DV Guru http://www.dvguru.com DV Guru http://www.dvguru.com/media/feedlogo.gif DV Guru http://www.dvguru.com en-us Copyright 2008 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ParticleIllusion 3.0 Reviewhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/10/23/particleillusion-3-0-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/10/23/particleillusion-3-0-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/10/23/particleillusion-3-0-review/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you're not familiar with particle emitters, get familiar. Motion graphic artists use them to create that extra bit of polish that makes an animation stand out. The marketplace for particle emitters is pretty broad, with two companies standing in the front: Trapcode and Wondertouch. While Particular from Trapcode has some nice features, ParticleIllusion from Wondertouch is a full-featured application with an endless supply of emitter libraries. We got our grubby little hands on ParticleIllusion, and were fairly pleased with one gripe. Read on for the full review.

The folks at Wondertouch were gracious enough to provide a copy of the software for us to look at, and so far, I think the software is intuitive, broad and produces great results, with a few key caveats.

At $400, some users may cringe at the thought of paying that much for a plugin, but if you're producing higher end videos, a particle emitter plugin is a necessity. $400 gets you the standalone software and access to an absolutely HUGE library of effects. ParticleIllusion's greatest strength is it's massive library. Every month the folks at Wondertouch release a new library of effects for free, and for the most part they're pretty great. If you need to create a lot of abstract backgrounds, explosions or other particle related effects, once a month you'll get a shot in the arm of fresh content that will help any production stay fresh.

The effects may be fresh, but the UI is standard fare. The right window is a preview of effects, and the main window is your current "stage," and of the left, there's a standard layer pane. Digging a little deeper, the UI definitely has some strange quirks. According to the manual, your main "stage" has to, "be large enough to fit the dimensions of the project you intend to work on, at least when saving output. For example, if you are working on a 640x480 project, the stage window must be at least 640x480, or you will not be able to save your output full-size. "

Using their OpenGL trickery, it makes sense, since they need to save an actual frame of viewed buffer (OpenGL tends to not render objects that aren't currently being viewed.) Don't worry though, it's not taking an actual screenshot... as in you won't have to chroma/luma key your renders, it'll give you a great alpha channel out.

Getting emitters to behave the way you like is pretty easy. Most of the interaction with the main window is drag and drop, or single clicks. No need for complex math from the user, unless the user plans on creating an effect from scratch. One thing that could use some work is keyframing. I find it difficult to erase the starting keyframe (ok, impossible) if I accidentally created a keyframe later on in the composition. Now that After Effects has a competent curves editor, moving ParticleIllusion to After Effects would eliminate some of these UI hurdles.

UI aside, creating complex particle emissions is easy. Starting with one of their presets and adding it to a composition is literally two clicks. Customizing it is simple, and adding interaction points like deflectors and masking out the effects is really simple, albeit for the aforementioned accidental keyframing. Every time you add or adjust a point, a user needs to constantly be thinking of where they are at on the timeline. Creating accidental keyframes is easy to do, and less easy to fix.

The main disadvantage in my mind, though, is the lack of an After Effects plugin. It's cumbersome to open yet another app to get these effects exactly how I need. I've got to load in the video, mask out the parts I don't want, and then create my explosion effect, whereas with Particular, I don't have to leave After Effects and can see how all my composting will be affected.


I'm not saying this software isn't worth the $400 pricetag, but users need to keep in mind it can obfuscate their workflow, whereas a plugin like Particular fits in your After Effects comp nicely. Wondertouch says they're working on an After Effects plugin, but it's not going to see a release till sometime in 2007. If I were spending $400 at this exact moment, it'd be hard for me to recommend the $400 ParticleIllusion over the $300 Particular, since I'm primarily an After Effects artist. If you're looking for some software to use with your NLE and add some broad effects, I'd heartily recommend ParticleIllusion.


On the flip side of the plugin coin, the software is not resource intensive AT ALL. It produces great results using OpenGL, an OpenGL friendly video card and a mediocre system. For an idea on how resource friendly this program is, I'm on a higher end system:

PowerMac G5 with dual 1.8 G5s, 4GB of RAM, RAID array and a GeForce 6800GT video card.


Their minimum requirements are:

Minimum System Specs:
- PowerPC G4 or G5 (possibly G3)
- 800 MHz processor or faster (will work with slower, but results vary)

- 256 MB RAM
- Display with 1024 x 768 resolution
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher

- Graphics card with basic OpenGL support


Recommended system:
2.0 GHz G5
1 GB RAM
Display with 1440x900 resolution or higher
Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher


and if you're on a PC, you've got to have:


Minimum System Specs:
- Windows 98 / ME / NT 4 / 2000 / XP
- Intel compatible processor at 500 MHz or faster
- Video card with OpenGL support; 1024x768 minimum resolution; 24 or 32
bits per pixel

Minimum system:
Pentium 3 - 500 MHz,
128 MB RAM
NVidia GeForce 2 (32 MB) @ 1024x768, 32 bpp

Recommended system:
Pentium 4 - 2.0 GHz
512 MB RAM
NVidia GeForce 4, 64 MB, 1280x1024, 32 bpp


So realistically, any system produced within the last five years can run ParticleIllusion. That is a definite advantage for low-end video producers who may not have a kicking system, or if they ran After Effects and a myriad of plugins, their system would slow to a crawl.


All-in-all, the software is pretty strong, but with some glaring omissions. The low footprint makes it ideal for motion graphic artists without a killer system, but the higher budgetary footprint probably puts it out of reach of those users. The effects are simple to create, and with such a broad library the $400 pricetag doesn't seem as daunting, especially if you use the software to create a variety of backgrounds. Like I said though, I'll be eagerly anticipating the After Effects plugin version of this software, but it'd be hard for me to purchase it right now. Regardless of your system or budget, head to Wondertouch's site and grab the free demo.

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]]>digital videoDigitalVideodvgurugraphicsparticleparticle illusionParticleIllusionvideowondertouchRandall Bennett2006-10-23T10:05:00+00:00From your webcam to the web just got easier thanks to Flixnhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/22/from-your-webcam-to-the-web-just-got-easier-thanks-to-flixn/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/22/from-your-webcam-to-the-web-just-got-easier-thanks-to-flixn/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/22/from-your-webcam-to-the-web-just-got-easier-thanks-to-flixn/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sure, YouTube made it easier to get your video online, but what if you want to make a quick video comment? Using a webcam to capture a clip, then upload it to YouTube and wait for it to process just takes too long these days. Now you have Flixn, your one stop shop for creating and sharing webcam clips. Using Flash, Flixin interfaces directly with your webcam and allows you to record a message. By pressing the record button, a red REC appears in the upper right corner to indicate it is recording, just like an old video camera. When you're done, press stop and you can review your clip.

Recording with Flixn is easy!
From here you can keep it or try again. If you decide to keep it, Flixn gives you code for MySpace, Blogger, eBay, typepad, friendster, and a direct URL for posting an embeddable Flash player. An ad appears at the end of your clip a la Revver. The interface is easy and fun. The guys at Flixn sure got this right, and just in time to hop on the social media bandwagon. Oh, and did I mention there is no sign-up process? Just hook up your web cam and go.

Why don't you leave us a video comment to try it out?


(via Download Squad)
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]]>camclipFlashmediasocialvideowebcamRussell Heimlich2006-09-22T13:45:00+00:00Review of HP xw9400 Workstationhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/12/review-of-hp-xw9400-workstation/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/12/review-of-hp-xw9400-workstation/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/12/review-of-hp-xw9400-workstation/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HP xw9400Charlie White from DigitalVideoEditing.com took HP's latest AMD Opteron for a spin around the digital content creation block. Equipped with 2 dual core AMD Opteron chips (2.8Ghz), NVIDIA Quadro FX3500 256MB graphics card, and 4GB DDR-667 ram, this thing was a speed demon. Charlie ran it against a Dell with an Intel Core 2 Extreme. Now I know what you are thinking, 4 cores vs. 2 cores, no contest. Surprisingly, the Intel chip held it's ground and even beat the AMD chip in all of the After Effects tests. Now with 2 processors, you would expect this machine to be loud, but Charlie says it is whisper quiet. Even quieter than a lot of single-chip set-ups. However, all of this speed and quietness comes at a price. You would most certainly have to be a pro to justify spending the $6,000 for this set-up as tested.
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]]>AMDcomputercpudual-corehardwareHPopteronprofessionalreviewworkstationRussell Heimlich2006-09-12T18:28:00+00:00Dell XPS 700 reviewedhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/05/dell-xps-700-reviewed/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/05/dell-xps-700-reviewed/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/05/dell-xps-700-reviewed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dell XPS 700
Bit-tech.net has a review of the newest XPS system from Dell, the XPS 700. This is one slick-looking, top of the line machine. While squarely aimed at the gaming market, this machine has plenty of processing oomph for the media creation professional. Bit-tech found the performance a bit underwhelming due to the slower DDR2-667 memory instead of the speedier DDR2-800. In other words, the memory couldn't keep up with the Core 2 Duo. And just because it's quick doesn't mean it's hot or noisy -- the BTX layout of the inner components allows better airflow. Read through the full article, chock full of pics and more details.
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]]>computerDellhardwareintelmachinereviewxps 700Xps700Russell Heimlich2006-09-05T12:30:00+00:00HVX200 goes underwaterhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/01/hvx200-goes-underwater/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/01/hvx200-goes-underwater/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/09/01/hvx200-goes-underwater/#commentsFiled under: ,

There have been many tests with the Panasonic HVX200 and the DVCPro HD format, but this is the first one I've read about using this setup underwater. Studio Monthly has an interview with Stuart Cummings of Watermark Productions about shooting with the HVX200 underwater. If you think the P2 workflow is a pain, try it under water. Obviously they had to come up with another solution, so they went with the Firestore FS-100. It's a good read with a very different perspective from what most of us are used to.
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]]>firestorefs-100hvx200oceanp2panasonicunderwaterSheila Ward2006-09-01T04:00:00+00:00For low budget filmmakers - Microfilmmaker Magazinehttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/26/for-low-budget-filmmakers-microfilmmaker-magazine/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/26/for-low-budget-filmmakers-microfilmmaker-magazine/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/26/for-low-budget-filmmakers-microfilmmaker-magazine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There is a great site available for independent filmmakers with low budgets. The site, Microfilmmaker Magazine, defines it's mission:

...to provide all the things that microfilmmakers need: how-to guides on building steady rigs, dollies, and other equipment, discounts on services microfilmmakers can really use, articles on better filmmaking techniques from preproduction to post, reviews of the newest cameras, software, equipment, and adapters in a microfilmmaker's actual price range, a community section for filmmakers to converse and help one another, and even a critiques section on new Micro-Films.

The term "film" is used all through the website, but they acknowledge that they use the term loosely, since most low budget filmmakers can't afford film and use digital video. With all the information this website offers, the downside is that there is no search function (that I could find). But things are very well organized in different categories so you should be able to easily find what interests you. Go check it out!
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]]>critiquediyhow tohow-toindependentlow budgetmagazinemicrofilmmakerreviewSheila Ward2006-08-26T16:45:00+00:00Ulead VideoStudio 10http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/24/ulead-videostudio-10/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/24/ulead-videostudio-10/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/24/ulead-videostudio-10/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ulead keeps improving it's VideoStudio with the release of version 10. VideoStudio is available in 2 flavors: regular for the beginner or person who does not need a lot of bells and whistles, and Plus which gives you more power and HDV capability. You can view what's available in each version here. According to the PC Magazine review, VideoStudio has positioned itself as a alternative to Adobe Premiere Elements. Both of these video editors have trial versions available for download.

Any readers out there that use Ulead VideoStudio and want to comment?
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]]>adobebeginnerhdvpremiere elementsuleadvideo editorVideoEditorvideostudioSheila Ward2006-08-24T10:21:00+00:00Sony DCR-DVD205 Camcorder Reviewhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/17/sony-dcr-dvd205-camcorder-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/17/sony-dcr-dvd205-camcorder-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/17/sony-dcr-dvd205-camcorder-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A review of the Sony DCR-DVD205 has been posted over on Camcorderinfo.com. If all you want to do is shoot video, take out the diskc and put it in the DVD player to watch, then you might be interested in this camera. Sony includes a stripped down version of Nero which will allow you to convert the 3 inch discs to regular DVD discs if your player is not compatible. But if you think you might be interesting in editing the video you shoot, stay away from the DVD camcorders. It's more trouble than it's worth.
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]]>camcorderdvddvd205reviewsonySheila Ward2006-08-17T14:32:00+00:00iPod Media Studiohttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/ipod-media-studio/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/ipod-media-studio/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/ipod-media-studio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After reading this review on Geek.com, I decided to tryout iPod Media Studio. So I downloaded the demo version from the Makayama website and installed it. I selected a quick 2 minute clip of video that I had shot and within 10 minutes of installing the software I was playing the video on my iPod. Sweeeet. Next I tried a DVD and the results were just as fast. The demo only allows 3 minutes of video to be processed so I could not test larger file sizes. I took the same 2 minute clip and used Videora's iPod Converter to compare the results. It took Videora a couple minutes longer to output the video. Once both clips were on my iPod, I hooked it to a 32" TV and I could not tell any difference in quality between the 2 clips. With iPod Media Studio you have very little control over the output, but if you want a quick, easy way to get your video to the iPod you need to check out this app. If you want more control over encoding options this might not be for you. Check out the software guide here and you will see how easy it is to use and what options are available. Makayama has other products available for transferring video to cell phones, PSP, Palm, Pocket PC, etc.
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]]>dvdipodipod media studiomakayamapalmpocket pcpspreviewvideoraSheila Ward2006-08-16T15:01:00+00:00Review: The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Videohttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/review-the-bare-bones-camera-course-for-film-and-video/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/review-the-bare-bones-camera-course-for-film-and-video/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/16/review-the-bare-bones-camera-course-for-film-and-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm having a hard time imagining a more basic, simplistic, and elegantly straightforward book on cinematography than The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video. This 89 page, self-published book by filmmaker Tom Schroeppel is extremely accessible, completely devoid of fluff, and a highly recommended read for aspiring filmmakers and cinematographers. (Although originally written for film cameras in the 1980s, the book has been updated for video since that time.) In his handy book, Schroeppel covers all of the camera operating essentials, such as camera workings (iris, shutter, depth of field, etc.), composition, camera moves, basic sequences, screen direction, and lighting. Lacking pretense and presented in a clear and logical sequence, the material will take you through picking up a camera to getting down some well-composed shots. It's a very unintimidating guide, with its extremely minimal and low-tech presentation: the typewriter font, cardboard brown cover, and the hand-drawn diagrams littered throughout.


If you're new to cameras and filmmaking, this book is a fantastic starting point. It would make for a smart addition to a film school curriculum, for sure. Even home movie people would do well to read through the book and learn up, even though they might not find all of the information relevant. (At least maybe the Constant Zoom Syndrome can be put to rest.) Perhaps even intermediates who have a decent hold on f-stops, rule of thirds, and depth of field tricks might do well to pick up a copy, if not just for the purposes of reviewing and enhancing their knowledge, and maybe for entertainment value. (Oh, those darling illustrations!) The sheer simplicity is really charming, and definitely the main selling point. At 89 pages, it certainly isn't a big time investment, no matter who you are. You can read through this thing in a couple hours. And, the funky little doodle-esque diagrams are a great inclusion that certainly help to clarify the concepts presented in the book. Highly recommended.
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]]>beginnerbookcamera-opcamerascinematographyfilm schoolfilmmakingFilmSchoolreviewBrian Liloia2006-08-16T13:09:00+00:00DV Gear Talk at DVCreators.nethttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/14/dv-gear-talk-at-dvcreators-net/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/14/dv-gear-talk-at-dvcreators-net/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/14/dv-gear-talk-at-dvcreators-net/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guy Cochran over at DVCreators.net has some excellent video reviews of production gear on the DV Gear Talk page. It's nice to be able to see the gear in action instead of just reading about it. His review/tutorial of the Sennheiser wireless G2 system is what finally convinced me to purchase the units (and they are sweet). Guy is a straight shooter and knows his stuff. He was providing these videos long before iTunes and the iPod made it cool.
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]]>dvcreatorsdvcreators.netgearguy cochranGuyCochranhow topodcastreviewtutorialvodcastSheila Ward2006-08-14T23:45:00+00:00Apple Mac Pro vs Dell Precision 690http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/13/apple-mac-pro-vs-dell-precision-690/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/13/apple-mac-pro-vs-dell-precision-690/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/13/apple-mac-pro-vs-dell-precision-690/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mac Vs. DellIs the Mac Pro really as good of a deal as Steve Jobs had said? In this side-by-side comparison with a Dell Precision 690 put out by SystemShooutouts.org you can see for yourself. Of course it is interesting to note the Dell doesn't come with a monitor while the Apple does. It looks like Apple actually has a price advantage over a similarly configured Dell. See how it stacks up for yourself.
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]]>ApplecomparecomparisoncomputerDellmac ProMacProPrecision 690Precision690shoot outShootOutRussell Heimlich2006-08-13T23:55:00+00:00Canon HV10 vs. Sony HC3http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/11/canon-hv10-vs-sony-hc3/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/11/canon-hv10-vs-sony-hc3/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/11/canon-hv10-vs-sony-hc3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Canon HV10 vs Sony HC3








The NY Times as an article comparing and contrasting Canon's yet to be released HV10 with Sony's king of the consumer-HD crop, HC3. David Pogue noted the Canon has a superior stabilizer and focusing system, and handles better in low light conditions. Of course the biggest drawback of any HD format at the moment is the lack of a way to distribute your HD footage to others. Currently, you can only view this stuff on your computer and not on that spanking new HDTV set. But one thing to consider is that "you're actually buying two camcorders in one; you can film in either standard or high-definition video on the same tape. And you can play back either kind of video on either kind of TV set, too (standard or HDTV), which makes these camcorders exceptionally versatile."

The Canon is expected to sell for $1,300 starting next month and the Sony is out now for a list price of $1,500.
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]]>camcordercameracanonconsumerhc3HDTVHDVhigh defHighDefhv10nytimessonyRussell Heimlich2006-08-11T08:02:00+00:00Bogen / Manfrotto 560B Monopod Reviewhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/10/bogen-manfrotto-560b-monopod-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/10/bogen-manfrotto-560b-monopod-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/10/bogen-manfrotto-560b-monopod-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yesterday I was out in the field and got a chance to use my new Bogen / Manfrotto 560B Monopod. I was not disappointed. I used a Sony PD170 with wireless receiver and shotgun microphone attached weighing in at approx. 6lbs total. This monopod uses the 3157N quick release plate which results in easy on, easy off. It has a tilt-top head, which comes in handy to get just the right angle, and a comfortable grip with hand strap to keep your shots steady. But there are two features that make this monopod awesome. First is a set of retractable feet attached to a pivot that keeps the base on the ground, even if it is uneven. Second, is the fluid cartridge in the base. Once you setup your shot, this fluid cartridge allows you to perform a smooth pan with just a slight twist of the wrist. This monopod is light weight and easy to grab and go with the camera attached. If you are searching for a monopod you need to check out the Bogen / Manfrotto 560B. This thing is going everywhere with me from now on.
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]]>560bbogenfeetfluidfluid cartridgefluid monopodfluid panmanfrottomonopodpanpivotstabletilttilt topTiltTopSheila Ward2006-08-10T14:00:00+00:00Blu-ray vs. HD DVD: The Blu-ray Perspectivehttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/06/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-the-blu-ray-perspective/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/06/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-the-blu-ray-perspective/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/06/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-the-blu-ray-perspective/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you are following the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD saga, this article is an interesting read. Andy Parsons, Chair of the Blu-ray Disc Association's US Promotion Committee and Senior Vice President of Product Development for Pioneer USA (whew) discusses the current format war. Of course, it is biased toward Blu-ray. I have to admit, I have not been following this subject since they failed to come to an agreement on one format. Now that products are starting to hit the market, I'll probably start paying more attention. But I have no plans to get involved with either of these formats until this all shakes out.

If you are interested in the format war, jump on over to Engadget and check out this post by Matt Burns. Be sure to read the comments!
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]]>blu-rayblu-ray vs. hd dvddvdengadgetformatformat warformat warshardwarehd dvdHdDvdpioneerplayerSheila Ward2006-08-06T13:37:00+00:00Multicam Roundup Part 2http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/multicam-roundup-part-2/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/multicam-roundup-part-2/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/multicam-roundup-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Multicam Roundup Part 2To refresh, Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, Apple Final Cut Pro 5.1, Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.2.4, and the VASST infinitiCam plug-in for Sony Vegas 6.0d all have tools for executing multicam edits. Part 1 dealt with usability of each product and how they compare to one another. This time around Jan Ozer from Digital Content Producer magazine compares performance and quality through many tests. First, the time to render the 4 HDV streams to the output format was tested. Next up, scaling down 1440x1080i footage to 720x480i to measure quality. Finally, and this is the most interesting as we move to an HD world, upsampling DV to HDV. Give the article a read through to hear about the details and comparisons. For a quick reference, Jan has put the findings in a compact PDF table for your convenience.
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]]>comparecutediteditingeditormulticamNLEnon-linearpostpost-productionreviewRussell Heimlich2006-08-04T15:47:00+00:00SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4 Reviewhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/smartsound-sonicfire-pro-4-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/smartsound-sonicfire-pro-4-review/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/04/smartsound-sonicfire-pro-4-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sonicfire Pro 4There are numerous sources for royalty free music to use in your productions. For most cases they work great, but sometimes it's difficult to make these fixed loop audio clips match up to the videos you've created. If the video clip you have is 46 seconds and your music loop is 30 seconds, you will have to do some creative editing to get the loop to flow properly and fit your clip. This is where SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4 comes in. I purchased this product while on a tight project deadline and it saved me hours of editing. Tim Kennelly has written a very good review over at EventDV. To see the software in action, Jan Ozer has a video tutorial you can view. If you have used this software, let us know your experiences with it!

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]]>audioeditingmood mappingMoodMappingmusicreviewreviewsroyalty freeroyalty-freesmartsoundsoftwaresonicfiresonicfire prosonicfire pro 4soundtracktutorialtutorialsSheila Ward2006-08-04T14:17:00+00:00Wikipedia's list of NLEhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/03/wikipedias-list-of-nle/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/03/wikipedias-list-of-nle/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/03/wikipedias-list-of-nle/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wikipedia NLE ListWikipedia is a great community resource for anything and everything. They have a list of what must be every popular NLE out there, both paid and free versions. If you are curious to know what else is out there, this article is the best place to start. Even if you have a preferred NLE check out the articles about each software. Maybe you have something unique to contribute?
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]]>communityediteditorlistnon-linearresourcesoftwareRussell Heimlich2006-08-03T20:03:00+00:00HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray: Head to headhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/02/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-head-to-head/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/02/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-head-to-head/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/08/02/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-head-to-head/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HD-DVD vs Blu-rayUp until both camps released the same movie, there was no way to tell which format was better. With the release of Training Day, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Rumor Has It in both formats, we can now compare apples-to-apples, so to speak. High Def Digest put the two formats head to head in a quality comparison test. HD-DVD appears to have a slight edge over Blu-ray. "The unfortunate cropping of the Blu-ray image, coupled with more noticeable compression artifacts and an overall darker cast, can't compete with the more consistently pleasing presentation of the HD DVD." Minute differences, but still significant considering the war between these two similiar formats is just getting started.

Can't we all just get along?
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]]>Blu-raycomparisonDVDHD-DVDhidefhigh definitionHighDefinitionnext-genqualitytechnicalRussell Heimlich2006-08-02T12:23:00+00:00Ten video sharing services comparedhttp://www.dvguru.com/2006/04/07/ten-video-sharing-services-compared/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/04/07/ten-video-sharing-services-compared/http://www.dvguru.com/2006/04/07/ten-video-sharing-services-compared/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The number of video-sharing sites has shot through the roof recently, as dozens of companies try to become the Flickr of the online video world.  To this end, many video services have started offering new features like editing and remixability in an attempt to snatch a piece of the ever-expanding online video pie.  But for the average user--who just wants to post a video on the 'net and share it with some friends--there are already too many options out there.  All one really wants to know is, which site is going to work, with the least amount of hassle?

I took 10 of these sites out for a test drive, and picked some winners.  If you want to post, watch, share, or edit video online, this post's for you.

To test each service, I uploaded my demo reel (a 15MB Sorenson 3-encoded Quicktime file) to each site and compared video quality, site interface, community features, and functionality.  Where applicable I also tried to embed the resulting video in a Wordpress page.  Many of these sites are still in beta, and their functionality could change in the coming months, but if you're looking to post and share video today, this is the current state of things.

Eyespot

Appeal: Easy-to-use video uploading and remixing.
Interface: Bright and colorful.  Tagging, forums, groups.  Not a lot of community features.
Editing:  Trim beginning and end, reorder clips on a timeline, add music and photos.
Sharing:  Post to a group, invite a friend to the service (but not directly to your clip).
Verdict: Uploading straightforward and painless.  But: 25MB filesize limit too small.  Mashup features fall short of Grouper's "groovies," and it's not even in the same ballpark as Jumpcut when it comes to mixing and editing.  Not a lot of reason to use Eyespot, in its current incarnation.

Google Video

Appeal: It's Google.
Interface: Typically clean and sparse Google layout.  Uploading requires you download the Google Video Uploader.  Allows you to add plenty of metadata, including a transcript.  You can monetize your content by assigning a sale price to each clip (you can also give users a "day pass," giving them access to the content for a limited time, but not ownership).
Editing: None.
Sharing: See below.
Verdict: Google Video requires a "video verification" process, where your submission is reviewed to ensure it conforms to Google's technical standards and legal policies.  This process "may take several days," so check back for an update.

Grouper

Appeal: YouTube with a file-sharing application built on top.
Interface: For full functionality, requires an application download. Windows Media Player-based (converts other formats).  Ratings, tagging, groups, RSS feeds.
Editing: Create mashups of your videos and photos, set to music ("groovies").
Sharing: Post direct to myspace, friendster, eBay.  Download to hard drive, iPod.
Verdict: "Groovies" are easy to create and could be very popular.  But: File-sharing application seems half-baked (and is undifferentiated from existing options).  "Groovies" will prove much more popular if they can be built online without having to download the app.  E-mail registration system was a pain; had to do it twice to get confirmed.  After several hours, my file was still unavailable, as the service was still "upload processing."

Jumpcut

Appeal: Create, edit, and remix video online.
Interface:  Slick interface feels more like an application than a web page.  Scales all videos to a larger size than other sites, but videos don't autoplay and there is no indication of what portion of the video has already been downloaded.
Editing:  Bar-none the best editing options of the bunch.  Splice your footage, reorder the shots, add music, photos, transitions, even effects--think iMovie in an online interface.  Very, very slick.
Sharing:  Email to a friend, embed in a web page (worked flawlessly in Wordpress).
Verdict: Playing with Jumpcut's features, you immediately understand that the future of online video is here.  No current competitor can touch it.  But:  Get too effects crazy and your video slows down.  Jumpcut doesn't re-render your files with every remix--which leaves the original video quality intact--but playback of edited files is not perfectly smooth. Don't throw out iMovie just yet.

Ourmedia

Appeal:  "The Global Home for Grassroots Media."
Interface: Slow, confusing, and messy.  Requires an Internet Archive account, and the integration of the two services is convoluted.  Keeps your content in its native format, which is both good and bad--it doesn't recompress your video, but it requires its users to have several different players installed correctly.  Creative Commons licenses built-in. 
Editing: None.
Sharing: RSS feeds, email to a friend, direct link to files from your own site.
Verdict:  Going forward, a good place to upload your media if it is socially-conscious or activist by nature.  Also works as an online repository for video/audio storage.  But: One of the most difficult sites to upload video to.  Current "alpha" version falls far short of potential--wait for the next version.

Revver

Appeal: YouTube with monetization--if people watch your video (and the embedded ad), you get paid 20% of what the advertiser pays Revver.  If they click on the Revver link at the end, you split the proceeds 50/50.
Interace: Quicktime-based.  Requires you to download a client for uploading content.  Tagging, emailing, rating, playlisting.
Editing: None.
Sharing: See below.
Verdict: Offers a unique revenue-sharing model that may appeal to content owners and producers.  But: Uploading process is convoluted (the promised drag-and-drop functionality was nowhere to be found).  After trying to upload my file using the Revver client twice, my video was still listed as "unavailable."  I later received an email from Revver stating that my submission may contain unauthorized material that requires clearances--which is true.  Because Revver and Google Video are the only sites in this roundup that let you monetize your content, we'll be back with an update comparing the two.

Videoegg

Appeal: Lets you painlessly upload video of any format to the web and post it to other sites or share it with friends.
Interface: Requires you download an application in order to upload.  The download seamlessly embeds in your browser to give you drag-and-drop functionality.
Editing:  Basic trimming of beginning and end points.
Sharing: Post direct to eBay, Blogger, and Typepad.  Creates a simple URL, lets you email the video, and gives you javascript and html code for embedding in your own pages.
Verdict: Painless experience.  If you only need to post and share video with friends, Videoegg just works.  Flash 8 video quality is pretty decent.  But: Video didn't embed properly in other pages (Wordpress).


Vimeo

Appeal: Flickr for video.
Interface: Nice and clean, uses a flash wrapper to play native formats.  No download required, simple and easy uploads.  Tagging, commenting, voting.  Nice player with a volume control and no burned-in logo.
Editing: None in the current version.
Sharing: Post to Flickr, send to del.icio.us, download original file, embed in your MySpace profile or blog, create an RSS feed.
Verdict:  Good video quality. Embedding the video in Wordpress worked flawlessly.  But: Light on community features, and weekly storage cap of 20 megs is too limiting.

vSocial

Appeal: "The fastest, easiest way to upload, watch and share your favorite video clips."
Interface: All Web 2.0'd-out.  Big fonts, AJAX, tagging, rating, reviewing, RSS feeds, creative commons licenses.
Editing: Offers "edit this video" functionality, which I couldn't test (see below).  Can also create "Video Rolls," which are customized playlists generated from your selected criteria.
Sharing: Embed in your own page, MySpace, Typepad, Blogger, del.icio.us, Flickr, Blog It! (write a post on your own blog about a video without leaving vSocial).
Verdict: Lots of community features.  But: Didn't live up to their "fastest" or "easiest" claim--I never successfully got a video uploaded (tried three times).  Quality of existing clips is less than stellar--everything's resized to 320X240.  Your mileage may vary, but even with a Quicktime file that uploaded to other sites without a problem, I never got vSocial to work.

YouTube

Appeal: The video-sharing site everyone's already heard of.  Mindshare-winner by a mile.
Interface: Tabbed pages feature ratings, favorites, flagging, tagging, and commenting.  Create playlists, subscribe to other's uploads, subscribe to tags.  The player only features a mute button (rather than level control), and full-screening the video opens a new window and starts playback over.
Editing:  None.
Sharing: Embed in other websites, including Friendster, eBay, Blogger, MySpace.
Verdict: Easy to use, no major issues.  Decent video quality, audio sounds compressed.  Video embedded in Wordpress fine (but was off-center).  But: No progress bar for uploading.  Fairly lengthy "processing" delay before you (or anyone else) can watch your video.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

For posting: If you just want to get a video clip online and share it with friends via email or on your own blog, Vimeo wins for its speed, ease-of-use, and simple playback functions.  It also lets users download the original file, and features some light community features (note that a new version is launching very soon).  One of the few sites I used that I never had a problem with.  Alternate choice: Videoegg.

For viewership: If you want to step up to more community features and get widespread viewership of your viral clip, YouTube gets the job done with a lot less hassle than vSocial or Grouper.

For editing: If you want to alter your video online in any way--through editing, remixing, or combining your clips with those from other users--then head on over to Jumpcut and don't look back.  Jumpcut really offers the first leap forward in online video sharing, and is worth a look even if you have no use for editing features (its full-fledged community is launching "very soon").  Alternate choice: none, yet, although Motionbox looks to be a potential competitor.

For this roundup, I left out more services than I reviewed.  This is because many of them are mere YouTube clones, at least in their current state (e.g., CastPost, ClipShack, Dailymotion).  Others, like Dabble and the aforementioned Motionbox, are not yet publicly available.  You're welcome to check out a list of 40 video sharing sites at eConsultant, all of which I at least glanced at.  TechCrunch also has some great coverage of the developing online video scene.  Finally, please add your own experiences and comments below, and feel free to disagree with my choices.
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]]>jumpcutsocialvideosharingvimeoweb2web2.0youtubeRyan Bilsborrow-Koo2006-04-07T17:45:00+00:00