One big sigh: video editing success

I have finally gotten my video editing to work!  Hallelujah!  Ha ha ha!

History

Alright, here’s the story: I’ve been trying to get my video editing workflow down for a long time now, nearly a year since I got more serious about it.

For some years now I have played with video editing very little, but have enjoyed making short films with family.

December 2007 I purchased the Adobe Video Collection (2003) from a friend to use for my personal video projects and to edit something to DVD (Miracle In Gansu play to DVD.)  But after nearly a year I still have not gotten the project done due to a lack of knowledge and to my royal procrastination skills. 🙂

During this time I tried to get Adobe Premiere Pro 1.0 to work for my video editing tasks, but for the  majority of it I was unsuccessful.  The only successful project that I produced from it was DuelMind, a short film for the 24 Hour Christian Film Contest (however, I was unable to enter my film into the contest because I had never used YouTube before and did not realize that the file size of my video was way too big.  The next day a friend of mine gave me some advice which solved my problem – but the deadline had passed and it was too late.)  And even with that project I think the audio and video were getting out of sync.  😦

I will let you know: a/v out of sync has been my greatest technical video editing “curse.” 😀

I have tried to get Cinelerra to work, (actually the link goes to the CV version, whereas I may have been trying to get the official release to work,) but I was not successful with that.  I have seen Kino, touched Avidemux, tasted VirtualDub, and used Windows Movie Maker.  The latter program was the one I used the most, especially before I got the Adobe Video Collection.  Simply put: It worked.  But to use who are artistically inclined or professionally minded, it just isn’t enough.

I saved up for a camcorder and purchased the JVC Everio GZ-HD7.  The .tod file type (video container) posed a big problem, though, and for long time I was stumped (and frustrated.)  Multiple times I have considered selling the camera and getting a MiniDV SD camcorder.  But in a way I am glad I didn’t, because the Everio can get some sweet footage, and the fact that I couldn’t edit my video like I wanted to drove to new measures to discover the answer to my problems.

Eventually I decided to give the CyberLink BD Solution software a try (it came packaged with my camcorder.)  Surprisingly enough it worked, and it has been quite useful to get some DVD projects done.  I am planning on using it very soon to get another DVD project done.  I edited the Dr. Narendra Singh – 2008 Interview with PowerProducer Express.  Simple editing features are available, like splitting (cutting) video.  You can also use a range of video transitions inbetween video clips – but I only ended up using a few of them, like Fade and Burn.

Now this is where the history gets a little blurry… at some time I tried Blender’s VSE (Video Sequence Editor) to try to do my video editing, but I still had trouble with the audio/video being out of sync – and I couldn’t figure out how to export my video with the audio!

So the days passed, and my years waned… no, that bad. 😉  But one day someone heard my call, a man by the name of Rob Scott.  He had been working on something called BlenderAVC and kindly let me know about it by commenting to one of my posts here on the Minosa Films blog.  That’s where it really started.  From there I tried to get BlenderAVC to work.  I filmed with a few different settings and gave Rob some of my .tod files to work with.  Rob Scott’s BunnyHopHop workflow is very useful as well.  But BlenderAVC still wasn’t working for me.

I finally got a project to work in Blender’s VSE, the audio and video being in sync!  However, I won’t likely need to edit that project.

So, time passed…

Conclusion

But just today I downloaded the most recent version of BlenderAVC – BlenderAVC 0.7!  I can import my .tod files and it works fine!  But I still had trouble with my audio and video being out of sync.  I wrote some e-mails to Rob Scott asking for advice, but I didn’t need to… read on. 🙂  I noticed that Zelgadis (leader of the Morevna Project) was online, so I started IMing him.  He suggested I change the FPS on my file and so, after some tweaking, I reported back to him with a “OK, it’s official.  You the man!” victory cry that it had worked.

BlenderAVC 0.7 - screenshot of some successfully synced audio and video (see the last two strips)

So, praise the Lord!  One of my biggest video editing hurdles has been removed.  With further testing I hope that I wll be able to consistently repeat this successful outcome and get the rest of the workflow down pat.

I have not yet realized how great this is… if it really is true.  Maybe I will be glad tomorrow?  😀 Ahead of me lies the journey of actually learning what “video editing” really is!  Whew… this is very good.

So, I guess that’s about all.  I hope your journey is as exciting as mine – no, WAY more exciting!

One big sigh: Whew, video editing success.

God bless, friends, and may your journey be bright,
Best wishes,

-b

P.S. So a big PRAISE THE LORD!!! 😀

Not sure what to write…

Not sure what to write, so here’s some news:

I’m now part of the Morevna Project team. I don’t know all that I’ll be contributing at this point, but I definitely want to get better at my manga (anime) drawing!
The Morevna Project wiki on Synfig.org

Still haven’t resolved all my software (editing) issues. I have been sidetracked on that. Also have a hardware need.

I hope to edit a film some friends and I worked on together. It’s not a Minosa Films production per se, but it will really help me to learn my editing and test out whether or not I really can or cannot edit (at least with this workflow…) And besides that, I will get part one of a film done, gain skills, and make my friends really happy! ;D

Production Plan:

Title	Status	Scheduled Shoot	About
Is This Love?	WIP	N/A	A (very) short film depicting the true sacrifice of love
Family First	>Some work has been done	N/A	A lovely drama short film about a father/daughter turmoil and resolution
Promo	WIP	Optional moon shot done	Minosa Films’ very own promotion video!

Hope to get this all worked out… glad for possibilities, wishing for resolutions…

Also, we now have a production forum of sorts.  Check it out here.

Create an account and start posting!  Some sections in this category (of the forum) may eventually be locked for Minosa Films users only – that is, those who I give the password to.

Aaanyhow, thanks for all, and your prayers especially,

We’re gonna make it together!

-b

YEEES! Video editing is becoming possible

YEEEEES!  It’s working!  Praise the Lord! Whoot!  Yahoo!

OK, onto the point:  I have successfully produced a very short video clip from a 720×480 (or was it HD SP?) mpeg2 video file into a final output of a 720×480 mpeg2!  This may sound like “So what?”, so let me explain:

Using Rob Scott’s BunnyHopHop workflow I have used Blender 2.47 to do a minor edit to a 720×480 (or was it HD SP?) mpeg2 file with proxies, exported an excerpt of the video to PNG, optimized an AVS script in AvsP, (find the AviSynth wiki here,) ran it in QuEnc to encode the video to mpeg2, and the final result was a compressed 720×480 video with a/v in sync!

See a screenshot:

Current video editing workflow: Blender, AvsP, QuEnc, and VLC Player

Praise the Lord!  This is a  big mile marker in my video editing journey!

Now I hope all my editing needs will be met by open source software and Blender, and that BlenderAVC will rise to meet the standards of editing HD in the open source world!

About BlenderAVC:

BlenderAVC is an open-source project to provide the “glue” between Blender’s Sequence Editor and video in the AVCHD format. It provides a way of automating the creation of AviSynth scripts and proxy files so that AVCHD and HDV video can be efficiently edited within Blender.

[from the Open Filmmaking page on BlenderAVC.]

God bless!  I look forward to the journey ahead,

Thanks a million, Rob Scott!!!

-b

P.S. The video I tested was from a number of .tod video files through CyberLink BD: PowerDirector Express and exported to mpeg2.  In future testing I may use other workflows to optimize the time spent/quality.

…we will make it

Work has been done towards filming “Is This Love?”, but due to a location impasse (the location is currently set, but there are issues,) and integral script issues, it may not be soon.

Good news on that, though: longlifejas helped me find the location for “Is This Love?”.  I have contacted a theater actor and he may help us with the film.  So, things are moving foward in a way, but the film may drastically change at any minute.

The first episode of a short film some friends and I worked on I hope get edited sometime.  I also plan to edit the interview with Dr. Narendra Singh and get that online!  Whew.

I was talking to a friend, and I hope to start my own sort of animated journey like Rustboy, and just finished my first sketch for it tonight.

Thanks for listening,

God bless…

-b

Working on new Minosa Films blog header

New design WIP - Minosa Films blog header (Blender's node editor.)

Recently I have been working on a new header design for the Minosa Films blog.  It is not done yet, but it is turning out well.  I am using render layers and compositing them together, which is a first for me.  Praise God!  The theme is darker and has a moon, branches, the words “Minosa Films” and a nifty little design behind it.

Originally I was designing this in a hope to make an animated Minosa Films title intro for a promo video about Minosa Films.  I could make it theatrical like a silver screen trailer, or I could make it more instructional, like an interview or special feature.

I need to get back to solving the mystery of a successful video workflow.  My current progress on that is:

Import HD SP video file (.tod) into PowerDirector Express.
Drag video file onto the timeline.  Hit produce.
Go through a number of options and choose to export as an MPEG2 (for DVDs.)
Wait for it to render.
Import .mpg file into Adobe Premiere Pro 1.0.
Place on timeline.  There are no apparent “hiccups”.
Export video to .mov (Apple QuickTime.)
Play video in Media Player Classic – it works.

Goals:
I would prefer to someday edit in full HD; use a faster (better) conversion method; buy and use a newer, different, HD compatible non-linear editing (NLE) app; edit .avi (or .mpg if I choose to);  export to .avi, .mpg. with no  errors when opening in MPC (Media Player Classic,); be able to use After Effects (AE) in conjunction with Premiere (currently when I export from After Effects I get a jittered effect to the video and some artifacts.  Most unpleasing and… terrible.)

Goals in list form:

• HD
• Best conversion method (no conversion if possible.)
• New NLE software
• No editing hiccups
• Excellent file export
• Cross-software use

But for now, no HD!  No fooling around with the unnecessary.  😉

Thanks for listening,

God bless, prayers,

-b

Still

Still testing.  Now the video is the aspect ratio I want now (16.9.)  Just a simple setting to change in Premiere Pro 1.0.  Tried to convert to Microsoft AVI (not DV AVI this time) and it still will not play in Media Player Classic.  Perhaps I need another codec?  Oh well, we will see what happens.

Rendering (exporting) from Premiere Pro 1.0 - testing export to Microsoft AVI

Working on some film thoughts.  Listening to Kate Rusby music.

I may try out Converio (http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gilles.bihan/converio_095.htm,) try some more with Squared 5 MPEG Streamclip, and perhaps other video converters.  What NLE will I use?  For now, Premiere Pro 1.0.  No HD for now.  Use what you have to the best of your ability.  Will most likely test CBR1140 recording with the Everio to see if another method to get my files to a usable format (in this case, mpeg) will work.

Thanks for listening,

We will see what the wind brings,

God bless,

-b

P.S. Praise God!  I have been planting this blog address around in various comment boxes – YouTube, BlenderNation, Vimeo, e-mails… it may be paying off.  Here is an image of some view stats for the blog:

Minosa Films blog stats reach 80 views on 08-04-08

Praise God for everything.

P.P.S. I need to tell you what MIG (Miracle In Gansu play to DVD) is, and some more info about this blog.  We’ll leave that till later.  Till our next meeting, may God keep you.

May I grow still

3D Modeling, wishing, and thinking

Learning some about box modeling a female head.  Very neat 3D modeling technique.  (box modeling as apposed to poly/vertex modeling.)

Wishing to film, wanting to, and desiring.

And thinking.  Thinking about how I will get my desires, my wishes to film, to actually happen.  We’ll, I have an idea, and I need to keep thinking some more.

God bless

-B

The Art of War: Conquest

To many people this post’s header may sound like an excellent title for the next stellar MMORPG, but sadly to disappoint you, it actually refers to my days ahead.

After talking to a very wise person I have come to the realization that in order to reach my dreams I must first conquer them.

“How?” you ask “How can one possibly conquer his dreams? Don’t you just contemplate about what you want to do, think about it long enough, and wish with your fingers crossed and go out pick up your dreams?”

No, you conquer them. It’s a war.

You must not conquer them with eager wishes, but with a dedicated strategy. Decide what your dream really is, and then pursue it with the mind of conquest.

The following conversation maps out the process I will take this fictional character through to discover what he really wants to do (and how to go about it.)

“I want to make films”

oh really? Alright, what kind of films do you want to make?

“Powerful films, masterfully crafted and moving to the heart”

Good, sounds real good. So, what’s your first film idea?

“What?”

What is your first film? Don’t tell me you don’t know what your film is going to be about.

“Well…”

Alright, there’s your first problem.

“OK, fine, it’s about a man looking for his son who ran away ten years ago. This man was a drunkard, but now he remembers his son, his only son, who he once held as dear as his life. But when he lost his job to drinking, and his wife to a mistress, he forgot his son, and his son determined to forget his father. This story tells of how his father awoke, and how he searches to his uttermost to find his son, and dies in his efforts.”

Sounds good. So, got a camera?

“No”

Actors? Actresses? Filming location, schedule, crew?

“Uh, no”

What about a budget?

“For what?”

(Sigh, this guy needs a shrink) for your equipment and other expenses.

“Well, I thought about it, but I want to do it without using any money”

Good luck

“No, really -“

No money at all?

“Yeah”

Alright, OK. That’s fine, but you will most likely need some money to fund for your “wonderful” camera, et cetera.

“Well, I can just borrow someones camera”

No, get your own.

“OK… why?”

Because it’s like borrowing your friend’s piano – you need to practice on your own, not be parasitic on someone else’s hard earnings. You need to share, yes, but if you are going to pursue filmmaking, you should get your own camera.

“Well, alright…so once I get my new shiny camera I’ll be all set?”

No.

“Well, I have my eagerness to film, and a camera to do it – I’m all set!”

No, no, no, no. What about getting everyone at the same place to film? A script? Storyboards? actors, actresses? Hello?!

“Hey, come’on man, that’s the scary part. I’ll figure that out when I come to it”

Good luck

“Thanks”

I could continue this rather boring conversation for a long time. But I’d rather not. It’s getting late and I need to get to my point. No matter the size or length of your production, YOU NEED TO PLAN AHEAD, for the good and the bad, the best and the worst.

Without a plan, you’ll never win the war.

May you conquer your dreams.

-B

Blender green screening, VSE – and how to make your own greenscreen!

I am endeavoring to learn some of Blender’s (blender.org) VSE (Video Sequence Editor) and node compositing editor.

With the VSE you can arrange video clips and do effects, such as achieving a fade out to black (using three strips – video, gamma cross and color generator.)

Using VSE as a simple video editor may be very useful, and as it develops hopefully it will overrun such commercial monster products as Adobe Premiere Pro.  One advantage over Premiere Pro 1.0 that I have found is that Blender’s VSE accepts an .avi compression that I use, whereas Premiere Pro 1.0 doesn’t.  Besides that, Blender is completely free and open source, and is an alternative to Windows Movie Maker.  WMM can be very useful for shrinking file sizes and doing some simple editing (and you can do text effects and transitions,) but Blender’s VSE seems less dumbing.

And now about the greenscreening:

With the node compositing I am endeavoring to make a successful chroma keying – taking out a certain color, like bluescreening, also known as split screen – but it is proving quite a bit harder than I hoped. It seems (as is perfectly logical) that to have an effective keying I need very clear, pure colors to key out. Otherwise you get grays when it looks blue and your footage becomes very spotty.

Hopefully I will get some good results soon. Here’s a screenshot of my first work with chroma keying – overlaying a video on an image – not so great, but I’m learning.

Old machinery (video) on old machinery (image)

Also, doing further testing this evening, this chroma keying business may be much more difficult than I had hoped. Looking online for professional options, I found these two sites: (the first site recommended the second site.)

DIY (Do It Yourself – Bluescreens, Greenscreens, Backdrops and Background stands) Highly recommended to check out – you can find out about how to make your own greenscreen the cheap way. (not fool proof.

EEFX (green/blue screen backgrounds and backdrops(?)) Great for seeing professional quality equipement, seeing the prices, and learning about what makes their cloth special.

Hope you enjoy – looking forward to filming soon! Praise God!

-B