CasablancaExpert

Casablanca Expert Community Newsletter for April 2013

I wanted to confirm that I sent out the April Casablanca Free Community Newsletter earlier this week. Please check your In Box for all the news & Casablanca resources.  This month I shared links to all the new info about the Casablanca acquisition by the new parent company in Germany (Macro Motion). I also mentioned my new (free) on-line class titled 'Cables and Connectors' and have a good list of resources (articles & streaming videos) all about Titling in your Casablanca Video Editor.

Let me know if you did not get a copy and would like to be added to the subscription list for your free copy this month and in future months.

March Members Newsletter - now in your email Inbox

Just sent out the March News for Casablanca Expert Members... lots of info. Upcoming Webinar on Archives & Backups, Webinar Recording on Efx Pack 7 & 8, two Brand new video tutorials (short lessons), news about upcoming workshops, deeply discounted iPhone class and news about a FREE class to learn Twitter.

If you did not receive your copy (and you are a member) please let Chet know.

How to Receive Each New Casablanca Expert Article in Your Email Inbox

You may know there is a service called RSS, which allows you to  subscribe to a Blog or Website so that you are informed of each new article that is posted.  I have been using a service called Feed Burner for the past several years for both the Casablanca Expert.com website and the Casablanca Expert Blog (which you are reading here).

That service is going out of business and I am switching over to a new provider called Blogtrottr.  If you are a subscriber of either of these feeds, you will need to switch over by completing the short forms below.

If you have not subscribed in the past - you can do so now, by simply entering your email address in the box below and clicking the button to subscribe to either or both feeds.

NOTE: While the Casablanca Expert Blog feed is free and availalbe to all in the community, the Casablanca Expert website feed will provide you with notice of each article, but only regisered website member/subscribers will be able to access the contents of the articles, view the video lessons. etc.

Casablanca Expert Blog

Your email:

 

Casablanca Expert Website

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You will receive a confirmation message in your email inbox from Blogtrottr which you will need to click on a link to confirm your subscription (this prevents SPAM email). 

 

Casablanca Expert Newsletter - Special Membership Pricing

The Casablanca Expert (public) Newsletter for December 2012 was sent out this past Sunday to all recipients - if you did not already see it please check your junk mail folder in case it's hiding in there. Lots of resources & Casablanca product news in this issue!

Chet is holding a special sale that allows you to access the valuable resources he's assembled at this website for a special price. Through midnight tonight (Tuesday, January 1st) you can join the Casablanca Expert community for only $120 for a full year membership!

You'll have immediate access to the more than 760 pages of articles, tips, tutorials and streaming video lessons/webinar recordings; you can join Chet for the live Casablanca Coffee Klatsch each Monday and you'll enjoy 20% discount on all Casablanca Expert tutorial DVDs.

And yes - if you're already a website member you can participate in this special price. Once your existing membership expires Chet will continue if for an additional 1-year at this low price.

New Members Join Here: https://cassieexpert.ssl.subhub.com/subscribe/

Existing Members Renew Here: http://chetdavis.typepad.com/casablancaexpert/casablanca-expert-.html

 

Suggestions to Ensure Peak Performance of your Render Booster

Here is some possibly important info/suggestions from a colleague of ours from PAL  (this was posted on the Cassie Tips List today).

There are two 'take-away's in my mind:

1. Always first try the lowest quality/data-rate. If that's not sufficient try the next highest quality/data-rate.

2. Provide _plenty_ of air-flow & circulation for your Render Booster to keep it cool.

"Some 10 days ago I attended a MacroSystem Roadshow here in Vienna. Regarding Render Booster we have been told to set it FIRST to the LOWEST data rate, and if the result is not satisfying, then to MEDIUM.

Because the Render Booster is itself a very specialized minicomputer, it renders everything ways better than coming directly from any Casablanca despite settings LOW or MEDIUM.

Although astonishing we were advised not to set it to High let alone to Maximum, because this causes massive extra-work for the Render Booster, possibly resulting in overheating, which will cause the Render Booster to shut down! I know, it sounds kind of weird, but the processor of the Render Booster is a very specialized piece of hardware with a totally new design compared to the processors used in the Casablanca machines. In addition, good air circulation around the Render Booster is needed !

If the Render Booster quits working, don't blame it, but check your chosen settings first, before sending it back to Boulder ! By the way, 3 out of 4 Render Booster sent back to MS Germany are reported to function properly. Hope this is of help !

Merry Christmas to all of you from overseas,

Conrad from Vienna, Austria"

Great Webinar Today as we Learned New Casablanca Software

I really enjoyed leading the webinar this morning on Casablanca Software!

It was great having a good group join me - we spanned across 7 different time zones as I presented a session highlighting the Casablanca software that was released in the past 12 months, and also featured a handful of my favorites (for consideration during the current MSUS Software Sale - only available in North America).

If you registered for today's webinar - you'll receive an email with the link where you can view or re-view the video of the lesson.  If you're a website member, you can view the session in the Webinar Archvies.  

 Totally Random Fact: Attendees reported our variance in temperature: Seth with -27 (Fairbanks, Alaska) and Franklin 88 (Dominican Republic).

The 'Render Booster' was discussed earlier today on the Casablanca Expert Webinar... and I understand it is not available for order from your Casablanca reseller (expected shipping mid-December 2012) 

You can find out further details about this new add-on device (just for Bogart units operating on Bogart V5 and higher) on this page: http://www.macrosystem.us/index.php?pr=RenderBooster

November 2012 Members Newsletter in your InBox

The November Members Newsletter was sent this past hour - chock full of the newest resources on the Casablanca Expert website. With the links to four new short video tutorials & registration for the 3 upcoming webinars... it's an issue you won't want to miss reading!

Please check your Inbox for your copy - and if you did not receive yours maybe it's time to become a member of this valuable website! With more than 760 articles: tutorials, tips, streaming video lessons... for just 35-cents per day!

Casablanca Workshop in Southern California - November 2012 ?

I am looking at hosting a 2-day, hands-on workshop - in Southern California on Tuesday-Wednesday November 13-14, 2012.

This would likely be held in Buena Park as this seems to be a fairly central location for our Casablanca colleagues in Southern California.
 
This would be a Bogart only workshop (I have added workshop agenda/details below) --  there are too many variations between Smart Edit & Bogart now and it would be too much division to teach both platforms together. If you need Smart Edit lessons - I will be offering Smart Edit only classes later and on DVD)
 
Would you please take a moment to consider this learning opportunity - check your calendar and see if this is feasible and of interest to you - then contact Chet Davis via email letting him know you are interested (and available for these dates).
 
 
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
Hands-on Casablanca Bogart Video Editing Workshop
Fall 2012 Southern California
Registration Fee $199
- This will be an intermediate workshop presented to increase your creativity and efficiency with the Casablanca Bogart OS video editor.
- You will bring your Casablanca Bogart editor, TV monitor and cables/accessories to set up your own work-station at the workshop*
- Chet will provide the footage for the workshop on data DVDs: several types of video files, JPEG & PNG photos/graphics, and music that will be used during the workshop.
- Lunch will be provided both days (breakfast, dinner, and lodging are on your own)
- A summary of the topics to be learned:
+ Importing of various files through the current Bogart OS (MOV, AVI, AVCHD, HDV, SD video)
+ Hard-drive back-up options
+ Editing using Store-N-Share HDD
+ Understanding project resolutions, Interlace vs. Progressive, monitor set-up & current limitations
+ Tips for More Efficient Workflow - using enhancements in Bogart V4, PowerKey, etc to improve speed in editing
+ Creative Effects Sequences with Casablanca Slivers, BlueBox World
+ PIP Studio 2 and PIP Studio 3D
+ Audio Sweetening: Internal & External - using the top Audio Effects Pack tools & when/how to export for Audacity on your computer
+ Professional looking DVD menus with Arabesk
+ Burning Blu-ray project using Arabesk 5
+ Basic comfort with Media Manager for exporting files (Chet successfully uses MM all the time!)
+ Exporting files: For use on other computers, for upload to internet, for mobile device display,
+ Project Sandbox: Building a sample local business profile web video
 
 
Please notify Chet Davis via email if you have other topics you'd like to see covered in this or a future workshop - or if you have any additional questions on this workshop in North Carolina.
 
 
 

Cool Music Video by Bobbie Evoy (check out the Mirror effect!)

I have a sample music video to share with you today that is 100% Casablanca.

'More Than A Memory' was produced by our colleague Bobbie Evoy of Memories On Tape in Michigan. The music video was 'a one woman show' with Bobbie doing the directing, video taping and editing -- all . I told Bobbie I absolutely LOVE the sequences in the mirror - watch the 'reflection' very closely!

And if you would please - visit the singer's YouTube Channel to drive up their stats: More Than A Memory - music video by Richard & Robert Fay

Here's Bobbie's behind the scenes comments:
"It was shot 'in two days' after they got out of work, starting at about 7pm each night. Simple effects were used to tell this story with the twin brothers: Richard is not doing very well with her gone, as he faces another day without her there, the memories keep coming back, until one day his reflection comes alive, Robert (his reflection) lets him know that she was more than just a memory as he lectures him on what his life has become hoping Richard will pull himself together soon."

"These artists showed this music video and was selected to appear on a casting call in Nashville Tennessee next week, I hope they are selected."

 

Casablanca Workshops & Seminar Survey Being Reviewed

Thanks to those who provided their feedback in the Casablanca Workshop & Seminar Survey.

I will be spending th e first days of September going through the submissions that folks in the community made to the survey. I plan to post my Workshop & Seminar Schedule - Fall 2012 through Summer 2013 by Monday September 10th, 2012




Here's why I will be offering both 1-day seminars and 2-day hands-on workshops over the course of the next year:
Some folks don't want to unplug their editor and drive with it to set it up for a hands-on workshop and would prefer a seminar (where the teacher demonstrates and presents the info).... others know they learn best (and are more likely to retain the lessons) if they do bring their editing station and follow along with the teacher.  That's why I am considering both types of learning opportunities.