,

Tip #1491: Telestream Purchases Masstech

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1491: Telestream Purchases Masstech

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Asset management tools continue consolidating.

The Telestream logo.

Topic $TipTopic

As reported in TVTechnology.com, Telestream has announced an acquisition of Masstech, which constructs hybrid cloud-based storage and asset lifecycle management systems.

This move follows Telestream’s acquisition of EcoDigital and its Diva MAM platform back in October. Telestream has now made 10 acquisitions, which the company claims makes it the leading supplier to the content storage/management segment for the Media & Entertainment market.

Under the terms of this new deal, all Masstech resources will be transferred to Telestream. The company’s engineering and product management functions will be integrated with Telestream’s Content Management Business Unit and will be led by Geoff Tognetti. The goal of this unit will be to combine Masstech intellectual property with EcoDigital’s Diva into a single product.

Here’s the Telestream press release.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1490: Problems Playing Android Videos

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1490: Problems Playing Android Videos

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Switch Camera settings to shoot H.264.

Camera > Advanced settings on an Android phone.

Topic $TipTopic

This tip was contributed by Warren Nelson:

I shot a video on my Google Pixel 3 of my wife opening a birthday present and when I transferred it to my Mac, it wouldn’t play. After some detection, I discovered that an Android update had defaulted to an mp4 version with H.265/HEVC instead of their old H.264/AVC.

I’m not educated enough to know if QuickTime is choking the H.265 or the HEVC portion of this new update. I tested the old setting and it worked just fine.

Users can find this setting by clicking the Advanced link in the main Camera setting (see screen shot).

I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has fallen victim to Google wanting to store smaller video files. Thanks again for all your help over the years!

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1481: Adobe Stock Has Improved Templates

… for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Tip #1481: Adobe Stock Has Improved Templates

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Replaceable media, along with changeable text, improves motion graphic templates.

Templates that allow media replacement in Premiere have special indicators in Adobe Stock.

Topic $TipTopic

Dozens of new Motion Graphics templates allowing media replacement are now available on Adobe Stock. Motion graphics templates with media replacement make it easy for Premiere Pro editors to incorporate their own video or graphics, such as logos.

Media Replacement is a new feature in the latest After Effects release when creating Motion Graphics templates. Now, After Effects artists can flag media in a template such that Premiere editors can use the template, but replace the media.

Template text has always been replaceable, now media can be replaced as well, which makes templates much easier to use between projects. The nice thing is that editors don’t need to know After Effects to change either text or media.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s the link to Adobe Stock. Templates that allow media replacement are specially indicated (see screen shot).

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1480: Premiere Speech-to-Text Goes Beta

… for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Tip #1480: Premiere Speech-to-Text Goes Beta

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The link in this tip also includes a link to sign up for the beta program.

Premiere will soon support automatic transcripts natively within the app.

Topic $TipTopic

Adobe announced that Speech-to-Text is coming to Adobe Premiere Pro. Automatically generate a transcript and add captions to your videos to improve accessibility and boost engagement with Speech to Text.

Currently in beta, it is expected to be released in the next few months. It will require updating to Premiere 15.x. It includes support for: English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Chinese, Hindi, and more.

This web page has more information, along with the opportunity to sign up for Adobe’s beta program.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1479: Adobe Updates Premiere Pro

… for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Tip #1479: Adobe Updates Premiere Pro

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

This first major upgrade for 2021 sets the scene for the future.

Logos for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.

Topic $TipTopic

This week, Adobe released new versions of its video and audio applications: Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Media Encoder, Character Animator and Premiere Rush. There is a LOT in these new releases. Here are the details.

PREMIERE PRO

  • New Caption workflow
  • Media Replacement
  • Faster Warp Stabilizer
  • Team Project performance improvements
  • Copy and Paste Audio Effects in the Audio Track Mixer
  • Legacy Audio Effects Removed
  • Equitable Language

AFTER EFFECTS

  • Media Replacement in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
  • Real-Time 3D Draft Preview
  • 3D Ground Plane
  • Improved Composition Toolbar
  • Team Project performance improvements
  • Equitable Language

AUDITION

  • Insert Mode in Waveform Editor
  • Keyframe Dragging
  • Equitable Language

MEDIA ENCODER

  • Support import of ARRIRAW footage

CHARACTER ANIMATOR

  • New Example Puppet
  • New project file format
  • Snap to Frames & Snap to Objects
  • Pin Fee When Standing

PREMIERE RUSH

  • New color presets
  • Apply color edits to all the clips in your video
  • Easily flip/mirror videos clips, images, stickers, and overlays
  • New sound effect
  • Performance Improvements

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s a link to more information and demos of major features.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1495: Keyboard Shortcuts to Change Audio Levels

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1495: Keyboard Shortcuts to Change Audio Levels

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Keyboard shortcuts to speed audio level changes.

Topic $TipTopic

(I discovered this tip while researching a recent PowerUP webinar presenting Audio in Apple Final Cut Pro.)

You know you can change audio levels for clips in the timeline by dragging the audio volume line up or down. Here are some keyboard shortcuts that make this process even faster.

Shortcut What It Does
Control + S Expand / Collapse audio clip from video
Cmd + drag Slows down level changes to improve precision.
Control + [minus] / [equals] Lower/Raise audio levels for selected clip(s)
Control + Option + L Adjust audio level across all selected clips TO a specific amount (Absolute adjustment)
Option + [Up] / [Down] Arrow Nudge value of selected keyframe up or down.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1494: How to Use Clip Skimming

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1494: How to Use Clip Skimming

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Clip skimming enables high-speed audio review.

Here the cursor is skimming only the “Space Exterior” audio clip.

Topic $TipTopic

(I discovered this tip while researching a recent PowerUP webinar presenting Audio in Apple Final Cut Pro.)

You probably use skimming – the ability to drag the mouse over a clip in the Browser or Timeline to quickly review its contents – when trying to decide which shot to use next. What you may not know is that clip skimming provides even more precise listening in the timeline where many clips are often stacked above or below each other.

Clip skimming is a high-speed way to listen to the sound of a single audio clip in the timeline, without hearing any other clips above or below it.

NOTE: If you only have one layer of video or one layer of audio in the timeline, clip skimming will be the same as skimming and, therefore, not particularly helpful.

To turn on clip skimming either:

  • Choose: View > Clip Skimming
  • Type: Option + Cmd + S

Then drag the cursor across the clip in the timeline you want to hear.

Repeat this process to turn off clip skimming.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1493: How to Create a Split Edit

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1493: How to Create a Split Edit

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Split edits solve many editing problems.

An example of a split edit, where audio and video edit at different times.

Topic $TipTopic

(I discovered this tip while researching a recent PowerUP webinar presenting Audio in Apple Final Cut Pro.)

A split edit is where the audio and video edit at different places in the timeline. It is a workhorse in editing, where you want to linger on the video while hearing different audio (see screen shot). Or vice-versa.

To create a split edit:

  • Double-click the audio portion of a clip in the Final Cut timeline (Shortcut: Control +S). This separates it from the video without unlinking it.
  • Select the Trim tool (Shortcut: T) from the Tools menu.
  • Click and drag the audio edit point to a new location. The audio edit point moves, without altering the video. (This type of edit is called a “Roll” trim.)

NOTE: You can do the same with the video edit point. Click and drag with the Trim tool.

EXTRA CREDIT

You can move the selected edit point multiple ways:

  • Type Control + [comma] / [period] to move left/right one frame.
  • Type Shift + Control + [comma] / [period] to move left/right ten frames
  • Type Shift + X to jump the edit point to the position of the playhead (assuming you have sufficient handles and are not jumping over other clips).

To remove a split edit, select the clip and choose Trim > Align Audio to Video. This trims (not moves) the audio to match the timing of the video for that clip.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1478: Sony: Insights and Filmmaking

… for Random Weirdness

Tip #1478: Sony: Insights and Filmmaking

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Creative tips and techniques to both gear and process.

Detail from “Kenzen’s FX9 film-making journey.” (Image credit: sony)

Topic $TipTopic

I was exploring Sony’s professional camera website, when I discovered their Insight & Filmmaking section.

This page includes stories, tips and videos to using Sony gear. These creative ideas span from indie filmmaking to commercials to features. Even if you are not a Sony user, there are many ideas you can use, regardless of your choice of camera.

Scroll toward to bottom to discover some nice creative video work from a variety of filmmakers.

Here’s the link.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

,

Tip #1477: Is “[REC]” the Best Found Footage Film?

… for Random Weirdness

Tip #1477: Is “[REC]” the Best Found Footage Film?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

“[REC]” is an outstanding “found footage” film.

‘[REC]’CREDIT: Filmax, Magnet Releasing

Topic $TipTopic

This article, written by Alyssa Miller, first appeared in NofilmSchool.com. This is a summary.

Admit it, found footage films are a bit predictable. But why are the scares so damn horrific in [REC]?

These films have become predictable and often waste the audience’s time trying to force us to care about obscure situations that are out of touch with reality. But [REC] isn’t like the rest. It stands proudly over the others because it finds horror in the thing we despise the most—isolation.

The article looks at:

  • Tension
  • Realism
  • Consistency

When it comes to making a found footage film, remember that the world of the film needs to be grounded believably. Try to make the characters feel like “real” people and surprise them and the audiences with scares that no one is expecting.

EXTRA CREDIT

The article includes a link to a video, created by Ryan Hollinger, that breaks the film down in more detail.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!