New XM2 so here's a test movie at DVinfo.net

James Hamer-Morton · July 28th, 2004, 02:15 AM

Heya, I'm probably going to regret posting this stupid thing on the board, but I finally splashed out and purchased myself a nice GL2 (well actually an XM2 since I'm in the UK) and decided to try and make a test movie on my own. (Not to mention making this my first post on the boards too.)

I'm gonna post a link to it, but you should know that I severely screwed up the lighting, since I was literally filming this on my own (yay for the remote control), so it doesn't look particularly great, but I still felt it was worth posting it here, incase there's anything un-lighting related that anyone can comment on.

So here it is, please 'try' to enjoy this 2 minute short - 'To Be Twins'. (Yes it involves 'twins' because I didn't want to bring anyone else into my 'playing around' stage.)

http://www.brokenpipefilms.com/james/ToBeTwins.wmv

Cheers!

Graham Bernard · July 28th, 2004, 03:21 AM

WOW!

James, what NLE do you use? I use Vegas and Sony have a Levels FX that could have "lifted" the Gamma a bit. What settings did you have the XM2 on?

You Lonsdon-ish? I'm Wembley.

But really .. great story line .. and not a tad concerning too! ..

Grazie

James Hamer-Morton · July 28th, 2004, 03:37 AM

I'm using Ulead MediaStudio, which I originally just went for because of Video Paint... Yay for rotoscoping - ahem. Looking for something better now, but at least it does it's job for shuffling around shots!

I forget which settings I used, but I went for something that I felt looked moody and effective on the LCD screen... of course you need test movies like this to realise that I should have turned down the LCD brightness to make it look closer to how it would appear on monitors/tvs. I was using just a simple desk lamp for a key light and it looks okay in the close ups, but evidently for the wider shots I needed to manually raise the gamma even more.

I'm in Peterborough, so reasonably close to London... close by train at least!

Cheers for the comments! If the timing of the dialogue hadn't been such a hassle in filming (to get me talking to myself), I would consider remaking the thing with better lighting, but as it happens, I'd rather make something else for my next 'test'.

Graham Bernard · July 28th, 2004, 04:02 AM

You know you can flip the "data", you see this when flip out the LCD, switch to see your settings you shot in? Great way to remember what I did.

Grazie

Patrick King · July 28th, 2004, 06:52 AM

Grazie,

I don't know the meaning of your colloquialism "flip the data". Are you saying that while reviewing the DV tape in the cam's VCR mode that you can display the camera settings used when the tape was being recorded?

If not, I'm all wet; can you rephrase and type slower so I can catch it this time. ; )

Graham Bernard · July 28th, 2004, 09:23 AM

" If not, I'm all wet; " . . GET A grip! Steady on Sir!

"Are you saying that while reviewing the DV tape in the cam's VCR mode that you can display the camera settings used when the tape was being recorded? " YES . .

Grazie

James Hamer-Morton · July 28th, 2004, 09:33 AM

Wasn't expecting to learn a nice tip like that from such an innocent thread, so thanks! Still, it doesn't help me in this case since I merely recorded over it because I don't feel the need to keep such test footage at this stage.

Graham Bernard · July 28th, 2004, 09:56 AM

James! WRONG! You need to keep AL:L test footage at this stage . .this is how learnt .. Granted, I don't know your financial circumstances but miniDV tape is real cheap .. I buy for under £2.00 .. what you paying?

Grazie

Patrick King · July 28th, 2004, 10:04 AM

Grazie,

Thanks for typing slower for us slow readers. ; )

Do you know if this is a capability of just fine Canon products like your XM2, or is it an inherent characteristic of the DV recording spec and any DV cam can recall this data if enabled by the manufacturer?

In your reference " If not, I'm all wet; " . . GET A grip! Steady on Sir!", again, I didn't quite get the gist of what you were saying. That I'm all wet and should have known the fact of being able to recall DV camsettings (probably true, I've read the GL2 and XL1s manuals a dozen times each and I'm certain its in there somewhere). Or were you saying that I shouldn't think I'm all wet because this is a little known trade secret. Sorry to ask, but I feel like a mental midget trying to interpret your post. And I want to be clear because you consistently provide useful advice. Thanx!

James Hamer-Morton · July 28th, 2004, 10:08 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Graham Bernard : James! WRONG! You need to keep AL:L test footage at this stage . .this is how learnt .. Granted, I don't know your financial circumstances but miniDV tape is real cheap .. I buy for under £2.00 .. what you paying? -->>>

Noted, and thanks... I'll keep test footage then from now on. The tapes I've gone for were certainly more expensive than £2 per 60 mins. But I guess the concept of splashing out around £1600 for the camera means I can probably afford to keep all footage if they're just £2. Where do you get yours? I'm using Sony tapes which were leftovers from a TV show pilot I've been working on, so I'm guessing it's a good idea to stick with the brand (for lubricant clogging reasons).

Cheers!

Graham Bernard · July 28th, 2004, 10:19 AM

I'll dig out the info for you . . they're in 3 places around the UK I believe. I get mine in Harrow .. think they were £1.89 . . or less?

Anyways email me and I'll respond - yeah? Oh yes these will be Sony Premium. 60 mins The ones with the "RED" hatch strip . .yeah?

Grazie

graham UNDERSCORE bernard AT lycos DOT co DOT uk

Dirk Goris · July 31st, 2004, 04:40 AM

I tried to view you movie but it seems I have a problem. I use a mac and for some reason I can see anything. I hear it perfectly but I've no view.
How is this possible? This is not the first movie in wmv format that has this problem. Anybody know a solution?

James Hamer-Morton · July 31st, 2004, 05:11 AM

Sounds like the codec itself is the problem... being 'Windows' media video maybe that's the issue?

Anyway, as a short term fix I've got a (bad quality I'm afraid) version of the film here: http://www.brokenpipefilms.com/james/ToBeTwins.mov

Don't expect too much though, the screwed up lighting makes this version even worse than the other!

Bob Benkosky · August 25th, 2004, 07:56 PM

How can this "twins" effect be done easily. I tried to figure it out on my own in Vegas, but couldn't do it.

Anyone know how to do this in Vegas 5?

Oh.....I assume you can't move the camera to get the "twins" effect unless you have those $100k computer controlled cameras that make the same exact pass over and over.

Graham Bernard · August 26th, 2004, 01:07 AM

... "Anyone know how to do this in Vegas 5?" - Yes. But better you get the "2 cats" tutorial or veggie and study the method there. Just as a pointer in the correct direction use Bezier curves/masking. In this way one can insert a layer over the "backgorund. This "shaped" mask including the "double" will be seen as double. But, if you are referring to the "double" moving behind the image - I don't know. And yes, cameras locked off.

Here's the 2 Cats Tutorial:

http://matthew.chaboud.com/vegas5/twocats/

HTH,

Grazie

July 28th, 2004, 02:15 AM	#1
James Hamer-Morton New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 14	New XM2 so here's a test movie Heya, I'm probably going to regret posting this stupid thing on the board, but I finally splashed out and purchased myself a nice GL2 (well actually an XM2 since I'm in the UK) and decided to try and make a test movie on my own. (Not to mention making this my first post on the boards too.) I'm gonna post a link to it, but you should know that I severely screwed up the lighting, since I was literally filming this on my own (yay for the remote control), so it doesn't look particularly great, but I still felt it was worth posting it here, incase there's anything un-lighting related that anyone can comment on. So here it is, please 'try' to enjoy this 2 minute short - 'To Be Twins'. (Yes it involves 'twins' because I didn't want to bring anyone else into my 'playing around' stage.) http://www.brokenpipefilms.com/james/ToBeTwins.wmv Cheers! __________________ James Hamer-Morton

July 28th, 2004, 03:37 AM	#3
James Hamer-Morton New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 14	I'm using Ulead MediaStudio, which I originally just went for because of Video Paint... Yay for rotoscoping - ahem. Looking for something better now, but at least it does it's job for shuffling around shots! I forget which settings I used, but I went for something that I felt looked moody and effective on the LCD screen... of course you need test movies like this to realise that I should have turned down the LCD brightness to make it look closer to how it would appear on monitors/tvs. I was using just a simple desk lamp for a key light and it looks okay in the close ups, but evidently for the wider shots I needed to manually raise the gamma even more. I'm in Peterborough, so reasonably close to London... close by train at least! Cheers for the comments! If the timing of the dialogue hadn't been such a hassle in filming (to get me talking to myself), I would consider remaking the thing with better lighting, but as it happens, I'd rather make something else for my next 'test'. __________________ James Hamer-Morton

July 28th, 2004, 06:52 AM	#5
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Grazie, I don't know the meaning of your colloquialism "flip the data". Are you saying that while reviewing the DV tape in the cam's VCR mode that you can display the camera settings used when the tape was being recorded? If not, I'm all wet; can you rephrase and type slower so I can catch it this time. ; ) __________________ Fear No Weevil!

July 28th, 2004, 09:33 AM	#7
James Hamer-Morton New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 14	Wasn't expecting to learn a nice tip like that from such an innocent thread, so thanks! Still, it doesn't help me in this case since I merely recorded over it because I don't feel the need to keep such test footage at this stage. __________________ James Hamer-Morton

July 28th, 2004, 10:04 AM	#9
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Grazie, Thanks for typing slower for us slow readers. ; ) Do you know if this is a capability of just fine Canon products like your XM2, or is it an inherent characteristic of the DV recording spec and any DV cam can recall this data if enabled by the manufacturer? In your reference " If not, I'm all wet; " . . GET A grip! Steady on Sir!", again, I didn't quite get the gist of what you were saying. That I'm all wet and should have known the fact of being able to recall DV camsettings (probably true, I've read the GL2 and XL1s manuals a dozen times each and I'm certain its in there somewhere). Or were you saying that I shouldn't think I'm all wet because this is a little known trade secret. Sorry to ask, but I feel like a mental midget trying to interpret your post. And I want to be clear because you consistently provide useful advice. Thanx! __________________ Fear No Weevil!

July 28th, 2004, 03:21 AM	#2
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	WOW! James, what NLE do you use? I use Vegas and Sony have a Levels FX that could have "lifted" the Gamma a bit. What settings did you have the XM2 on? You Lonsdon-ish? I'm Wembley. But really .. great story line .. and not a tad concerning too! .. Grazie

July 28th, 2004, 04:02 AM	#4
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	You know you can flip the "data", you see this when flip out the LCD, switch to see your settings you shot in? Great way to remember what I did. Grazie

July 28th, 2004, 09:23 AM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	" If not, I'm all wet; " . . GET A grip! Steady on Sir! "Are you saying that while reviewing the DV tape in the cam's VCR mode that you can display the camera settings used when the tape was being recorded? " YES . . Grazie

July 28th, 2004, 09:56 AM	#8
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	James! WRONG! You need to keep AL:L test footage at this stage . .this is how learnt .. Granted, I don't know your financial circumstances but miniDV tape is real cheap .. I buy for under £2.00 .. what you paying? Grazie

July 28th, 2004, 10:08 AM	#10
James Hamer-Morton New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 14	<<<-- Originally posted by Graham Bernard : James! WRONG! You need to keep AL:L test footage at this stage . .this is how learnt .. Granted, I don't know your financial circumstances but miniDV tape is real cheap .. I buy for under £2.00 .. what you paying? -->>> Noted, and thanks... I'll keep test footage then from now on. The tapes I've gone for were certainly more expensive than £2 per 60 mins. But I guess the concept of splashing out around £1600 for the camera means I can probably afford to keep all footage if they're just £2. Where do you get yours? I'm using Sony tapes which were leftovers from a TV show pilot I've been working on, so I'm guessing it's a good idea to stick with the brand (for lubricant clogging reasons). Cheers! __________________ James Hamer-Morton

July 28th, 2004, 10:19 AM	#11
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	I'll dig out the info for you . . they're in 3 places around the UK I believe. I get mine in Harrow .. think they were £1.89 . . or less? Anyways email me and I'll respond - yeah? Oh yes these will be Sony Premium. 60 mins The ones with the "RED" hatch strip . .yeah? Grazie graham UNDERSCORE bernard AT lycos DOT co DOT uk

July 31st, 2004, 04:40 AM	#12
Dirk Goris Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 66	I tried to view you movie but it seems I have a problem. I use a mac and for some reason I can see anything. I hear it perfectly but I've no view. How is this possible? This is not the first movie in wmv format that has this problem. Anybody know a solution?

July 31st, 2004, 05:11 AM	#13
James Hamer-Morton New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 14	Sounds like the codec itself is the problem... being 'Windows' media video maybe that's the issue? Anyway, as a short term fix I've got a (bad quality I'm afraid) version of the film here: http://www.brokenpipefilms.com/james/ToBeTwins.mov Don't expect too much though, the screwed up lighting makes this version even worse than the other! __________________ James Hamer-Morton

August 25th, 2004, 07:56 PM	#14
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	How can this "twins" effect be done easily. I tried to figure it out on my own in Vegas, but couldn't do it. Anyone know how to do this in Vegas 5? Oh.....I assume you can't move the camera to get the "twins" effect unless you have those $100k computer controlled cameras that make the same exact pass over and over. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

August 26th, 2004, 01:07 AM	#15
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	2 Cats Tutorial ... "Anyone know how to do this in Vegas 5?" - Yes. But better you get the "2 cats" tutorial or veggie and study the method there. Just as a pointer in the correct direction use Bezier curves/masking. In this way one can insert a layer over the "backgorund. This "shaped" mask including the "double" will be seen as double. But, if you are referring to the "double" moving behind the image - I don't know. And yes, cameras locked off. Here's the 2 Cats Tutorial: http://matthew.chaboud.com/vegas5/twocats/ HTH, Grazie