CasablancaExpert

What are folks doing to record Voice-overs in the Casablanca Gen 3 editors?

QUESTION: I am curious what others are doing with the Gen3 machines for voice narration.   It might behoove me to get a microphone with an 1/8" mini jack at the end and go directly into the Casablanca S6000. There is no min-jack on the front though, like there was on my Casablanca Prestige -- any suggestions?

ANSWER:  In the Casablanca Lab, I use a small Behringer mixer with a wired lapel mic (fed in via XLR) - this allows me to mix line level audio sources with my voice and incorporate if necessary (like I do on some of the Casablanca Foolproof Tutorial DVDs). I then feed the line level output of this mixer into my Casablanca audio inputs (RCA/Phono).

Details on my complete audio set-up (with model numbers) is posted here for any website members: My audio set-up (audio mixer in my Casablanca lab)

 

Casablanca 101 Free Webinar: Short Overview of Today's Casablanca

Those who are brand new to the Casablanca line of digital video editors - or curious about what the Casablanca offers you - are invited to join my next Thursday, September 1st for a short overview of video editing using the latest in the Casablanca series. 

Operating a Casablanca S-3000 under the powerful Bogart V4 Operating System you'll see how to easily import media, build a short storyboard with transitions and a title, mix with music and export the project for internet sharing.

NOTE: This is not an in-depth instruction on any particular function but a general overview to provide those new to Casablanca a sense of the stability, efficiency, and ease of use with this product. 

Additional training & instruction is available from my website: www.CasablancaExpert.com

Casablanca Expert Webinar - Introduction to Casablanca Video Editing
Thursday, September 1, 2011
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PDT
 
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/143939586.  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Click here for a 2-page guide to attending a Webinar (PDF)
Click here for the detailed specifications required for your computer.

Free* Webinar Tomorrow: Facebook & Your Privacy

If you are on Facebook for your video business, or even for your personal contacts - your on-line privacy and security is dependent on how you have the more than 20 sharing/privacy settings adjusted.

I am conducting an on-line class tomorrow (Wednesday 8/24) on this topic. This is a learning session, not an on-line sales pitch, etc.

*Free session - if you're already on Facebook - just like Your Technology Tutor page and you can get a free ticket to the $10 webinar. Here is the link to that page:  https://www.facebook.com/YourTechnologyTutor
 
If you're not on Facebook yet (maybe due to privacy concerns) but you'd like to attend this workshop - you can check out all the details, and register on-line at this website: http://techtutoraugust24.eventbrite.com/

 

 
What's up with this new business Chet?
A logical question from folks in the Casablanca community - whether or not you are a member of my Casablanca Expert website - is what will happen to that community, to the resources I have developed there?

The short answer is that my endeavors with Casablanca Expert will continue - I plan to fully address the training & instructional needs of the Casablanca community... but to also utilize my background, technology expertise and teaching skills to also assist others in their personal technology success.

Casablanca Coffee Klatsch 8/22/11... Slingshots, Cameras, IFA and more

Had a good time on-line this morning with the Casablanca Coffee Klatsch.

We chatted about the Sony HX9 camera /camcorder, Hewlett Packard news, and a whole bunch of Casablanca/Macrosystem news & stuff.

I was even able to show folks on-line the photo with the article featuring Macrosystem AG President Jorg Sprave and his super slingshot from Wired magazine!

You can catch the audio recording of today's session along with the links presented here:
http://cassieexpert.live.subhub.com/articles/coffeeklatsch

Macrosystem AG CEO Jorg Sprave - Slingshot Mastermind in Wired magazine

One of the magazines I subscribe to is Wired. I received the latest issue just this past weekend, and my 11-year old son was flipping through the issue when he came across what he thought was a cool picture -- it was a full page photo of this person aiming a huge slingshot. The moment he showed it to me, I blurted out loud "that's Jörg".  My son looked at me with a ' what !?' kind of expression. 

I then explained to him that this is the CEO of Macrosystem AG, the 'king' of Casablanca video editing systems (who is really a co-king, as the incredibly valuable partnership with his brother and co-founder Hartmut Sprave).

The single page article highlights the incredible popularity of Jörg's hobby, making & testing slingshots -- but these are not the same kind of slingshots I used once or twice when I was a kid.  These are slingshots with a touch of German engineering, and capability of unleashing great force. 

For any other colleague who receives Wired magazine, you will find the article on page 25. I will post a link to the article once it is posted in the on-line version of Wired.

But for now you can refer to the following articles which appeared in previous on-line Wired submissions:

Crossbow Shooting Machete Redefines Dangerous

Could you best the Sling-shot guy?

 

You can also check out Jörg Sprave's YouTube Channel - where he has what looks like near 100 videos posted with a total exceeding eight and one-half million views to date!  Here is his latest video: Fun things at The Slingshot Channel

 

 

Macrosystem AG to exhibit at the 2011 IFA show

The IFA show is the world's largest trade show for consumer electronics  and home appliances. It takes place from September 2nd to 7th in Berlin, Germany.

Macrosystem AG h as had an exhibit at this important consumer electronics show f or as many years as I can recall and this year is no exception. 

Macrosystem AG has a nnounced on their News page that they will be at the show again this year (the following news translated via Google Translate)

MacroSystem at IFA 2011

Be there live and experience from September 2nd the all new MacroSysem products at IFA in Berlin.

We present at our booth in Hall 9, Booth 328 product innovations from the world of video editing and home entertainment. Experience our highlights such as:

• The new SL-1000 Casablanca
• New software products like Casablanca Akaba HD, etc. Moving TitleBaX,
• Current DVC and Streamcorder systems in a network with NAS drives
• Camera surveillance systems with DVC
• And much more ...

The item that fills me with the greatest curiosity and excitement in this post is mention of the "new SL-1000 Casablanca".  Could this be a new portable Casablanca editor --- or is it a slimmer, more PC like Casablanca.  I expect we'll learn more during or just after the IFA show in a few weeks.

Regarding the other items in the announcement - it was announced already that Akaba HD has entered testing in NTSC. And the Moving TitleBax will be a welcome addition for those wishing to embellish their titles with (apparent) animated title masks.

For more info on this Technology show - you can visit the IFA Show home page: About IFA Show web page.

 

 

 

Aspect Ratio Solutions for Casablanca Video Editors available in the archives

  I had a great time teaching the Casablanca Expert August Webinar yeasterday where I focused on: “Aspect Ratio Solutions”

I believe (and am finding myself and in contact with colleagues) that we're more and more finding our selves in a project where we need or want to utilize video scenes with differing aspect ratios.

In the webinar I presented detailed steps & results with the Clipboard conversions as well as some new options by cleverly using some Casablanca add-on software to creatively mix dis-similar aspect ratios together.  I showed several solutions which included BorderX masks, PIP Studio/PIP Studio 2 and Ultimate Spice Box masks/wipes with a wise-screen (16:9) background we created from a 4:3 original!

The streaming video of the episode along with a PDF document with the detailed processes shared in the class is now available. This can be found in the Members Only Webinar Archives on my website here:
http://www.casablancaexpert.com/articles/MembersArchives

For your convenience I have also posted the streaming video and the PDF link on a single page here: Casablanca Expert Members Webinar August 2011

 

Question - and answer - about newer Casablanca S6000 editor

QUESTION: 
 
What are your thoughts on the Casablanca S-6000?  I have two S/4000 Pro’s.  I’ve had them for about three years.  We got them when they first came out….six months apart.  I’ve had my ups and down with them. 

I’ve sent them back to MacroSystem at least 4-5 times for each one; all with mother board, video card or some other issue that has to be fixed.  Have things improved with the S-6000; has media manager improved at all as far as file transfer. 

We have MacPro’s and the folks that use that edit and complete their projects and then sent them to our TV Station file server and then we program the show for broadcast. 

The S/4000 file transfer protocols are kind of weird...I don’t even use it.  I just want to know if the S-6000 file import and export process is anymore user friendly.

 

ANSWER:

A couple of observations --

the S4000/PRO model apparently has had the greater number of technical issues or challenges in the Bogart OS environment (I also have an S4000 PRO)

The latter units (hardware) seems to have fared better with further development -- this is anecdotal as I have no access to the tech support or repair stats from the company.

The latter units, S3000 and S6000 seems to have benefitted from the development of hardware set-up as well as all Bogart units enjoy much created compatibility and functionality with the Bogart V4.1 OS release These two new Casablanca models are very speedy with both SD and HD video. 

There is less need to work in the Media Manager with Bogart V4 and that is , I believe, by design of the company (something that a number of individuals as well as a Focus Group I was in a few years ago) shared with the company. You can export directly from the Edit Menu to an internet ready file -- though it is heavily compressed.

Also, the ability to ingest or import a variety of different video files/formats has dramatically increased with Bogart V4 OS - this is now possible easily via the Record Menu.

As far as smoother, more friendly networking with other PCs (Mac or Windows) in a multiple computer set-up. I personally would not say that it is an easier configuration.

While you have the ability to perform a variety of transfer functions via the Media Manager, it is (in my humble opinion) nowhere near as friendly as you will find in a general computer on a LAL (Local Area Network).

Hope that helps!


 

CasablancaExpert website down for repairs today

I was just informed that my website host is experiencing serious hardware issues.  This has resulted in some down-time for those trying to access the resources on my website - www.CasablancaExpert.com

They are moving to a new service that has 100% up-time & advanced, proactive monitoring of the servers.

I am told the lack of access to my website may continue through tomorrow (Thursday 8/18/11).

In the interim - may I suggest you access some of the articles I have posted on this Blog - please use either the category section at the right or the search tool at upper right to find information you may be seeking.

And website members can send me a direct email to Chet@chetdavis.com if they have an urgent information request.

I apologize for this inconvenience.

Some good conversation in the Monday Meeting - check out the recording!

You are welcome to join Chet Davis and other website members for the Casablanca Coffee Klatsch,  Mondays at 8:00AM (Pacific Time) - register for the Monday Morning Meetings here: Casablanca Coffee Klatsch

  This morning I shared posts from both the CasablancaExpert website as well as from my recent blogs.  We had a short but interesting conversation about what to call yourself when you produce video... videographer, video producer, etc.?  (sounds trivial but some good ideas were brought up).

I shared an on-line review of the new Sony HX9 16 Mega-pixel digital camera that also shoots pretty darn good video, and shared a link with our video of the week -- a very creative PSA from Sussex County, England about seat belt safety. 

You can >Members can now access the recording of each Monday Morning Meeting (in MP3 audio format) in the   Coffee Klatsch Archives - click here .