Geir,

I used the Canon 1.6 extender. It really is a good piece of equipment. It gave a sharper image than any other extender I tried on the system.

Thank you for respond on the extender.
I've allready order it, but I'm not sure I'll get within the timelimit of this round though.
By the way; do you know if the ZR-2000 zoom/focus remotecontrol will work together with the extender?

I'm still in the edit process when it comes to my video for this round.
Maybe I'll take another trip to Kvamsoy island to do a underwater scene, but the water is running cold these days, so far north, so I have to think about it once or twice, before I jump to conclusion :)

Trond - Ideally you need some sort of hide, then you can move about without causing any disturbance. Even a hide needs to be set up slowly and carefully and eased into place.Preferably it should be set up outside of the area and moved in. It takes a while for the birds to get used to it. Your tripod should also be set up and the camera attached to it out of sight and long before you get anywhere near them particularly if you don't use a hide. Birds seem to be sensitive to noise as well as movement.
Thanks Marj,
I was able to get a few usable shots from about 200 meters away yesterday.
Still working on how to improve my skills of filming birds in flight. Think I might need some advise from our master Dale there. But practice makes master. :)

Good evening,

I have about 30 seconds of usable video, that means about two 6 second cuts, ug. I may have to rethink my theme.

Tronde, Shooting birds in action takes a lot of practice!! I have been doing it over a decade and I still do not get it right as often as I would like!! Practice, practice, practice. and then now and then you will get amazing footage!!!

After 20 formal uwol's and 2 fun shoots, I may swim this round if I do not change my theme.


As I typed this I had an epiphany, linking birds, flying, sailing, and kiting, HUM, may have to go with that.

I hope others are having an easier time than I have had this round!!!!!!

I’m having a bit of a tough time this round too. As of today, though, I think I’ll have enough to finish something- it just won’t be much to be proud of. I’m feeling pretty foolish for choosing to feature an aquatic creature during an epic drought. The high temperatures aren’t just uncomfortable for me, they are really limiting the behaviour I can record. I’m also dealing poorly with my anemia and the attendant bad attitude (which you have no doubt noticed).

I have filmed and edited 50% of what I need so far. I've tried to feature all four classes in the theme (at 3 minutes this works out at 45 seconds per class). All four creatures are linked through a common thread, as told by 4 different people. The last 2 interviews are this week followed by the last 2 location shoots.

The problem I am having is that I am filming way too much footage. For example, last week I filmed a snake expert who rescues snakes from houses and farms (they are usually killed when seen; he has convinced people to call him instead so he can catch them). I filmed over an hour of footage of him searching for a snake, catching it, and then talking to the family about it. The end result: 4 jump cuts (at 2 seconds each) for the final cut!

Just to reconfirm; final run time is 3 minutes PLUS credits allowed extra time?

Dale,
Thanks for the tips. Practice will hopefully make master. :)
Found it actually "less difficult" to film some of them handheld than with tripod.

Simon,
Yes, you are right. Credits are allowed in addition to the 3 minute limit.

OK, I have a rough edit and things aren’t as bad as I feared. I don’t have any really outstanding shots, but what I have should work. The “story” has a bit of everything- a little action, loss and recovery, nudity, and even more salamanders…

Simon- It’s a lot more comfortable to have too much footage than not quite enough! I also will show all four classes (and mention the missing fifth) though not quite in the systematic fashion you seem to be doing. I’m looking forward to seeing your video.

Dale- C’mon, Dale. We’ve seen you pull off some miracles under conditions that would have been impossible for me! You can do this. I hope your new idea works out for you.

Trond- I’m glad you got the shot you needed. Besides practice it is also good technique. This is how it was explained to me by John Bax (who was a Master, I am not). Start with your feet well apart. Brace the camera to your shoulder. Point the toe of your front foot in the direction you want the shot to end. Keep your back foot at ninety degrees to the front foot. As you pivot at the hip, shift your weight from the back foot to the front foot. Practice, practice, practice.

Geir Inge- Have you decided to take the plunge? (Into the cold water, not into the Shark Tank!)

I hope everyone we haven’t heard from yet is doing well. I still hope to see a round where everyone that signs up finishes!

- - - Geir Inge- Have you decided to take the plunge? (Into the cold water, not into the Shark Tank!) - - -
I hope everyone we haven’t heard from yet is doing well. I still hope to see a round where everyone that signs up finishes!

Well, I've just come home from a short visit to Kvamsoy island.
I was propper dressed for the occasion, as you all can see :)
Warm and nice with my 7 mm thick wet suit.
Now I'm browsing through the tape to see if there's something I can use for uwol 21.
I have changed manuscript a little bit along the way, so I've tried to listen to what you said Marj,
about shorten down a bit ;)
Here's a photo taken by my brother (cell phone picture).

OK. It's done!

I finished the edit this afternoon: 3 minutes on the dot (excluding credits). I wanted to try and get it finished in time for the original deadline (as practice for future competitions).

I'll use the extra time to do some fine tuning to the edit, and to rework the score to match the visuals a bit better. I might try and get a couple of extra pick up shots too if I have time.

The main hurdle for me is getting it off the damn computer with decent compression. Does anyone know what the guidelines are this time around (I guess we can just go with the Sorenson specs from previous competitions)?

Not sure if I'm entirely happy with the end result however...

Way to go, Simon! Compression guidelines have not be determined yet. We'll try to get a decision soon. Because you have the time perhaps you could go with the old UWOL guidelines on one version, then try one using the Vimeo guidelines or something similar and compare.
Compression guidelines on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/help/compression)

Simon - you certainly seem to be very organized!

Geir - really looking forward to seeing how you construct this one - two very different types of locations in one film - sounds fascinating.

So, I drive about 60 miles to this place outside Macon, GA to do some videoing. Get all the way there, go to turn onto the road...Hello, road closed for construction. Anyway, it was a nice drive. Back to plan B. Oh wait, that was plan B.

Still one week to come up with a plan C, Bob. :)

Maybe I should say that to myself as well. Filmed a little, but I'm afraid most of my birds will get the audience a bit "sea sick", and can't be used.
Staying away from the sharks will be the goal. But the good part... I've learn something new about the local birds and their behavior.

I spend this morning in the sea to shoot the last bits and pieces I needed. I now think I got all my shot. Need to fix some graphic and then editing.

Thanks Lorinda for you help with the VO (should have sad that some time ago, but to much work...), I think it will fit the pilot...

… Just got a call from Swedish national TV and the wild life show... two days filming this upcoming week.

Actually shot some footage for a UWOL video! First time in four tries!

Of course, it's all in my backyard, and I had a window of about an hour to do it... so there's substantial chance the edit may be slightly less majestic than crashing waves of the Baltic Sea, but oh well. I'm a happy fellow.


EDIT:

Wonder quickly becomes woe... for some reason, my mind inserted "insects" somewhere in the theme announcement... DOH!

Well, aside from a few incidental shots of a fence lizard, I've currently got nothing... later, maybe something... just maybe...

Puh!
Then I have to rewrite the manuscript after having rejected several scenes that I found useless.
The reason is that I have to adapt the story to fill three minutes or less - shorten, shorten, shorten ...
Thank you for giving us a few days more (31.August), because I think I have to shoot some more scenes,
thanks to the turnaround of the manuscript. And then back to the editing prosess.

Wow, I think many of us have run into difficulties this round. At the first place I went to, I found my animals, but the water levels were so reduced that they were too far from the areas I was allowed to be in to record even with the 600mm lens. The second place I went was completely dry. I finally found a place to get some shots (at longer telephoto than I wanted) but the subjects were completely inactive. Boring. The story is weak. (To make matters worse, I know that some of you literally have these guys crawling around your back yards!) I ended up using less than the full three minutes and finishing a little after the original deadline. I should be using the extra time, but I think I lack the objectivity to improve anything. I’m basically waiting for “the word” about compressing and uploading, and already looking forward to next time…
Good-luck everyone!

I finished editing this night and is waiting for rendering right now. I think it turn out ok... The animation is a bit ruff, but ok I hope :)

Simon,

I was in exactly the same boat as you with CS3, and CS4 too. CS5 is a bit better at scaling, but still not brilliant. (I now use TMPGEnc for my HD work).

See this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/uwol-challenge-our-newest-contest/466804-compression-issues.html

Basically, you export at 428x240, uncompressed AVI, then create a new project, import the AVI and simply export it as a compressed file. CS3 doesn't seem to want to rescale and compress at the same time without making s dog's dinner of it.

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the above info. I have done what you suggested, and created an uncompressed version of the movie. What is confusing me is what type of project to create to work with it (the footage is very small and centered when played on SD projects)?

*Sorry Mike, just saw you had provided detailed info in your link! Going to try and do this tomorrow - just had a big power cut which took out my desktop editing computer (laptop running on batteries). Pulling my hair out!

Simon,

I'm surprised you have trouble exporting avi-files. Which file type do you choose under the export settings?
I have always used Microsoft DV AVI when exporting to AVI. (SD source footage)
For HD video I always use Cineform.

Regarding the bitrate, I'd say use as high as you can.

I exported a short clip using your settings, and the low bitrate caused a very washed out picture.
Then I used the same settings, but increased the bitrate to about 1500 and got a big difference.

Hi Trond,

Thanks for the tips above. I tried doing the same settings at a bitrate of 1500, but the video came out rough (like some sections were slow motion, and jumps) - strange. That video came out at about 32mbs.

The video at bitrate of 21.6 came out at about 92mbs - does lowering the bitrate increase the size of the video?!

I can see this thing slipping away from me now, because of my compression issues (as I predicted in the beginning!).

I haven't heard any updates on the new guidelines just yet, but to save some hassle with the current setup, I have some advice.

If you're willing and able to export an uncompressed (or losslessly compressed) version of your footage, you're in great shape; first, download the version of Handbrake (http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php) that applies to your OS (Windows, OS X, and Linux all supported). Then grab a copy of the preset I've put together: http://www.mediafire.com/?s6o2xicyh2iguui

Install and run Handbrake, then click Source->Video File and choose your uncompressed clip. Wait a moment for it to load, then go to the Presets menu and choose Import. Open the "UWOL 60MB 428x240.plist" file you downloaded. Once it loads, be sure to choose the preset by clicking its name in the presets pane over on the right.

Now, it seems that Handbrake's ability to properly export and import presets is incomplete (I had to hand edit the PLIST file just to get the proper width and height values, as they didn't export correctly), so you'll need to make some adjustments yourselves.

The only things you'll need to change are on the Picture tab, which is open by default. Make sure that Width is set to 428, Height is set to 240, and Anamorphic is set to None. Next to Modulus (one value I couldn't successfully export), choose 4. I'm not sure if this setting affects anything but the auto-calculation of image size when using Keep Aspect Ratio, but 428 is not a multiple of 16 or 8, and I don't want any unexpected resizing to take place, so I prefer to be safe. This may not be an issue, but I'm not a Handbrake expert.

Cropping should be set to Custom, with all sides set to 0 (these are the other values that wouldn't stick). Strictly speaking this means your video will be distorted, since 428x240 (1.78333...) is not 16:9 (1.777...). Nonetheless, it's imperceptible, and better not to crop off parts of your frame unnecessarily.

Everything else should be properly imported from the preset. On the Video tab, you can see that Target Size is set to 60MB, and two pass (with turbo first pass) is enabled, since we're targeting a specific bitrate. The audio tab shows AAC audio set to 160kbps, which is quite nice, and over on the Advanced tab you'll see that this preset is based on Handbrake's builtin "Universal" Apple preset, which means this file should play on damn near anything. If you can't play back a file using as few features as are available in Baseline H.264 at Level 3.0, you're working with some seriously Stone Age equipment.

With everything set up, just choose a destination file and click Start. Once the encode is finished, you're all set!

More generalized advice, not specific to Handbrake, is to stick with H.264 video and AAC audio in an MP4 container; in 2011 there's no excuse to be wasting time with MPEG-1 or Sorenson 3, unless you know your audience is using equipment that absolutely cannot handle anything better. Frankly, if I had my way the UWOL compression guidelines would bump the resolution up to 640x360, as all examples I've seen from prior competitions convince me that the quality is already maxed out at 428x240; the soft, mushy look is due only to the low resolution (at least, when that low resolution is stretched up to fullscreen on playback), and throwing more bits at the video won't help. Increasing the image size, while keeping the filesize limit intact, should make things look better, strange as it may initially sound.

Use the highest bitrate you can within the filesize restraint. Figuring out that bitrate by hand, if necessary, is very easy. Target Size in Handbrake, like any other application, is only a convenient way of calculating a constant bitrate. The formula is simply:

desired filesize in kilobits / length in seconds = kilobits per second

You can use Google to do the conversions, just type "60 megabytes in kilobits" into the search bar and it'll compute the answer for you. Or just work out the answer the old fashioned way if you prefer. In any event, the filesize limit here is 60 megabytes, or 491,520 kilobits, and the time limit is three minutes, or 180 seconds. 491,520 / 180 = 2730 (rounded down to avoid an oversized file). Assuming an audio bitrate of 160kbps, that leaves 2570kbps for video, which for H.264 at 428x240 and 24, 25 or 30 fps is an embarrassment of riches. If your video is below the maximum length, you'll of course be able to up the bitrate, but as I said, unless your video content is exceptionally complex, 2570kbps is already quite generous given the UWOL restrictions, even with Baseline@L3.0.

Robert, thanks for your detailed response; I appreciate you taking the time to explain it. I'm traveling at the moment so I am unable to give this a try, but I will do so when I get back to my editing computer next week.

Sorry I didn't get around sooner. This guide is much appreciated, Robert. I've got a different project that may benefit from all of this, although, it's a bit complicated for my brain. As always, thank you so much for your willingness to help.

Hi you all.

Need a little help from my friends (ref. Beatles).

It's how to render from Vegas Pro.
I try to render a wmv file, but when I try to play it back, I get some noisy lines (like shaking or stripes)?
How to render best possible from Vegas (Dale?)?

Geir Inge

Geir, I use Vegas...got these render settings from my DVC pal Robert Martens (see post 71 above) that have always worked for me:

Use Main Concept AAC/AVC
Leave Template as is
click on Custom > Video > Frame size > Custom
make the width 1280, the height 720
click on Constant Bit Rate choose to your liking (Robert had me use 3,000,000)

Maybe Dale or someone else has another solution, as well.

Geir, I use Vegas...got these render settings from my DVC pal Robert Martens (see post 71 above) that have always worked for me:

Use Main Concept AAC/AVC
Leave Template as is
click on Custom > Video > Frame size > Custom
make the width 1280, the height 720
click on Constant Bit Rate choose to your liking (Robert had me use 3,000,000)

Maybe Dale or someone else has another solution, as well.

Thank you very much Lorinda, I'll try it out :)

When I play back my video from Vimeo Pro it is squeezed, wrong with for some reason, but not when I play it back from my own vimeo account?
Geir Inge

Hmm...a couple other videos seem to be all right, but let me check out the settings again. In the meantime, let's experiment a bit. Go to your video in Vimeo Pro, within the Settings click on video file, use your own player, and put in the link to your file in Vimeo Plus. Hope it works!

Hmm...a couple other videos seem to be all right, but let me check out the settings again. In the meantime, let's experiment a bit. Go to your video in Vimeo Pro, within the Settings click on video file, use your own player, and put in the link to your file in Vimeo Plus. Hope it works!

Hi again.
It didn't work, so now I will try to delete the file and then upload again, thumbs up :)

I can't imagine what the difference would be! In checking the settings on the Pro account I didn't see any way to change it.

If reuploading doesn't work, Geir, try rendering it again using the compression guidelines Mike Sims posted from the Vimeo site: Compression guidelines on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/help/compression). The only thing I can see that might cause aspect problems would be the square pixel setting. But why your video looks fine on your Plus player and not Pro is beyond me.

With a couple of false starts I managed to upload to the new DVInfo-UWOL Vimeo account. Pretty easy- even for a cranky old curmudgeon like me! Mine seems to play OK, although the HD version stutters a bit on my slow internet machine.

Good-luck everyone!

OK, I have uploaded mine. I had to keep it at 720p due to a slow internet connection (it was saved as a MOV file which is not as compressed as MP4). Its a little washed out and a little soft, but it should do the trick. I'm hoping my new Apple set-up that I will be receiving in September will be more conducive to online delivery (I hear FCPX has a Vimeo export 'button' - that should be sweet for this type of work!).

I'll keep the video password locked until the 1st? I noticed a few others were uploading at the same time as me - best of luck to you all!

Here’s a question for all you experienced hands at Vimeo. Is it possible to choose the Poster Frame or does Vimeo always choose it? I’m not really crazy about the one Vimeo chose. I looked around for a way to do it but couldn’t find it. Perhaps it is called something else? (I just say “Poster Frame” because that’s what Encore calls the frame displayed as a thumbnail in the link to a video.)

With Vimeo Pro using the same upload guidelines as the regular service so many people are familiar with, this new setup should dramatically simplify things for everyone; I'm not a UWOL participant, but this development is appreciated nonetheless! I'm constantly awed by the lengths to which Chris goes to accommodate his membership.

... a MOV file which is not as compressed as MP4). Its a little washed out and a little soft, but it should do the trick.

For reference, both of those, like AVI, MKV, WMV, 3GP and so on, are only container formats, containers being just what they sound like: storage bins for video, audio, and perhaps timecode, subtitles, and a variety of other things. There's no connection between the container and how compressed the contents are, beyond what codecs you can manage to stuff inside.

As for "washed out", that's typical of Quicktime, which is notorious for--among other things--its mishandling of PC versus TV levels in H.264 (PC and TV levels are 0-255 and 16-235, respectively, though strictly speaking it's only TV luma that goes to 235, TV chroma going instead to 240). The video may well be perfectly fine, and look correct when decoded and displayed by your viewers' systems.

I can't imagine what the difference would be! In checking the settings on the Pro account I didn't see any way to change it.

If reuploading doesn't work, Geir, try rendering it again using the compression guidelines Mike Sims posted from the Vimeo site: Compression guidelines on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/help/compression). The only thing I can see that might cause aspect problems would be the square pixel setting. But why your video looks fine on your Plus player and not Pro is beyond me.

Hi Lorinda.
Then I have uploaded my video again, and now it works fine.
What I did, was to upload a wmv file, since the mp4 didn't work.
Never experienced this before in vimeo, maybe it has to do with the settings and how I render my file from Vegas?

OK, after all - it's a challenge, isn't it :)
Best of luck everyone.

Here’s a question for all you experienced hands at Vimeo. Is it possible to choose the Poster Frame or does Vimeo always choose it? I’m not really crazy about the one Vimeo chose. I looked around for a way to do it but couldn’t find it. Perhaps it is called something else? (I just say “Poster Frame” because that’s what Encore calls the frame displayed as a thumbnail in the link to a video.)

Go to your video page. On the top right there should be some icons - click "settings" (icon looks like a cog). A list will open on the left side; click on "thumbnails" and you will see a choice of images. You can also upload your own jpg or png if you prefer.

Got it! Did it. Thanks Simon!

Well, i actually managed to scrape something together just in time :-)

Yay, Rob!

We're down to the final hours. Already looking at some great works ready for rollout tomorrow. Hoping that some of you who have been quiet are just busy putting the finishing touches on your videos!

I wonder if I'll finish and woe if I don't. I need to record the voice over this afternoon and fit it to the edit.

May the force be with ya'll

Oops. I deleted my original vimeo file which was linked into my "unloved thread" - but I just saw that thread has been locked (so its not possible to view the video from it). Can my thread be unlocked to link in the video (or deleted so I start a new one)?

My video is password unlocked now on the UWOL vimeo account.

There you go, Simon...open. :)

The only reason for locking them is so that we don't start offering feedback until all the videos are "officially" posted. I'm still waiting on one or I would post them all now.

Great. I added the link. Lock away!

Lorinda
is it something I need to do, or do you make all videos online (today)?

I fixed it myself..

Well I’ve screwed up again. I left the 21 out of UWOL 21 in the title of my feedback thread. Could one of you bright Moderators please rescue me? It doesn’t seem to be an editable field on my end. (Jeez, he can make a fire with sticks but can’t seem to properly type a two digit numeral…)

LOL. Done! You really made that fire? I'm impressed!

;)

And there he was saying the naked guy with the kangaroo skin was his 'voice-over guy'....

;)