Software Problems
Sometimes when I visit some of the various forums I try to help out on I see some really angry posting by people having problems.
Having been around the block a few times I don’t take too much notice of the anger in itself because I really do understand how infuriating it can be to get into video editing in the first place.
There is a “marketing veneer” surrounding the subject that pretends that you really don’t need to know anything to get up and running in no time at all!
However in many cases that is just so far from the truth.
In fact I believe that video editing and dealing with video editing software is like just about anything in life.
The more you understand what’s going on the better you get and the easier it gets.
There is of course an overwhelming amount of technical information connected to the subject and I am certainly not suggesting that you need to know everything before you can get started but here’s the problem.
When someone hits a snag when they are editing they are of course sitting in front of a computer with the editing program staring them right in the face.
The immediate reaction is to assume that it is the program that is causing the problem so the usual cry is “Why does this program suck so badly?”
Very often the actual problem is NOT the program itself but what you may be doing to it or even what you are feeding into it.
In my experience there are two types of people when it comes to this scenario.
One group will tend to go into a kind of “blame the software” mindset and take forever to get themselves out of the problem if ever.
The other type begin a search as to WHY whatever it is that is happening… is happening.
They are not thinking in terms of who the culprit is or what to blame.
They simply go about finding out why and they are always the fastest to get going again and the easiest to help.
You can read more about that here on Solving Software Problems.
So in light of that a tutorial from Gripps on the wonderful world of CODECs!
By the way, I have a complete article here on Video Editing Terms and Definitions.
The is the link to the GSpot information appliance that Gripps mentions in the video. (And by the way, No, this is not a joke, it really is called Gspot!)
More Stuff On Understanding Video
Probably one of the greatest barriers to getting into video editing even at the beginner level is the terminology.
The difficulty for this subject is that there are so many actions one can engage in that simply do not have some kind of real world equivalent to draw from.
Creating words that are descriptive enough to be recognizable can be very difficult.
The word “transition” for example is pretty easy.
Even outside video editing a transition means moving from one thing or state to another so that one makes sense.
On the other hand many of the other terms you will come across only make sense after you understand them.
If someone starts talking to you about Barn Doors midway through a conversation about video you would be lost!
Below is a link to a quite comprehensive list of words and terminology used in the field of video.
Creating and Using Frames
I came across a video tutorial this week on how to use frames to create a root menu for a DVD that had a background with a frame playing a small video in it as well as having the menu buttons.
I was going to just post it on the blog but then I realized that perhaps a lot of beginners had probably seen frames mentioned a lot but didn’t really understand what they were or why we use them.
So instead of just adding that original video I have included another first that explains what a frame is, how to create your own a few ways and give some good examples fo where to use them.
After you have taken a look at the first video you can check out the one underneath for more detailed instructions on using a frame in a DVD menu so that a little thumbnail sized video keeps playing on a loop for a professional look.
PowerDirector – Making & Using Frames Tutorial
PowerDirector Menu Frame
Some Camera Tricks to Save Time in Editing
From the guys at Film Riot this week a few quick tips for getting some effects into your projects before you even get to the editing stage.
One of the key elements of making editing easier is to shoot your footage with the final product in mind.
Most people tend to just blast away at a project with the hopes that by getting a mountain of footage or at least as much as possible they can stitch something together in the editing.
For many of us this is really the only way we can go given that no matter how predictable things like family get togethers are, they really never unfold the way we want!
Sure, uncle Bob will drink too much and say or do something totally inappropriate but who knows at what point this will happen?
However if there are at least some elements of your shoot that you can predict or control then using some simple camera tricks to enhance those moments as you capture them can make a huge difference.
In the video below there are a couple of the tips that are perhaps a little impractical from an amateur or home movie perspective but some of the others like using forced perspective, slowed shutter speeds, fast shutter speeds and lens flares are well within your reach.
Choosing Lenses
It’s not just DSLRs these days that offer the ability to change lenses.
The problem is that whenever you try to work out why you may want to have an extra lens or two for your cam you hit a wall of video/photographic technobabble that is impenetrable.
Even if you manage to climb over that wall you are immediately confronted with another one just as insurmountable… which one does what?
Take a look at the link below for a “reasonably” understandable article on the ins and outs of changeable lenses.
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