YouTube directors ready for postproduction

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The tools found at the site are simple to use and will likely appeal to novice film editors, but they don't offer the sophistication of Apple Computer's Final Cut Pro or Avid's video editing software. Jumpcut users are also prevented from transferring their edited work to YouTube, although they can imbed videos elsewhere, such as a MySpace profile.

Jumpcut's CEO Mike Folgner said his company is trying to reach an agreement with YouTube to allow a transfer of videos.

Video-equipment dealer NewTek is after a decidedly higher end market than that served by Jumpcut. The company's NewTek TriCaster is a 10-pound box that packs its own editing software, a hard drive and a camera switcher, which allows a user to receive video feeds from multiple cameras.

At $5,000 the device is marketed to people who at the very least supplement their income from producing video.

But producing a blockbuster on YouTube doesn't have to cost a lot of money. "Some of the software you can get for the price of a pack of smokes," Ryan says. "Stop smoking and make good videos."

Harding decided to forgo spending big on high-end video cameras. In fact, he rejected video cameras altogether and instead opted for a Canon Powershot SD500 and a backup SD200. He says this comes as a surprise to people because the cameras are marketed for shooting still images. Yet, they also shoot brief video clips. They were inexpensive, are small enough to fit in his pocket and are durable.

"I've gone diving with serious underwater photographers in Borneo," Harding said. "They got depressed when they saw my high-quality stills and clips taken with these little cameras after they spent most of their dive time fussing with their high-priced equipment."

Ryan warns that big-ticket technology is never going to make up for a lack of creativity. Witty dialogue and compelling story lines matter more than jaw-dropping visual effects, Ryan said, adding that effects should be used more as props.

In Ryan's video "Playing with Loca," she demonstrates graphics downloaded from video-effects specialist Adorage that make Lil' Loca appear as if she is an artwork hanging in a gallery.

"That's right, it's the masterpiece," Ryan cracks with Loca's trademark bravado. "Forget about your little 'Mona Lisa.' You got little Mona Loca now."

[LilyR]

Would any videographer put up with terrible quality at YouTube?

Its true that its becoming easier and easier to get to grips with software that can add immense depth to the quality of your video and really start to generate something good to watch, but it is as soon as you start to do this that you realise that YouTube just is NOT the place to show them. The quality is diabolical, and most of the other sites you mention are no better.

There's no point adding jaw-dropping effects to you videos and then delivering pixelated rubbish. What we need is a quality service that really lets people enjoy what has been created, not dumb it down to a lowest common denominator flash skit. Anyone else feel this way?

[skeptik]

The way it goes.

So the tools are catching up to the medium, and now you're complaining that the medium doesn't live up to the results of the tools. Such is the nature of things. Continual progress, with the weak link moving from one step to the next as each improves.

[Vaasman]

Vegas Video

I use Vegas as my video editor. I have tried several, most are buggy and crash a lot. I recommend that anyone who wants to edit should start with the Vegas and DVD production suite. You can by a limited home version for less than $90. The full up version costs over $600.

[garrywdm]

vegas

I love sony's Vegas, rock solid, intuitive to use, and more bells and whistles than you would ever use. I've used Avid, Media100, Final Cut Pro as a professional editor in TV+doc production for years, they offer nothing that you can't do with ease on Vegas. It's simply the next brilliant phase of digital image evolution. *two thumbs up*

[disco-legend-zeke]

GET Vegas Home PLATINUM for HD

The latest release of the Home version of sony vegas platinum is $129 List Price.

The platinum includes tools for importing HDV.

I have been using vegas to extract stills for my websites.

Prior to getting vegas, i struggled with Adobe Premire for 10 years and never really got the hang of it (its written in FILM editor terms.)

VEGAS, on the other hand is written around VIDEO editing procedures.

At first glance, they seem the same, but it was a world of difference for me!

[Deacon Blues]

Heads-up: Adorage Link Correction

Dude, it's adorage.DE, not .COM! Or prodad.de.

[garrywdm]

viva vegas

I love sony's Vegas, rock solid, intuitive to use, and more bells and whistles than you would ever use. I've used Avid, Media100, Final Cut Pro as a professional editor in TV+doc production for years, they offer nothing that you can't do with ease on Vegas. It's simply the next brilliant phase of digital image evolution. *two thumbs up*

[irfon]

simple editing tools

i makes sense to use simple tools, just look at my.sportal.com
simple edit and mash up for free!