Mick Haensler
Forum Replies Created
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I’m working on a project right now that involves importing DVD footage. I have been capturing the footage as 8 bit DV files using the component in of my Kona card. Will I see any difference in quality by using the techniques described in this thread. In other words, does converting the DVD footage to a .mov file via software yield better results than simply capturing via component.
MIck Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
That’s what I suspected. Thanks Walt, appreciate it.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
We do a lot of work for non profits and seriously considered becoming a non profit ourselves. After many lengthy conversations with my non profit clients, accountants and lawyers, as well as some of the pros here, we decided the negatives far outweighed the positives. Starting a non profit is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a love of paperwork and government red tape, I would suggest finding another alternative.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[walter biscardi] “Please tell me you have the big bear rug on the floor, complete with the head. oh please oh please!
“Now hold on thar cowpoke. Ta git a bar skeein rug you gots to wrastle a bar. And I ain’t wrastlin me no bar jes to git a rug. So you jes gonna hafta stick yer toes in da far.
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[walter biscardi] “I mean you’re not a true creative facility unless you have lime green walls. Am I right or am I right?!”
Oh shoouh Waltuh, you are so right. Lime green makes the mayen. A lime green studio and a chartreuse micro bus for a remote truck. Truly a sight to behold. Now there are three obscure references in this paragraph. Anyone who can name them will get a discount!!!
Seriously, I went with a bold red on the walls, bright white trim, black built in bookcases and black blinds for the windows. The workstations are black swirl formica tops with cherry bullnose accents and cherry 19″ racks underneath. My web guy is just about done with my new site and I’ll have some pics up there. Including the Italian marble working fireplace. That’s right, a working freakin’ fireplace in the studio!!! Yesterday was a raw damp day, my client was running late and frazzled when she got here. So I sat her down in front of a roaring fire and handed her a cup of freshly brewed organic coffee. The deal was done before I opened my mouth. I now have enough work to keep me busy for about 3 months.
Life is good
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground MediaPS – If anyone stomps on my honeymoon phase or tries to remove my rose tinted glasses, I will come in amongst them and get medieval!!!
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A few years ago Digital Juice made the anouncement not to attend NAB. Instead, the entire week of NAB, they would be offering insane deals on a large swath of their products exclusively on their web site. People flocked to their site and in one week they put themselves at the top of the heap for stock footage, graphics, etc. It was a bold move that turned out to be highly successful. I think what DJ realized is, most people in the industry don’t attend NAB. Most people in the industry are small operations that simply can’t afford to take the time away from making money to attend. They don’t care about a fancy booth that will in the long run only cost them in the price they pay for the companies products. They just want the tools that help them make money at a reasonable price.
IMHO, this industry is simply going the way the pro audio industry went a few years back. Large post houses are not doing well, they have been supplanted by smaller, leaner operations like myself. I was on the receiving end of this with audio production and now I’m reaping the benefits in video production. My main competitor is a guy who is shooting full HDCAM and editing on a $75,000 Velocity system. He has a large fully equipped sound stage and a mobile truck. His main client is one of the largest poultry suppliers in the world. He handles alot of their corporate work but none of their broadcast work. Now there is nothing wrong with shooting corporate work with this kind of equipment, but it is overkill that costs the client. Fortunately for him the client has a huge ego that gets off on this sort of thing. Doubly fortunate for him I have no interest in persuing this client as I could give them a comparible product for much less. Interestingly, I just saw on this guys’ web site that he is now doing legal depositions and event work. HHMMMMMM
Point is, the industry is changing and I believe Apple is simply adapting to that change. No need to make a big deal about it. They didn’t get the deal they wanted at NAB and they’re quietly moving on. I seriously doubt they are getting out of post what with new codec development, the acquisition of Color, new versatility with FCP Studio 2. As a recent convert to Mac, I made my decision to switch after months of research and talking to many people in the industry. The conclusion I came to was, Apple is and will be for some time to come, the platform of choice for a large group of creatives. IMHO of course.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Mark Suszko] “Outside of the major markets, the service is quite spotty and standards are low. If you know what end on an XLR cable is what, and how to change a projector bulb, you’re in.”
Well ya got me there. A sad but true scenario. And although my old job was in a mid market facility, the owner had the foresight to put an emphasis on technology. Sadly the facility has not been able to fill my position due to below industry standard pay. I fear the department I built will crumble without a high caliber tech and will deteriorate to the scenario you describe above.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Mark Suszko] “Another way to go that keeps you in one place would be to work for a local hotel as their on-call Av tech.”
With respect Mark, this is not a job you can just jump right into. I just left a director level position at a high end conference and wedding center. I wouldn’t even consider hiring someone without a few years experience in the industry or a 2 year degree from a trade school or college. To suggest he can just waltz right in to a place and get a position like this is very unrealistic. Most hotels and conference centers have either a highly skilled tech crew or contract out to a national company like Swank AV. More realistically, he might check out these company’s web sites for ENTRY LEVEL opportunities. The pay and hours suck, but they will hire just about anybody for entry level, as long as you have a high school diploma.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
Thanks for your input everyone. Seeing as these are great folks to work with and will more than likely be long term clients, me thinks they get the pics for free. Thanks again for the opinions.
On a side note. Before I posted this, I read many of the posts concerning footage rights, work for hire, and the like. As much as it has been discussed here, it seems there is still no definitive answer as to who owns what no matter what your contract says. I’m in the process of revamping my contract and would love to put this to rest. I’m coming to the conclusion that there is no clear answer here and if it were to end up in court it would pretty much be up to the judge and how he/she interprets the law. It would be nice to get the opinion of an entertainment/DRM lawyer in on this discussion, as I’m sure I’m not the only one still confused.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
That’s what I was thinking. Thanks for the input.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media