Delivery

SlashCAM’s Camcorder Database

Test results with images, to compare and contrast.

By Adam Wilt | December 12, 2008

Our minders here at PVC have been gently encouraging us to write up "holiday lists". They say, "people love lists—so publish a list already, or we'll send the holiday ravens 'round to peck out your eyeballs!" Well, I ain't got no list (yet), but the folks at slashCAM have posted a database of over 80 camcorders, so you can compare and contrast 'em based on your own particular criteria, and make your own danged list. Read More

0 Comments

Ultimate Insider Gifts

Obscure (and cheap) gifts for the industry friend who has everything.

By Chris and Trish Meyer | December 05, 2008

Shopping for holiday gifts? For a peer or co-worker who already has every book, video, and plug-in imaginable? And don't want to go broke in the process? Here are a couple of gift ideas guaranteed to impress (or at the very least, puzzle) that favorite nerd in your life: Read More

1 Comments

The Top Ten Things After Effects Users Love and Hate about Motion

By Mark Spencer | December 03, 2008

I teach Motion to a lot of After Effects users. Sometimes they end up in my class because they want to be there; other times their organization has sent them and they arrive kicking and screaming, ready for a fight. Either way, after clearing away a lot of misconceptions and getting them to actually use Motion for 3 days, I find almost every After Effects user comes away with a new respect for - and frustration with - this wonderful yet sometimes annoying application. Read More

0 Comments

The Top Ten Things After Effects Users Love and Hate about Motion

By Mark Spencer | December 03, 2008

I teach Motion to a lot of After Effects users. Sometimes they end up in my class because they want to be there; other times their organization has sent them and they arrive kicking and screaming, ready for a fight. Either way, after clearing away a lot of misconceptions and getting them to actually use Motion for 3 days, I find almost every After Effects user comes away with a new respect for - and frustration with - this wonderful yet sometimes annoying application. Read More

4 Comments

Brightness Issues with H.264 QuickTime Movies

Solutions - good and bad - to a long-standing problem.

By Chris and Trish Meyer | December 02, 2008

If you haven't encountered this problem yet, you will: QuickTime movies re-exported from applications such has QuickTime Player Pro using the H.264 codec (a common format for web content) appear brighter than the original in some contexts - such as inside QuickTime Player on the Mac, or on a web page viewed by Safari - but not in other contexts such as QuickTime Player on Windows, or the stripped-down QT Player inside After Effects.Many attribute this to a bug introduced by use of a hidden, optional "gamma" tag (which is different than a full-blown color profile tag) inside QuickTime movies that is supposed to aid in cross-platform compatibility. Unfortunately, this tag is not exposed for the user to edit, and may be interpreted differently by different programs. It has been the cause of much grief among After Effects users employing color management, and has spread into the realm of web video.I was recently bitten by this myself when I went to encode a batch of introductory video training movies going onto the DVD for the second edition of our book After Effects Apprentice. Everything worked fine two years ago when we did the first edition, but something has changed since then, and now the same settings produce unsatisfactory results: Read More

36 Comments

Liberating segregated HDTV sets

Unfortunately, many of the latest-generation HDTV sets sold in the USA are segregated, but we can liberate them partially...

By Allan Tépper | November 27, 2008

Unfortunately, many of the latest-generation HDTV sets sold in the USA are segregated, meaning that they cruelly block 50Hz signals on their video input. In some cases, they simply show no picture, while in others, they put up an unfriendly message stating: "Unsupported format". However, as I explained in my recent comparative article on HD players, both AppleTV and WDTV fortunately liberate these segregated HDTV sets so that they can play 50Hz material (25p, 50p, or 50i) with no problem, along with ±60Hz material. My comment here regarding segregated HDTV sets refers to distribution, since for professional production and post-production, I highly recommend the use of professional HD monitors. So far, all of the professional HD monitors I have used personally or have researched are all free of segregation nonsense and play all desired signals. Read More

0 Comments

Liberating segregated HDTV sets

Unfortunately, many of the latest-generation HDTV sets sold in the USA are segregated, but we can liberate them partially...

By Allan Tépper | November 26, 2008

Unfortunately, many of the latest-generation HDTV sets sold in the USA are segregated, meaning that they cruelly block 50Hz signals on their video input. In some cases, they simply show no picture, while in others, they put up an unfriendly message stating: "Unsupported format". However, as I explained in my recent comparative article on HD players, both AppleTV and WDTV fortunately liberate these segregated HDTV sets so that they can play 50Hz material (25p, 50p, or 50i) with no problem, along with ±60Hz material. My comment here regarding segregated HDTV sets refers to distribution, since for professional production and post-production, I highly recommend the use of professional HD monitors. So far, all of the professional HD monitors I have used personally or have researched are all free of segregation nonsense and play all desired signals.The rest of this article has been moved to Allan's PVC channel. Click here to view it. Read More

1 Comments

Delivering review cuts with yousendit

Easily send up to 2GB to clients via email

By Richard Harrington | November 22, 2008

Richard Harrington examines how to deliver large files online with yousendit, at the '08 New Media Expo in Las Vegas. Read More

1 Comments

AppleTV, WDTV, or Blu-ray: Which one is best to distribute your HD project?

Even if your HD project isn't destined to be shown over the air, you'll still want your client be able to play it on an HDTV set

By Allan Tépper | November 21, 2008

Even if your HD project isn't destined to be broadcast over the air, you'll still want to have your client be able to play it on an HDTV set, not just on a computer. The good news is that you have several options to make that happen, including Blu-ray, AppleTV, and the brand-new WDTV device from Western Digital. During this transitional period, it is often the producer who influences the client as to which HD player to acquire. Many producers even incorporate the cost of one of these HD players in the project price and then give the device to the client "as a gift" with the first HD project, if the client doesn't already own any HD player. It's great to have options, but you must understand them fully (both their strengths and weaknesses) in order to pick one, two of them, or all of them, depending upon the exact format of HD you have produced, the hardware you own (or are willing to buy), the type of client, and the type of delivery. This article will help you learn the details that will help you make the appropriate decision. Read More

0 Comments

AppleTV, WDTV, or Blu-ray: Which one is best to distribute your HD project?

Even if your HD project isn't destined to be shown over the air, you'll still want your client be able to play it on an HDTV set

By Allan Tépper | November 20, 2008

Even if your HD project isn't destined to be broadcast over the air, you'll still want to have your client be able to play it on an HDTV set, not just on a computer. The good news is that you have several options to make that happen, including Blu-ray, AppleTV, and the brand-new WDTV device from Western Digital. During this transitional period, it is often the producer who influences the client as to which HD player to acquire. Many producers even incorporate the cost of one of these HD players in the project price and then give the device to the client "as a gift" with the first HD project, if the client doesn't already own any HD player. It's great to have options, but you must understand them fully (both their strengths and weaknesses) in order to pick one, two of them, or all of them, depending upon the exact format of HD you have produced, the hardware you own (or are willing to buy), the type of client, and the type of delivery. This article will help you learn the details that will help you make the appropriate decision.The rest of this article has been moved to Allan's PVC channel. Click here to view it. Read More

8 Comments

Mobile Phone Distribution and HDTV with mDialog

Turnkey solution for web deployment

By Richard Harrington | November 20, 2008

Richard Harrington discusses the mDialog online video platform with Greg Philpott at the 2008 New Media Expo. Read More

0 Comments

Getting the Most out of Motion

12 Tips for Improving Motion's Performance

By Mark Spencer | October 27, 2008

One of the most enjoyable features of Motion is its ability to play back even moderately complex projects in real time - allowing for a type of interactive development process where you can add and animate layers while the project plays back. In fact, the real-time playback feels so intuitive and natural after only a short time that it becomes quite addictive - to the point where it can be really annoying when the performance begins to slow down. Read More

0 Comments

Should Politicians and VIPs get special DMCA exemptions?

Political campaign seeks to circumvent anti-circumvention measures

By Matthew Jeppsen | October 21, 2008

John McCain's campaign has experienced first hand how much the burden of fair-use proof lies on the shoulders of the general public in today's post-Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) world. Several of their viral videos that included remixes of music and video clips were pulled by Youtube automated software for copyright claims under the DMCA. In most of these cases, the videos ARE allowed under Fair Use, but that requires complaining and getting in line to be re-reviewed. Not surprisingly, the campaign has written a formal letter to Youtube, requesting an exemption from the accepted procedure and specifically suggesting human review of uploads from politicians. This is the same campaign that has received several (legally-toothless) cease-and-desist letters from recording artists. As a side note, the cease letter from "Heart" was rather humorous (warning, NSFW language). But I digress. Anyway, CNET writer Christopher Soghoian takes issue with the McCain campaign approach to this issue, suggesting that unless politicians suffer with the masses, the incentive for change will never gain footing. Here's an excerpt... Read More

1 Comments

Dipping Your Toes into Motion

Some Tips on Trying Motion for the First Time

By Mark Spencer | October 13, 2008

So you've been working with Final Cut Pro for awhile now. And recently you or your organization upgraded to Final Cut Studio 2. You've heard about all these great new features of Motion, and you've been meaning to check them out. Really. But you're always on a deadline, so you fall back on doing your graphics in Final Cut Pro or After Effects or something else you are already comfortable working with. Well, it's time to take a look and see what this Motion thing is all about. Here are a few tips on how to create something snazzy in Motion without even really knowing what you are doing. Read More

0 Comments

Motion Tip: Blend Modes and Pass Through

When Motion Forces a Group to Precompose

By Mark Spencer | October 06, 2008

When working with blend modes in Motion, it's important to understand how groups of layers interact with each other so that you get the result you are looking for. Read More

0 Comments

Can I Use This In My Video?

Copyright "Calculator" Tells You If You Can

By Mark Spencer | October 06, 2008

Copyright law is complicated, and it can be difficult to determine if a certain song, image, or video can be used without obtaining the copyright holder's permission. I've come across an interesting site that does a great job at simplifying the process of determining if a certain work is covered by copyright or not. Just drag the slider to the appropriate publication date (of course, you need to know this...) and it will tell you whether permission is required and what the copyright status is. Very slick. See it here. Read More

0 Comments

The End of the DVD Reel

By Alan Shisko | October 01, 2008

There. I said it. DVDs are done like dinner. Disappered like dodos. Disposed of like dirty dishes. Dissapated like disparaging alliterations that I'm now going to stop, please and thank you. Yes, I've burned my last DVD, and I'll be a richer, more dynamic and connected man for it. Read More

6 Comments

Welcome to Web Video & Beyond

Opening discussions on alternate forms of distribution.

By Chris and Trish Meyer | September 26, 2008

As we mentioned earlier, we are in the process of launching a series of "themed" channels on PVC. One of the new channels we're most excited about is Web Video & Beyond.The advent of cable and satellite television had a big impact on the industry, as they created a demand for more content - content that had to look as good as any "national" feed, but produced at a lower cost. This was fuel to the fire for the desktop video industry, highlighting the economic advantage desktop production brought.Today, we are still in the early stages of another large explosion in content distribution: web video, and other alternate outlets such as cell phones, PDAs, intelligent multimedia gaming devices, and beyond. Even while the business models are still being built up, the demand for cost-effective content is as strong as ever. (I've talked about this before.)But there are new challenges as well: the technology (Flash has a huge installed base - but it's not in iPhones), new program formats (an attention span closer to a 5-minute podcast than a 30 or 60 minute network program), the impact of increasing bandwidth (the movement from SWF to FLV means traditional editors and motion graphics artists can use their current skill sets, rather than learn how to animate sprites), and the question of just how much production value is needed in this Web 2.0, user-generated-content, YouTube world. It's confusing; it's evolving; it's exciting. We hope to learn together with you up here.Speaking of learning together: We are always on the lookout for good writers for PVC, and this new channel is a new opportunity to share what you know. If you already have a blog and want to repost some of your "classic" articles here (as well as new content, of course), or previously wrote for magazines or other web outlets and now want to be part of PVC, let's talk! I can be reached at cmeyer @ PVC's web domain above. Writers share in PVC's ad revenue based on their traffic. Read More

0 Comments

Allvoices.com

A New Site for Distribution

By Richard Harrington | September 11, 2008

At New Media Expo '08, Richard Harrington talks to Amra Tareen from allvoices.com, the first open media site where anyone can report from anywhere. Read More

0 Comments

TED Talk: The Web and TV, a Sibling Rivalry

Peter Hirshberg gives a history lesson on the parallel development of computers and TV over the past 50 years.

By Chris and Trish Meyer | September 07, 2008

A parallel conference to TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is the EG (Entertainment Gathering) conference, whose goal is "making information entertaining & entertainment informative." This talk from last year's EG gives a history lesson on the development of both television and computers, which are of roughly the same age. Although it gets bogged down at times (you could skip ahead from the 5 minute mark to 11 minutes, unless early computers gets your geek up), it does contain numerous interesting nuggets, such as the interview with tweeners where they explain why thing think television is "optional" in their lives, parallels between the tech and messianic movements, how TV was supposed to kill radio, how crayons were used to create a proprietary media platform, Microsoft's initial pooh-poohing of the information superhighway, and other amusing anecdotes as well as important lessons in the different business models between the web and television.(While blogging on a web site about media creation, I can't help but note technically that they failed to removed the interlacing from the video reference materials, and that the audio equalization is fatiguing to listen to. Plus not all technologists understand pacing in entertainment. Fortunately, the medium isn't the entire message.) Read More

0 Comments