[Bob Cole]

Thank you so much for the comprehensive reply! I appreciate that this is a very fast-moving train, and so I am going to assemble all the video that I want to upscale from SD, and then ask your opinion again.

[Bob Cole]

Thanks for the thoughts. Some reactions:

1. Agree that there are many wonderful AI-aided innovations which automate tedious manual tasks; Resolve 20 has several of them.

2. Mediocre human-created edits will definitely lose out to mediocre AI, if only because AI will be faster and FAR less expensive.

3. For field production, I am looking forward to AI-driven lenses which improve AF tracking, even when the desired face target temporarily is hidden from view.

Outside of video production, I am all for advances in AI. For my personal life, I am looking forward to UAI: Utensil Artificial Intelligence. This will feature an AI-aided fork, with haptic technology which guides my hand to the vegetables and away from that extra pat of butter. Why take expensive weight-loss products when you can solve your weight issues at the source?

[Bob Cole]

Thanks Brie and Mads. See, these are the kinds of responses that set the COW apart.

I very much appreciate the COW’s humanity, honesty, and capacity for nuance. It’s not a “Shouting Place,” as so much social media has become.

Bob

[Bob Cole]

Devrim, yes, I posted this in hopes that I could be persuaded I was agree. And I agree with you about the importance of creativity. But you have to see this AI stuff to believe it. The AI software “read” the script, provided audio for the voice-over, looked over the images, and edited the images to the script. Then it said, in effect, “I can generate animated characters that will be more dynamic than the still images you gave me,” and produced a fully animated video, in seconds. It even figured out that there was a quotation from Richard Nixon and provided a (not great) rendering of Nixon giving his “two vee’s” salute.

The script was written by a human. But I bet AI could have generated the script from a set of bullet points as well.

The point is: It was GOOD ENOUGH. And for the price (zero, basically) it was amazing.

This reminds me of the endless film-vs-video debates. The privileged few can still shoot film, but for most of us, digital has won. I think this debate will be resolved a lot more quickly than that one. With this difference: Now it’s not just the recording medium we’re talking about; it’s the entire process, from concept to output.

To extend the film-vs-video analogy: Those who are talented enough to demand film will get to use film. The vast majority (including many very talented people) will use video. And with AI, the few who are supremely talented will be in more demand than ever. But the vast majority will find their roles severely eroded by AI.

Not a great commencement speech at an arts college, but it’s reality.

Bright spot: AI still can’t do humor. Maybe we should all go to improv school.

bob

[Bob Cole]

I take your point, and if I were talking about something less fundamental, I’d leave it at that.

But this exposure to AI feels like something very different. We’re talking about a radical transformation of editing as we know it. We’re the taxicab drivers looking at driverless cars.

[Bob Cole]

That sounds ridiculous. I’m so sorry. True Customs story: Ahead of me in line was a young family who were watching as the customs officials literally tore into their suitcases to look for ??? while their toddlers squirmed in their parents’ arms. Customs started quizzing me about the camera equipment I was bringing back to the U.S. I said, “It’s for a documentary about a Scottish immigrant in the 1750s who came to America as a young bookkeeper …” That’s as far as I got. The agent’s eyes started glazing over, and she practically shouted, “That’s okay, go ahead.”

Thanks for the info about Calman. I looked them up, and that solution would cost thousands of $$$. Did I understand you correctly?

Bob c

[Bob Cole]

Two more questions:

1. Is there an alternative to Topaz which you can recommend? I just ran across “HitPaw Video Enhancer,” and the free preview looks pretty good.

2. We’re using Zoom simply because the interviewees are comfortable with it. Is there an alternative to Zoom, for people who have no inclination to load software on their end?

Thanks again!

[Bob Cole]

I forgot to update: Hector was absolutely right. Thank you Hector!!!

[Bob Cole]

Thanks Hector!

[Bob Cole]

<<hoping the latest Mac Studio can cut it. Pardon the pun 🙂>>

Or will it just fade out?