Finding Sound, Music and Film on the Internet – April 7th meeting

This is an important subject for videographers, so, let’s use this blog to record all kinds of stuff to share. Just add a Comment to this Post below. Thanks.

Feedback on Recent Meeting Topics – capture, editing, and menus

We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last several meetings and this blog may offer a better means to get your questions answered or comments put forth to the group. Please add a comment or question below and, hopefully, the members of our group will be watching and help provide you with answers and feedback.

Don’t be shy or think you’re stupid – this video stuff is really hard to learn. Just go out there and kick up some dust, run into some snags and get help.

The best approach, I think, is to have a goal in mind before you start and to always remember the audience.

Video Capture, Editing and Rendering – need some help?

If you have a video editing, capture or rendering question, add a comment below and someone who’s watching this blog will probably provide an answer. You can have your own personal Help Desk right here!

Or, share something useful with us so we all benefit from your newly-found experience or information.

“Particle Illusion” Video Effects – coming your way Jan. 6th

I will demonstrate some of the features of “Particle Illusion”. They actually have a number of products, including two that I will focus on: Particle Illusion 3 (PI3), and the Pro Emitters. The first is their flagship product for the creation of 2D particle type effects using any video (or still image) as the background. The latter is a set of sophisticated presets for PI3 that were created by long time users who specialize in certain types of effects (abstract, logos, explosions, water, etc.)

They also have an entry level program called “Particle Illusion SE” which lists for $100 vs. about $400 for PI3. The SE version is very full featured in my opinion and well worth the price. In addition, there is a downloadable demo of the SE version, full featured for 30
days. You can get this and see a lot of sample movies here:

http://www.wondertouch.com/default.asp

Steve Kennedy
Coordinator, HAL-PC Multimedia & MIDI SIG

Slideshow, Animation, & VideoFest2006 was a lot of fun!

We had a good turnout to this event and received about 10 entries from folks out there. Surprisingly, we had more video entries than any other category which shows that folks are doing this stuff at home. Hopefully, we’ll have this event again in 2007. 

Come on out to our monthly Camcorder & Video SIG meetings held at 9:30 am on the first Saturday of the month. We talk about all kinds of stuff but mostly that which the beginner would be interest in knowing and using. Bring a friend and learn how to make your own video with your camcorder.

Videos, etc. are coming in for Slideshow, Animation, and VideoFest 2006 . . .

Even though we haven’t been in existence for very long, I hope we get some entries from folks in the Camcorder & Video SIG. About 15 people in HAL-PC Clear Lake have submitted something in the various categories. Just an elementary .mpg file on a CD disc would be all that we need. Fill out a form when you come in on Saturday afternoon so we can get it back to you. I like to look at videos that are not so polished that you don’t know whether a professional did them or someone else.  

 Despite what you might have heard, this IS NOT a contest – just a fun event where we all get a chance to show our stuff to the rest of our friends. We’ve all been someplace and done something and came back with some really good shots! I know I have. 

Ready for Slideshow, Animation and VideoFest 2006?…Coming Nov. 18th

We are all busy getting ready for our FIRST EVER Slideshow, Animation, and VideoFest2006 to be held at 450 Medical Cntr. Blvd. at 1:00 pm, November 18th. We hope you’ll submit an entry and join in the fun. Go here for the rules: 

http://www.hal-pc.org/~slcweb2/DigitalPhoto/FestRules2006.txt

A New Blog Just for the Camcorder & Video SIG!

Based on past useage patterns, I’ve reorganized the HAL-PC Clear Lake blogs to make them easier to use – the old one is gone. Each SIG has its own blog. Add the new URL’s below to your browser. If you’ve got anything to share relating to the Camcorder & Video SIG, put your comments below. I’ll post something new each month to keep it fresh.

o For the General Computer SIG, go here:

http://halpcclgc.wordpress.com/

o For the Digital Photography SIG, go here:

http://halpccldp.wordpress.com/