If you're going to have music but can't afford to have original music, I would recommend you get music for which the music notes are available. This can help you properly synch your movements. That is, if you can read music.

Perhaps Vegas Video has stop motion (or something similar)
too? I, personally, don't know because I've never used that
package. Perhaps there are some shareware or freeware
applications that can grab a frame from a incoming DV stream
as well?

I highly doubt Premiere is the only available thing for this, it
is, however, the only one I know about.

Someone else mentioned how to grab one frame at a time with Vegas Video, and I'll probably use his method.

Josh,

Are you using your XL1s to do animation, if so how is it going? If not what are you using to film the animation?

I'm working on it. I'm still building the models as we speak (well not right as we speak). I'm going to try. I'm afraid I'll screw up if I use an 8mm camera or something. If anyone has an efficient way to capture the footage and edit once recorded, let me know. My plan was to tape for a second for each image, in frame mode. As for capture and editing, I'm using Vegas Video 3, so if anyone knows a way to capture a single frame simply (other than just going through the tape and marking the in and out on the same frame) or how to edit down to one frame without physically grabbing each one second clip and shrinking it in the timeline, let me know.

The XL1s has stop motion built in. Actually, its Time Lapse, but same thing in your case. You'll never be able to do it manually, it would be extremely frustrating. Read through the manual, and you'll find things much simpler:)
Keith

I can't believe I just now discovered this thread! I do stop motion animation all of the time. I've done it with clay, real people, and other objects. To see an example of stop motion animation I have done with people check out this 8 meg Quicktime:

http://207.168.10.83/Submissions/Redifer/joeredhouse.mov

Or to check out a chalkboard animation I did a loooong time ago check out this 4 meg Quicktime:

http://207.168.10.83/Submissions/Redifer/thewar.mov

(Note: I usually do animation at a slightly higher framerate than these examples show).

Anyway, using the remote or even pressing the start and stop button on the XL1 itself while it is secure will give you about 1/2 second of footage. There is no way to only get two frames. But I recommend this method anyway as when you import your footage later, you can just pick 1 frame from each 1/2 second "set" of frames and then compile them together at whatever speed you choose. It is much easier to do than everyone is making it out to be, IMO. Good luck, and most of all have fun!!

<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Redifer : I can't believe I just now discovered this thread! I do stop motion animation all of the time. I've done it with clay, real people, and other objects. To see an example of stop motion animation I have done with people check out this 8 meg Quicktime:

http://207.168.10.83/Submissions/Redifer/joeredhouse.mov

Or to check out a chalkboard animation I did a loooong time ago check out this 4 meg Quicktime:

http://207.168.10.83/Submissions/Redifer/thewar.mov

(Note: I usually do animation at a slightly higher framerate than these examples show).

Anyway, using the remote or even pressing the start and stop button on the XL1 itself while it is secure will give you about 1/2 second of footage. There is no way to only get two frames. But I recommend this method anyway as when you import your footage later, you can just pick 1 frame from each 1/2 second "set" of frames and then compile them together at whatever speed you choose. It is much easier to do than everyone is making it out to be, IMO. Good luck, and most of all have fun!! -->>>

Joe,

Man I really liked that second animation. Being a HUGE fan of Joe Satriani, I of course dug the music. How long did it take you to produce that chalkboard animation movie? Also, what camera did you use to shot the animation?

When you say it has stop motion built in, you mean the interval recording function, right? I have not used it yet. I'll check it out.

The second animation (chalkboard), called "The War" is also a personal favorite of mine. It was done on an analog Sony CCD-TR101 Hi8 video camera. It took 8 months to do, but only because I worked on it a couple times a week at most. I didn't have a whole lot of free time back then, and I was recovering from surgery on both of my shoulders during part of it, so drawing on a chalkboard that's hanging on the wall was not too pleasant for a good 8 weeks or so.