CasablancaExpert

How Can I Guide Viewers Directly to a Video on my YouTube Channel, Without Showing Other Videos?

QUESTION: 

Seems to me that when I give someone a link to one of the videos on my 
YouTube account, they click on that and go directly to the video.  That's 
good.  But they also see and can easily access all of the products in "My
Videos."  I think I have about 60 other videos.

Is there a way to set it up so that when I send a YouTube link either 
privately or publicly in an email that person only sees the video link I sent 
them?  That is, without making it a private video? 

I just want them  to be  able to see only the video I sent to them.  Again, I don't want to  have to make it private putting only a few email addresses as the only one(s) who can view it.  I still want to keep everything public.

Is this even possible on YouTube?  Vimeo and some others don't work  for me  because of business and commercial content in most of my  productions.


ANSWER: I have two answers to your question - the first is within YouTube, which may not get you what you really want - the 2nd is using a different service/provider.


1.  Within YouTube:

A newer option in YouTube is set the video to 'unlisted',  this is a nice way to make it so other folks won't see if on your Channel - but they could if they search for the tags or content which is relevant in your title or description.

This is more accessible than Private as you don't have to specify an email address and they don't have to have a  YouTube or Google account to access an Unlisted video.

To access this setting - first select the video, then click on 'Edit Info', click on 'Settings', then under Private select 'Unlisted', Click Save and you're set

2.  While the use of a Private Video designation on YouTube allows you to direct viewers directly to this video - they will still see a listing of your other videos on the YouTube account, and video suggestions following the display of your video on-screen.

To eliminate this, you would need to either embed the video onto your own website or use a different video hosting service.

As you indicated because your videos are business related, and incorporate a website address you would have to step up to VIMEO PRO (not Vimeo Plus, but PRO).

You could also use Sprout Video or iPlayed HD which are the two services I use for my longer videos that give me full and complete control over what the player looks like, no other videos are referred, etc.

I recently presented an updated webinar (end of October 2011) on the
topic - Video Sharing Websites,  where I presented fundamentals of using such a provider and also reviewed my 5 favorite services (YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Exposure Room, and IPlayerHD)

Since you are a website member, you and other members will find the 79-minute video (with accompanying 15-page PDF booklet) here:  Video Sharing Webinars - An Introductory Webinar

If you're not a website member but would like to access this resource - you can do so with my new Pay Per View Webinars here:
Casablanca Expert Pay Per View Webinars

Can You Use Some Stock (video) Footage or Music? Cyber Monday 40% Discount

Today as part of 'Cyber Monday' FootageFirm is offering a 40% discount on their products including the complimentary DVDs (dropping their price to only $5 each for Shipping & Handling).

Several folks in the Casablanca community have used and enjoyed both the stock backgrounds, video footage and royalty free music from Footage Firm - note the video files are not compatible with Disk Transfer, so for those editing on the Smart Edit OS you would need to convert the files...but if you're editing on the Bogart OS you will find you can load these directly into your editing project.

Check out their offerings on their webiste: FootageFirm.com

And to get the 40% savings, you must enter the Discount Code: CYBERMONDAY11 (Enter this code at checkout)

Macrosystem and the Future with 4K Video

Macrosystem AG CEO Jörg Sprave commented last Friday (on the Cassie Tips List)  about the state of 4K video technology, and what that developing technology means for Macrosystem and Casablanca editors:

It may sound odd to you now, but my prediction is that within 2 years, 4k will be hot at both NAB and CES, with all the major TV and camera manufacturers showing off their new models.

What does that mean for MacroSystem? Well, I believe it will affect our (Europe-only) entertainment center market first. We are moving this product range into the high end home cinema market anyway. These customers use high end beamers (projectors) and will soon adapt to the new 4k models. We will have to upgrade our "digital powerhouses" in order to provide content.

For editing, we still have to focus a lot more on perfectionizing our software and the workflow, which we will. Not many customers will want their wedding done in 4k soon. But there will come a time where 4k editing will be a feature of our Casablanca editing systems.

Does that all sound unreal? Maybe. But that's normal. It is called "progress".

You Can Still Purchase Software for your Smart Edit Casablanca!

As I have posted in previous articles, Macrosystem AG (Germany) and MacroSystem US (North America) have discontinued sales of Smart Edit software for the Generation 2 Casablanca line of digital video editors - this includes the AVIO, Kron, Prestige, Gymons, Claro, Solitaire/Plus, and Renommee/Plus.

  A number of our colleagues have made the move to upgrade to the newer Generation III Casablanca series - which now features the S-3000 and S-6000 editors.  But if you are staying with the Smart Edit OS series of editors (or perhaps, like me) you have both a Bogart OS editor and a Smart Edit OS editor, you may find comfort in the fact that there _is_ a resource available to you and me where we can purchase Smart Edit software still.

Dalco UK - long a Macrosystem reseller and the Distributor for Casablanca products in the United Kingdom (UK), Dalco now "have been appointed SmartEdit International software resellers and can provide license numbers for any country."

You can visit their web page Smart Edit International Software and check out the pricing for the Smart Edit software -- you will note the prices are in pounds (₤).  Dalco UK has kindly provided a currency converter at the bottom of the page, you simply tally up your desired software purchase total in Pounds, enter that number in the Currency Converter and click 'Go!' and you will be provided the accurate price in your own currency (if you're not paying with US Dollars, you can change the menu under 'To this currency'.

Then click on the 'Email' icon at the left middle side of the page and a form pops-up where you fill in the blanks with your contact info, your Casablanca Smart Edit serial #, the current Smart Edit OS version you are running and the titles of the software you wish to purchase, and send the email off to Dalco UK.

Once confirmed, you will receive an invoice back via eMail with your order total. You initiate payment to Dalco UK and they will send you your license codes to use on your Casablanca editor!

 

Thanks Dalco UK -- I am delighted that my Smart Edit colleagues will have this service.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for the continued opportunity to connect with many creative and kind people in the Casablanca community.

On this special day I wish you and your loved ones a very

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gifts for the Video Producer - Free Webinar Recording Available

You may be aware that I presented a webinar last week where I shared gifts and gadgets for the video producer.  I shared nine video cameras (between $79 and $1,200), 25 accessories, some services, and a books that would make great gifts for the upcoming holidays (or anytime).

The wonderful world of technology -- the recording of the session was corrupt(live recording from PC to external HDD) but I had several folks who had asked about the recording the next day (they could not attend live due to schedule conflicts).

So - I went about presenting the session a second time, this time using a different recording method, and it worked fine!  (maybe second time's the charm?)

And this time I actually split the session into two segments to make it more convenient for folks to find what they're seeking:
1. cameras
2. gadgets, etc.

The two recordings along with a booklet - which has a listing of the recommendations and internet links to each item - are available now.

You'll find these resources on this page: Your Video Expert - Gifts for Video Producers Webinar

Little Setting in Arabesk Software Can Have Big Results

The topic came up on the Cassie Tips List yesterday and thought this is another one of those topics that would benefit so many others...because I know that I have encountered this myself, and more than once.

When playing back a DVD in the Casablanca Arabesk preview - found under the 'All' button in the Info/Edit/Playback section of Arabesk - our colleague encountered the odd (and very dis-pleasing) effect where the films would switch between the desired 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.  She indicated that she had videotaped the footage on her newer camcorder in the 16:9 aspect ratio, and had successfully edited the project in 16:9 (she being a CasablancaExpert member, I called her and checked on these facts). 

She was able to play it back successfully in the Storyboard - which is something I would ask or advise any colleague if they were experiencing something similar.  She did and it was (playing back fine).  So the issue was in Arabesk

The culprit is in the 'Settings' menu (button) found in the Edit Menu meny of Arabesk:

It is critical that we ensure the 'Menu Format' is set to the proper aspect ratio, otherwise your Arabesk gets confused and the results are not pleasant!

Another indicator that you have this menu option in the 'wrong' setting is after you add your button (icons or stamps)...if they look like this, in the letterbox format, then you know your setting is in the wrong place:

As long as you have an incorrect setting in only the Main Menu menu - then you can make the change, re-create (render) the menu and check again before burning the DVD.  If however, you notice the problem after you've burned the disk and it's in your Chapter Menu, then you have to re-start the project, Delete that film (and any other that has the incorrect menu setting) and re-add.  This time making sure that you have this little setting in the correct position.

NOTE: If you're using the Bogart OS V4.1G and the latest version of Arabesk software you are now able to preview the Chapter Menus as well as the Main Menu!  See this post for more.

 

33rd Annual Telly Awards Now Accepting Entries

Time to enter your best work from the past year (actually, work produced since January 1, 2010 qualifies) for the 33rd Annual Telly Awards.

The focus of the Telly Awards is to honor the "very best film & video productions, groundbreaking on-line video content,
and outstanding local, regional, & cable TV commercials and programs.film and video productions."

Here are the categories for this year's Telly Awards:

Film & Video Non-Broadcast Productions TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces Outdoor / Environmental (featuring video components)	Online Video Online Video Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces Online Commercials Branded Content
Commercials Local TV & Local Cable Regional TV & Multi-Market Cable Outdoor / Environmental (featuring video components)	People's Telly Film/Video Commercials Internet/Online Video
3D Non-Broadcast Productions TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces Commercials Online Video

You can enter (and find out more) by visiting the official Telly Awards website at www.TellyAwards.com.

DVD Arabesk Now Allows Viewing of Chapter Menus...How Come I Didn't Know This?

So I was working late last night on my Casablanca video editor, authoring a DVD project.  I went to preview the main menu, which had two buttons - one to play the entire (one) film and another button to launch the Chapter Menu where the audience can choose to play from one of the chapters.

I clicked the main menu button which led me into the Chapter Menu men... I did a double take.  Wait just one minute here.  Did I really just do that. So I backed out and clicked again -- sure enough, I had used the Arabesk preview and was looking at my Chapter Menu. 

Then I felt like tempting fate a bit more...so I actually clicked on one of the stamps (icons) in the Chapter Menu and it started playing back the video assigned to that chapter!  Holy Menus Batman --- I should go buy a lotto ticket.

Now if you're reading this and think I may have blown my cork-screw, let me explain. For the longest time a limitation of DVD Arabesk was that we editors could preview the Main menu of our DVD project, and we could create Chapter Menu/s... but we could not actually test or see them in action until after we burned a disk.  The issue with this was that you had to burn a disk to catch a possible error.

I was honestly not aware that this capability was given to us...my guess now is that it's a function only on the Bogart OS... if you've authored a DVD using Arabesk 4 you have likely seen the odd flash of a menu when you click the view (preview) triangle button under the 'All' menu in DVD Arabesk as the system sends you over to the Media Manager where it uses the DVD playback function there.

Well, now I know...and I love it!

Thanks to the software developers who made this possible.

MacroSystem US Announces Fall Software Sale 2011

MacroSystem US today made the following announcements

NOTE: these specials and prices are only valid for customers in North America. If you're reading this post from outside the United States and Canada, please consult your distributor or reseller.

 

Fall Software Sale
Beginning on the 21st of November, we'll have our fall software sale.  Starting this year, the sale is available only for Bogart machines.  This sale will end on December 22nd, and is not to be combined with any other offers.
 

The Fall Software Sale is as follows:

• For Club Casablanca Members:  Any software package will be 40% off normal retail.
• For everyone else:  Any software package will be 25% off normal retail prices

Click Here for a current Price List for MacroSystem US (NTSC Only)
 

Smart Edit Trade-In Program Ending
The current trade-in program will end December 31st for all Smart Edit machines.  As of January 1st,2012 the only trade-in programs will be for earlier versions of Bogart machines.  Further details will follow in a future email announcement.


Club Casablanca Special
Join Club Casablanca now, and get the rest of 2011 FREE!
When you join, you will receive ProClub 2010 (the 2011 Club exclusive software), and you will also receive free the new Club exclusive software pack coming in early 2012.  You will be billed now for the 2012 dues of $49.00.

Further deatils on Club Casablanca can be found on the Club Casablanca web page.