Your Video Expert Blog

Final Cut Pro X - Opposing Viewpoints

Since Apple released their new totally revamped version of Final Cut Pro last year - Final Cut Pro X - there has been lots of discussion (and complaints) in the professional video production community about the changes in the software, and a great deal of it was wondering why Apple would release a product that is so dramatically different from it's predecessor. 

There has been some conversation from Apple about these changes, how they wanted to start with a new palette and create a tool that would address the production needs of today and tomorrow without being restricted to the software concepts and work-flow that was developed more than 10 years ago.

Still - a number of folks remain less than pleased with the Apple product and have moved or at least examined competing or alternative application/solutions. 

Today I wanted to share two opposing viewpoints - one that cements the disgruntled editors who believe this new application does not address their needs and the other perspective of how Apple Final Pro X has been embraced by a network program and has "revolutionized their post-production".

First - an article written by Jan Ozer of StreamingMedia.com has an article that appeared this week on OnLine Video.net.  The title of the article points to the opinion to be shared "How Apple Took the ‘Pro’ Out of Final Cut Pro".

Jan does address how the latest release (back in January 2012) of the Apple software did bring some more functionality to the application but has some continued concerns about the robustness of the software to meet the needs and demands of the professional video community.

Jan concludes the article "FCPX and Apple’s all-in-one computers will be wonderfully successful products for consumers, but most experienced professional users prefer a completely different value proposition."

On the flip side is an article titled Final Cut Pro X - In Action. To be transparent here, I should point out this article was released on the Apple PR website and is part of an Apple Press Release. 

But there are some salient comments and testimonial from professional folks who are and have adapted the Final Cut Pro X work-flow into their busy post-production schedule of the TNT prime time drama Leverage.

I have no intention of steering you towards or away from Final Cut Pro X - just think it's important to be aware of the conversations taking place, of the differing viewpoints about the newest tools we might use in our video projects.  Ultimately I believe the tool that suits each individual best is the one they should choose and use (and some of us regularly use more than one tool for our jobs).

Adobe to Unveil New Tools in the XS6 - Creative Suite 6 at NAB 2012 Next Week

Adobe has announced that NAB 2012 - held in La Vegas, Nevada next week - will see a premiere of their latest media post-production suite of applications...CS6 - Creative Suite 6

"The suite features significant updates to familiar tools including powerful new versions of Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Audition®, Adobe Story, Adobe Media Encoder and Adobe Photoshop®". 

Adobe will be releasing two brand new tools - as part of CS6 "Adobe SpeedGrade™ CS6 for professional color grading, and Adobe Prelude™ CS6, an elegant solution for the process of ingest, logging and transcoding, essential tasks in a modern file-based work flow."

Of specific interest to us video producers - here are the changes to expect in the new Suite "for advanced video editing, Premiere Pro CS6 incorporates a new user interface, trimming and OpenCL support in the new turbo-charged Mercury Playback Engine. After Effects CS6 is the biggest release in a decade, with huge performance gains and powerful 3D features."

Avid Studio -- Video Editing for the iPad for only $4.99

Back in March of last year (2011) Apple released the iPad 2 Tablet along with a host of new software for the mobile computing device. One of the software was iMovie which is a pared down version of the video editing software available for Apple desktop computers (and also now available even for the iPhone). Though the application is fairly limited, this version of iMovie for iPad provides a cool capability to edit your video on the go (check out my post from yesterday where I highlight the work-flow one producer uses with HDSLR camera and his iPad & iMovie). 

Avid maybe a name you are familiar with - it's a name that is big in professional video and film studios, with video editing stations that can run up into the tens of thousands of dollars (and consumer version 'Pinnacle Studio HD' for $59).

AVID has just released a powerful version for the iPad called (cleverly enough) AVID Studio for iPad. Here is a summary from the AVID website:

Designed to take full advantage of your device’s touchscreen, Avid Studio for iPad provides the most intuitive editing experience ever. Double-tap your finger to view the entire timeline. Pinch-open the timeline for frame-by-frame trimming. Or pinch and rotate picture-in-picture effects to resize or customize them. The possibilities are endless—editing has never been so much fun.

 

The AVID Studio for iPad is now available in iTunes and the Apple App Store and requires requires iOS 5.0 or later at an amazing price of $4.99

 

Editing Video from Canon HDSLR on iPad 2

For the past few decades we've seen an increase in the availability of tools to help folks capture amazing video and stunning digital images.  And these cameras are increasingly more affordable.

This fact is running along with the gigantic availability of new mobile technologies that enable us to  edit these videos (and photographs) in the field and then share them around the world.

I attended MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, California last week and enjoyed attending several presentations dealing with photography and videography using the latest tech tools, but also the exhibit hall was chock full of accessories and apps (software applications) that are helping push the envelope of artistic expression.

A buddy sent me to a website today where one of these trail blazers details the process where you can take high definition video from a high-end Canon HDSLR (the Canon 5D, MkII), import, edit, and then upload your finished video in the field - from an Apple iPad2.

You can learn the steps to benefit from remote editing from the tutorial from Jim Edds at ExtremeStorms.com , who is an 'extreme weather cameraman' (he videotapes hurricanes, and other extreme events): Editing Canon 5D2 video on an Ipad 2 and XM Satellite Radar on your Ipad2 

Convert Minutes into Hours

I am nearing completion of this monolithic tutorial video...the longest I have ever produced and checking my time-line/storyboard I wanted to get a gauge on how many DVDs I am going to need to produce to capture the full length of this valuable teaching.

So the technology nerd that I am, I figured there must be a web site that will help here... and sure enough there is!

I found a site called minutes to hours.com. It's a very simple web site where you plug in the number of minutes and click the 'convert' button and in a matter of seconds you have your answer.

(This was near the end of my production... it ended up being 627 minutes long, if you're curious)

I thought since it was useful to me, perhaps it may come in handy for you as well!

Any other helpful, simple utilities you have found on-line? Please share in the comments below:

A Good Explanation of Three Methods for De-Interlacing Your Video From Videomaker

 You may know that traditional video and television was (is) transmitted and then for many years recorded (and edited) as an Interlace signal, that is two separate fields that make up one frame of video.  Many of the newer flat-screen monitors don't play interlace video well at all, and computer monitors don't do interlace well either - which means all those internet delivered videos don't look as good as they might when they're in the Interlace format.

That's why I continue to recommend de-interlaced (or decombed) video for these increasingly popular delivery and display methods. Here's a helpful short video on the Videomaker website that provides a definition of the problem and an explanation of the 3 most common methods to deal with the issue: How to Deinterlace Footage

Sony Announces 10% Sale In Online Store - Includes Vegas Editing Software

Sony Creative Software announces 20% sale. Now through December 31, 2012 you can save 20% when you purchase software via the Sony Creative Software on-line store - also during the current promotion you'll earn a 20% credit toward your next purchase of Sony software.

The Sony Creative store includes the Vegas series of video editing software products in the Vegas family from the entry level moviEZ HD to Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 to the full professional version Vegas Pro 11.  For a good comparison between the different versions of Vegas video editing software see this page: Sony Vegas software comparison.

Adobe Premiere Elements 10 - Lite Version in the App Store for Apple Computers

Adobe's Premiere Elements released their latest edition earlier (September 2011) for Windows and Mac computers...Adobe Premiere Elements 10.

As you may know, the Adobe Elements series is a popular, scaled back version of the Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop software applications.  Just last week an even lighter version was released in the Apple App Store - this online shopping vehicle allows folks with a Mac computer to purchase the software from the convenience of their home or office, and begin using the product right away (after downloading & installation).

This version of 'Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Editor' is priced $20 less than the earlier available version and besides a trimmer price it apparently also is also without some of the components available in the full version of Adobe Premiere Elements 10.

Tremendous Titles - Online Class from Your Video Expert

 Join Your Video Expert Chet Davis for an on-line class where you'll learn
how to produce more creative and impactful titles for your video projects.

One of the first things your audience sees is your opening title, whether it's simple or more elaborate.  I would assert that this first glimpse of your project will begin to set a tone in your viewers minds about your work. 

Titles can also be used effectively throughout your production to emphasize and introduce, to clarify and review.  The titles you create for your videos can have more impact than some would imagine.

In this 1-hour on-line learning session Your Video Expert - Chet Davis - will teach you how to plan for and produce titles that are fully complimentary to your videos purpose, and that will have your audience engaged from the beginning screen.   

Here's what you will learn

 

• An introduction to title/design fundamentals - including fonts, styles, and safe zones
• How to use color, opacity, edges and backgrounds to compliment your title
• Creative samples and suggestions for titles throughout your video
  • Opening Titles
  • Section Titles
  • Lower-Thirds Titles
  • Closing Credits

Registration for this on-line classroom is free to Silver and Gold Ticket Members at YourVideoExpert.net - for all others it's just $10 for this valuable learning opportunity.  Additional information and on-line registration available now at http://videoexpertnov09.eventbrite.com/

 

Online Video Editor Available in Your YouTube Channel

There have been quite a few revolutionary developments in the last few years that affect and impact folks who produce video, both on the professional level and the hobbyist/amateur/family levels.

From affordable pocket video cameras and smart phones shooting High-Definition video to quality video sharing on YouTube, Facebook and more.  One of the newest capabilities may stir the imagination of creative producers even more.

About one month ago I started playing with an on-line video editing application - this 'cloud-based' video editing tool allows you to upload your videos to their file server (host computer) and perform your edits, add transitions, titles and even audio/music on-line. 

This great not only for folks who are away from their home/office video editing studio -- but it's a novel approach allows integrated video editing and film-making... the ability for a small group or people, a team to edit a video together!

This new service has gone public and is available for you to use now -- as part of your YouTube Channel.   You will find this new service, called WE Video in the area of your YouTube Channel called 'Create Videos' (if you don't yet have your own free YouTube Channel - I have a tutorial to help you launch that here).

I was expecting something kind of cook when I first looked at WE Video, but frankly I was very impressed with the depth of the features and what you could really do with the software/application. 

For example there are six different categories of transitions from simply crossfades to animated masks (falling leaves).  There are two tracks of audio with 390 built-in sound tracks (music and sound effects) and 18 different types of titles (they call graphics). 

I am producing a thorough tutorial on WE Video, which will be posted on my website www.YourVideoExpert.net. I will share the link for that resource on this blog when it is available.

I should mention there are 4 different levels or accounts with WE Video -the free account provides with 1GB of 'cloud' storage, and only 360P resolution.  This is fine for internet video (on YouTube or Facebook, etc) but would not please most folks to view on a big TV screen. 

For folks that really want to use the full features of WE Video (and export higher quality finished videos) you can choose from their Plus, Ultra, and Commercial Accounts.  Details for each of these you will find here: WE Video Accounts & Sign-up Page.

To check out WE Video, simply go to 'My Videos' in your YouTube Channel, click on the 'Create Video' link at top and you'll be presented with a list of newer options - click on the link next to WE Video and begin editing 'in the cloud'!

NOTE: One of the other functions in your YouTube Channel is the GO Animate short animated movie creation engine - you'll find a streaming video tutorial on this software here: Create Your Own Animated Shorts with GO Animate.