Splice Here -> Splice Now

Posted May 9, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Avid, This Blog

This site has been called “Splice Now” for many months now, but the original “Splice Here” URL has continued to work. That time is now coming to an end. Sometime in the next few days, the SpliceHere URL will be formally transferred to a post house in Minneapolis, the result of a trademark dispute. Please double check your links and subscriptions and make sure they are pointed to splicenow.com. Once the transfer is complete, links to splicehere.org will stop working.

These are the correct links:

Comments: 3 Comments

Filling Niche Space

Posted April 17, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Adobe Premiere, Avid, Avid vs. Final Cut, Smoke

In evolution, when one species disappears, others evolve to fill the vacant niche. That seems to be exactly what’s happening now in post production. A year ago, Apple abandoned the professional editing world by releasing FCP-X and putting a bullet in FCP 7. The product has improved since, and contains many  innovative ideas, but the consensus today is that if you want to edit professionally, you’re better served elsewhere.

In the intervening year, we’ve seen fundamental redesigns of the two major competitors, Media Composer and Premiere (both now at version 6) and, as of yesterday, the redesign and repositioning of Autodesk’s Smoke, now called Smoke 2013 and selling for just $3500. Not to be outdone, Avid has offered a competitive upgrade from FCP 7 (or Media Composer) to Symphony for just $1000. The result is a reinvigorated group of tools for both creative and finishing tasks, and a changed competitive landscape.

For more about Smoke and Premiere, check out two recent episodes of Kanen Flowers’ “That Post Show” — “Smoke This Podcast” and “Adobe CS6.”

Comments: 1 Comment

Editor’s Lounge Videos Posted

Posted April 15, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Avid, Avid vs. Final Cut, Media and Society, Quality of Life

If you’re not going to make it to Vegas this year and are looking for a bit of pre-show analysis, check out the Editors Lounge Pre-NAB Panel Discussion Video. It features Terry Curren, Michael Kammes,  Mark Raudonis, and I talking about such things as how the growing move to tablet devices and internet distribution is changing life for content creators. But we get into the gear, too, with a discussion about FCP-X, Premiere, Media Composer, Lightworks, and, yes, even the resurgence of the typewriter. Masterfully moderated by Deborah Kaufman, it makes for interesting viewing (and looks crystal clear at full res).

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Amazon Reinstates Discounts on Avid Agility

Posted February 13, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Avid, Avid Agility

Those of you who are thinking about purchasing my book “Avid Agility” may have noticed that Amazon stopped discounting it last week. Their discount formula is a closely guarded secret, but I’m happy to say that humans can prevail, and after I talked with tech support, they’ve reinstated it. In fact, they’re now offering the book at their lowest price ever — just $30.99, making this a terrific time to pick up a copy. With its detailed illustrations and simple explanations, “Avid Agility” is a great way to learn about using Media Composer in the real world. Check out reviews and order it from Amazon. Or take a look at the sample pdfs here.

Comments: 3 Comments

The Right to Be Forgotten

Posted January 25, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Media and Society

Here’s a heady and novel idea, a law that would do the following:

  • Force websites to tell consumers why their data is being collected and retain it only as long as necessary.
  • If data is stolen, require notification within 24 hours.
  • Offer consumers the right to move their data from one service to another.
  • Create the “right to be forgotten,” allowing a user to have his or her data on a site deleted forever.

Needless to say, this isn’t coming from a regulatory agency in the US. It’s being proposed by the European Commission. If passed by the European Parliament, it would go into effect in 2014 and apply to all nations in Europe.

For details, check out this article from Tuesday’s New York Times.

Comments: 3 Comments

That Post Show — A Little Squirt of Dopamine

Posted January 25, 2012 by Steve
Categories: Avid vs. Final Cut, Labor, Media and Society, Podcast, Quality of Life, Workflow

Last week, I participated in another episode of Kanen Flowers’ “That Post Show” podcast — this time covering the skill-set you’ll need in order to succeed in the real world of the professional editing room. The episode is entitled “Squirt of Dopamine” and also features Mike J. Nichols, Paul Zadie and, of course, Kanen. I think you’ll find it interesting listening. Check it out via iTunes or get it from the shownotes page.

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