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roberson3 wrote: Joseph Ayo wrote:
I see AL figured out DJ Santa is the band Crispy (actually the voices from Aqua but they didnt want to be identified as Aqua so they changed their name for the Christmas songs), curious how their version looks.
Joseph,
AL version of DJ Santa looks pretty good I have it and have adapted it to my display. I will have a "Joseph Ayo design" dancing man this year, although mine is probably considered a dancing boy. I used 18' rope light and mine is only around 4' tall. My display doesnt have any chasing light strings like yours does, so mine looks calmer than yours (not that that is a good thing)
Someone needs to get me AL's list of circuits... since I was in this years before they offered songs, I dont know their circuit map (plug this circuit into what thing). I would be happy to remap my collection of songs to the current standard and make the songs available for free at some point. Dont bank on it for this season, I have my hands full for now but in the coming spring is what I am saying.
Joseph Ayo wrote: OK and back to the other 1/2 of the question, how do you download?
Under each video there is a link that says "Launch in external player." If you left click on it you will play it on our computer and you can press save or you can right click and do a save as.
Ken W. Good wrote: radiomarsh wrote: Also I have a couple of videos ready and would like t share. I just want to make sure we are all using the same codecs and I need aplace to send them.
If you upload to this link, I will add it to the coop. Login is automatic. Please send me an email at: keng@tyler.net to let me know that you have uploaded a video.
Ken
Just cant get in... I have to go to VIEW, then Open FTP window... when I do that a box pops up asking for name and password.
oldcqr wrote: If you do it that way Joe, the user name is:
u40668824-guest
and the password is:
password
Thanks, the auto log in feature he described... I am not sure if my security is too high or such but it isnt working on my setup so I have to do the open FTP thing as that is the instructions to do when I do click on his link.
Marshall Rice has contributed another video to our Video Sharing Coop. It is called Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It is very good. You can see it at http://www.ChristmasAtTheGoods.com/videocoop.
Hey guys...I just stumbled upon this thread and am very interested in joining the co-op. I have a couple questions.
What software is everyone mostly using for producing their video? Does one give better results than another?
How are you making your screens to display the video on? I haven't seen too many threads on how the screens are built or what they look like.
Obviously, it's a little late for me to start video this year, but I will do it next year. I'm looking into a Epson PowerLite S5 (2000 Lumens) and hoping that should do the job. I have a LOR setup. Too bad the video discussions don't have their own discussion forum. Many things can be discussed about this in particular.
I have been using Power Director version 6 by Cyberlink for all my videos. It seems to have alot of features and seems pretty easy to learn. Here is link for a place to get rear projection screen material for projecting your videos, http://www.dazian.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?action=show_style&style_id=346&group_id=165&cat_id=50. they also sell clips that can be used for mounting the screen material.
For the screens, does anyone have any construction ideas or pictures? Also, are those screens that you referred me to weatherproof? Sounds like everyone would be projecting onto them from the rear and reversing the image (mirroring). Correct?
I'll check out Power Director. It would be great it if does some smooth animation. Thx!
I think most are using the rear projection because it allows you to keep the projector inside and out of the weather. The screen material that I talked about is really more of a plastic kind of material and will hold up well outside. This was the same stuff that Mike Z (http://www.lightsondisplay.com) used on his display and it really gives off a good picture. I used the material with a wreath like Mike did and I used some of the quick clips Dazian sells to attach it to the wreath.
You can check out some of my videos on Ken's site under videos to get an idea of what you can do with Power Director. All of my videos on there were done using it.
Wayne Kremer wrote: Hey guys...I just stumbled upon this thread and am very interested in joining the co-op. I have a couple questions.
What software is everyone mostly using for producing their video? Does one give better results than another?
How are you making your screens to display the video on? I haven't seen too many threads on how the screens are built or what they look like.
Obviously, it's a little late for me to start video this year, but I will do it next year. I'm looking into a Epson PowerLite S5 (2000 Lumens) and hoping that should do the job. I have a LOR setup. Too bad the video discussions don't have their own discussion forum. Many things can be discussed about this in particular.
Thanks!
You know some people said it was too hard to edit shows with videos because a video screen gets in your way but if you keep a grid with no video, you can click over to it, push test until your video window goes away and then go back to your grid you wanted to edit. Its not hard at all and actually runs exactly the same as it did with MP3's. I am really suprised but I have my show running TV studio "perfect" with wonderful transistion screens between shows, its fantastic.
I use 2000 ansi lumens, its VIVIDLY bight competes with christmas light glow and even flashing flood lights nicely, people would swear my projection on the wall is actually a big plasma television until they get closer and see its projected onto painted stucco brick.
I use Pinnacle Studio 10, cheap software, very point and click, easy to use effects and reposition your video to match your MP3 source file, etc. I use chroma key (green screen ) and boy is that a fun and interesting project. You can do all the TV studio video effects and have it nice , smooth and professional looking on playback. I encode my video to 640 X 480 and about 5000 bits per second... makes huge files but your text layover, effects, etc are smooth and pro looking.
Wow! I really would like to see your results on video for your displays. I think video makes the displays so much more fun for people to watch. It's entertaining and makes it so even the largest megatree doesn't get boring. After all, how many times can you watch the megatree spin?
I bet you are getting great feedback from viewers on your displays.
Wayne Kremer wrote: Wow! I really would like to see your results on video for your displays. I think video makes the displays so much more fun for people to watch. It's entertaining and makes it so even the largest megatree doesn't get boring. After all, how many times can you watch the megatree spin?
I bet you are getting great feedback from viewers on your displays.
Absolutely great feed back but I can already tell you, we were afraid of this but if your video keeps evolving and too interesting, yes it does steal the show, you cant help but watch the video and you miss details of the display but its also causing a very big buzz about the synchronous video and no way to back out now (nor would I want to anyways).
The technological advance is fantastic, adds a whole new element especially in newer songs in which I am sequencing the lights with the video in mind. I did greensleves where the lyrics are sung by Frank Sinatra... well the words of the song are about "the bells" so in this video I do a slide show with periodic fade transistions between pictures of bells somewhat in queue with the music. It works better because OK everyone sees the bells but eyes return to the light show more.
One thing about the video is that with modern software, the most corny acted most homemade videos like me with a santa mask dancing to a song or two, but you can combine this with state of the art video effects and tricks and still come out looking beyond first class. I just cant be happier with the outcome, the video in a way is coming out better then I imaged it would when I was wanting to do it in past years.
I think most are using the rear projection because it allows you to keep the projector inside and out of the weather. The screen material that I talked about is really more of a plastic kind of material and will hold up well outside. This was the same stuff that Mike Z (http://www.lightsondisplay.com) used on his display and it really gives off a good picture. I used the material with a wreath like Mike did and I used some of the quick clips Dazian sells to attach it to the wreath.
You can check out some of my videos on Ken's site under videos to get an idea of what you can do with Power Director. All of my videos on there were done using it.
Hey here is a trick. I dont know about all projectors on the market but mine believe it or not has connections on the bottom that fit a camera tripod! Boy is this ever useful in positioning and aiming the projector at the surface you want to project to without odd angles, etc.
I put mine on a tripod and place on my front sidewalk, nice and slender is virtually invisible with the millions of lights around it and allows me "spec" positioning for the optimal angle. Projected image is a perfect retangle, not semi-distorted from being placed onto something low projecting upwards, etc.
So, is everyone's screen a wreath like Mikes? I figured there could be tons of ideas...like a Christmas present, large ornament, candy canes, snowman, etc.
How big are your screens? How far back do you have your projector to these screens?
Sorry if I'm asking so many questions. I just have seen a bunch of details posted yet. Thanks!
Wayne Kremer wrote: Joe, great information! Thanks!
So, is everyone's screen a wreath like Mikes? I figured there could be tons of ideas...like a Christmas present, large ornament, candy canes, snowman, etc.
How big are your screens? How far back do you have your projector to these screens?
Sorry if I'm asking so many questions. I just have seen a bunch of details posted yet. Thanks!
My display and screen is nothing like Mike's, nothing like anyone else's. I'll post some videos shortly as right now I am doing fine tuning and adjustments to everything now before the first which is when the crowds get consistently busier.
I did a 5x7 screen out of the dazien fabric with a 2" PVC frame. I call it SantaVision. Video is a great way to present your message and highlight your charity. This year we are collecting for The Dream Factory, a non-profit all volunteer organization which grants wishes to terminally and chronically ill children. The video portion really helps to create awareness about the organization.
