learned that there are many who are not yet aware of the special button in the Audio Mix menu for this purpose. You'll find  this button just beneath the audio tracks (see diagram below).

 

Although you can insert a mic directly into many of the latter Casablanca models (Prestige on up) I find the audio quality is less than ideal in that connector - I recommend connecting a microphone through an audio mixer and feeding the output (line-level output) of the mixer into your Casablanca via the audio inputs on your Casablanca.

For the detailed tutorial on how this functions works on your Casablanca, please see this tutorial on my website at www.CasablancaExpert.com

Loading Software Onto Your Casablanca That Doesn't Seem to be There?!

I got back into my office late this afternoon too late to contribute but to follow a short conversation on the Cassie Tips List-serv.  I'll bet that others may have run into this problem in the future so I took the liberty of posting the outcome here for all to benefit.  A Casablanca colleague was updating his editing system, and had downloaded the Software ISO Image from MacroSystem (read more about burning your own ISO images in this previous blog post) 

He was attempting to install the Arabesk DVD authoring software and could not find it in the list on the CD.  If you look on your code sheet (like mine below) you can see Arabesk listed with your 12-digit software activation code.

 

The 'trick' is that on the disk the software is titled 'DVD Arabesk' (yes, found under 'D' instead of 'A').  It seems simple and it is but if you're looking in one place and it's over there in a different place... well it's nice to have someone show you the correct path.  Hopefully his experience will allow one of our other colleagues to benefit and find what they want/need a little faster.

An Iowa Hotel Becomes a Movie Set!

Last week in Davenport, Iowa - the Cornet Ballroom of the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center was turned into a movie set.  Those of us attending the MGT 2010 - the 6th Annual March Get Together were treated to the opportunity to not only glimpse but also take part in the production of a short film.

Roger Schutter, Director of Curriculum & Instruction and a faculty member at the Compass Film Academy, and the owner of his own company: RSVPS a production and consulting company led the group through the paces to produce this short film.  This was the 2nd year that Roger produced this live classroom/production experience for the attendees at MGT.  This year Brenda Uppenkamp was the Line Producer and craftily brought the crew and cast together for a memorable afternoon.  This year's stars were Tim Thrift and Carol Lee Shirk.  We were treated to the final product (edited by Mike Madden) at the Gala Banquet last Thursday evening. 

Even though I know what goes into producing video and film, It's amazing to see all the effort that goes into creating such a project.  It was great to see, as well, the huge collaborative efforts that were demonstrated by all the members involved with the production.

As one who aspires to provide excellence in teaching, I highly regard both the knowledge, experience and teaching abilities of Roger - we in the Casablanca community are fortunate indeed to have the benefit of his gifts!

Casablanca Workshop: Mid-Atlantic States April 2010

I am looking forward to returning to the East Coast next month (April 2010) to host my popular Hands-on Casablanca Workshop.

Details and agenda for the April 2010 Workshop can be found on my website here: http://philly2010.eventbrite.com/

Here is a comment from a previous workshop attendee:

"If the opportunity arises and you are fortunate enough to attend one of Chets' workshops, do _everything possible_ do be there... you will NOT be disappointed."

"I more than received my monies worth.  Keep up the great work Chet!"

Mid-Atlantic Hands-on Casablanca Workshop

You can join Casablanca expert Chet Davis in PA/NJ in April 2010. Chet will provide you with an opportunity to be coached in intermediate/advanced Casablanca skills and techniques! Our workshop will be in Westampton, NJ, just off the NJ Turnpike at exit #5. This is close enough to Philly and most PA cities but also convenient to folks from the New Jersey and New York City/Long Island areas.

Chet will provide you with an opportunity to be coached in intermediate/advanced Casablanca skills and techniques! You bring your Casablanca unit and a monitor. Chet will supply the class footage as AVI files on DVD for use with Disk Transfer. You load the footage onto your Casablanca editor and follow along with Chet as he leads you through two days worth of exercises to help raise you on the ladder of video enlightenment.

Registration for this two-day hands-on training is just $199.00 per person. The registration fee includes workshop footage on DVD, expert instruction & hands-on training, lunch both days... and you'll receive a DVD set of the entire workshop for you to review back in your edit studio! This disks will actually be distributed at the end of the session.

See this website for full agenda, workshop details and online registration: http://philly2010.eventbrite.com/

MGT 2010 Revisited

A summary of my experience/overview of the March Get Together - MGT 2010... Although the attendance was noticeably lower than in past years, I left Davenport thinking this felt like one of the best MGTs we've enjoyed in the 6 years it has been taking place. There were definitely some folks we missed seeing there this year, but pretty much everyone I talked with at the end of the week expressed a positive feeling about the week.

We were all exposed to some new ideas – both for our Casablanca and for other facets of our production business or hobby. We spent some time learning about existing features in our editors and some new features that are coming (I absolutely love the forthcoming 'Store n' Share' that allows Bogart OS editors to edit to/from an external hard drive!).

It was good to meet the new MacroSystem US VP of Sales & Marketing, Philip Bice. We have had many email and telephone conversations but nice to put a face with the voice. I do believe Philip has some really good ideas for increasing the visibility of the Macrosystem products in North America. I am delighted to continue and grow partnership with him and the rest of the team at MSUS as their partner to provide training and instruction.

The most beneficial and rewarding outcome from the week to me was the fellowship and networking. Conversing and sharing ideas and practices with your colleagues and peers is always beneficial. Seeing the attendees from past MGTs is like seeing old friends from high school. And making new friends is equally rewarding!

Others have already mentioned the support and presence by Seth Hampton of CAM Audio.,Inc. Seth provided all the AV support at no cost to the event (this year was the smoothest event technically speaking). And each attendee received 50 free DVDs from CAM audio – in addition to the other prizes offered by CAM Audio . It as so great to see our annual community event with a vendor presence worthy of our attendance. As you have seen from the pictures, it was a store on-site with everything from blank media to cameras, microphones to camera jib, and on and on.

I was delighted to teach both an intermediate and an advanced workshop around the MGT,,, it was a blast spending additional time with these folks as we learned some new tips and practiced some cool new exercises and effects. We were digging Candy Factory embellished multiple PIPs and other effects like Magic Lights and creative titles boxes.

Congrats to the winners of the 'big' prizes at the Gala Banquet.
Charles Tucker of Tucker Video Production who won the Casablanca Expert Private Tutor Package (6 hours of Private Online Tutor Services).
Dave Childs of Video Memory Production Corp. who won a 1-5 DVD/CD Duplicator Tower from CAM Audio and
Corrina Stewart who won the Casablanca S2000 from MacroSystem US.

Come to think of it, all three of these folks are member/subscribers at CasablancaExpert.com – could it be that a membership at my website not only provides useful information but also increases your odds of winning in other areas of life

I would encourage – no, I would highly recommend you plan on attending the MGT 2011 next year – the dates will be March 7-10, 2011. It is a great event for those who use the Casablanca video editor, whether for profit or passion. I am planning on being there again next year and will be again offering my hands-on workshops both before and after the MGT conference.

Thanks to Jim Meeker for all he does to pull us together and for facilitating this grand event!

MacroSystem US Has New Social Media Presence

Philip Bice, new VP of Sales & Marketing with MacroSystem US announced last week his plans to utilize social media platforms to further the community of Casablanca and increase the marketing outreach for Macrosystem products & services.  Here are the new online services/social media outlets where you can connect with MacroSystem US. 

MacroSystem US Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MacroSystem-US/312853305795

 If you are a member of Facebook, you can become a 'Fan' and any new posts by MacroSystem US will automatically show up on your Facebook page.

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MacroSystem US Twitter Page:http://twitter.com/MacroSystemUS

If you are a member of Twitter, you can 'Follow' Macrosystem and their posts will show up in your Twitter feed.

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MacroSystem US Blog:   http://macrosystemus.blogspot.com/

And lastly, you can subscribe to the MSUS Blog to automatically by informed of new entries/posts made by the MSUS Team, as well as comment on posts you see on their blog (there's even an online poll you can use to provide feedback about what you want the company to focus development efforts on (scroll down to the March 1, 2010 entry or click here: http://macrosystemus.blogspot.com/2010/03/time-for-poll.html ).

MSUS VP Philip Bice Delivers Presentation at MGT 2010

Members of my website ( www.CasablancaExpert.com ) can view the 27-minute speech in my Premium Content area - click here for MGT 2010 Address by Phillip Bice

 

Great workshop in Davenport, Iowa!

I had a great time today, with day one of the 2-day Hands On Intermediate Casablanca Workshop here in Davenport, Iowa!  What a great group of folks - the class is split between folks editing on the Smart Edit OS and folks on the Bogart OS.  Today we worked through the newer features and functions in Smart Edit 8/Bogart 2 and built some really cool looking title menus... first using Candy Factory, then Magic Lights and then we spent some time with the TItle Box functions (there is a lot you can do there but I find many folks are less aware of all these choices). 

Then we played with Photo Studio 2, building some photo collages and then animating those collages.... many of us gathered for dinner after class and enjoyed some BBQ at Famous Dave's BBQ.  I had some very good 'Georgia BBQ Pork.  It was good - now to be honest the honest true Georgia BBQ pork that I enjoy is from the WIlliamson Brothers BBQ in Marietta (just outside Atlanta)... that's some seriously good Georgia BBQ.  Anyway - we kick off tomorrow bright and early with a session on the Media Manager menu/functions.  Tomorrow night is the kickoff for the March Get Together 2010.  Should be a blast!

Importing HD footage from the Canon 7D into Casablanca!

Thanks to Syl Renaud of Reno Video Productions for this short video that details his successful method to import HD footage from the Canon 7D DSLR into the Casablanca. This requires a Bogart OS editor, using the Media Manager.

Syl, had assistance from Lou Bruno (both members of CasablancaExpert.com) and together they devised this process.  As you will learn in the video, you must connect the flash drive from the Canon 7D rather than the camera itself to the editor for the import process:

Thanks again Syl for allowing us all to benefit from the process you learned!  Now other Casablanca colleagues can use the newer DSLR cameras with their Bogart enabled Casablanca video editor!