Multicam Editing Projects
One of the biggest pains to deal with when it comes to editing is trying to get assets from different sources or shots from different angles all together into the one project.
In the past this was a hugely time consuming task and really was only attempted at the professional level or by people that really had a lot of patience!
The major problem being how to sync the audio with all the different video.
Of course when it comes to professionally produced video the entire process is planned before the shoot itself because the end product has been envisioned down to the last detail.
The pros make use of completely separate audio recording devices, have a very detailed list of specific shots laid out and have the advantage of being able to stage every shot.
Everything is synced at the time of shooting using a clapperboard so when it is time for the editor to do his thing, it may be a long and tedious process but at least everything is lined up ready to go.
In reality this is NOT the situation you and I would likely find ourselves in!
The more likely scenario for us is that we go to an event, we shoot a bunch of footage and use the onboard audio of whatever device we have at the time.
We then discover others have done the same thing at the same event so we gather all the available footage together and then try to stitch the whole lot together into some kind of cohesive whole.
Most people that do this either give up at the editing stage, go mad or produce something that is a complete mess!
These days we do have some pretty awesome tools at out disposal to make the job easier but it still requires that you approach it in an orderly way so as not to paint yourself into a corner.
Over on the CyberLink blog they have posted an article outlining some of the steps you need to take to pull this kind of project together but bear in mind they are mostly talking about a set up situation using a number of cameras.
This is till a very controlled situation and although the article is very good it does not really cover the kind of situation I have just laid out.
So on top of what they say here are a few points to keep in mind.
The audio from clips from different cameras will vary widely so if you decide to use a clip at some point but the audio is bad then either cut some audio from another clip and use that or lay down an overall audio track of ambient music and when you hit a bad clip, raise the music.
Keep in mind that the lowest resolution clips you have available will have to be the “base” resolution of the whole project.
You cannot raise the resolution of some clips to make them fit the higher resolution ones.
This will just result in a severe loss of quality.
You can always down res a clip but never “up-res” it.
One final point is to make use of the “Storyboard” view in your editor.
Rather than trying to see what is what along a little timeline, switch to the storyboard so you can get a wider view of the assets you have at hand and can loosely arrange their sequence before you begin finer editing.
11 New YouTube Updates for Channel and Audience Management
There are some important changes happening on YouTube at the moment with many more to come in the near future.
Probably the main driving force behind these changes is the pressure being applied by FaceBook.
FaceBook have begun a feeling out process with regards to generating revenue associated with their video platform and I am sure YouTube are watching this very closely and are trying to respond in order to maintain their dominance.
The difficulty for YouTube is that once you become the market leader, everyone else can then start to take shots at you from the sidelines.
The greatest mistake they can make is to start reacting to the up and coming competition rather then trying to stay out front as they have been.
What’s worse is that they are owned by Google and this trap of changing from the innovator to the reactor is one they have already fallen into before with their search engine services.
Using the free Windows Snipping Tool in Your Videos
You know I have a program on my computer that allows me to clip screen captures at any time, edit them and use them in all sorts of situations including videos.
Although it comes with a million features and a bunch of tools, all I really do with it is to grab a screen clipping and paste it into stuff.
I paid for that software and now I think that was a bit pointless!
Before you invest in any clipping software like this, take a look at the video below and learn how to use the free one that comes inside Windows.
If you don’t need anything beyond that then why bother with anything else?
Speedart Videos
Speedart is really just another way of saying timelapse.
Timelapse itself breaks down into two main flavors.
The first is that you take still photos at regular intervals over a period of time then stitch them together in sequence to create the sense of the scene changing over time.
In fact this really is true timelapse.
The second type is to record using video, a long event and then simple using an editor to speed up the entire sequence so that it unfolds in minutes rather then hours or days.
Speedart specifically is the recording of the creation of a piece of artwork over time then speeding it up so that the final product seems to be appearing magically before you eyes.
Check out the article linked below for a few tips on making your own SpeedArt.
- How to Create Speedart in Camtasia
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