Convert Youtube.com Videos into MOV format

Here is a very useful site that converts youtube videos into mov or other file formats.

http://vixy.net

Simply drop the url into the space provided, select the format you want to convert to and click "start."

In a few minutes your video will start downloading.

This will be very helpful for the anthropology students coming in to learn iMovie.

And you can use it to edit together all your favorite youtube vids...watch out lonelygirl15!

MMM

Nikon's Raw Deal

The land of shooting raw is one of those mystical landscapes where software lags behind hardware. New-ish cameras like Nikon's D80 doesn't produce a file easily manipulated with anything but the absolute forward-most edge of Adobe applications. So, what's a girl do to with those glorious digital negative files?

THE PHOTOSHOP ROUTE
CS3 can handle them and after a few hours yesterday with a bad batch of Nikon raw files (the endearing .REFs), I learned that two plug-ins for CS2 will also work.

1. Camera Raw plugin- Generic packet available free from Adobe.com; only works reliably for D50
2. Nikon NEF LE plugin- Automatically installed in your Photoshop utility library when you download the (shitty) Nikon application PictureProject, which just for monopolistic giggles can only be accessed from their website if you have the serial number of a piece of Nikon equipment.

OTHER SOLUTIONS
The latest version of Aperture can supposedly process Nikon Raw, but I received massive and unexplainable waves of error messages. Lightroom can also process them, but this little gem now costs $199.

SO, WHY RAW?
Shooting in raw on your SLR provides the infinite control that photographer's yearn for. No in-camera automated processing means every element cab be tweaked-- this is especially useful for color manipulation. The idea of a digital negative woos shutter bugs, but make sure you've got a sound software setup before you snap irreplaceable, time-sensitive images.

-MFN

Modest Mouse

Music counts as new media right?!?

Well this week Modest Mouse released the album "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank." It is perhaps not as strong as the last two albums, but still something unique and enjoyable.

Here is the video for the new single...




Yes, that is Johnny Marr on guitar...I'm glad you asked.

Nagy is cutting our demo reel to that song.

Also, just a side note about digital music distribution...I decided to purchase the album...I ordered directly from Sony...a double LP, with a bonus disc with digital versions of the songs...so now you can have the nice artwork and case of the record, but the music ready to be put on your mp3 player....it's nice.

Of course Sony emailed me apologizing for a manufacturing defect and now the record is coming in another week. Luckily I had downloaded the album myself, for free, a month before it was released....will I be so willing to purchase an album next time I have to deal with stuff like that?...maybe I can just be happy with the songs and not the artwork? What do you think? Do you still purchase albums?

MMM

Raiders of the Lost Lego Ark

This is awesome.

Arial vs. Helvetica

Feeling bored? Frustrated with comps? Since type seems to be the theme lately, follow this link to an ultimate battle between Arial and Helvetica:

http://www.engagestudio.com/helvetica/

Amy

Too Familiar Fonts

Last November I was visiting friends in New York. After leaving a restaurant, I noticed the logo to the restaurant was typed in a familiar font.

Over spring break I traveled to LA and San Diego. Much of my time was spent walking around the cities, and admiring the scenery, but I caught myself doing the same thing as in New York. So many of the logos for shops and restaurants seemed to be the same familiar font I saw in New York: papyrus.

I saw countless occurrences of this particular font casted upon restaurant signs and menus, furniture stores, newspaper ads and so much more. After noticing it to such the extent, I realized that there lacks a sense of design in this area. I even admit to having used it (at one point it glazed my name on my résumé), but now I know better. Designers need to be more aware of their typography, and reach out to be more creative.

My advise: don't use papyrus, or any other font that comes pre-installed on virtually every computer. Search for something a bit more creative.

-ak

Games Controlled By Your Mind

"Emotiv Systems has developed a neural-processing technology that lets players manipulate game environments with their minds alone. The Project Epoc system can be used to move objects based on a gamer's thoughts, reflect facial expressions and respond to the excitement or calm displayed by the player, said the company. Emotiv displayed the unit at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco." (CNET.com, 2007).


JMD

Name That Tune

Can't think of the name of that song that's been stuck in your head all day? Check out a new website called Midomi. Just hum a few bars from the song - and it'll tell you what song you're humming. It's not 100% flawless, but pretty darn cool...

http://www.midomi.com/

JMD

journalist or anarchist?

you guys hear about that guy (josh wolf) who refused to give up his video footage to the government of a G-8 summit meeting?

he's been in jail for half a year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030702454.html?sub=AR

curious story, no doubt.

HOW TO - Build your own $10 light meter!

I wanted this to be my entry for this month's "The Circuit", but I don't speak science...
=

(that looks complicated)

But, anyhow, here is the PDF with how-to instructions. Enjoy!
And here is the original article from MAKEzine!
CK

France bans citizen journalists

France is banning non-journalists from filming real-world violence. Ironically, the new law was approved on the 16th anniversary of the Rodney King beating, which was captured on amerture video.

What implications will this new law have for the rest of the world during a time when user-generated content is changing the face of media?


On a lighter note, Microsoft has it's own soda. One blog responder stated "Will you crash immediately after you drink it?"

amy

Free printing?!

A student just came in and demanded free printing. I told her that we charge and she proceeded to sit at Bishop and print for free. She said that her roommate told her that she could print at that computer without being charged. Let's make sure that we DOUBLE check that none of the computers list the printer's IP address (if an IP address is listed, free printing is available). They should instead say 'NMC color' or 'NMC B&W'.

The word is out. Don't let them beat the system.

Thanks!
Amy

Mac technology brings SNL to dvd

http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/broadway/

This article explains how the tech team at Saturday Night Live used Final Cut Pro, Shake, Final Touch, and DVD Studio Pro in order to restore the first season of SNL for dvd distribution. It's interesting to read how they approached such a daunting task (24 90-minute episodes) and were able to do everything with in a small time frame using basically the same software we have here at NMC.

JMM

HELVETICA: The Movie

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. Helvetica will begin screening at film festivals worldwide starting in March, followed by cinema screenings across the US and Europe, and the DVD release.

(Since blogger doesn't have a Helvetica font option I used it's bastard cousin, Arial, to compose this post...I'm a fraud I know it.)

CAK

Adobe in Photoshop Freebie

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Adobe will release a free online version of its popular Photoshop image-editing software within six months, the company said Thursday.

The online product will be a stripped-down version of the application that has become an industry standard for graphics professionals.

The move is part of a larger effort by the company to bring key aspects of its software portfolio - which includes audio, video and graphics applications - online to draw advertising dollars and lure users into buying software upgrades.

Until now, Adobe's business has been based primarily on packaged software.

Posted by MSN

Zodiac - David Fincher's new film

David Fincher's newest film Zodiac is released tomorrow March 2nd, 2007. I suggest everyone check it out. Fincher's past films include Seven, The Game, and Fight Club. Also, you get to see some great actors like Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.
...and, this will be the first Hollywood film shot entirely using the Viper High Def digital camera...so it should be interesting to see how it looks projected up on a big screen. Not only that but it was also edited using final cut pro.

Right now it has a 78 on Metacritic and an 85% on rottentomatoes...or you can check out Wild Hogs it has a 29 and 23%...it's your choice.

check out the official site here: http://www.zodiacmovie.com/

Documakers getting aid on fair use

For all you filmmakers, thought you might be interested in knowing:

In a move designed to aid documentary filmmakers in making fair use of copyrighted material, Media/Professional Insurance has launched an initiative that will allow filmmakers who draw on existing video or film clips to insure their work.
to read more:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i941d9308f5a91e2ec086b37f624ec1c6