CasablancaExpert

Casablanca Conference - Day 3 Wrap-up

We began this 3rd and final day of the Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010 with Ken Smithers (Picture This Video) presenting an introduction to the power of Pro Show software to create great photo/video collages.  I will definitely be using some of the techniques/operations I learned this morning to make more impactful montages. 

Then it was a Vendor Fair where factory representatives from Canon and Bogen-Manfrotto were on-hand to answer questions and to provide up-close demos today with the latest tools & technology. I got to play with the newest Canon HD-DSLR cameras and a range of other HD/AVCHD camcorders. The Bogen rep had this awesome shoulder mounted camera brace that has matte box and really yields very creative camera movement.

After _another_ great lunch (this time the State Fair BBQ -- a great collection of Texas BBQ food, capped off with a great warm Peach Cobbler) Chet Davis presented some additional audio mix functions, specifically with the Audio TimeLine interface.  Then Chet spent an hour sharing some PC/Mac technology that work well in concert with our Casablanca editors -- like services for transmitting large files to clients/partners, etc. Chet also presented his perspective about the ripe potential of Facebook for social media marketing.

In our last session of the day, Chet shared three new editing effects and de-constructed them to show the Conference participants how they could create these same cool effects combinations for their own projects.

Then it was door prize drawing time once more!  In addition to gift certificates for Casablanca software from Macrosystem US and several certificates for $99 from CAM Audio we had several major prizes...

Lowell Brockway won the Casablanca Expert Private Tutor Package with 6-hours of private instruction with Chet Davis; Roy Connell won the Elite Video Proc-Amp; Russel Adams won the 3-night extension at Harbour Village Beach Club on the Island of Bonaire in the Dutch Antilles; and Ken Smithers won the 3-1 CAM Audio DVD/CD Duplicator.

It was Muriel Anderson-Spychala who won the Grand Prize... the Casablanca S3000 Digital Video Editor.  She'll be adding that to her new edit suite with an S4100 and their Prestige.

Thanks to all who participated -- a great Casablanca community event!

Casablanca Conference - Day 2 Recap

 

Day two (of three) was another day filled with Casablanca learning... Chet kicked off our morning session with a lesson on the new Casablanca Title Studio software.  This great new piece of software - only available for the Bogart series of Casablanca editors - was well received by the Conference attendees. 

Probably the coolest feature is the ability to not only select single characters for style modification but the ability to even edit your own fonts & characteristics within the program )members at CasablancaExpert.com can view Chet's comprehensive tutorial - a series of 7 streaming videos on the website here: http://www.casablancaexpert.com/articles/TitleStudio.

Seth Hampton from CAM Audio, Inc followed with a presentation on DVD authoring & duplication, fielding several questions from the group.  CAM Audio duplicates literally hundreds of DVDs and CDs each... it's great to have a presenter with firsthand experience about a topic who is available for your questions!

In the last session prior to lunch Chet Davis pulled out his 'magic bag of tricks' and demonstrated several helpful tips. First he showed how to use the Advanced search functions in Google Images to find and use images (JPEGs) for your video projects - completing the cycle, he exported the file and then brought that into a project in his Casablanca using Photo Studio 2 (cropping the image for perfect use in his 16:9 video)  Chet also showed use of the Bump effect to create what he calls 'video wallpaper'. 

  Day two lunch was yet another awesome buffet!  The theme was Italian.. and it was favoloso!  Several people remarked how this hotel's banquet food was superb.  I loved the tortellini and the chicken parmesean but they also had an Antipasto salad that had more a large contingent of folks coming back for seconds.

After lunch Eric Kloor, MacroSystem US President, presented to the conference attendees.  Erick (the founder of Draco Systems - predecessor to MacroSystem US) shared news of the parent company in Germany, info on some forthcoming software (like 3D Editing, Smart Edit 10, Bogart V4).  He also provided an insight to the new S3000 and S6000 editors -- due in North America in the next few months.

Chet then shared some of his favorite operations in the Audio Mix menu.  Some of what he shared has been a function in the Casablanca for years (but often most folks are unaware of these capabilities) -- he also showed some of the new Sample generation functions right in the Audio Mix menu that are brand new in the Smart Edit 9 and Bogart 3 Operating Systems versions. 

The final session of Day Two was the highly anticipated presentation by Bobbie Evoy (Memories on Tape Video) who opened up our minds with the capabilities possible using Blue Box and BlueBox World software in the Casablanca to perform chroma key effects.

Bobbie not only distributed step by step instructions & tips but also (thoughtfully & generously) passed out a DVD with sample video clips.  Chroma key possibilities were made all the more clear through her presentation and one effect I had never seen or used is the ability to take a subject and use them on-screen as a shadow to your primary video... very cool (thanks Bobbie!)

Bobbie set up several green screens and she directed/choreographed the participants in short sequences that will be edited later in a special music video that Bobbie will weave her magic with.

Dinner on this 2nd Conference Day was at Spring Creek BBQ -- man, I love their food.  A great BBQ dinner capped off with the freshest, most delicious Peach Cobbler (ala' mode) I have ever had -- well, since the last time I was at Spring Creek last September.

 

 

 

Casablanca Conference - Day 1 Recap

Had a great time today at the first day of the three-day Casablanca Conference... good sessions today with a great lunch buffet in the middle of the day.  Chet shared tips to get the most from Smart Edit 9 & Bogart 3 Operating Systems.  Then Seth provided insight on some of the latest camcorder technology... highlighting the Canon x.  This camcorder provides amazing quality and is compatible with the Casablanca editors running the Bogart V3 software.  

 

The lunch buffet was awesome!  Mexican Fiesta Buffet with fixings for steak &chicken fajitas, cheese enchiladas, rice, beans and make your own nachos with a fantastic Queso (cheese sauce).

Chet kicked off the afternoon with a session detailing the capabilities to connect and exchange data between your Casablanca and your computer/s. He imported footage from the new Canon HD camcorder, edited a simple storyboard and exported that to a USB flash drive and then showed the process as he uploaded this video to his YouTube channel.

Bobbie Evoy (Memories on Tape Video) shared some very cool looking (and easy to create) creative titles and also shared his favorite PowerKey commands. She thoughtfully provided all attendees with several 'cheat sheets' with these helpful hints & step by step instructions for these!

Seth and Chet shared several DVD menus created in Arabesk, including a decontruction of a cool effect created by Seth involving AnimX, PIP Studio 2, and Pattern/Star Field.

We closed out the day with a great dinner at Babe's Chicken Diner.  This restaurant only has 7 items on the menu -- you select one of these 7 'meats' and the server brings the many side dishes to the table family style.

 

Chef Henry wins ABC Platelist Award/Contest...

... this really does have a tie to Casablanca, just read-on and see!

I received an excited call from my friend & colleague late tonight -- last week I had shared the story about the chef who owns & operates Henry's Louisiana Grill in Acworth, Georgia who had been nominated and made the finals for the ABC News Platelist Contest.  The video, posted online at ABC News, was edited on a Casablanca Prestige by Joe & Carol Leonard of VidSouth Communications. 

Turns out that Chef Henry received the most votes and was announced tonight that he was/is the winner of the Platelist Contest!  A portion of the Prestige edited video was shown on ABC News Nightline tonight.  Congratulations Chef Henry -- and congratulations Joe & Carol!

Headin' to Dallas -- Stay Tuned for Live Updates from the Conference

 

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go"  Today I fly into Dallas' Love Field in preparation for the next 5 days of Casablanca Events! 

Tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday I am teaching the Advanced Casablanca Hands-on Workshop and then Tuesday through Thursday it's the Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010 -- both events are hosted by CAM Audio, Inc. and will be held at the Dallas Radisson East Hotel & Conference Center.

If you're not able to attend the event this year, but you'd like to stay tuned to the happening's - I plan on posting a review of each day here on my Casablanca Expert Blog. I have also created a special page just for the Dallas Casablanca Events - you'll find that by clicking the 'Dallas Conference' link above -- or you can click here: Dallas Casablanca Events 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABC News Contest Video - Edited on Prestige

ABC News' Nightline has a current promotion/contest running called 'The People's Platelist' where chef's from around the country are vying for the title of 'Platelist Favorite Chef'

One of the People's Platelist Finalists is Henry Chandler of Henry's Louisiana Grill in Acworth, Ga. 

The video (which you can see below) was produced by friends and colleagues, Joe and Carol Leonard of VidSouth Communications... the video was edited on a Casablanca Prestige!

Check out the video here - click below to launch movie player

And if you feel so inclined, you can cast your vote for Henry here (voting ends this Sunday 9/26/10): 

Casablanca Conference - Bobbie Evoy BlueBox Video Preview

I am SO looking forward to not only presenting at the Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010 next week - but also to sitting back (with notebook) to learn as well as teach!  One of the sessions I am most excited about is the 'Blue Box & Blue Box World' presentation by Bobbie Evoy of Memories on Tape. 

Bobbie is well known in the Casablanca Community as extremely knowledgeable and incredibly creative.  Here is a short video she put together to tease her Chroma Key presentation...

Dallas Promo Video for BLUEBOX from Memories On Tape on Vimeo.

Come to Dallas and have fun learning! Tips will be offered for BLUEBOX and BLUEBOX WORLD and several small tokens as mentioned will be available FREE for those attending!  Participants will also receive a free copy of the 'BLUEBOX EDIT FORM' I used to put together this video!

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Bobbie will be presenting both on Tuesday September 28th and Wednesday September 29th. View the complete agenda, workshop details and even register online here:  Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010

 

Dallas Conference 2010 Preview Video

The Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010 is just days away... next week at this time I will be amongst colleagues at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Dallas, Texas in the midst of great & creative minds as we explore all things Casablanca.

You can find out all about the event and even register online here: http://dallasconference2010.eventbrite.com/

Here is a short video to highlight the Dallas Casablanca Conference 2010:

MSUS Releases Deluxe Titler 3D - Version 2.0 for Bogart OS

Macrosystem US has announced the release of the Deluxe Titler 3D-Version 2.0 software for use on the Next Generation Bogart OS Casablanca Editors (this software was previously released in PAL - August 2010)

"This 3rd party product from the company TV-Paint from France has now been modified to operate on the Bogart SE and now includes some new design possibilities.  Texts can be provided with different shadow types.  There is also a new environment button which offers several changes the surface details with some amazing mirror or glossy textures... This product can also be viewed in a demo mode prior to purchase."

To clarify - this software release is only for the Bogart OS series of editors.  The previous version of Deluxe Titler 3D is still available for Casablanca units running the Smart Edit Operating System.

And because the developers added new functions/features, this software is an upgrade - not a free update. 

There are two prices for this new software for NTSC customers:  If you owned Deluxe Titler 3D (also called Title Effects 3D) on your Casablanca that was traded in for a Bogart OS editor, you may purchase the new 2.0 Version of the Deluxe Titler 3D for $99.

If you are purchasing the new Deluxe Titler 3D Version 2.0 software for the first time, the list price is $249.  Read more on the MSUS Website here.

This software can be operated in the Demo Mode on your Casablanca editor (with Bogart OS V3.2c +). 

Members of my website (www.CasablancaExpert.com) may benefit from my 'Introduction to Deluxe Titler 3D' tutorial.  There is also a 40-minute streaming video from a Members Only Webinar -- this is available for members' viewing here: Creative Titling with Casablanca Deluxe Titler 3D

 

Also released for in NTSC by Macrosystem US are two new add-on software products for the Columbus 3 Map Animation software: 'Places of Interest' and  'Columbus 3 Airlines & Airplanes'. Both these products are presented in the 3rd section of the second DVD of my Casablanca Expert Foolproof Tutorial Volume 5: Columbus Intensive, available now in my online store -- Columbus Intensive: Animating Travel Maps

You can read more about the new Columbus 3 add-on software here: Columbus 3 Expansion packs - Bogart Only 

via macrosystem.us

Ask The Expert: My Hard Drive's going bad - How to Backup Projects?

QUESTION: Chet, my 290 GB Hard drive is going bad. Is there some way I can I can copy the projects I have on this drive so I don’t lose everything. Some are in storyboard and some in the Scene Bin only.

 

ANSWER: Sorry to hear about your Hard Drive problem/s.  The best way to back-up your work on a Prestige is to backup out to DV Tape (miniDV tape) via firewire to your camcorder.  This must be done project by project.... for those projects where you have materials in the Scene bin, you would need to add the raw footage (unedited clips you wish to preserve) to the Storyboard.  If it's in an active Storyboard (work in progress with some edited materials already in that Storyboard), I would add something to separate the edited from un-edited clips. I use a Color Bar scene (created from the New button in the Edit Menu).

On the Prestige you _could_ alternatly use the Storyboard Archives function, but with the limiataions therein I would suggest simply back up to DV tape.

 

For a thorough explanation on the topic of back-up and archives - I would recommend viewing one or all of the streaming video recordings made from my Casablanca Webinar General Session last month (September 8, 2009):

• All About Archives - includes Storyboard Archives, Bogart HD Backup & Customs Archives
• Bogart HD-Backup 
• Archives: Backup & Restore

These on-line videos can be found in the public Webinar Archives on my website here: http://www.casablancaexpert.com/categories/webinarpost  (scroll down to Casablanca Webinar - General Session #8)