How Many Use a Spilt Screen Technique for Recitals?

[Chris Harding]

Thanks Waldemar!!

Sadly I didn't offer an option at the order stage and I REALLY should have done so..it would have kept people a lot happier. Then again only the principal dance teacher has expressed concern that all the orders are multi-camera!! She naturally would be only looking at choreography whilst mother's of the 5 and 6 year olds might be more interested in their cute little daughters and not the totally out of time dance routine!!

Pity, as I have already processed close to 100 disks and they are all multi-camera..but I have offered to supply the parents that want it, a choreography version.

Chris

[Bernard Lau]

Split screen throughout the whole dance?
Makes me think of Mario Kart... LOL.

To me, I would have a separate timeline on the final DVD/Bluray that has the static/master shot, so people can watch the full routine.

[Chris Harding]

Hi Guys

I'm not too sure whether a split screen would go down well??? I have had around 120 parents order our DVD and so far 3 only have admitted that they would prefer the wide only version...I'm happy to churn out an extra 3 disks to keep them happy next year.
Maybe next one I will ask them what they want ....tick column "A" or column "B" then they really cannot complain. Each of the 3 that wanted the wide only cut, were NOT in the audience but were the backstage 'mums' that were helping with each group so maybe they are more interested in the choreography ???

On the next one I will engage in a lengthy discussion with the Dance School to see what is the best way to go regarding orders.

Chris

[Tom Blizzard]

Originally Posted by Tim Bakland

I author the DVD such that two versions can be seen:

1. A track with cuts between the wide cam and the close cam as I deem to be the best balance of the two.

2. A track that is ONLY the wide cam with all dancers in frame that has identical chapters and sound as #1

Their DVD plays both ways. Everyone wins! I get to showcase what I think is the better artistic (from video standpoint) version and yet they can be sure to watch the track that doesn't miss a single hand or foot if they choose. Otherwise, there's really no way to please everyone. Any close-ups at all and someone's not happy.

I'm rather new to this editing idea. Would someone please explain what Tim means?
How can you have two tracks on one DVD show at the same time?
Maybe he means: put track 1 as chapter 1 and maybe track 2 as chapter 2 on the DVD ???

[Nigel Barker]

I assume that Tim is talking about multi-angle which was one of the features of DVD that was strongly promoted when DVD was launched but is little if ever used except in some porn discs (so I have heard:-)

[Tom Blizzard]

Thanks Nigel. I never knew that feature was used. Do you(or anyone else) know if I can use that feature using CS 4 ?

[Nigel Barker]

Multi-angle isn't available in CS5 so by deduction it's not in CS4 either. Adobe Forums: Encore CS5 and multi-angle…

[Tom Blizzard]

Nigel, at the risk of making you "tired of my questions", I emailed Tim Bakland about his technique. Here's his answer:
" Hi Tom,
I just merely created two different tracks with two different links to the tracks (yes, it means it is only good for short enough recitals and means using a dual layer disc) and of course the tracks use the same audio track.
Tim"

Well, I know he is a very busy fellow, but I simply do not understand his answer....Maybe you do. What does he mean to put "two different links" on a DVD ?? Are these like chapter title buttons on the menu??

Tks, Tom

[Tim Bakland]

Hi, Tom,

Never too busy to answer an honest fellow like you! (And would have continued the email conversation if you had written back!) :)

All that I meant is that I create a second option in the menu of the DVD so that there are two tracks linked: 1. To the wide-angle view track (with the regular audio track) and 2. Two the edited together angles (as I see fit artistically) over that same audio.

So, this means having ONE audio file used twice in the DVD and TWO video files. Does that make sense?

Tim

[Tim Bakland]

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I assume that Tim is talking about multi-angle which was one of the features of DVD that was strongly promoted when DVD was launched but is little if ever used except in some porn discs (so I have heard:-)

Not at all, Nigel! :) I was simply meaning that I give both options on the DVD menu. 1 - first, to watch it from ONLY the wide angle. Second, to watch it the way I spliced the two together at my discretion. No porn!

[Nigel Barker]

The multi-angle idea seems neat though. While researching I found a yoga instructional DVD that used this feature. It's really just a neater version of Tim's two chapters that you can flip between with one button push. It's just a shame that not many DVD authoring packages support it.

[Paul R Johnson]

... and of course how many people know how to activate it on their DVD machine. I asked my wife and she didn't know what I was talking about!

The reality is that there are two very different audiences, so two different products make the best sense.

It's actually not just the choreographers who needs wide only. I do a lot of work with education, and get sent all sorts of dance DVDs used as evidence of grades. Sadly, I have to reject many of the nice looking ones because I need to follow an individual dancer to verify they have covered specific criteria, and when the camera cuts to somebody else, then back, I lose continuity and cannot verify the grade, because I didn't see all of it. I need a wide angle only - which of course is very dull - but that isn't important for my use?

[Nigel Barker]

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

... and of course how many people know how to activate it on their DVD machine. I asked my wife and she didn't know what I was talking about!

There should be a dedicated button on the remote control.

[Tim Bakland]

And this whole dilemma gets exacerbated when (especially modern choreographers) use video backdrop on a screen behind the dancing. Yikes.

[Mark Ahrens]

It doesn't seem to me that the multi angle process was explained well enough . . . so for the benefit of those still confused:

-Create a master timeline with the wide angle and audio.
-Duplicate it and edit in the other angles. This timeline would be output without audio.
(you could also simply edit the other angles on separate tracks then deactivate them when outputting)
-What's important is that both final video streams are the same length, to the frame.

In the DVD authoring program (i would use DVD Studio Pro), the second timeline is designated as the alternate angle. The viewer can then use the angle button on their dvd player remote to toggle between the 2 edit streams.
If using a dual layer dvd, the compression shouldn't be bad for a 2 hour program. Are there compatibility issues with dual layer? Is that why it hasn't been adopted?

This is certainly a more elegant solution than a 2 disc set or having to require a client to decide before seeing the final product. I would put something on the disc cover or a separate 20 second demonstration chapter on the disc to explain the feature.