Vidding woes!

[ash48]

I love vidding - I do! But it's testing my patience at the moment!

I have just completed the first draft of my new video. This is a vid that I really wanted to be "good" - I wanted to work on all the bits that make up a good vid - the feel, the story (well, action in this case), the colour, transitions etc.) I made a copy and sent it to my beta,sharvie who had some wonderfully positive initial comments before we launched into the beta process. This is my favourite part of vidding. I love tweaking and having someone to bounce ideas off. Also to help me sharpen my vidding skills.

All was going well until major crash! My program iMovie just couldn't handle it anymore and basically told me to get stuffed! This was after I finished my first bit of beta'ing. All gone!

Choice now is do I upload what I had? (with the knowledge that it could be so much better), or do I remake it - knowing it will take ages, but will hopefully be a better video. *Eeek* too hard basket.

I also have a shiny new vidding program - Final Cut Express - which is doing my head in at the moment. It looks awesome but, man, learning curve much!

Comments

[shfan.livejournal.com]

I don't completely trust iMovie in that there have been times when the music disappears when I'm almost finished creating, or it will eat a clip or two everytime I log out. So once I have a complete vid in my head, I feel an urgent need to get it done. (Part of it is that obsessive part of me, but I also blame iMovie.) On the otherhand, I do love iMovie because it is easy and I'm scared to death of FCE. Perhaps you can write about your experiences with it?

I'm also slobbering over the new iMac. Need to go to the computer store and play with it to see what's going on with iMovie through iLife 08, though....but all that hardrive space, glorious!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi,

Yes, my iMovie is being a real pain at the moment - I have now cleaned it up and am in the middle of rebuilding this vid. But I feel iMovie is telling me "take the plunge with FCE". And yes, once I have got my head around FCE I will write about it because I have been looking for that information myself. I am considering getting "FCE for Dummies" because I need something straight forward. It's harder because I am so used to iMovie and I keep expecting FCE to work the same way, but it doesn't. The biggest thing I have to get used to is the rendering with FCE - I like being about to play and see what my clip will look like - but it has to render before I look at it, which I am finding a bit frustrating.

My hubby just bought the new iMac - it is pretty awesome for his work (he is a Graphic Designer). The screen is to die for and the huge amount of space. There is a new iMvoie that comes with the new iMac - but I can't say I like it - it looks very different but doesn't have anything extra really - like effects etc. I know I can get plug-ins, but really I have to take the plunge with FCE. My new season vids will be on FCE - that's the plan anyway.

Thanks for the comment. It's great to hear from others Mac users.

[shfan.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. A new look with nothing new. I'll take a look at it at the Apple Store. As for FCE, I'm going to look over a few novices' cyber shoulders and note their experiences. It looks very sophisticated for what I do. The music tracks on the package are enough to make me dizzy. I usually just edit tracks in Garage Band if needed. I've never even tried plug-ins.

I just wish my current iMovie program was a bit more hardy and predictable. It usually does its job, but not without giving me a heart attack at some time or another.

Thanks for the info.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

If you like Garage band you will love the other program that comes with FCE - "Soundtrack". Lots of fun to be had with that program. The "titles" program that comes with FCE is amazing too. I just have to get used to using it. It probably does depend on what kind of vids you make. I love effects, so FCE appeals to me.

Also the plug-ins for iMovie are easy to install - some of them cost, but not much and it really expands the effects library. I haven't really played with the new iMovie but at first glance looks pretty but basically has the same stuff.

Have you seen the comm Mac Vidding 101? (http://community.livejournal.com/mac_vidding_101/). It has lots of comments and links to Mac related questions etc.

Cheers.

Hee! I see you are a S&H fan - man that was my very first TV addiction - I still love 'em. SPN has taken over my love now - but S&H have a real place in my heart.

[shfan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm on the Mac 101 community. But I found this very interesting...answered some questions.

http://www.imovieplugins.com/index.html

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yep. That's the place. My fav plug in is "b/w plus one" and the "simple zoom". I also have "gradual b&w" and "simple caption". All pretty effective.

All the best with it.

[shfan.livejournal.com]

What I was trying to point out (but it has the same url) was under the first section "iMovie not compatible with Plug-ins" click on "here." I found out I can download iMovie 6 for free if I wasn't happy with the simplistic 08, and will eventually need to graduate to the hardcore stuff.

Last post tonight, I promise!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

OOhhh I see! :) See ya.