[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Omar,

Have you tried to contact:
https://rxlaboratory.org/tools/duik-angela/

You may need to take out a Silver or Gold Membership to get them talking.

Alternatively, the version that you are looking for could potentially be stored in their GitHub depository. But as I have never used Duik, I would not know where to start looking for the version that you need:
https://github.com/RxLaboratory/Duik

Edit: Always curious about Github, so took the challenge myself. This is what I found for Duik version 15:

https://github.com/RxLaboratory/Duik-15

Hope that this helps?

Atb
Mads

rxlaboratory.org

Duik Ángela

The comprehensive rigging and animation tool set for After Effects.

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Lillian,

Keep in mind that “A.I.” is predominantly an advanced version of Machine Learning. And, that all the information that A.I. is gathering it is getting from somewhere, online. Although someone might create a new unique image, it comprises other people’s intellectual property.

There is nothing wrong with that, and there are ways in which it can be mitigated against. But currently no-one is seriously objecting. But soon they will. We are already seeing politicians taking a keen interest in fake videos used to incite hate, or pleasure.

There are also individuals than no-one offering A.I. would dare to get into the boxing ring with. One great example from this week:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm559l5g529o

Sooner, rather than later, A.I. providers may be asked to provide a list of sources for every text, photo, audio or video that they create.

If you are in the business of creating unique designs, maybe you need to assert your copyright by giving the client a licence to use it. But not allow them to modify it (or ask an A.I. to “copy” it).

Sadly, on high-end 3D software, most the expensive packages have only got themselves to blame. I gave up on AutoDesk years ago and have recently done the same with Maxon. Not necessarily because of price, but more that their sales department doesn’t know how to treat small-scale operators.

Yes, I have gone to Blender, who conveniently has made an app that you can download for free straight from the Microsoft Windows store + HumbleBundle.com every so often offers a raft of Blender course for under £20.00.
Does this make me a professional animator?
No, but it gives me an entry level to grow from. And for the minor projects where I want to use it, it suits me perfectly.

I have recently got Davinci installed, which comes with Fusion at the cost of free.
That won’t make me a top compositor either, but it gives me a tool to fix things with.

What I am trying to suggest is that nothing beats a skilled animator.
The question is: Who are you selling to and what are you selling?

Instead of selling the service of animation, maybe look to be the person who is involved in the brainstorm and conceptualising the project?

Atb
Mads

bbc.co.uk

ChatGPT: Scarlett Johansson left 'angered' by chatbot imitation

The star says she is "shocked" after OpenAI launched a chatbot with a voice "eerily similar" to hers.

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Santanu,

Sorry, I’ve been absent.

You make a good list:
“With the advent of cheap DSLRs, film crew shrunk. Smartphone cameras
killed the photography business because many client couldn’t perceive
the difference. Free YouTube and COVID made every other guy a filmmaker.
Cinema is dead because of the OTT. Video businesses shrunk.”

I started out in the days of filming and editing on U-Matic LowBand (1980’s). Back then we thought that the VHS would kill off the cinema. If working for a broadcaster, you most definately did not accept VHS – unless it had the only shot of a celebrity falling down stairs, or similar. VHS did not kill the cinema.

In the 1990’s the introduction of DV-Cam into news production was interesting. I had a newspaper cut on my notice board that compared a 1980’s News Crew of 7 people, with that of 2 people in the late 1990’s – still video tape.

Cheap DSLRs was a game changer in quality at low-ligt v that of your traditional video camera. But came with headache’s in editing and working with sound. Just because someone has a DSLR, does not make them a fully fledged video production specialist unless they understand all the components. There is also the “small” matter of turning up and filming the CEO, C-Suite, investors and clients with something that looks like a toy. Many clients wants the lights, sound and camera to feel like they are on proper TV.

The clients that wants to take their own pictures, are also those who have a niece or nephew that can do the job. Those are not your clients, not yet anyway. Keep in mind that as Instagram and other Social Media platforms proves, there is soo many more pictures and videos out there, where most of the people making them could not afford the services of a professional in the first place.

YouYube is an interesting point. But you need 1 million+ followers and views past 10 million to make good money out of that. And, Google will still take their share. If anything, as YouTube is predicted to overtake Netflix as most watched on your smart TV, the OTT streamers are the ones to watch out.

As a teenager I started out as a 35mm cinema projectionist. I love the cinema! But here is the problem; the modern cinema skrunk their screens, hiked the prices on soda and pop-corn + often I’ll see dust on the projector sensor, or dirt on the screen itself + still be asked to pay £ 60+ for my two kids and me. My new 4K 65′ OLED (LG) came with free sound bar and bass booster. And, with a 1GB internet connection 4K streaming is not a problem + for £ 14.00 I can boost my Netflix package to play higher quality without adverts for a month. Most importantly with that TV in relation to distance to the sofa, I get the same, if not a better viewing experience than I do in 90% of a “modern” cinema screen in the UK – the cinema chains lowered their quality and got greedy on the cost of going, and that is what is killing them.

Short answer: You are selling a fabulous end product with brilliant service. If you communicate that to your client, they will continue to use your business.

If you spend more time looking over the shoulder, rather than ahead, they will overtake you 😉

If you like readin, one of my favourite business books, ever, from 1996, is Andrew S Grove’s

“Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company”

He talks about the “Strategic Inflection Point” which can have a lot of different meanings. But in relation to where both customer habits and technology (A.I.) is moving at speed, it is worth getting the crystall ball out and check what direction that you should move in next..?

Atb
Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Nick,

I like Hector’s version better.

But a “dirty fix” that may work for you is to Speed ramp the clip that is causing trouble.
(Although it will be more of a vertical climb, than a ramp 😀)
https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/premiere-pro/how-to/create-energetic-videos-using-speed-ramping-with-danielsjensen.html/1000

Atb

Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Jonathan,

Before answering, it would be good to know what version of Premiere Pro you are using, what is the file format of the 26 hour video, and what kind of storage do you use?

As Tom correctly says, going past 24 hours is a problem for any time-code based file. But depending on your file format, one can easily think that the time counter is the time-code.

I would be curious to check whether there is enough space on your cache folder to do the audio encoding, if required?

If you haven’t already tried it, it might be interesting to find out what After Effects will do if presented with that clip?

And, if you have access, maybe check FCPX and Davinci for their reactions to the file.

I am not suggesting that you change editing platform, but only to see if the others will go, where PPro won’t. Mind you, if FCPX takes it, the Apple Media-File manager is likely to “enforce” an encode to a format of their liking.

There is also more highend solution made for Broadcast and CCTV operations, where they run 24/7 continous recordings. Some of those systems will allow PPro to access and edit the video as it is recording.

Hope that this help you get a little bit further.

Atb

Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Jay,

Adding to Hector’s excellent advice.

I would go full out and delete all render files and trash the preferences.

Also, we don’t know about your hardware. Are you on a PC or Mac?

And, what media drive are you using?
Is it internal or external?
If external, and it disconnects from your computer, either through you powering down, or drive going in to sleep mode. This could “disrupt” the project. Although not logically, just worth checking where your media is, and where your render folders are placed.

Atb
Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Richard,

No problem, understand about your remit.

Still suggest that it is appropriate to mention that there is no more Cloud in Adobe Creative Cloud for many of those users that helped promoted Adobe get to where they are today.

On Figma merger, Adobe is doubling up on investment in A.I. generative creation tools for non-professional users. This is what writers and actors strikes in the US are made of, and EU regulation.

Filed in the UK Parliament library, within the PDF “Parties response to the notice of possible remedies (PDF, 167KB) (18.12.23)”

“(iii) Third, decisions around Adobe XD disinvestment and Project Spice termination were made for clear and obvious business reasons and independent from the deal discussions with Figma. Absent the Transaction,Adobe would be incapable of continuing to compete and innovate in the supply of all-in-one product design software, in other organic or inorganic ways, and would be better served with an investment in growth areas like Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly.”

https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/adobe-slash-figma-merger-inquiry

Note how neither Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop or Audion is mentioned, as they are all out of favour, in return for more money being spent on “growing” Adobe Express.

In other words, “professional” is out of the window too, as Adobe wants our customers to migrate to “Adobe Express”. Undoubtedly it will happen anyway.

But killing the Cloud, to make life more difficult for the small proffesional users, they might as well have discontinued their professional products altogether..

Sorry, additional rant completed.

Anyway, this is not your remit.

I use a HP with latest i9 processor + NVidia RTX ADA card + 4K display + 128GB Ram + 1TB SSD for boot and software, and another 8TB for media and other projects.

That might be a bit over the top, but anyone working professionally up to 4K, will need something that can handle it.

Having said that, anyone starting out in the industry and want entry level, then I would agree that your Lenovo will do the job (That is based on the 1TB SSD, as 500GB will not get you out of bed before you run out of storage.

The Mac has got too many “N/A” + can not be upgraded as the business grows. Although, it will allow for the user to run FCPX.

Don’t forget the cost of a proper monitor…

Atb
Mads

gov.uk

Adobe / Figma merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Adobe Inc. of Figma, Inc.

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Richard,

I am with Rob on the Lenovo.

But all 3 options are entry level, and not for professional use IMHO.

Don’t forget to add to your article on “choosing a workstation for running Adobe Creative Suite (and Premiere Pro) efficiently.” that Cloud for video is no longer available in Adobe CC for freelancers, SME’s and students.

When it comes to working across mobile/tablet apps, laptop and desktop, Adobe has cancelled the Cloud in Creative Cloud. Unless you carry a hard-drive, or have a Cloud account with Google, Microsoft or other, forget Adobe CC.

You’ll be better off writing about best choice for Davinci or Avid, than Adobe Creative non-cloud…

In other words, Adobe management in their desperation to spend $ 20 Billion on Figma (failed and cost them $ 1 Billion to Figma) has completely lost the plot.

Still love them, of course, but not for long…

Atb
Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Tom,

Yes, back in Feb, on Premiere Pro, I had even the smallest projects running out of RAM, like 128GB of RAM (latest DDR5 4800 Memory).

Posted on Twitter about – suspect it encouraged Adobe to bring out an update by Adobe to get the software fixed.

Atb
Mads

[Mads Nybo jørgensen]

Hey Maxim,

I’ve never used scripting in PPro, so not much help on that point from me, sorry.

Thinking out of the box, have you looked at Mocha Pro and the Python scripting within that?
Or, as you mention, do the scripting inside After Effects?
There is a great forum here on the COW with some hardcore AE coders.
https://creativecow.net/forums/forum/adobe-after-effects-expressions/

Atb

Mads

creativecow.net

Adobe After Effects Expressions – Creative COW

Adobe After Effects Expressions – Creative COW