CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I need to build credit...How I plan on doing that is to have three purchases on credit over 2600 dollars. One of the things I may end up doing is buying teh adobe video editing suite, including Photoshop, after effects, premiere, and dvd encore. Has anyone used any (besides photoshop, duh) of these programs? Is the learning curve on premiere fast or slow? What about after effects? Anyone have any samples of work they've done (a portfolio or test run) on after effects or premiere? I want to buy these programs in one big package and hope to really get to learn them, but I found premiere and after effects, well, very confusing... Anyone successfully used these programs?

Also, I know about Photoshop LE, but what is Photoshop CS and how is it different than Photoshop 7.0? Why would I pick one over the other?

My problems with Premiere were just that I could never get my captured video into premiere, and with after effects was that, well, I only used it like 2 hours... I'm sure I could figure them out after a while (I honestly didn't have long and the capturing process on this old turnkey system was really time consuming), but do any of you use these programs? I would love to see short demos of your work (send them to me over AIM or from your websites maybe?)

EDIT: My insomniac little itching body found: "Total Training" videos... Man, if I get them all, it will cost almost as much as the programs themselves, but... That will bring it past the minimum purchase of 2600 so I can use that to build my good credit rating for student loans later! Hmm... I'm really planning on things that I can never be sure of. Ok... Goodnight... (really, I mean it this time)

Also, anyone know where I can find Public Domain music?

*waits for Gypsy to arrive*

Ooh! I want to type out a few paragraphs ... but I don't have time right this second! I'll get this one later on tonight!

Hmm... I've only used Final Cut Pro and iMovie...Oh, wait. I've used After Effects! Once. It seemed like a pretty steep curve, but then again, so did Photoshop at one time.

Hmm... I think I plateaued on Photoshop... I really need actual "training" to go any farther... Probably the same case with After Effects... I'm going to order the training vids for AE, and for premiere and for Photoshop (whatever the newest one is by the time I can afford it all!)

As for Encore, they don't have training vids for that, and I'll probably figure it out based on photoshop and after effects and premiere... I can't wait till I can afford that stuff!

I do digital video editing for my job, so if I’ll be happy to answer your questions as best as I can.

Getting an adobe production pack is an excellent idea if you’re willing to spend some serious cash. Also, although it’s none of my business, I wouldn’t suggest that you look into a production bundle unless you’re very, very serious about video editing. It’s worth the money, only if you choose to throw yourself into production. For video production as more as a hobby or interest, I’d suggest that you seek out a slightly less expensive set-up with a more generic user interface – such as Pinnacle or a LE version of Premiere (I’m pretty sure they make one). But if you’re determined to become a digital editor, then an adobe production bundle is the way to go.

First off, I love After Effects. I've been using it for about … two years off and on, and pretty seriously the past couple months. I’ve recently been experimenting with Particle Playground. It's extremely render intensive, and I have to turn off the RAM previews so my machine won't choke and die (yeah, yeah, it's on a windows computer) but the effects are worth it. It's such a powerful program that acts much like photoshop does - you're limited only by your drive space and imagination. Once you understand the program’s initial functions, they can be manipulated so that just about any effect that you could want is possible. The basics can be figured out fairly quickly, and you can do some impressive stuff just by playing around for a few hours. This is assuming that one is familiar with adobe and how the interface and tools work. I’m currently working with version 5.0, but I’ve messed around a little in version 6.0 and it’s very nice. As for training, I'd suggest Total Training for After Effects ... whatever version you're looking into. Total Training is pricey, but the end result is worth it. Don’t expect to be amazed by the tutorial projects, either. They have little to no inspirational quality, but they always get the effect or technique demonstrated effectively and clearly. And like you mentioned, the cost is way up there, so I do not suggest getting these unless you’re completely serious about editing.

Ok, Premiere. If you understand the general adobe interface, the basics of Premiere should be a snap. There are lots of renders involved, even for a simple cross fade. They did fix this in the latest version – 7.0. Most of the general activity can now be put together and played back in real time – and that is one of the biggest perks about digital editing. Render times can drive you insane sometimes, especially if you just want a quick view of what you just put together. As for not being able to capture video … that could be so many things. What kind of capture card are you using? Which version of Premiere are you using? What are your capture settings? Are you trying to capture with firewire, or through rca? The list of questions could go on and on.

As for demos, I have none uploaded. My most recent ones are for a missions promo, so there’s a lot of maps and spinning globes, and text effects. I don’t use AIM either. I’ll see about getting something uploaded, though.

For public domain music … there’s so many places.

http://www.onemusic.com is a good example of royalty free music.
http://www.elitemusic.com has good video stuff in general

If you’re not in a huge rush, I’d pick up some magazines on digital videos and do some research.
http://www.dv.com is a good place to check stuff out.
http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/index.cfm the magazine that goes with this site is pretty good. They cover other equipment such as cameras and lighting kits as well as editing programs.
Wired is a pretty good magazine, but it covers electronics in general, to the articles that might help you out may be a little hard to dig up.

I'll add another vote for Videomaker magazine. My folks get it for their amateur public-access cable show, and Mom thinks it's great.

Hmm... After I'm done "After Effects"ing my video serial, maybe I'll put it on Public Access... That way it will really be a "TV Show" YEAH!! Hmm...

I have read Videomaker... It was our curriculum in video production class. He tried DV and a magazine that was more for big budget movie production, but stuck with videomaker (partly because there was no violence and nudity in Videomaker so he wouldn't have nasty letters from parents about it like he would have gotten about one of the other ones he almost gave us...)

I really want to learn After effects, and would love to see some examples of how powerful it can be... I know I can make splash screens with it, but what can I do to the actual video? I know creative transitions like on Home Improvement, what would it do to the scene in progress? Can I give photoshop treatment frame by frame? Can I digitally paint individual frames? Can I apply moving photoshop type effects (like filters that I move with the action, or overlaying effects that make Photoshop so usefull) Are the compositing tools in After Effects equal or even better to photoshop? Can I fix colors, and specifically fix colors on only small portions of the screen? Can I trace things ala the wand in photoshop and have the trace be animated and, say, do schindler's list or more recently (and more exaggeratedly) pleasantville? Can I take the luminance image from one and apply a blur to my footage using the light and dark from another piece of footage? Would I be able to blur a person's face but not just a standard blur, but something dynamic that I could use to portray a sense that we know who someone is but we don't know? As a tool to hide but not be like COPS or Jerry Springer... These are some things I'm thinking of and getting off the benedryl has finally let me articulate the things I want to do, only these are just what I have thought of so far, I have big plans...

Public Access ... *shudders*
So many questions ...

I really want to learn After effects, and would love to see some examples of how powerful it can be... I know I can make splash screens with it, but what can I do to the actual video?

So many, many things. Like I said, the limits of transforming video are your imagination, ability with the program, and your computer itself.

I know creative transitions like on Home Improvement, what would it do to the scene in progress?

I'm not sure what you mean by that one. You mean, what can you do besides transitions?

Can I give photoshop treatment frame by frame? Can I digitally paint individual frames?

Yes, with a dandy little thing called a TARGA sequence with an embedded alpha channel. It's great fun.

Can I apply moving photoshop type effects (like filters that I move with the action, or overlaying effects that make Photoshop so usefull) Are the compositing tools in After Effects equal or even better to photoshop? Can I fix colors, and specifically fix colors on only small portions of the screen?

Yup.

Can I trace things ala the wand in photoshop and have the trace be animated and, say, do schindler's list or more recently (and more exaggeratedly) pleasantville?

You lost me on that one.

Can I take the luminance image from one and apply a blur to my footage using the light and dark from another piece of footage? Would I be able to blur a person's face but not just a standard blur, but something dynamic that I could use to portray a sense that we know who someone is but we don't know?

Yes.

> Public Access ... *shudders*

Well, what it is, is my parents' church services, which are run somewhat like a community Bible study. Mom takes them home and edits them, and they air Friday nights.

Usually all that people run on public access around here (and I know because I have to digitize them) are "Save the Persecuted Buddha Followers" documentaries, taped political debates, and Fun With Popsicle Sticks.

Well, we have a lot of those too ... but Mom's show is doing well and has been received very positively, Dad is actually working on an Ask-the-Veterinarian type presentation, and they've even asked me to do a tech type show which I'm still dithering over (I've hidden my sooper sekrit identity as a mild-mannered MD for now ... and you thought I was going to be the next Dean Edell! Ha! ).

Oh, if I'm allowed, the show I plan on playing on public access is going to be dramatic fiction, not a documentary or editorial...

Actually a psychoanalytical dramatic fiction story. I plan to attain a total of 15 fans who will then order the whole series on DVD... And share it with their friends, most of whom will find it weird but they like 2 of each will order it on DVD and show it to their respective clubs/organizations/co-workers and I'll get like 1 person out of all of them to order it on DVD (or at least portions, perhaps) and... well, in the end maybe i'll have sold 100 box sets and 100 more individual DVD's... And I'll have some candy money after spending all my money on computers and editing stuff.

^_^

Also, the prequall to my TV show is a movie that me and my friend have been planning for a while... It's called "Level: The Former" and we were planning on showing it at a exhibition of amateur movies. I had some nice plans for that one, but I really need to work on the screenplay... We won't be able to finish it in time for the exhibition in December... Not a chance... This one would require no after effects type effects. The followup, Level, would require effects as I am hoping to portray the inner workings of my mind and dreams as a major part of it, and I have big plans for it... See, I don't think movies have adequately demonstrated a dream before... I mean, even nightmares people always do the same cliché things like mist and "You are dreaming" and all this stuff and it's just not realistic... The closest thing I've seen to a nightmare in a movie or TV show was in Boogiepop phantom, but that wasn't intentionally trying to be dreamlike... However, the soundtrack in boogiepop was phenominal and was exactly what a nightmare sounds like (at least my nightmares) a close second would be the Matrix (the first one) that sound that neo made when his mind was being freed, it was the exact sound I hear at the end of a botched nightmare... I almost had a heart attack the first time I heard it... I intend to show the nightmare buzz and also, not just nightmares but waking thought and good dreams as well... I'm not doing it just to do it but to actually have a point to all of it, and that will have to wait until I'm done! Then I will tell all of you how you can get it! Also, for socal residents maybe you will be able to see it on TV! hehe... I can see you're all VERY excited, hehe... I really think this will be good when I actually get around to taping it and archiving it and get the computer and the software to edit it and put it on DVD. If After effects is the holy grail that most people make it out to be, then I'm going to go far with this project. This is going to be my home-thesis project even BEFORE I go to the media arts school... Or, maybe I won't do it until after when I have more 3d experience and can use 3d CG in my work... or even make a few of my dreams entirely in CG, but that means that I've gotta buy Maya... That program by itself is like 6500 dollars (almost twice as much as 3DS Max, the program I'm used to right now) but who knows...

I'm about to burst from all the stuff I just wanna bust out with no way to do it right now... I've got such big things I wanna do... I mean, just thinking about it gets me very excited... I can't wait for 2 years, but I gotta... I have to wait that long to get the money... But one thing I've been taught for a while is that money is never the final say in anything... God is... I mean, my God shall supply all my needs and I'll get what I need in his time if I seek first his kingdom... but it's so tempting to lust after these powerful computers and limitless creative possibility and go number crazy... I mean, my calculator is probably worse for me than the worst fanservice or skin mag... I just add up "If I had this much an hour at full time for 17 months then minus tax and tithe that would be this much, meaning I could buy this computer and this software and this truck and then I could have left over to go to Japan, and then come back and go to full sail" and it's like I get caught up in all of the things that may be in the future and get lost and don't go on with right now... And I lust after the money that it's going to take to get me there instead of loving the God who is going to get me where he wants me...