The Avid Media Composer Licensing Plan

Licensing the Avid Media Composer going forward.

For those of you in the US, happy Thanksgiving week. For everyone else, happy last week of November. December is the last month Avid Media Composer editors have to decide whether to continue with the Avid Media Composer as a subscription or as a perpetual license that can be upgraded annually.

Avid Editing Tips and Tricks XII

Tips and tricks to speed up your Avid editing workflow.

This is the twelfth edition of the Avid Editing Tips and Tricks blog series. This week we'll discuss some tips and tricks that I've been using for a while. Please bear with me if you have too.

As always, if you have any comments or suggestions, you can reach me through the comments of this blog, through Google+,  LinkedIn or Twitter, using the @mBlazeVideo handle.

Classic Halloween Movies

Classic scary movies available on DVD or streaming.

Since this is Halloween week, what better time to look at some of the truly classic scary movie made over the years. The selection we'll discuss this week are films that were made at least 20 years ago and still hold up well.

Real Workflows: Mouse Failure (Pt 3)

Editing sound using the Adobe production tools.

In Real Workflows: Mouse Failure (Pt 2), we discussed some of the editing and effects required to restore the video Mouse Failure. This week we'll talk about building the sound for the video.

Real Workflows: Mouse Failure (Pt 2)

Editing the electrocution scene in Mouse Failure.

Continuing the Real Workflows series, this week we pick up where we left off in Real Workflows: Mouse Failure (Pt 1). All of the original camera source clips have been laid out in an Adobe Premiere Pro timeline, edits have been retimed based on music cues and based on the feel of the action.

Real Workflows: Mouse Failure (Pt 1)

Using Adobe video tools to restore Mouse Failure.

This week we continue the Real Workflows series with another personal project I worked on. Mouse Failure was another restoration project, but unlike Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band, this project was restored as SD (480p). No up-rezzing was necessary.

Finding the Right Video Encoding Software

Encoding software for your post production workflow.

These days, you can't be a video editor without at least being familiar with some of the options for encoding video. I'm not talking about Getting the Perfect Video Encode, but finding the fastest and best quality solution for your post production workflow.

Organizing Your Video Edit Workflow

An organized video project requires consistent naming.

If you've read my blogs in the past, you've gotten the idea that I'm a video editor. I write a lot of blogs about How to Become a Video Editor, but there's one trait that rises to the top if you want to be a good editor, especially in a collaborative environment. That trait is having good organizational skills.

Advice for Starting a Professional Video Career

Charting a path in the video profession.

In most professions, one of the most daunting stages is just getting started. Moving forward into unfamiliar territory feels like stepping off solid ground into the abyss. It always helps to have some sort of direction to give at least some feeling of familiarity.

Strategies for Preserving Pixels in Photoshop

Preserving pixels is as easy as converting to a Smart Object.

Adobe Photoshop is one of those tools that has reached such a universal level that people use the tool name to describe the work. When someone comments on an image that was altered, most times they will say 'that image was photoshopped'.

Using Avid FX on Long Clips

Rendering long clips in Avid FX can eat up your time.

I was recently editing a project for a corporate client. This particular client thought they could save some money by using internal people to shoot the video. This is usually not the best approach.

Editing with File-Based Media

The tapeless video editing workflow.

Although most of the other video editing systems out there have always used linked media for editing, AMA (Avid Media Access) is a relatively new technology. And now that it has been in use for a while, I'm of the opinion that AMA in the Avid Media Composer was worth the wait.

Evolution of File-Based Digital Video Cameras

The Avid Technology CamCutter disk-based field system.

There once was a time when shooting video in the field meant loading yourself down with very heavy gear. Early portables were usually two components - the camera and the videotape recorder. Adding batteries to this kit for power, made recording in the field an event that either built strong backs or ruined them.

Excellent Superhero Movies

Films about superheroes available for home theaters.

Continuing our series on great movies that are available on DVD and streaming. Since the Boston Comic Con was this past weekend, what better time to look at some of the superhero movies that are available.

Shooting Video With Your Mobile Device

Properly using your mobile device for video.

Now that pretty much everybody has a video camera, in the form of a mobile device, more and more video from these devices is being viewed. You see video from mobile devices everywhere these days, including the national news.

Avid Editing Tips and Tricks XI

Avid Tips and Tricks that use the OPTION / ALT key.

This is the eleventh Avid Editing Tips and Tricks blog from the series. This week we will discuss a number of tricks that use the OPTION / ALT modifier keys. As always, if you have any comments or suggestions, you can reach me through the comments of this blog, through Google+  LinkedIn or Twitter, using the @mBlazeVideo handle.

Getting Started in the Video Industry

Getting started in video is not always easy.

As most newbies know, there's a catch-22 when trying to get that first job in video. You can't get a job without experience and without a job you can't gain experience. So how do you gain that elusive experience?

Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band (Pt 3)

Using Adobe After Effects to upscale SD video.

Last week in his week in Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band (Pt 2), we discussed some of the creative decisions that were made while restoring and re-editing the intro video for the band Flesh.

Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band (Pt 2)

Editing the "Flesh: Meet the Band" video.

Last week in Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band (Pt 1), we discussed rebuilding a video for the band Flesh, by eye-matching the source clips to the original edit. Why go through all this trouble you ask?

Real Workflows - Flesh: Meet the Band (Pt 1)

A faux news reporter opens the Flesh intro video.

As a freelance video editor who loves what I do, I often fill my off-time working on personal projects. A few of the personal projects I have worked on have been restorations of older projects.

100,000 Page Views for Digital Video

A milestone for DV Fanatics in readership - 100k page views.

Back in April, we hit the milestone for the DV Fanatics Blog - 100 Posts and Counting. This past week another milestone was passed, 100,000 page views.

Thank you for your continued support. I hope the information you have found in this blog has been very useful in your digital video workflow.

Interlaced Video Has Served its Purpose

Working with images in interlaced video is a challenge.

Interlaced video, you have served the industry well. It's now time to fade off into the past with the likes of 1/2-inch videotape formats.

For those of you unfamiliar with what an interlaced video format is, here's a video primer. NTSC video is comprised of approximately 30 frames per second (25fps for PAL). Each frame has two fields: an odd field and an even field.

Boston Avid Users Group - NAB 2014 Wrap-up

The NAB Wrap-up panel at the June BAVUG Meeting.

Last Wednesday was the June meeting of the Boston Avid Users Group (BAVUG). This month's topic was a wrap-up of the important announcements from NAB. The NAB wrap-up discussion panel featured The OutPost at WGBH's Chris Fournelle and Michael Amundson as well as Kyle Frazier from HB Communications and Bill Reinhart of Avid Technology.

Great Online Adobe After Effects Tutorials

Taking advantage of the online resources for After Effects.

Like a lot of editors, when I run into challenges that have me stumped, I often turn to the web for an answer. Over the years I have collected a number of links that have helped me in the past.

In this week's blog we'll discuss the tutorials and tips for Adobe After Effects. There are a lot of tutorials out there, but these are the ones that I have found most helpful.

Free Video Post Production Tools

DaVinci Resolve offers a Lite version for free.

For those of you in the US, happy Memorial Day. For everyone else, happy Monday as usual.

In the US, Memorial day is the unofficial kick-off of the summer season. What better time to find free stuff than the unofficial start of summer.

DV Fanatics: The Second Year of Digital Video

The most discussed DV Fanatics blogs of the last two years.

It's been two years since the DV Fanatics blog kicked off in May of 2012. We've covered a lot of topics over those last two years, some of those topics have sparked some good discussions in online venues.

Cool TV Series Available on DVD or Streaming

TV series new and old available on DVD and streaming.

With the news that the classic 80s TV show - Hill Street Blues in now available on DVD, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss some of the other great series available on DVD or streaming.

Avid Editing Tips and Tricks X

More Avid tips and tricks for your editing toolkit.

This is the tenth Avid Editing Tips and Tricks blog from the series. This collection includes a couple that I recently learned from the Avid community. As always, if you have any comments or suggestions, you can reach me through the comments of this blog, through Google+  LinkedIn or Twitter, using the @mBlazeVideo handle.

FiOS Versus Comcast

Choosing the cable TV company for your home.

I had been a Comcast customer since the very early days of broadband, back when Comcast was still called MediaOne RoadRunner. I was relatively happy with the service until the transition to all-digital.

Top Video / Film Announcements at NAB 2014

Video tool announcements at NAB 2014.

Two weeks ago the NAB convention was held in Las Vegas, NV. As I mentioned in my blog titled, NAB 2014 Week, the NAB show is one of the biggest shows for professional film and video tools in the US. There were a number of different announcements that came out of the show, and this week we'll discuss some of the announce that I found most interesting.

DV Fanatics Blog - 100 Posts and Counting

The 100th DV Fanatics blog.

Today the DV Fanatics blog has reached another milestone - this is the 100th blog discussing digital techniques and technology in film and video production and post production. The blog kicked off on May 21, 2012 and has continued to address issues important to film and video professionals.

NAB 2014 Week

A setup t-shirt and some Avid swag from NAB's gone by.

As a lot of you know, today is the first exhibition day of NAB 2014. For those of you unfamiliar with NAB, the National Association of Broadcasters convention is the big show for all of the film and video tool providers to unviel their new gadgets. Major vendors at the show include Adobe, Avid, Blackmagic Design, Canon, Panasonic, Sony and all the other big names.

Extracting an Alpha Channel From a Graphic File

Creating a file with alpha from a flat image file.

Last week we discussed "Common Image Files for Video", and which files are best for what types of graphics. This week we'll look at a solution for another challenge - needing to key a logo over video when the graphic does not contain an alpha channel.

Common Image Files for Video

Dealing with various image file types when editing video.

When producing videos, a lot of times it's necessary to use a company logo in the video. When I ask a company for their logo, I find that a lot of times, even the graphic person doesn't always realize what the best deliverable is for the best quality. I usually have to explain that for a logo, it's best if we use the vector-based file rather than the bitmapped file.

Avid FX for the Adobe After Effects User

The Avid FX interface used in Avid Media Composer.

Last week we used Adobe After Effects to build a film open in Dissecting the Video: 20th Century Fox Open. I had originally tried creating the same 20th Century Fox build in Avid FX, but I ran into some issues. This week I'll discuss some of the frustrations I ran into, and why most of those frustrations come from being used to the way Adobe After Effects works.

Dissecting the Video: 20th Century Fox Open (Pt 2)

Animating the 21st Century DV Fanatics film open.

In last week's blog, Dissecting the Video: 20th Century Fox Open (Pt 1), we discussed using Adobe After Effects to build the different 3D objects, that we will use to create a film open like the one used by 20th Century Fox. This week we'll put those 3D elements together and add the animations of the sweeping spotlights.

Dissecting the Video: 20th Century Fox Open (Pt 1)

Creating a film open similar to 20th Century Fox.

This week we'll talk about creating another film open. Back in December of 2012 we discussed recreating the MGM lion in the Dissecting the Video: MGM-Style Film Open blog. This week we'll recreate the 20th Century Fox film open.

Avid Editing Tips and Tricks IX

Useful tips and tricks for the Avid Media Composer.

Today's blog is the ninth edition of the Avid Editing Tips and Tricks series. This collection includes a couple that I recently learned from the Avid community. As always, if you have any comments or suggestions, you can reach me through the comments of this blog, through Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter, using the @mBlazeVideo handle.

Animating Video Inside a Custom Frame in Avid

Animating nested video in a frame as a single object.

A little while back I saw a question on the Avid Community Forum about marrying a graphic frame with video and then moving the composite as one object. It may seem easy enough, but in fact it requires the workaround we'll discuss today.

Restoring Video With Premiere Pro and YouTube

A shot from the Super-8 film, The Race.

I was recently going through some of my old college-era films. Some of these films were the projects that I began to develop my skills as a storyteller. As I said last week in "Creative Professionals: Learn By Doing", I was one of those who learned best by immersing myself completely in a project.

Creative Professionals: Learn By Doing

The first Super-8 motion picture camera I learned on.

In the same way that everyone has their own opinion as to What is the Best Video NLE Out There, there are different types of learning styles as well. Not everyone learns the same way.

My Favorite Video Software Tools of 2013

The preferred video software tools for my workflow.

As a video editor, it's important to know more than just a single editing tool. If you're a freelancer, it's very helpful to know all of the major tools that are used in your local market. Sometimes, what you may consider the Best Video NLE Out There, may not be the best system for every workflow. Everyone has their favorite set of tools, but those tools may not be the ones you use for every project.

DaVinci Resolve Round-trip Avid Workflow - BAVUG

Michael Phillips presents at the BAVUG meeting.

Last we we discussed an overview of BlackMagic Design at the Boston Avid Users Group January meeting. More specifically, Sid Levin's presentation of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. This week we'll talk about Michael Phillips' presentation of the round trip workflow from Avid Media Composer to DaVinci Resolve.

Blackmagic Design at the Boston Avid Users Group

Sid Levin presenting at the Boston Avid Users Group.

I've mentioned it in the past - Professional Video User Group Membership can provide an excellent resource for gaining new knowledge. Last Wednesday's meeting of the Boston Avid Users Group (BAVUG) was no exception.

Top Ten Avid Editing Tips and Tricks - 2013

The top ten Avid Editing Tips and Tricks. 

Another top ten list from the DV Fanatics blog. This week our list is the top ten Avid Tips and Tricks from the last few years. This list was determined in a very non-scientific way. It's in the order of the tips that received the most positive comments.