[Chris Dolan]

James,

Does this feature also delete render files?

If not, one way to reduce the project’s size is to delete its rendered avi’s and conformed audio. This assumes you don’t plan to use the project again any time soon and have exported the final video. You can always re-render the timeline(s) later, and Premiere will automatically re-conform the audio files the next time you open the project.

I backup all of my projects, completed .avi’s, and DVD projects on an external drive. I have 2.5 terabyte of space total, with about 750 gigabytes in the PC. The balance is external so if I ever have a catastrophic failure of the PC, I always have the backups and can just plug the drive into another edit station.

[Chris Dolan]

I’ll try the transform effect next time.

Thank you…

[Chris Dolan]

Thanks for the response!

I was actually looking for a way to take the entire slideshow and export it as a video file. I wanted to avoid the Photoshop step alltogether.

I know there’s a way to do it because I have a .ppt file and an .mpg of an earlier version of the .ppt presentation from the client. What I was given was an older .mpg file before the final .ppt presentation was completed. I don’t think they realized the .mpg is not the final version. Rather than ask them to send another .mpg of the final version, I figured I would just do it myself if it’s easy enough.

My research this morning found this: https://www.bytescout.com/how_to_convert_powerpoint_to_video.html
I haven’t run the exe file yet, but something tells me it is a limited-function version. I’m guessing I’ll have to purchase the full version to be able to export a ppt presentation as full-res 720×480 at 30fps.

I think this is the way I’ll go, since I don’t really have the time to mess with photoshop to re-create the timing/transitions of the slides and synch it with the music. I want to be able to just drop an .mpg or .avi file right into the timeline.

Thanks again for your help!

[Chris Dolan]

I thought I might follow-up to my own post with a little information. I purchased from B&H the Smooth Shooter, which arrived yesterday. I have to say it is surprisingly well-constructed. It has a pretty nice finish and is not flimsy at all, quite solid in it’s design. Not bad for such a competitively-priced product. I honestly expected less.

I haven’t been able to set it up or use it yet because the Glidecam 4000, which I ordered at the same time, arrived damaged. The box was intact but upon unwrapping the packing paper, I found the adjustment clamp at the bottom of the main post was cracked and unusable. I have been in contact with B&H to resolve the issue. Hopefully their customer/product service is as good as every other aspect of their business. I’ve ordered quite a bit from them in the last two years, and have been happy so far.

I’ll try to post another follow-up when the broken clamp issue is resolved, and I have a chance to try it out.

[Chris Dolan]

Valuable info, and much appreciated… Thanks again.

[Chris Dolan]

Thanks again for the input Sydney…

I checked out your ‘Coronado Speed Festival’ clip… Pretty cool! I’m a racecar driver (hobby) so I can definitely appreciate that piece. I noticed a bit of the shake you mentioned, specifically the side-to-side motion after a quick pull-back and pan from a couple of the close shots. Not too bad though. I think I could live with that. How long have you been using the Smooth Shooter rig? Do you think the shake might disappear with more use/practice? At any rate, it appears to be better than the level of steadiness I’ve achieved without such a rig.

Another couple of questions if you don’t mind: How difficult was it to get the rig set up/ balanced, and how long did it take you to become proficient at operating it?

[Chris Dolan]

Thanks for the reply.

The transporter looks cool and useful, however if it is anything like the Segway, it’s probably a few thousand bucks. Furthermore, I think its use in a crowded reception hall would be severly limited. (Most of the weddings I’ve shot have been this way…very little room between tables and an undersized dance floor.) I think it would be better-utilized for staged shots or environments with more floor space.

[Chris Dolan]

That’s good to hear. How long have you been using it? When you say it doesn’t remove all of the shaking, is that while running or simply walking across a room?

Thanks for your input.

[Chris Dolan]

Tony,

Check out the ‘Event Videographers’ forum. This topic has been discussed quite a bit. Try a search of that forum, you may find the answers you seek.

[Chris Dolan]

Cool… Thanks!