CasablancaExpert

A digital filmmaker’s map to the web

If you're one of the Casablanca family who is an 'Indie' film-maker (you use your editor to create Independent Films/Movies) you may be interested in this recent Blog on the official YouTube Blog: 

Heather Menicucci, Director, Howcast Filmmakers Program wrote this post about film-making in the digital age.

"Every time I talk to a filmmaker, I learn about a new (often, just new-to-me) website for filmmakers I should check out. I email and text myself the links. Intent on eventually spending some time on the sites, I keep multiple tabs open on my browser. Needless to say, it’s hard to keep track of them all. I thought consolidating a list of the sites I’ve come across through recommendations, articles, and conferences would be helpful to me, and hopefully you, too."

You can read the full post, with all the website links that may be of value to independent filmmakers here: A digital filmmaker’s map to the web

North Carolina Workshop Recap

The 'Class of North Carolina 2010'
A great group of folks who took part in the Casablanca Hands-on Workshop 

We had a wonderful time in Hillsborough, North Carolina this past week as folks gathered for the Casablanca Hands-on Workshop.  Thanks so much to Nancy, Nels and Nancy Lynne Anderson of Interactive Learning Systems, Inc. for demonstrating true Southern hospitality! 

They had a great classroom set-up (on their 70-acre historic farm) and fed us lunch and even supper!  The weather was so nice we even ate outside overlooking the beautiful countryside. 

I put the learners through the paces of the efficient tips and operations in the latest OS versions, did some creative titling, produced some cool collages and animations using Photo Studio 2, practiced insert editing, audio mixing and worked extensively through DVD authoring with Arabesk 4.

In addition to the learning that goes on at my hands-on workshops, I love that folks network, share business and production ideas. I always come away learning some new things as well! 

Thanks to all participated in this 2-days of Casablanca learning and again thanks to our gracious hosts - the Andersons.  I look forward to a 2nd Annual North Carolina Casablanca Hands-on Workshop next Fall!  If you'd like to join us then, please contact Nancy Anderson via email at nancy@ilsvideo.com

MSUS Announces Two New Video Editors

As I begin day two of our Hands-on Workshop here in North Carolina... I share with you news from MacroSystem US.  The following was announced just yesterday for NTSC customers. If you are in PAL - please consult your local reseller/distributor for pricing and availability of the new Casablanca S-3000 and S-6000 units.

 

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Release of the S-3000 and the S-6000
 
Greetings!

We're happy to officially announce the pricing and specs for the next iteration of Generation 3 Casablanca Editors.  Based on open source Linux, the team in Germany has made great strides in software development.  And now, for the first time ever, machines are built from the board level in-house.

We're planning on a mid to late November release, as we're currently in software test mode.

Here's pricing for the new machines:

S-3000:  $2199.00
Blu-ray - $269.00
ProPack Special - $299.00
         * when purchased with unit.

 

S-6000:  $3999.00
 

Specifications:
Casablanca S3000
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6300, 2 x 2,8 GHz
RAM 2 GB
Hard-drive 500 GB
Optical drive DVD burner, option: Blu-ray burner

Casablanca S6000
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E8600, 2 x 3,33 GHz
RAM 2 GB
Hard-drive 2000 GB (2 TB)
Optical drive Blu-ray burner
 

Trades/Upgrades to the S-3000 and S-6000
 
S-6000 Trade-In

We will continue to accept Generation 2 units for trade credit towards the S-6000 Casablanca. Here are the credits for trades:

Trade in of Prestige = $500 credit.
Trade in of Renommee or Solitaire = $750 credit.
Trade in Renommee Plus or Solitaire Plus = $1000 credit.

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S3000 Upgrade/Transfer

Two options, as before, remain in place for the S-3000.
If you would like to buy a Casablanca S3000 and own an older system, we  offer two options to upgrade and keep your software.  You can transfer their software from an Avio, Kron, Prestige, Solitaire, or Renommee to an S3000.  Here are the details.

Surrender Option
You surrender your unit to us and we will license the software from that unit to your new S3000.  This software swap is done free of charge.  You simply need to purchase a new S3000 and the current software you own will be transferred to the new system.

Retain Option
With this option, you ship us the old unit from which you want the software transferred.  We will remove the software from the older unit, sprinkle magic dust on it, and *poof* it will be on your new S3000.  Your original unit will be left with the software that is not transferred.  The original unit will also receive a new serial number.   There is a fee of $350 for this option, plus shipping. 

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Workshop in North Carolina

We're getting all set-up for the Casablanca Hands-on Workshop in Hillsborough, North Carolina... the classroom of Interactive Learning Services is in the middle of a beautiful 70-acre historic farm.  There is a beautiful view out the front window of rolling hills looking out to the woods where I understand wild turkey and groups of deer make their way.  Only difficulty will be keeping the participants focused on my screen instead of the natural beauty right outside!  Should be a great two days.

Why Can I Not Successfully Import From a DVD Created with Disk Transfer?

Here is a question posed by a Casablanca Colleague that I answered - and thought the situation/reply may be of interest/assistance to others in our community:

QUESTION:  A few months ago I burned a DVD in my Prestige using VERSION 2 of my Arabesk Software. I know that version 2 is preferable if you want to load a DVD into your PC for Windows Movie Maker. Version 1 is preferable if you want to re load the DVD into  ksebara. My question is this: I have now tried  to re load this VERSION 2 created  DVD back into my Prestige via Ksebara. However, it didn't work. Is this right? Is it not possible to re load a Version 2 into Ksebara?

ANSWER: I believe there is some confusion between two different functions/capabilities in your Casablanca editor.

The Type 1 and Type 2 is a setting in the Arabesk menu but pertains only to video/files you are exporting via the Disk Transfer function (also in the Arabesk Menu).
Importing data from a DVD that was created in Casablanca Disk Transfer is done via the Disk Transfer function found under 'New' in the Edit Menu -- and yes, it should read either/both Type 1 or Type 2.

The other function - Ksebara - is designed to import a DVD that was created using Arabesk (DVD Arabesk - DVD Authoring program) in a Casablanca.  It reads the project back into the Scene Bin (and it also found under the New button in today's OS versions).

Video/data from Disk Transfer is uncompressed (well, not compressed any more than your camera did originally), while the Ksebara footage is quite compressed DVD data.

Hope that clarifies it for you -- short answer is, if you created the original DVD using Disk Transfer you need to use the Disk Transfer import function (not Ksebara) to bring that back into your project for further editing.

New! Online Casablanca Expert Workshops

 As you may know I have offered my hands-on workshops in a number of places around North America the past 1-1/2 years.

 I am pleased that I continue to receive very positive feedback from those who attend the workshops: 

"It was worth every penny"..."Chet is an excellent teacher"...
"I learned SO much"

 But I have heard from a number of folks who said they would love to learn from me but either cannot take 5 days away from their business (or other job/s) and also when they add up all the travel expense, it becomes too expensive.

So I got some smarts (actually there were two members who also encouraged him to do this) and has planned two different online workshops!

This will be an opportunity for folks to learn from the Casablanca Expert but in the convenience of your own studio/home/office. 
 
 We'll join together using the latest in internet technology  (using the GoToWebinar services) and learn directly from yours truly.  It will be a _live_ class where you will be following along as I lead the class in the same exercise... the class will be divided up into four 3-hour segments, with time between each class session to practice what was learned and really move your Casablanca editing up the competency scale!
 
Participants will receive a printed work-book along with the class video projects (on disk transfer DVD).  So you'll follow along watching & using the same video scenes Chet has on his editing menu. "I am holding registration for each of these classes to only 12 learners per session -- I expect them to fill up fast"
 

Workshop Dates/Times Announced Here Below
(complete agenda & online registration to be posted November 6, 2010)

Casablanca Online Workshop: Novice/Intermediate
Tuesdays - January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22
3:00-6:00PM Pacific / 5:00-8:00PM Central / 6:00-9:00PM Eastern

Casablanca Online Workshop: Advanced
Tuesdays - January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22
11:00A-2:00PM Pacific / 1:00-4:00PM Central / 2:00-5:00PM Eastern

 

Again, complete agenda, registration info, pricing, etc will be published November 6th

MSUS President Addresses Drop-Frame & Down-Conversion Issues

MacroSystem US President Eric Kloor yesterday posted a message to the Cassie Tips ListServe. In his message Mr. Kloor addressed some issues that customers had recently shared some hot threads about; the issue of dropped frames and the concern over poor quality down-conversion (from HD to SD) in the Bogart series editors.  Here is Eric's message (Eric refers to a conversation with Jorg - that would be Jörg Sprave, President of Macrosystem AG):

 

Greetings Listers!

This morning Jorg and I spoke about a number of issues that I wanted to
pass along.

Our first shipment of S-3000 and S-6000 Casablancas is incoming the
first week in November.  Justin is testing the new software and the
improvements are significant and rapid.  For the first time in our
history, we're manufacturing units at board level in house. 


In regards to the dropped frame issue for Bogart, they have located the
problem and they think they have fixed it. It has to do with
significantly larger hard drives and the reorgs those drives perform.
We are in testing of a beta version that fixes this issue.

We have not been able to confirm dropped frames in Smart Edit. There are
tape drop-outs that can be mistaken for dropped frames. A careful look
at the tape will verify where the problem lies.

Regarding the HD to SD down-conversion, the issues are incredibly
technical. They have been working hard on these and we will have a free
software upgrade that enhances the conversion to the quality level of
what a Sony camera creates on conversion.

There will also be an enhanced version of the down convert coming in
Bogart 4, which will be even higher in quality.

As always, thanks for your continued support.

Eric Kloor

 

MacroSystem - English Website Still Available

The beginning of October 2010 saw the move of not only the office & headquarters, warehouse, all Macrosystem AG staff from their former buildigns in Wetter, Germany to Kronach, Germany but also saw the move of the Macrosystem website to a new look...

one I understand that the staff of Lowewe had/has a hand in now.  At present the content of this new Macrosystem website  remains only available in the German language. 

If you are wanting or needing to access information previously available on the Macrosystem AG English language website, you can still find it but the URL has changed.  Click here to view the information that was available up through September 2010: http://wetter.macrosystem.de/e/index.html

We should not expect any new production information to be added to this old website but at least you can access the download-able PDF software/hardware manuals, etc.  until the new website is made available also in the English language.

Animated Background Suppliers for your Video/Media Projects

Recently, I shared a tutorial how to download and incorporate animated computer graphics/backgrounds from Digital Hotcakes into your Casablanca video editor. This tutorial was primarily focused on the use of the Digital Hotcakes branded products.

You can find their animation collections on their website here: Digital Hotcakes Animtations

Editors using both Smart Edit (with Disk Transfer software) & the newer Bogart V3 SE Operating System can also use the digital animated graphics available from the folks at Studio 1 Productions.  Their animated graphics are also sent as both MOV and AVI files.  As pointed out in the previously referenced blog post, AVI will work in both systems but the MOV files will only download in the Bogart V3 systems. Check out their collection here: Studio 1 Productions Animations

And for colleagues running the Bogart V3 OS, you have an additional source - animations from the Digital Juice company. They only ship their animations as MOV (Quick-time) files so they are not directly compatible with Smart Edit/Disk Transfer *. You can check out their extensive collection of motion graphics here: Digital Juice Editor's Theme Kit & Editor's Toolkit Pro Singles

And there's the Animated Backgrounds from Footage Firm, check out their collection here: Footage Firm Animated Backgrounds.  NOTE: Click on the 'Free Footage' tab at top right corner of the Footage Firm website to see their monthly special.  It lists the collection/s they are offering for the cost of shipping only. I have purchased one of these in the past and was happy with the product.

Coffee Klatsch Review - 10/18/2010

The Casablanca Expert Coffee Klatsch (also known as the Monday Meeting of the Minds) had a lively group online this morning as we discussed a number of items...

we reviewed some great sample videos online like the recently posted Wedding Recap by Reno Video Productions, some awesome time lapse videography of the San Francisco Bay Area -- Chet talked about the importance of de-constructing others' work to help us all become even better video producers.  Chet also shared a time passage sequence from a popular film that shows a year in just a little more than 1-minute.  And as he does each week - Chet provided an update on the recent articles available in the Casablanca Expert Blog and the Your Technology Tutor blog.  Lastly Chet fielded some operational Casablanca questions from those online and shared a method to be able to print material from a smart-phone to a networked printer.

The internet links (URLs) for the items mentioned above and the audio recording (available as an MP3 file) from the meeting are available for Website members to review here: Coffee Klatsch Archives