Tag Archives: software

Video Encoding and Conversion Software for Stock Footage Clips

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When you download a stock footage clip from Productiontrax (or any other content provider, for that matter), sometimes you have to do a little work with the video file to get it to fit into your project just right, or to even be imported properly into your video editing software. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking for some more options to add to your arsenal, or you new to video editing and are looking for a good tool for encoding and converting your stock footage clips, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most poular video conversion software out there with a few notes.

Productiontrax accepts and delivers all stock footage in Quicktime (.mov) format, which tends to be universally importable these days in video editing software. There may be times, however, when you want the clip in .mp4 or .avi for different software and computer systems, so that’s when conversion comes in really handy. You may also need to adjust compression rates, frame rates, bit rates, or some-other-technical-specificatiton-rates to fit your project, maybe for broadcast, or web streaming purposes. Whatever the application, this list should cover your needs.

video software MPEGMPEG Video Wizard DVD (Windows)
Also known as MVW-DVD, this is video editing software that allows users to create DVDs with menus. You can export video files to MPEG-4, as well as shrink DVD files to fit on other media (useful if your client only has a CD player?), and transcode between certain formats, and saving of DVD disk images. Very handy PC tool when you’re in need of something that just does the job and is reasonably reliable.

Compressor (Mac OSX)
A personal favorite of mine, and I use it whenever I’ve finished editing a clip or video and need a polished delivery file. Compressor allows exporting of source video to a wide array of preset and custom formats, including several nice presets for high-quality video compression for Web and streaming on mobile devices, like the iPhone. Easy to drag and drop stock footage clips here, and works seamlessly in the Final Cut Pro workflow.

ProCoder 3 (Windows)
ProCoder 3 is a transcoding and encoding software that allows conversion between NTSC and PAL, exporting in a variety of useful video formats, and supports multipass vbr encoding, conversion of video to all popular formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, Windows Media, QuickTime, and more. Also includes some handy presets for delivering media and authoring for Blue-Ray, which should make all you super-HD audio-video-philes very happy.

Quicktime Pro (Mac OSX and Windows)
The defacto standard for video playback, encoding, and conversion, for a fairly affordable price tag. The universal quicktime player is well known, but Apple’s quicktime Pro adds advanced editing and conversion features, supporting a wide variety of popular formats. PC users will find adding the free Quicktime for Windows uber usefull in using and viewing video online, as well as for downloading and using stock footage clips.

Other great software tools for encoding and transcoding:

Roxio Creator (Windows)
Sorenson Squeeze
Telestream Episode (Mac OSX and Windows)
Cinema Craft Encoder (Windows)
ffMPEG (Linux, Mac, Widnows)

Production Music Using Video Game Controllers

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Admittedly, one of my favorite music production plug-ins is RealGuitar by MusicLab. I use it daily for creating production music tracks in my project studio. It’s relatively inexpensive (like $200), and sounds great, is easy to use, and I’ve been able to fool a lot of people into believing they’re hearing an actual guitar. MusicLab announced the release of RealGuitar 3, and it looks great. Now, you can take that Guitar Hero axe from your xbox or Playstation video game, and play it into your sequencer like a guitar. The results of such an interface capability rival the expression and realism (well in performance, anyway) found in the old MIDI wind controllers, only this time with better sample quality. I was blown away by what I saw on the video and can’t wait to try this with my own production music in the project studio. Check it out:

5 Cool Music Production Apps for iPhone

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As phones and mobile devices get smaller and smarter all at once, the nature of electronic music production and audio production is changing dramatically. Even more groundbreaking is Apple’s iPhone. As many of you know, I’m a big fan of the iPhone (I don’t leave home without mine). And now I’m an even bigger fan, as more and more apps are being developed for the iPhone that are geared towards music production, writing, and recording. Here are 5 seemingly random super-cool apps to get your iPhone rocking.

1) Studio Devil – The makers of the Virtual Guitar Amp tube modeling plug-ins have teamed up with Quixonic to create an authentic tube amp modeling app for the iPhone. (coming soon)

2) Quixpin DJ – Yeah, so Quixonic makes a few — this one’s a true DJ app that allows you to mix and beatmatch music without all the heavy equipment, and then output a stereo mix to use at parties, or even cue and beat match songs while another is playing. ($1.99)

3) Noise.io Pro Synth – by Amidio, has a deep learning curve, but gives you countless waveforms and processing tools to create your own sounds. Custom sequencer and effects processor make this one an awesome mobile instrument and production tool. ($14.99)

4) VoiceBand – so this isn’t really a pro app, but it is pretty cool stuff. Using your voice, this app plays a real sampled instrument that files what you sing. Control 10 virtual instruments at once using only your voice. ($2.99)

5) Xewton Music Studio – this is a complete music production studio in the palm of your hand. Full 128-track sequencer, 21 pro-quality sampled instruments, realtime effects, sustain, reverb, eq and more. Track settings include tempo and time signature, measure level copy/paste, delete, repeat, transpose, MIDI import and export…. This one is pretty wicked. ($14.99)

NAMM 2010: New Sounds and Software for your Studio

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MOTU Updates Performer, Plugs

MOTU showed off their new plugins on a new version of Digital Performer (that thing is still around???) — some high quality stuff. Directly competing with Apple’s built-in plugins for Logic Pro, MOTU’s line of plugins features the following:

Electric Keys, a low latency 40GB keyboard sound library of electric pianos, organs, clavs, tape samplers, string machines and more classic and vintage instruments. Nearly all are sampled at 24 bit, and the plugin is 256-note polyphonic, and is complete with an effects rack and amp simulator.

BPM, which looks remarkably similar to Apple’s drum sequencer, gives you the ultimate rhythm programming experience. Includes plug-and-play support for hands-on pad controllers like the Akai MPD32, which is good news for many sample pad enthusiasts, but now with unlimited sample layers per pad (or as much as your computer can handle). Awesome tool for electronic music performance and beat sequencing.

Ethno2 delivers stunning ethnic and exotic instrument sounds from Africa, Asia, Australia, India, South America, and more. I may have to buy this just for the penny whistle and Celtic instruments, and the Flamenco Percussion and guitars.

I didn’t get to hear the Symphonic instrument, and I have a hunch that it may fall a little short compared to other libraries (ie Vienna and EastWest). If you’ve heard it, let me know what you think.

http://www.motu.com

BigFishAudio and Vir2 Instruments Ready to Release Electri6ity

Electrici6ity is the most epic electric guitar virtual instrument to hit the market (ok it’s not out yet, but get ready). This awesome instrument contains some of the most advanced, detailed, and versatile collection of guitars ever. The plugin features the Strat, Tele, Les Paul, P90, Rickenbacker, Danelectro, ES335, and L4 and uses 24-bit samples from each, with three pick up options for each. Every, and I mean every fret of every string was sampled for this library. Downstrokes, upstrokes, ghosting, mutes, hammer-ons, slides, pulloffs, and more are included for every guitar. Articulation and Velocity morphing adds depth and seamless transitioning between effects, while the advanced AI adapts to your playing, allowing for fluid lines, 2000 different chords and positions, and more. If you sequence guitars, this one is a must have.

http://www.bigfishaudio.com
http://vir2.com

Piano Sounds from Synthogy

If you’re looking for some fresh Piano samples that hit the spot with realism and features, you have to check out Synthogy’s new Ivory II virtual instrument. Featuring tons of pianos and synths from uprights to grands to synth combos, this piano instrument has half-pedaling, pedal noise, lid position effects, tuning tables, and even sympathetic String Resonance. Check it out at Ilio.

http://ilio.com
http://synthogy.com