Just a quick note to say that we have now posted all our screencasts as a podcast feed at PodcastAlley.com

If you are like me and prefer to review the content of video tutorials by listening to the audio track as an mp3, then this could just what you’ve been waiting for.

Enjoy!

A master chef always tastes a variety of samples before finalizing a recipe. A master video compressionist does the same thing.

That’s why DV Kitchen includes SampleLab™ . . . the only tool in the world designed to help you determine the best encoding setting for your video.

SampleLab allows bitrate data size/quality trade-offs to be gauged quickly and accurately. It’s simple to use but incredibly useful, and therein lies its genius – MacUser UK review

Once you export a finished video from your editing software, quality to your viewers is determined by three factors:

1. Codec (the encoding algorithm used)
2. Bitrate
3. Frame size

In this screencast we walk you through the process of using SampleLab™ to easily compare encoding recipes based on different combinations of those ingredients and quickly zero in on the ideal settings for each video you encode.

In this screencast we look at the trade-offs to be made when deciding on the bitrate that you use to encode your videos and how to use the calculator built into DV Kitchen for this purpose.

To calculate your bitrate budget, you’ll need to enter estimates for:

1. Viewer connection speed
2. Maximum number of simultaneous viewers
3. Average video length
4. Server bandwidth in megabits per second
5. Maximum acceptable wait time

Because the budget calculator is built using a series of sliders representing each of these parameters, it’s super easy to change one of the parameters and simultaneously see the effect of that change on the required bitrate.

As you play with any of the five sliders, the recommended bitrate budget number updates dynamically! I don’t know any other software tool, at any price, that offers this — Allan Tepper, ProVideo Coalition

Here it is step-by-step:

Today we’re taking a look at the LitePanels Micro. These are very small portable LED lights that produce very little heat, last over an hour and a half on a single charge and produce beautiful soft light in a small package.

These units are available in both spot and flood configurations. We like to use the flood as a key light then position the spot for some filler as a back light or a rim light.

Just by adding a tiny bit of light you can turn amateurish shots into high quality footage.

LEDs will last a staggering 1000 times as long as regular bulbs . . . so no more worrying about spares. LEDS also produce virtually no heat and are cool when touched.

The LitePanel can run on AC or batteries. The battery will last approx 90 minutes at 100% brightness and even longer with the unit dimmed.

The built-in dimmer allows you to get just the right amount of light . . . and unlike other dimmers, there’s virtually no color shift.

The supplied accessories includes an assortment of 16 color correction gels and a hot shoe adapter for on camera lighting.

Here’s the video review by Guy . . .

The LitePanels Micro . . . the most effective portable lighting solution to come along in years. You can get more details here.

In this post we take our first look at the completely revamped media publishing room in DV Kitchen version 2.0. In particular, we’ll be focusing on the video publishing features.

You have a choice of three publishing platforms:

1. QuickTime
2. Jeroen’s Flash Player
3. Shadowbox

Drilling down, the QuickTime platform also offers three sub options:

• Normal QT embed
• Default poster frame
• Custom poster frame

Many users will be familiar with the standard QuickTime option. DV Kitchen will generate the necessary html code, upload that code to your server and then show you the uploaded video playing in a browser. Pretty cool.

The poster frame options allow you to either use a default poster (aka thumbnail) graphic or create your own by capturing a frame from the video to be published.

2. Jeroen’s Flash Player

DV Kitchen 2.0 now supports many more features of the ubiquitous JW Player, including a long list of skins. When you select a skin, it writes the code and uploads the completed page to your server.

As with the QT option, you can select a custom poster graphic if you wish, and even include a watermarked logo.

Note that if you are using Jeroen’s player on a commercial site you need to purchase  a license at http://www.longtailvideo.com

The same goes for the custom skins. The prices are very reasonable and you can buy a license for just one skin or the whole collection.

3. Shadowbox

The Shadowbox option uses javascript and CSS to float the video over the web page it is launched from and simultaneously dim the background. The screencast linked below uses this effect. It’s very popular around the web these days, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.

The ShadowBox is also a licensed player that requirements payment for commercial use. You can buy a license at http://www.shadowbox-js.com

Remote Media Browser

DV Kitchen 2.0 also includes a remote media browser which allows you to browse and play clips hosted on your server as if they were on your local hard drive.

Not only that, but you can republish any clip that has already been uploaded on another platform . . . a unique feature we haven’t found available in any other software.

Okay, that’s the overview . . . now watch the screencast to see it all in more detail:

Here’s another post in our series on video production equipment and software that we think would be useful to have . . . in addition to our own of course!

Today we’re going to take a look at a great on-location sound package by Sennheiser. It starts with the MZS 20-1 pistol grip.

The microphone is an ME66 shotgun with plug-on wireless transmitter.

Over that comes the MZW 60-1 blimp which slides over the pistol grip.

Lastly comes a muff windscreen to complete the ensemble. The muff acts as the first line of defense in catching wind noise when outside and is generally very effective

Here’s Guy Cochran with his expert walk-thru and on site demo.

The Sennheiser location package is an excellent solution that we recommend for all outdoor shoots. You can find more details here.

TimeFreezer™ is designed expressly for exporting high quality still frames of video, and makes scrubbing through video and finding precisely the right frame, and publishing the photos on a website, ridiculously easy, efficient and fun.

With TimeFreezer™, you have unprecedented control over your subjects and the very flow of time itself. You can freeze someone in motion – even in midair – while you assess the picture and you can even go back in time . . . something which is difficult to do with a digital still camera when you’re shooting a moving subject.

All snapshots are arranged in a gallery for easy access and comparison.

TimeFreezer™ also features integrated FTP so you can upload your stills directly to a folder on your web site. You can then browse the uploaded stills on the web from within the interface. TimeFreezer™ even supplies you with the html code snippet required to embed a particular image on a web page, blog or forum.

No other program on the planet has all of these time-saving features — Allan Tepper, ProVideo Coalition

TimeFreezer™ is especially smart about the way it deals with interlaced footage shot for TV. Stills captured from interlaced footage will often be marred by so-called ‘combing’ artifacts. But TimeFreezer offers two ways to mitigate such problems.

First, it offers a ‘blend deinterlace’ option which smoothes out the combing effect caused by interlacing when you shoot a moving subject.

The second option is ‘perfect deinterlace’ which uses every other field in the interlaced frame. The result is a still image that is exactly half the size of the original image, but contains no combing artifacts.

TimeFreezer™ makes still frames a snap. Watch the video and see for yourself.

Today’s product review and video is about WarmCards. These are color calibrated cards used to produce a warmer look when white balancing your camera.

This is particularly useful for altering skin tones to produce a slightly tanned appearance when the lighting conditions would otherwise produce a cold, greyish look. A very inexpensive way to get that warm, film-like look.

WarmCards come in two sizes (with lanyard included so you can wear the smaller size around your neck on location) and three different strengths. Every set includes a carrying case.

WarmCards are strong and durable. They won’t get bent, folded, dirty, faded, or dog eared, under rugged everyday use in the field. They are 100% waterproof, easily wiped clean, and the matte finish reduces reflections while white balancing.

Of course, the absolute best way to demonstrate the power of this system is with a before and after video, so here’s Guy Cochran with another of his expert demos:

You can find more details here.

Some of our readers have asked us where to find good pre-owned lighting equipment for sale. Softboxes in particular.

The answer, of course, is eBay!

Here ya go . . .

FREZZI MRSB SOFT-BOX FOR MICRO-FILL – NEW !!!

US $94.99 End Date: Friday Mar-02-2012 8:51:46 PST Buy It Now for only: US $94.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $339.95 End Date: Sunday Mar-04-2012 14:01:09 PST Buy It Now for only: US $339.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $399.00 End Date: Friday Mar-16-2012 22:31:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $399.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Bookmark this page and return often as this feed updates with new auctions on an on-going basis.

Today’s article and video is the first in a series we’ll post featuring video production equipment and software that we think would be useful to have in your arsenal . . . in addition to our own of course!

First up we’re taking a look at the BeachTek DXA-2S. This an XLR to mini plug adapter that allows you to use professional microphones on consumer class cameras.

Many lower end cameras don’t have XLR jacks so you can’t use pro mics like shotgun mics from the likes of Rode, Sennheiser and Audio Technica. That makes a difference when you want to run cables 20 – 30 feet. If you don’t use XLR, you’re going to get hum and buzz when operating over that distance.

The BeachTek DXA-2S attaches to the bottom of your camera’s tripod screw, which is replicated on the bottom of the unit.

There are separate level controls for Left and Right channels, a switch for Mic or Line level input, and one more switch for stereo or mono.

All BeachTek’s are passive devices and produce no additional sound, no hum, no hiss. These adapters are so clean they have become the industry standard.

Here’s an overview by Guy Cochran . . .

You can find more details on the BeachTek XLR adapter here.