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

[deirdre-c.livejournal.com]

Oh no! What a shame!

I don't know what to tell you. I totally understand the desire to post, post, post!! But I also worry you might regret not getting it back in its most beautiful form. Dilemma!

Side note: I'd love to hear what you think of FCE. Of course, I've only done my one little vid on iMovie, but I'd still like to hear what you think of the differences/if it's worth shifting over.

[hay1ock.livejournal.com]

Oh noes!! *pets ya*

Welcome to my life...even down to the other programme that i have no time or understanding of how to use :(

I have posted things in the past and regretted it cos wmm just ended my desire to carry on...but you have to decide what best for your sanity sometimes.

*big hugs*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

I'm so sorry your program crashed. Bastard program from hell! *kicks program for you*

Well, I sent back an email so you know my opinion. Your first draft is vastly better than some final versions I've seen. Really.

But I wouldn't want you to regret posting something you thought was totally inferior. I guess it depends on how long you think it's going to take to rebuild and if you really want to wait however long that is.

I'll help every step if need be. *hugs*

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi Dei,

Yeah it's a real bummer. I'm going to see what I can do. Hubby seems to think it's a corrupt file in the program - so major clean up required. If we can do that successfully I think I will remake. Luckily I do have a copy and maybe able to use some clips from that. Fun times ahead.

Re FCE. It's big! I am completely overwhelmed by it, but I think it will be worth the switch when I can get a handle on it. The problem is I know iMovie really well and FCE is so different - I keep wanting to move around FCE the same way I do iMovie. Whether it's worth the switch is a good question. I'm still not sure for myself yet. I love the simplicity of iMovie and with the extra plug ins available it can do some pretty good stuff. It may depend where you want to go with vidding. I have dreams of producing wonderfully "techie" vids one day - so I will probably persist with it.

Cheers

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi Hayley,

Yep - hugs are definitely required! I am beginning to feel like a real vidder now! I figure a crash had to happen sometime - just wish is wasn't this vid.

Hubby is playing with the program to see what can be done. My beta reckons by first draft was more like a final copy so I may end up going with it. I'll see what can be salvaged, because I would like to tweak it some more. I'll see if my sanity survives that.

Thanks for the comment. I can now empathise with anyone who had a vid crash on them. Not nice!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey,

Hubby been checking it out - looks like he's stumped as well. We are deleting all previous movies - to try and clean up the program. Looks good so far. I'm going to start rebuilding the vid and see how that goes - see if I have the patience for it. If all goes well I will send you a copy of my first edits sometime soon - hopefully.

Thanks for your wonderful support as always.

[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.