[Tom Ma]

Did you ever get more information on your questions on MXF Server?
I have similar questions.

[Tom Ma]

the sample you show is not really accurate to how an EKG displays heart beats.
I think that is what you are getting at with your question.

in this spot below, in the first half a second or so, it shows how an EKG measures a heartbeat.
https://hiredweapon.com/tom/index.php?/coreg-ekg/

I did some research into accurate behavior of an EKG unit.
I created the template and animatic for the spot, which was used for the finished spot.

My EKG setup also made a cameo in this spot as well.. why not re-use a good setup!
https://hiredweapon.com/tom/index.php?/tru-tv/

if this is what you are looking for, I’d be happy to explain how I built it.. very basic.

[Tom Ma]

“…hardware acceleration of composition panels (Preferences > Display)? — YES for both CS5 and 6”
Huh. Is it better if you turn it off?

— nope, didnt help.

Tom, here’s one other thing to confirm: are you using the Classic 3D renderer in Ae CS6, or are you using the Ray-traced 3D renderer?

— renderer is set to Classic in CS6, not reyatraced. Shadow Map reso set to: Comp Size.

any other ideas?

I am going to road test this project on a few more Macs running both CS6 and 5.
I really feel the issue is with the Mac I am running on now. Unfortunately I can monkey around with it too much as it is a resolve station as well.

[Tom Ma]

hi Walter, thanks for quk reply…
You are correct about NVIDIA for Resolve and ATI for display. matter of fact, looks like there are 2 Quattros (not my system)

In CS6, have you enabled hardware acceleration of composition panels (Preferences > Display)?
— YES for both CS5 and 6

What CPU does your Mac have? What are your multiprocessing settings?
— Quad Core 2.93 Ghz. Multiprocessing: ON
— Should this make a difference for interactions in comp (not RAM prev)

What kinds of disks do you have attached to your system? Have you enabled the disk cache?
— OS drive is fast SSD. Fast RAID attached, also v. fast network.
— Disk cache OFF

keep in mind: same system. same project and comp. CS5 fast, 6 very slow, lag.

[Tom Ma]

I read that article as well.
I feel for his broader life situation. however…

At the end of the day, you try to work doing what you love to do.
If you can identify that career and find money in it, consider yourself very fortunate.

Then try to work on YOUR terms. You’d be surprised. If you convey what you want, what you will accept, you very well might get what you want.. with talent and hard work.

I get the feeling that the author of that was upset because one of the above elements was not there. Perhaps he would have been happier in another job. Perhaps he did not set his terms. Perhaps it was just a rant.. we all have them.

Looking at the quote from Thomas Edison in a post in this thread:
Do you think Thomas Edison stayed up countless nights against his will and was unhappy about it?
No way. He was a passionate inventor and clearly loved what he did.

If motion graphics is your passion, burning the midnight oil doing it will be something you will want to do.
Just make sure that it is your passion, and that you do it on your terms.

fwiw: I stayed up all night last night with a tablet pen in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.. and I couldn’t be happier about it.

best of luck…

[Tom Ma]

I read that article as well.
I feel for his broader life situation. however…

At the end of the day, you try to work doing what you love to do.
If you can identify that career and find money in it, consider yourself very fortunate.

Then try to work on YOUR terms. You’d be surprised. If you convey what you want, what you will accept, you very well might get what you want.. with talent and hard work.

I get the feeling that the author of that was upset because one of the above elements was not there. Perhaps he would have been happier in another job. Perhaps he did not set his terms. Perhaps it was just a rant.. we all have them.

Looking at the quote from Thomas Edison in a post in this thread:
Do you think Thomas Edison stayed up countless nights against his will and was unhappy about it?
No way. He was a passionate inventor and clearly loved what he did.

If motion graphics is your passion, burning the midnight oil doing it will be something you will want to do.
Just make sure that it is your passion, and that you do it on your terms.

fwiw: I stayed up all night last night with a tablet pen in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.. and I couldn’t be happier about it.

best of luck Jess.

[Tom Ma]

Since you probably are not sure how much time you will spend on this, due to the execution, your skill level, and the type of client, I would strongly recommend charging an hourly rate, or day rate, rather than a project rate. This way, no one gets screwed.

Be clear before you begin about your rate and estimated time it will take you.
If it takes you beyond what you estimate, be prepared to eat this cost.
Get this discussion in emails, not voice.

If you are NBC/Uni you are probably in LA or NYC.
Rates for AE artists in these markets roughly range from $25/hr for very junior, to $100/hr for master. (but at $100/hr you are probably adding app skills like CG, advanced tracking, maybe flame, smoke etc.) You sound like you might be on the lower end of this scale.

Other factors:
Is it your gear, or the clients gear.
What is the turnaround. Tighter deadline, the rate goes up.

Rules of thumb:
Charge what you can get. Without losing the work, or pissing anyone off. Sometimes this is trickier than doing the job itself.
If you don’t hear a grumble or a haggle about your price, you probably didn’t shoot high enough.
If you do this right, your client, and you should BOTH be happy, not just one of you.

[Tom Ma]

nice.. thx.

[Tom Ma]

if I may humbly ask an extra:

an expression for type layer that will return the text in the label of the marker?

thanks!

[Tom Ma]

That did it.
Dan.
Thank you once again!