CasablancaExpert

Good Primer to Understand the Issues of Getting Good SD from HD Camera

Thanks to Carroll Lam of Clam Cam Video I learned of a great post that addresses a question that I hear more and more... How can I get good looking SD from my HD camera? You can read this article on the XDCAM-USER blog .  I posted just the beginning of his article below. 

"This a recurring question that I get asked about time and time again. The main problem being that the SD pictures, shot with an HD camera look soft. So why is this and what can be done about it?

Well there are several issues to look at. First there is camera optimisation. Sadly what works for HD doesn’t always work well for SD. Secondly there is the downconversion process. If your shooting HD and simply outputting SD using the cameras built in downconverter than you really don’t have many options but if your using a software downconverter you may be able to improve the results your getting."

Read the rest of this article: Getting good SD from an HD camera

 

Video Tutorial: USB and VSR Software (Ultimate Spice Box - Video Spice Rack) - Casablanca Expert

I have uploaded a brand new Video Tutorial to my website where I present an introduction to the Casablanca software 'USB' which stands for Ultimate Spice Box. This software is virtually identical in operation to the older VSR (Video Spice Rack) and the USB-HD (Ultimate Spice Box-High Definition) which I cover in the 24-minute video.

This video is in the Members /Premium Content area -- if you're not yet a member/subscriber, I invite you to join today to take advantage of the more than 500 pages of resources to help you get the most from your Casablanca (and if you join before April 14th - you'll be entered in the Membership Drive Sweepstakes).

Video Tutorial: USB and VSR Software (Ultimate Spice Box - Video Spice Rack)

 

Bobbie Evoy's Creative 'Justin Philpott' & the Tokens Music Video Clip

While at the March Get Together - MGT 2011, Justin Philpott from MacroSystem US made a creative entrance before his first presentation to the group. Our colleague Bobbie Evoy from Memories On Tape captured his grammy winning performance and embellished it with creative Casablanca effects.  Bobbie posted this short video on her Vimeo channel (click clip below to view it) and then beneath that you will see Bobbie was kind enough to share how she made the sequence! 

I have pasted Bobbie's steps below for your convenience... thanks Bobbie for sharing your creativity!

 

And now "the making of"

 

The steps used on this video clip:

*Scene One:
Color Filter: BRIGHT
Magic Lights, Control Image 2:
for cartoon-like look
Bright 20,16 Middle 22,70 Dark 80, 116
Newspaper: COLOR to the MAX strength 25
for cartoon-like moving background

*Scene Two:
Color Filter: BRIGHT
Cut dance section for later use (15:27)

**Add Scene One and Scene Two to the storyboard
Add PIP STUDIO 2, put true scene exactly over top
of cartoon scene with CIRCLE with BORDER at
0% frame, 42% color strength and 60% on white color
Make scene
Cut out dance section (15:27)
DYE this dance section with 6 different colors
Use SPLIT SCREEN over and over to make squares
Make scene and copy this scene
Put both multi-color dance scenes on storyboard
Add transtion: WHIRL and extend to FULL LENGTH
Make a scene of this, replace in storyboard
Make scene of entire clip
Add JITTER to 2 degrees
Add BLACK BORDER

The background used in this display is:
PIP STUDIO 2, with background from
MAGIC LIGHTS MASK named 'SKIN' re-colored

Last Monday Meeting of the Minds in the Archives (for March 2011)

For just about one-hour a group of subscriber/members at Casablanca Expert.com came together on-line for the Monday Meeting of the Minds (also known as the Casablanca Coffee Klatsch).

    I shared some of the new articles from my Casablanca Expert website and provided a quick review of the Members Only Webinar held last Thursday where we discussed how to use Facebook to engage your customers and promote your video business.   I also provided a look at the software released last week in PAL by Macrosystem Germany.

And it was fun to show colleagues the newer editing functions available in your YouTube Channel -- as one astute members pointed out, it is very important that those who make money producing video have an understanding of these tools to highlight and differentiate what we can do with our professional editors.

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

If you are a website member and would like to join us for any one of the Monday sessions - please see this web page: Casablanca Coffee Klatsch

Casablanca General Webinar for April 2011 - Title Effects Pack 1

Casablanca Expert Webinar - General Session
Thursday, April 7, 2011
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Join Casablanca Expert  Chet Davis as he presents some tips to help you get the most from your Casablanca digital video editor. In this session, Chet will teach the Ins and Outs of the Casablanca Title Effects #1 software. You'll learn the difference between Diffuse Lines, Diffuse Letters, and Diffuse Page as well as the other 30 title effects that most colleagues already have on their Casablanca editor. During the session Chet will show 'real world' samples of sequences using several of th  ese titling effects.

As always we'll have an engaging, enjoyable time together as we learn a lot! Reserve your Webinar 'seat' now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/178690435

NOTE: Casablanca General Webinars are open to all community members.  The video recording of General Webinars will be posted in the public Webinar Archives for 30 days following the original broadcast, after which they will be moved to Members Only Resources.

 

 

MacroSystem AG Releases Three New Add-on Software Products

Macrosystem AG (Germany) announced on their website today the release of three new add-on software products for the Casablanca digital video editors, as well as a special PAL (European) package with the S-3000 video editor.

NOTE: The following software announcement pertains only to PAL customers at this time - the software remains in testing in NTSC for customers in North & South America.

Translated from the German language website into English (thanks to Google Translate) the following was announced:

Casablanca S-3000 'Action Advantage' is a special package with the Casablanca S-3000 Editor, Samson C01-USB Microphone and the Casablanca Audio Effects Package (good only through participating European distributors and only through April 30, 2011).


FlaggeX This (Bogart only) software works best with the Columbus animated maps software for travel videos. It contains flags (many, many flags) in several different layouts/designs:

FlaggeX 1 - Europe
FlaggeX 2 - America
FlaggeX 3 - Africa, Asia, Pacific

You can purchase each FlaggeX bundle separately or now together in one bundle 'Complete Package'.

The Club Software 2010 is available now for all Casablanca Pro-Club members free of charge and can be licensed to all dealers upon presentation of membership card.   In "Pro-Club Edition 2010" is up 30 new masks, which are in HD resolution. You can either inserting masks in HD, and SD projects in 16:9 and 4:3. The masks are created in the 16-bit format, which allows very clean and smooth transitions.  You can use the masks with all programs that use masks, such as Ultimate Spice Box or Candy Factory.  This product was shown by Justin Philpott of MacroSystem US at the MGT 2011 and you can review the video/preview on the Casablanca Expert Blog here  (thanks to Bobbie Evoy of Memories on Tape).

Moving with BorderX 1 is a new software product available for Casablanca, which consists of 25 new motion masks (graphics). Think of this like BorderX with a moving or animated background instead of the static, still background currently available.  "The subtle and striking movements of the animations are great video to highlight certain points creative.  Moving BorderX 1, both in SD and HD projects are used and supports 4:3 and 16:9. "
 

 

For readers who speak German - visit the Macrosystem AG News page

For English language colleagues, you can view the Google Translated Page 

Members Webinar now in the Archives: Engaging Your Prospects with Facebook

I had a great time presenting information and suggestions for using Facebook social media service to market your video business on the Members Only Webinar earlier today (Thursday, March 24th, 2011).

  Special thanks to Syl Renaud of Reno Video Productions who joined me in the last half of the show to share his experiences and suggestions as he has built a strong business using Social Media.

I clarified in the program that although the topic had nothing to do with Casablanca video editors - it has everything to do with your business if you use a Casablanca to produce videos for customers.  As I asserted in the presentation, I believe Facebook has a huge potential impact for taking your business to the next level of success.

You can view the 72-minute streaming video and download the 3-page PDF notes here: March 2011 Members Webinar Recording

MSUS Video: Casablanca DeShaker Software (for Bogart OS)

Just last week MacroSystem US' Justin Philpott uploaded a new video on the MacroSystem US YouTube Channel. 

This Video Manual covers the buttons in the DeShaker software product. This filter can be used to help stabilize hand held footage used on the latest Casablanca digital video editors running Bogart SE.

MacroSystem US Updates Social Media Presence

MacroSystem US, the distributor for Casablanca video editing products in the Americas, announced they are retooling their social media presence:

"We are doing some minor house cleaning on our Social Media Sites.  We've started by rebooting our old Youtube page again.  Do a search for MarcoSystem_US or visit us here.  We've just added several new videos there including a brand new never seen before Video Manual by Justin Philpott on the software called DeShaker.  Check it out! 

We are updating our Facebook page and now committing to keep it fresh.  Here you'll find the latest in updates, news, and information on products and software from MacroSystem.   Be sure to "like" our page so you can stay connected and in the know!

We've also moved to a new Twitter location.  Our new account name is now "MacroSystem_US" or just go to http://twitter.com/MacroSystem_US

Please sign up and follow us! The old Twitter address will no longer be used.  You'll find that we plan to actively use this spot to announce fresh details like when new beta versions may arrive.  In some cases, this might be the very first place we make some special announcements.  You'll want to check it out. "

Videos from MGT 2011 Featuring Justin Philpott from MSUS

You may know that just two weeks back the MGT 2011 - March Get Together was held in Davenport, Iowa.  This is the largest gathering of Casablanca community  in North America.  Fortunately a website member, colleague & supporter captured the presentations by Justin Philpott of MacroSystem US as he presented news & information on the latest products, products just around the corner and info about the future of MacroSystem & Casablanca video editors.

The seven streaming videos are now available for website members on this page: MGT 2011 Justin Philpott Presentations.

The video recording of all presentations will be made available at a latter date by MGT Founder and Organizer, Jim Meeker.  The DVDs of MGT 2010 are available now at the MGT website - click here.  To inquire about MGT 2011 DVDs or to get on the email list for future MGT events, please contact Jim Meeker via email at jimmeekersr@myway.com