A Glance at TouchEdit iPad App

Mercy, they just keep a coming but this video editing application might be what you want if you lean toward the professional side of the fence. TouchEdit is a time-based video editing for iPad 2 or higher running iOS 6.

Yes, time code editing using your fingers.

If you don't know what time code is that might be a clue that this isn't for you. I'm not being intentionally snarky.  Time code is a series of numbers or time points that can be embedded in traditional film and video. It can also be done digitally.

With time code you can precisely find and edit a certain section of a shot. Professional video editing requires the use of time code editing.

This product is designed for people that want to get a jump on an editing project. This is the first version of the App.

You should probably read the iTunes feature page, If you have experience with old school analog editing experience this might be what you have been looking for to jump in on iPad video editing.

This software isn't really for tech phobes who want to be guide through the editing process. At $50 for an app you want to be sure before you give this a go. This is version 1.0 so keep that in mind. If it works at base level it will only get better. If not, you are out $50 bucks. (03/07/2013 update, the price in the App Store is now $24.99, subject to change at a moment's notice.)

But for those of us that want some power and more control for iPad video editing this looks mighty tasty.


Other Posts of Interest

• Extract Audio Using MPEG Streamclip
• SoundGator - When You Need a Whoosh
• More Post on Video Editing

WeVideo Android Video Editing App in Beta

Dear Androidians. we have been suffering the slings of jealousy watching iPhone users having all the cool toys. It has been hard to constantly look over the fence to see yet another app that none of us can use.

Our time has come, maybe.

Here is the promotional video:




WeVideo currently has in Beta a free video editing app. It is only for a certain group of devices for now; according to their website that would be:

Google Nexus
Google Nexus 4
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy Note II

From the description, it seems like it is a trimmer with added features. I'd also be a little concerned about the Terms of Service and what do they do with your information.

Free isn't always free. What does it cost you to use this application?

I can't try it because I don't have any of the above devices. Please remember it is in Beta, as in not quite finished or perfect.

You roll the dice and take your chances.

Other Posts of Interest

• A Calendar of Tales Storytelling Project
• YouTube Capture App
• In Search of Android Tablet Camera Specs

When You Just Need a Video Trimmed

A touch up, a snip, snip or a cut and dash. You don't want titles, you don't want to add music you just need to cut the bad part out so that the good part can stand on its own.

There are video trimmers and editors that act like trimmers. Some programs have features than expected but they do not fall into non-linear editing software type programs.

I've mentioned some of these before but I haven't put them in a list format.

Be very careful about where you download software; I'll link to the actual vendor web site. Major Geeks is a known safe place. There are not a lot of safe repositories anymore so don't click just any old link in a search engine.

You have to be the first line of defense. Don't gum up your system with malware.

Avidemux Free

Avidemus Screen Shot

Avidemux has versions for Linux, Mac and Windows OS. It accepts AVI, traditional QuickTime MOV, MP4 (but not necessarily all variation of MP4) 3GP, MPEG and H.263+ but not necessarily H.264. You might need to install codecs on your system.

You do have the option to add filters to expand the program's capabilities. This software isn't hard to use but it is geared more for the techies. There is a wiki and a forum support community.

MPEG Stremclip Export Screen

MPEG Streamclip for Mac and Windows OS. Free

This has an easier learning curve than Avidemux. It works with a wide range of video formats except AVCHD or .wmv type videos You set your in and out points, choose your frame size and you can have a clean trim in no time.

You will have to have QuickTime Player installed on your system but that is a free download as well from Apple.

And now for something a little different. This is a 2010 tutorial video on Virtual Dub by World Traveler Man. This will give you some context about my statements below about this software.





VirtualDub Free Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista, Server, or newer OS

Read carefully, this is a linear editing program. It can trim video. It can do a lot of wonderful things. But the one thing it will not do is hold your hand. Not to say that there isn't documentation for the program.

There is. I'm saying that if you are coming from a Windows Movie Maker/iMovie entry level experience you will have issues learning this software.You might have to install a codec package. You might need to understand video concepts before you can use it.

Like Avidemux, you can add filters and gizmos to it. This program was created before the commercial release of consumer non-linear editors.

If you are tech inclined and have an old operating system like Windows XP this could just what you need. Do not expect that it will be able to handle AVC or AVCHD or even MP4 type videos without a filter or program update.

Who is it for? If you have standard definition video this could work. If you want to have more control of what you can do with video but you don't want a system resource hog this could be your software.

So these are the reliable, stable no monkey business type trimmers and editors that you can use; provided you understand the limitations and benifits of each program.


Other Posts of Interest

• Audio/Music Posts 
• Software Posts
• Video Editing Posts

KDMC Multimedia Storytelling Tutorial

You have video, audio, photos, data and ideas but how do you mix and match them into a story? One of the resources you should check out is the Knight Digital Media Center's Multimedia Storytelling Tutorial.
  

This is free do it yourself version of a one of the training workshops. For those of us that can't time off of work to learn in person this is a great learning option. Basically they show you an example of a project and then they fill in the details of how to compose a non-linear project.

There are lots of goodies at the KDMC site so if multimedia storytelling doesn't do it for you then take time to check out some of the other options.


Other Posts of Interest

• Text Storyboarding or Editing on Paper
• What Can I Learn from Pomergrante Video?
• Quick Look at Pond5 Stock Media

A Moment to Reflect

So much has changed since I started this notebook in 2009. The technology has moved forward with Smartphones replacing personal point and share camcorders.

The money is flowing in for certain types of user generated content. More important, the uses of web video also continue to expand.

I’m almost irrelevant because with a push of a button people are recording video on phones, phablets and micro devices.

I still maintain there is a use for personal and dedicated camcorders.

I did say almost.

Because there are still certain groups that are not participating in web video. The process is easier but not easy.

And I do want people to push back against the “make googazillians of dollars” bum rush mentality. I do like money and this isn't a criticism of the money flowing to the new class of content creators. I just have a fear that traditional television is being recreated.

I think web video can go further than that concept. With the wave of new mobile viewers coming down the road it will have to serve multiple interests.

There are other expansive uses for web video. Like using video to extend the story you are telling on a blog or web site. Or to document your history and the place you find yourself.

Boomers and Eco-Boomers have been particularly slow on the take-up.

On the global scene there are people being murdered for trying to tell their story. Or locked up. Or shamed into silence.

Or ignored as not being important enough to warrant attention.

I think there are things to learn about making the next generation of web video. I know that peeping over the fence at speech givers, business presentations, podcasters and related but unconnected allies is important.

And play. There has to be some fun. Time to experiment and muck it up.

Tis no time to sleep.


Other Posts of Interest

• The Battery Lingo - Where's the Juice
• Vidly Viewer Graph - Trends In Video Viewership by Mobile Device
• Mobile Reporting Field Guide from UC Berkeley

Posterious Going Dark on April 30, 2013

Posterious was one of the first blog hosts that made it super easy to post via e-mail, phone or desktop. It was before Tumblr and did all the things you'd want a blog host to do.

In 2012 Posterious was purchased by Twitter. It continued business as usual but nothing changed until the recent announcement that the blog host is stopping operations. If you have a video blog or any other kind of blog on the site you need to retrieve your content before April 30, 2013 or kiss it good bye.

This bring up a particular problem. Having a blog posted on a free public blog post can be a great thing. Except when it goes down which is what happened to WordPress blogs the other day. It has happened on Blogger, Tumblr and any other hosting company.

It can be the weather, outside cyber attacks or the load on the severs. It could be that you just don't have the cash or the visitors to justify the expense.

You never know. I am sure that a new Twitter specific blog or micro blog posting site will evolve but in the meantime, Posterous is heading for the sunset.

I bring this up because it might be time to look at paid options if you really cannot afford for your site to go down. Not emotionally or financially.

There are paid web hosting options that can simulate the ease of a blog posting experience like Squarespace.com as an example.

This is as good a time as any to remind you to:

• Back up your content so that you could restore it quickly at another web host if necessary.
• Consider getting a domain name so that your visitors can find you no matter where you go.
• Understand that much of the free Internet has a cost. Should your web host or service decide to call it quits, you could be in for a hurting.

Other Posts of Interest.

• YouTube Analytics for Video
• Understanding Project Settings
• Creation Tools for Logos - Video Id Bug

Side By Side Film Trailer

I was talking with a friend about the transition from film to digital. He didn't know what I was talking about.  He looked at me and said "...there are still movies."




He is right. And for most people that is all that it matters, that movies continue to be made. But I am interested in the transition process. This doesn't happen everyday.

This is a trailer for a documentary I'm not sure it has been released yet. Still, the folks in the trailer are the impressive representations of the current film and digital content industry.

If you are curious, take a look.

Going Mobile Firefox Flicks Contest

It is a small world after all, a mobile small world. As we transition from a PC connected web to a mobile web connection there are companies that are looking at the emerging markets, Africa, China and South America mobile users have jumped into the mix.

Linux is coming out with a phone OS that can be connected to a monitor for a full web connection. We know that people are pledging their allegiance to the iOS. Not to mention a little group called Google.

Firefox Flicks Contest Information Page

Now Firefox want to bring awareness about the Firefox OS. To that end, there is a contest where they would like folks to come up with videos to promote the interconnected world.

This is what Firefox wants:

1. A 60 second or less video talking about inspiring people to understand the power of mobile, mobile computing and how that allows folks to collaborate and prosper. (My take on this, not actually expressed in the creative brief; which you should read if you gonna enter the contest.)
2. This is an international contest unless there is a U.S. boycott or some action happening in your country; sorry about that for those folks in Cuba, Iran, North Korea. That being said, the video needs to be in the English language or there needs to be subtitles/captions.
3. Be creative but leave the dystrophic world view out of the mix. In other words, be encouraging, optimistic and engaging.
4. Creatively speaking, have at it; record on your phone, camcorder, animation tool or screencast (but be mindful of copyright issues)

You could do this out of the goodness of your heart but you don't have to; there is cash money and prizes for the winning videos.

The contest starts on February 13, 2013, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.

Even if you don't want to enter the contest think about the skills necessary to put a short video together. You really do have everything you need and the rest is just logistics.


Other Posts of Interest:

• There Is No Secret to Making A Video
• If I Had Just Five Minutes
• Glossary - Camera Shots

Working Through A Project - Animation Test

I have been trying to make a simple PSA for a project. I'm not a graphic designer or an After Effect guru. I don't even have or afford After Effects.

The thing is, with all the push about making higher quality videos and have eye catching bells and whatsits you get kinda caught up in how to do it as opposed to why are you doing it.

For five weeks I've tried a lot of things. They flopped. I can tell you why.

1. False expectations, You can make a video in an hour. You can't necessarily make a good one without planning.
2. Time, we have 24 hours in a day. If you want to do this you have to give up something in order for this to happen. There is only so much sleep that I can give up.
3. You can get so caught up on "I gotta do it." that you forget why you are doing it. Like any kind of storytelling you have to support your story.

So this is what I have so far. I have to make the other part but sharing process can help jigger other ideas into play.

How Did I Do This?

I was thinking about software that could help me make an simple motion graphic type of video. I looked at a bunch of animation software, way too expensive or complicated.

I looked at old text flash animation programs; that might have worked but I wasn't sure they would work on my 64bit operating system.

Finally I visualized what kind of motion I wanted. I remembered a web based tag cloud called Wordle. I tried that but I couldn't use it because I have Java turned off - there is a security issue with Java (not Java Script).

I tried other tag cloud services but the winner and champion (for my purposes) was Tagxedo.  Tagxedo would let me chose shapes and colors.  A neat thing about Tagxedo is that the tags can have certain shapes and the words pop out.

Next, for screen recording I tried both SnagIt video record and Camtasia. In this case, the SnagIt video was the way to go on account I could not remember how to turn of the cursor in Camtasia.

Yes,  This is a video using the mouse pointer to animate the tag cloud words.

Simple is good. Simple is affordable.

It is okay to peculate.

It is equally important to allow yourself to play. No matter how old you think you are.

Other Posts of Interest.

•  Demo of Windows Pan and Zoom Feature
• A Look at Using Pan and Zoom Effects
• Trimming Video with MPEG Streamclip

Stickam Shutting Down

Stickcam, the live streaming and event site is closing. This was the place where musicians, events or individuals could post and view live events. It was one of the first to figure out how to do it.

The site is closing up shop and if you happen to have any memories or video from chatting it up you needs to retrieve it by February 28, 2012 or have it lost to the mists of time.

It is one thing to be a pioneer and that they were. When other sites and web hosts began to offer live streaming (with advertiser support) it became harder to keep going. When you base population is weened away from what you have offer it is almost impossible to get them back.

Wishing folks well on their new adventure.

3rd Annual Streamy Awards

Yep, we are hip deep in award season and yes, there are web video award shows. The Streamy Awards will be buzzing on February 17, 2013 at the Hollywood Palladium.

The award show looks at the best of web video series, performers and experiences. This is a 10 minute recitation of the contenders for 2013:




I'm seeing a lot of mainstream performers crossing the fence but there are established web video performers that I recognize.

I'm also seeing that a bunch of quality shows that aren't on the list. Part of that is there still isn't a good way to find what you are looking for in web video. YouTube makes it easier but you have to work on it.

There is greatness happening on Vimeo and other distribution services that do not get a proper shout out from viewer because they don't know what gives outside of the walled communities.

This is an on-going problem. I don't want web video to become, content-wize old television.

Diversity in content is my mantra.

If you don't happen to be in the area, no worries, the show will be live streamed on Streamy.org

Get the couch comfy with a Root Beer Float or Rum and Coke (Coca-Cola is a sponsor) and get ready to utter or tweet your solids or hell, no at the screen.

Other Posts of Interest

• The Weekly Flickr Video Series
• VidCon 2013 Early Registration
• Social Media Video 2013 by Eric Qualman

Think About In-Camera Editing for Mobile Devices

Ok, so those in the iOS have the Vine app but for Androidians, soon to be Linux phone users and tablet owners, we have something way better than an app.

We have brains. We can do In-Camera Editing and we don't have to load a new app to do it. (Not that it wouldn't be nice but those of us on the Android side have learned to be resilient though our pain.)

Sure the iOS folks can push a button on an app and have six seconds of video. The more creative folks have to think about what they want to record, plan it out and then make it work.

Unless they have a dog or a cat. And even then you can’t count on the cat.

The Vine app is an automated form of In-Camera editing.  Well, let me explain this to the those that are younger than 30 years of age or those that don’t known celluloid from cellophane.

A Look At Traditional Movie Making

In traditional movies, the production company would record all of the living room scenes at one time, then the action stuff and then all the bongy bongy in the bedroom.

The editing room is where the actual movie was assembled or put together. And by assembled I mean the cut up the film and glued or taped it together.  Or recorded it on to a new master reel.

There is another form of editing called In-Camera where the camera records what happens in sequential order.

This would require the camera first recording the living room scene, then the action scene, back to the living room then to the bedroom and then back to the action scene, the living room and the bedroom.

You would have a finished video provider no one made a mistake. Which is why almost everything you have ever seen on TV or film has been edited. Even the reality shows. Especially the reality shows.

We don’t need no stinking app. We have a camcorder feature on our devices. One that has a Pause button. Most of us already have a way to upload videos to a distribution web host that can be posted and viewed in Twitter or Facebook.

We can do this. We lack nothing.




This is demo I made with some items I had near my desk, except for the wine which was in the kitchen. I recorded this quickie with my Android Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0.

Device Considerations

Planning is half of the battle. You don’t have time for words when an image will speak for itself. But you do want to convey something. You will need to take a moment to scope it out.

Let go of six seconds – your phone, tablet or media player might need at least 3 seconds to get up to speed. Some devices will not record less than three or four seconds of video. So realistically you are looking at maybe 10 to 12 seconds on the high end and six to nine if you have what you need close by.

Stabilization is really important; nobody wants to see the jitters for any length of time.

I think the good thing about the Vine app is that it less folks play with video. It can be a creativity booster that let's you see what you can do with just a limited period of time.


Other Posts of Interest

• There Is No Secret to Making A Video
• Glossary - Interstitial Videos
• Text Storyboarding or Editing on Paper
• More How-To Posts

A Calendar of Tales Storytelling Project

Can digital storytelling save a once mighty corporation? No, but it might be enough to keep people engaged and talking. Neil Gaiman and BlackBerry have teamed up to have a participatory year long story telling project called A Calendar of Tales.

Here is a promotional video of Neil Gaiman talking a little bit about storytelling and an invitation to join him on this adventure



By participatory this means you, should you be up to the challenge, get to submit ideas, themes and whatnot via Twitter.

I have no great love of mobile phones, on the list of things to un-invent this would be in my top twenty.  So no, I'm not a flunky for BlackBerry.

I am a supporter of digital storytelling in any and all forms. Part of this deal is that there will be videos of Mr. Gaiman talking about his process and how he will incorporate user generated content.

Yes, I do believe I could make time to watch those videos.

So if you are curious visit the project's web site. If you are a BlackBerry user your suffering and loyalty may be rewarded at last.


Other Posts of Interest

• Education or Video Advocacy
• The Short of the Week and We Will Forget
• Moving Forward, Amber and Nash's Video

Looking At Democracy Media Challenge

I'd say both democracy and media are challenged at this moment. Probably a good time to jump in and give your two cents about how you would fix or contribute to the solution. Should you be so inclined the Looking @ Democracy Media Challenge contest is looking for folks to give ideas, inspiration and direction to those that want to make it better.

The contest is a project of the Illinois Humanities Council, with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.  This is a promotional video for the project.




According to the web site, they are looking for creative work that:

(a) Tells a story about why government is important to our lives, or (b) Tells how we might together strengthen American democracy

It is a transmedia contests; meaning that you can create a website, blog, audio, video, infographic, smartphone app or whatever you want so long as it is digital content.

There is prize money, you could win up to $25,000 in cash, which would solve a lot of folks problems or possibly create new ones.

As Always, Read the Rules, FAQs and Terms of Service

Doing quick skim of the essential things to know:

This is a United States based contest so for my international friends, sorry you are out of luck on this one. Contributions must be in English, captioned or dubbed.

The contest is open to individuals and organizations: I'm taking that to mean non-profits but it was not specified. It seems it gives room to allow for-profit creators to jump in and muck up the mix.

You retain ownership of your work but you grant permission for the contest to use/display your creation for a year. (Yes!)

If you want in get busy; you have until 3:00pm April 30, 2013 to submit you ideas and projects.


Other Posts of Interest

• Video Advocacy Resources You Can Use Now
• Data Journalism Handbook
• It Gets Better - Video Advocacy