[John Davidson]

Thanks Jeremy, but perhaps I wasn’t clear. What I mean to say is, I have 1000+ music tracks that already loaded in FCP and I would like to select all of them and lower their playback level simultaneously – from within FCP’s browser. I think that taking it into STP would require reducing the master level permanently, which is overkill. I suppose what I’m asking for can’t be done….

[John Davidson]

Are you using nested sequences? I’ve found issues with sync before using them. Not sure about everything else – perhaps someone more knowledgable than me can weigh in…

[John Davidson]

I have the 37inch and when it’s hooked up correctly and calibrated as close as you can get it’s pretty freakin’ awesome. For HD stuff it’s amazing ,too. I don’t suggest using it for a big post house room where you would be color correcting for clients, however for me in my studio it’s perfect. Here’s a pic (crappy phone quality) of the setup. https://www.magicfeatherinc.com/monitor.jpg
Good luck
-neo

[John Davidson]

How many times have you guys accidentally opened up the apple loops utility when you click on one of the loops in finder? Maybe I don’t understand it or am overthinking it, but that program is so annoying to me.

[John Davidson]

I just use spotlight and drag all the results into a SFX folder in fcp. Initially that doesn’t work as well, but as you learn what sound effects are named in STP it gets much easier.

[John Davidson]

I use Myfax.com They give you a dedicated 888 number that people can fax to for about 100 bucks a year. It’s really really easy. People fax stuff to that number and you get a PDF in your email inbox. Wanna fax something out? Easy. Just email your documents.

Personally, I hate faxes. They’re so 90’s.

[John Davidson]

This happened for me – I was using the wrong Alias to launch after upgrading. Spotlight “compressor” and see if you ahve two applications popup. One of them is the upgraded one you’re supposed to use, and the other is not.

This assumes you’re using a link, and not exporting from FCP via compressor. If FCP won’t open compressor, I don’t know what to tell ya.

Good luck,
Neo

[John Davidson]

In Los Angeles, I received conflicting advice about LLC or S-Corp, however, the S-Corp won favor because it was a better deal for me. The problem with a DBA is that you’re still taxed the outrageous rate (51%, right guys?) on ALL untaxed income that you make, after deductions. If you incorporate, you’ll want to set yourself up with a payroll company like Paychex (they’re in Culver City, but are national). Paychex will take out all taxes and direct deposit however much you want to pay yourself as presidnt/ceo of your company. Whatever is left in the Company account after you’re paid is taxable, but you get some great breaks like a 3 percent gross manufacturing deduction because you make a physical product, like DVD’s, or tapes. That’s sort of a loophole as the deduction was meant for industrial companies, however it applies and is used by lots and lots of California video/dvd production companies.

As a company, you can also write off one vehicle, deduct many trips (always travel with a video camera for your b-roll shoots), rent an office in your home, and it’s dealt with before taxes. Clientwise, if you’re a company it’s easier to get larger budgets. Rather than being day-rate, you can cash in on your production speed and creative expertise by working on a lump-sum basis.

One thing to consider is that it’s not completely worthwile to incorporate unless you’re making upwards of 100k freelance. There are associated once a year fees ($800) that are involved, you have to file two tax returns, etc, so that can become more of a hassle than it’s worth.

Each person is different, so as the other guy stated, it’s difficult to give you advice without knowing your exact situation. Search the boards, this topic comes up from time to time.

Since you’re in LA, drop me an email and I’ll give you the name of my contact at Paychex, and my Tax Preparer (she’s the one that set me up with the S-Corp). Both are in LA on the West Side.

Good Luck!
-neo

[John Davidson]

The odds of getting sued for using your graphics/effects work on a sample reel are about the same as getting hit by an asteroid while typing. I’ve been using my Disney work on my reel for years. Hey…what’s that sou (crash)….OW!

Just be smart. You made that work, it’s a demo of what you can do. It’s not like we’re working for the CIA here. Last year a vendor for DIsney cable submitted Disney work at Promax/BDA – and won an award with it. Disney cable contractually forbids any submissions of your work done for them to any competition unless Disney itself submits it. The bosses at Disney were ticked, stopped hiring that company, but didn’t sue. If they didn’t sue for THAT, I can’t imagine getting sued for using your work on a reel that you send out to feed your family.

Some reel advice:
If you put it on the web and have a web reel link that you send out and you’re really concerned about getting sued, password protect the web page and provide that with your link/resume/email. The future client will be pleased that you can protect video content on the web.
DO embed the QT file in a web page rather than just linking to the .mov file. Many browsers will require that you load the entire file before it will let you play, and you don’t want a potential client staring at a big blue Q for 3 minutes.
DON’T send hard copies to the employer you did the work for.
DON’T say things to your current employer like “Hey you SOB, I’m using all your work on my reel, and there’s nothing you can do about it! Ever! You’re helpless and puny!! HAHAHAHAHA”.
DON’T follow that previous statement with “and your kids are all ugly and stupid, like you and your graphics knowledge!”

[John Davidson]

I have an agency that is a client, and seems to think that DVD is a great storage material for their work. I really, really, really, really hate when somebody comes into session and says “I have my stuff on DVD, that’ll work, right?”. Anyway, my tried and true process is this.

1. rip the dvd with Handbrake (you can select chapters if you don’t want to rip the whole thing) into an MP4 format at best quality, full screen resolution.

2. use compressor to create an 8bit uncompressed sequence (or DV, or whatever codec you want to use) of that mp4 file. Quicktime will export an 8bit file, but for some reason it’s unrecognized by FCP – so use compressor.

3. import that huge file into the sequence. Create crappy resolution cut.

Disclaimer: If you rip a DVD that you don’t have rights to, or a copyright permission slip, or whatever ridiculous crap is required so that you can watch it on your tv, federal agents will storm into your house,, burn it, enforce the right of prima nocte on your wife, force you to watch all the Jar Jar Binks scenes from Star Wars 1, and lastly, baby Jesus will cry.

“Copyright infringement Laws, a new fun and easy way to remove your freedoms of speech and press in one simple swoop”.