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!!! 😀

This election – vote your conscience!

This excellent-quality film voices the heart of a nation seeking the redemption of the priceless values that the United States of America is built upon.*

Stand with me this November as we spread the truth of Jesus Christ and the good values upon which our nation was built.  Your country is waiting for you, for we the people are the flesh of America, and our values the backbone.

This election, vote your conscience.  Cast your vote for what you believe, not what you want.  Your personal decision counts. and each and every vote makes a difference.

Please, stand.

-b

*We are not only built upon the high principles that define our constitution, but upon God, (that is Jesus Christ,) who graciously guided our forefathers in laying the foundations of our once-great America.

P.S. God bless all the Catholic and Protestant Christians who helped lead America to victory and finally becoming an independent nation.  For all their sweat, blood, prayers, and love, that went into the founding of our America.  God bless, always, -b

Pendulum upon the precipice

I am not sure what is ahead.  Every step is a new direction – all feet set forward upon one path, each stride turning upon a seperate trail: my interests split, my concentration fractioned, my hope dispelled.

Regathering my wit and course, I set once more for my goal – but swirve all too soon upon some spurious idea that has tinged my curiousity to the point of action.  And alas, I am left bare of results once again.

But the tide does not always carry me this way, nor the wind press my path in such a scurried manner – it is I, unsure of my future, who takes on every new legend and occupation that could hap fall upon someone seeking a victorious conquest.  Unwise, yes.  Nieve, perhaps.  Who I am, yes.

So here I am, still trying to figure out video editing with a limited budget and waning time – my friends I hope have not found lack in my progress, though most likely their hearts are ticking on as the clock’s pendelum swings back and forth, each moment bringing full tide of another hour and two days.

But here I am, yet I stand, endeavoring to conquer.

And perhaps I will.

-b

Not sure what’s ahead

As the days pass by and progress is made in various areas, one may wonder what happened to Minosa Films – like, where are the films?!

Well, I suppose everything has a journey.  And each journey has it’s pilgrims, and once in a while, you run across a hero.  Well, I am a pilgrim.  And I need to do my part, and my part is not only the technical side of making sure we have a camcorder that will work, but scripts to make movies from.  So, I need to write scripts.  We have one script for a film titled “Is This Love?”, and I plan to make revisions upon it (basically add to/and or rewrite it.)  I think it would be wise to have more than one script on hand, so, I need to write! 😉

Recently I found out about a neat project called Morevna Project.  Check it out here: morevnaproject.org.  I am considering contributing to it.  From the website:

The main goal of Morevna Project is creation of full-lengthened anime movie, utilizing Open Source software only.

Other goals:

• Promotion of Open Source software and its ideology.
• Testing and improving existing Open Source products by giving appropriated feedback to developers and community.
• Validate Open Source tools as suitable for creation of professional good-looking animation.
• Provide content for other artists to learn from or to re-use, including documentation and tutorials

Main production tools:

• 2D animation: Synfig Studio.
• 3D modeling and animation: Blender.
• Static images: GIMP, Krita.

Also, check out this neat song by Staffan Svahn, called Red Hills.

And now back to what I need to do.  God bless!

-b

Inspiring artwork

I have stumbled across some intriguing or otherwise inspring artwork.

For one, I wish to make note to an artist I had previously discovered: Mathias Pedersen, a young, Dutch digital artist.  You can find his website here: http://www.mathiaspedersen.com/home/.  But this time I came across some of his tutorials.  The most facinating of these tutorials is this one:

10 Tips while learning Blender 3D

What I’ll try to, is to give you some general tips you’ll be able to use to work your way up the ladder and become a better Blender artist. Some of these tips are composed primarily of common sense, so you might already have figured out much for yourself.

– [http://www.mathiaspedersen.com/resources/]

These rules can be applied to more areas of life than beginning to learn Blender: they can be applied to much of life.  Besides, now I have a good beginning spot to send eager Blender users ready to learn.  “Read this 10 step outline and get back to me when you are done!” This is a good resource!

Besides that I came across Chaperon Rouge, an animated short by four collaborating students from the French school Supinfocom Arles (made as their graduating movie.)  The style touches upon Final Fantasy and a tad little bit of Miyazaki.  I want to create some 3D films similiar to their style (though my characters may have a different look.)  They used (digital?) paintings and composited the character into them (for at least some of it.)  Bravo!

On a side note, (however, an important one,) this following video has great importance to me.

Don’t Give Up, You Are Loved
Performed by Josh Groban.

Thanks for listening and God bless!

May all our dreams come true… see you on the other side!

-b

P.S. There are other films, etc., I could mention, but I will leave it at that for now.  Thank you, each and every artist out there: you, who have persevered to create what you believe is beautiful…

Working Towards Rewards

As of the past three weeks I have been working towards getting a DV camcorder.  I am looking at the Everio GZ-HD7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479003-REG/JVC_GZHD7US_GZ_HD7_Everio_60GB_Hard.html) which is much more expensive than anything I had imagined I would look for at this time.

So, with working, events, and living, I find myself in moments of solitude, set apart for God and thinking.  Thinking “do I even want to get that camera?  I’m no sure I care…”, wondering, and praying some.

I will probably get this camera, (praise the Lord!,) I will likely endeavor doing interviews, making films with the members of Minosa Films, my friends and family, and even some commercial work.

But in every new step up in the tower of life, I must recall my duties and check my burdens – have I accomplished all that people have required of me to this moment?  Am I free to move on?  And I must decide and make action upon that conclusion.

I do not want to abandon the talents that have dogged my life so divenely my whole life, but I am eager and curious to move forward in this direction of film making.

Thank you for listening and God bless!

Can’t wait till the future, wondering about it all,

-b