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

Talked with Pastor about “Is This Love?”

Talked to my pastor some about “Is This Love?” I now have some extra stamina and idea on what to do, which is great! Thanks, Pastor! To do: brief rehearsals (~15mins) after church (running through the script,) a two-day schedule (getting used to the location on day one and shooting on day two,) and some more things.

Watched an episode of an old TV show called “The Rockford Files.” The episode is called “Foul On The First Play.” It was enjoyable. 😉 (There is one bad word in it… at least?)

Wrote a review for Fireproof (see the official site) for StreetSteeple.com this morning. Hopefully that will get online soon. Will post a link. Completed a design for poster that will be at a booth at Bridge Day, advertising that Borders (a large book company) will be giving 10% of sales on Bridge Day to the New River Youth Symphony and Chorus… I also played some Atom’o’run (X-Mas version) on Fedora 8 today… that was fun. 🙂 A very simple game that is surprisingly enticing.

Hopefully we will be rehearsing the “Is This Love?” script soon. 😉

More later?
God bless,
ciao,
-b

P.S. Still looking forward to NaNoWriMo!

Dr. Narendra Singh – 2008 Interview (a new film!)

Hey guys!  We now have a new film!  It is an Interview with Dr. Narendra Singh, an Indian evangelist. Great thanks to him for giving up his time so I could interview him! It is highly appreciated, and I hope this video will bless those who view it.

Dr. Narendra Singh – 2008 Interview from Minosa Films on Vimeo.

I edited the film using CyberLink BD Solution PowerDirector Express. The text images were made in Inkscape.

The opening title is too long, I could add music to the intro/end text, and the file size is larger than optimal, but unless it causes problems or I feel highly necessary, I may leave this video as the final version.

I would re-encode it with a greater compression, but may have to do that later (hardware complication.)

Thanks!

-b

P.S. If the video loads too slowly, try turning off HD (hover over the Vimeo video) or let me know via a comment or e-mail!  If it is too difficult for people to view I will endeavor to re-encode it (with some tweaks on the video as well, while I’m at it,) for you.

P.P.S. Sorry, WordPress can’t embed Vimeo videos. 😦 Oh well… 😀
EDIT: fixed it! Check out what dalas verdugo has to say here: http://www.vimeo.com/forums/topic:1221

Filming with a friend tomorrow

Tomorrow I hope to do some filming with a friend.  The film may be impromptu, but then again, maybe not: I have already started brainstorming about an idea, and we may do it… who knows?

This video we will work on may not be of professional quality, but I sure hope it will be fun!  I hope to exercise my video editing workflow (currently it revolves around using CyberLink BD Solution PowerDirector Express) and increase my video portfolio – besides that, hopefully it will be a lot of fun!

Thanks,

-b

A prayer for filmmaking

Lord, please help me to be able to make films. Thank you for the grace you have allowed me and showing me how to get this far.

May the road ahead be brighter than the night behind, may the sun rise swiftly upon my weary face, may my soul be refreshed at the springs of justice, my hope renewed at the wells of mercy.

May my path be guided upon each turn I make, and may my feet find swiftly the road I am to take.

God bless me, my friends, and all those who want to be filmmakers.  May our journey be sweet and ushered upon the dirt paths to quiet victory, down the dales of February frost and early June flowers, to the river of conquest unto the sea of rest.

May the journey we choose be worth all our lives.

God, please hear our prayer, amen.

-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

“The Soloist” – a very promising film

The Soloist, a feature film to debut this November looks to be one of the best dramas this year.  Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement and Pride and Prejudice,) The Soloist is a true story about a journalist, Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) who stumbles upon a gifted musician playing violin on the street (Jamie Foxx,) a bedraggled man in his 50’s who was once a musical prodigy.  The two men become friends and the drama unfolds.

The Soloist (2008) Trailer (from YouTube)

See the high-quality trailer on Apple.com: http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thesoloist/

This film may turn out to be a wonderful drama with a heart-felt story, well worth watching.

Looking forward to the days ahead!

-b

Testing Blender VSE with HD proxy

Hey everyone!

Testing Blender’s VSE (Video Sequence Editor) for my editing needs.  So far it’s working well, once God helped me figure out how to get the audio and video the same length.  (Clue: import the audio and video separately, then make a meta strip to keep them together if you want to.)

Testing Blender VSE with HD proxy

(Watching the video real-time with a 25% proxy is great!  Unlike using Premiere Pro 1.0, playing the video back on Blender’s preview window is fast enough and sweet for viewing!)

Interlacing is bad, so I may use VirtualDub for that.  Depends.

If I can get good results from Blender, I may go with it for now and keep the JVC Everio GZ-HD7, instead of downsizing my camcorder.

Hopefully BlenderAVC will continue to be developed so I can import my video directly (without worrying about conversion.)

I hope this all works out!  Thanks to all who recommended using Blender for editing my video.  I should have tried it again earlier – then again, what’s wrong with now?  “The road goes ever one” as Bilbo sings, and it’s the journey that brings memories and experience.

Best wishes, peace out,

-b

Swirling in the Oceano

I am unsure what path my future will take… where will I go, what will I do?  My camcorder/editing situation is not at it’s brightest, and I am heavily considering returning the camcorder, the JVC Everio GZ-HD7, because it shoots to HD and saves to .tod.   Premiere Pro 1.0, my current NLE, is less than desirable as well, because I have had a/v out of sync troubles with it.  Who knows what will be the solution?  God does.

A friend recommended this camera (the friend was joking btw,)

Check out the RED camera:
http://www.red.com/cameras

I have looked into Final Cut Pro as well, (or Final Cut Studio,) and it looks promising.  But I have not done all my research.  I am pretty sure I can convert my files through Cyberlink BD solution, with PowerDirector, to FullHD, HD SP, or SD (720×480.)  So, converting with HD is possible, but editing is still a problem.  So, the different problems stack on eachother and the tower of cards falls again and again as I pull out a card from the below.

So, with all these options, ideas, hopes, possibilities – my future – and other’s desires, I am swirling in an ocean of choices, hoping to find my way out.  Oh God, send an albatross.

Who knows what will happen next?  I ask for your prayer, and I look foward to the days when I will be holding the camcorder in hand, acting and filming with others, editing, premiering, posting…

God bless and thanks for listening.

-b

P.S. I do not ask for sympathy.  I do not ask for donations.  I do not require your help.  I humbly request prayer and understanding, and greatly appreciate any suggestions or ideas you have to give.  Thanks.