Very Frustrated and in Need of Hope

Charles-Powell wrote on 4/22/2017, 2:01 AM

I am a kind of new to all of this. I am an audio guy, a music recording studio audio guy. I have recently started getting into video to help supplement my services, income, etc...

I got the idea that I could earn a little extra income by filming stock footage to license it on sites like shutterstock.com

I just purchased a Sony HXR-Nx100, I know it is very low on the professional level, but it fit my budget and I figured it would be wise to learn on a low end camera before justifying a high end one.

I read Nick's post on rendering for YouTube (thank you Nick!) I thought I followed it ok, but my results are terrible. I will give links for you to see in a sec. I looked at Nick's underwater videos and fell out of my chair at how gorgeous it looked... Wow!

So I took my NX100 out to a lake today and shot some birds and geese. Following Nick's advice, but initial render does look better than what I had been getting. But after loading an example of that on YouTube, I was horrified.

Also, I need some education on color correcting. I know how to bring up the plug-ins and all that, but I don't know what my goals are. I don't know what I am trying to achieve. In the recording studio, when I use a compressor, I know why I am using it. I grab that compressor to extend the decay of the snare drum giving it more body and fattening up the sound (for example.) When I color correct, I don't know what my goal is, why I'm doing it, and what I should be aiming to achieve. Are there any books, online classes, any educational material on this subject for a novice like me out there?

Shutterstock has this guide that talks about making sure everything is high-quality and color corrected, etc... and it is VERY intimidating to me. But I want to learn. In fact I am very determined to become proficient at this. I just need a push in the right direction.

I love helping others and would love to be a help/blessing to anyone needing anything for audio in exchange for my needing help in video... I fully expect to put in time and work on this, I just need to know where to start.

To see my original render of a very short clip from the lake today, go here

To see that very same clip after it went through YouTube, go

I purchased the Vegas Pro 14 suite and love it. I am familiar with all the basics. I mostly just struggle with getting the highest-quality renders, and with the whole color correcting thing. Any advice on anything to improve my skill, product, service, will be taken with gratefulness. Forgive all this typing, I am just passionate about creative stuff/Vegas Pro/Video etc...

Thank you,

-Charles

Back to post

Comments

Charles-Powell wrote on 5/4/2017, 8:39 PM

I think it's great that so many of you guys chimed in, in response to the OP's cry for "hope." And the first "hope" offered came in the form of Nick Hope, among others. Kudos. It demonstrates the value of this site and its participants.

I agree! This forum and community should be a strong selling point for people trying to decide which NLE to invest in. Knowing you have a friendly place to exchange ideas and support each other is absolutely huge. That is why I am all in with Vegas. I was beholden to no one when it came to NLE's. In fact, my very first experience ever was with Premier. But an active friendly community like this makes Vegas a no-brainer. Plus the fact that the way Vegas is setup is more along the ways of how I think. But this community is the best with NLE's It is like the Cakewalk community for SONAR. Simply first class...

Charles-Powell wrote on 5/4/2017, 8:41 PM

From one ex-audio engineer/music mixer to another....... The next time someone posts an audio question such as how to bring out the dialogue recorded at a location along an expressway with a generator running nearby, you'll be able to do a payback for all the advice available in the forum offered for your issues. Audio EQ, compression, limiting, and noise reduction are as foreign to many video producers as all the video capture, FX, and rendering choices are (were) to us audio guys. Have a good session/shoot.

Ha ha, indeed. Second Wind is the name of a local bar/music venue where I sometimes record local bands.

Charles-Powell wrote on 5/4/2017, 8:43 PM

As promised, I will share some video soon. The conference I did is over but I am booked with some music bands. I will turn my attention back to the video shortly and will share some video from it. I am waiting on a script before I start editing the final highlight video.