Blog Archives

Here’s a REALLY fast way to export multiple segments from the same clip – or movie.

A user-writeup of a custom shooting rig for the Blackmagic Design 6K Pocket Cinema Camera.

An interview with Rory McGregor, CEO of Cospective, developers of cineSync, about their media review and collaboration tool.

An illustrated guide to safely exporting a complete Final Cut Pro edit for archiving or transferring to different software using XML files.

An illustrated guide to exporting events and media for archiving, media asset management or transferring to different software using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Adobe announces “Auto Reframe” at IBC 2019. Here’s more.

Recently, Linda Moore at Complete Home Spa, asked if they could contribute an article to my website. Linda suggested an article dealing with stress. I was intrigued, so I invited her to contribute. Here’s their article.

Sometimes, all you need is a printer – and the Brother HL-L2370dw laser printer precisely meets that need with great speed and quality.

An explanation of things to consider when purchasing your next computer for media editing. Written for the non-technical person who is deeply confused about what all these tech talk means.

Marker, from XMiL Workflow Tools, is a free, easy-to-use utility that displays, tags and exports lists of used or unused files in a video editing project created by Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer or Apple Final Cut Pro X (and 7).

An illustrated tutorial on how, and why, to import or export markers from Adobe Audition CC.

An explanation of when to use, or not use, “Maximum Bit Depth” and “Maximum Render Quality” in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

An explanation of when and why media is copied during import, plus a discussion of Premiere’s new Ingest option.

An illustrated tutorial on how to display Nit values for HDR projects in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

An illustrated tutorial on what HDR Tools is and how it converts HDR media for a variety of different color spaces. This effect is available in Apple Final Cut Pro X only.

A corrected look at how video file size changes as color bit depth increases.

An unpublished HDR compression guide from Adobe on how to export HDR media from Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

Raw files give us the most control over the color and gray-scale values in our image, but they create massively large files and require significant time spent color grading. Log files allow us to retain highlight detail. And LUTs allow us to quickly convert an image or clip from one look to another. This article explains what each of these are and how they relate to video editing.

This provides an overview of what High Dynamic Range (HDR) media is, where we are now, where we are going, how it works in video editing systems and links to learn more. Written for a video editor, not an engineer.

High Dynamic Range (HDR), RAW, sLog, vLog, HDR, 10-bit, 12-bit… In this short video excerpt, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how to create custom LUTs for media in Adobe Premiere Pro using Adobe Photoshop. This is a VERY cool technique!

High Dynamic Range (HDR), RAW, sLog, vLog, HDR, 10-bit, 12-bit… In this short video excerpt, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how to optimize preference settings in Adobe Premiere Pro to work with HDR media.

An illustrated tutorial on how to use AirDrop to move images and video from your iPhone to a Mac.

Mark Bashian, Creative Director for Bash Films, recently sent me these results of his performance testing. Since all of us are trying to figure out how to make the most of our computer gear, I found his tests to be …

A cool workaround to create DVD chapter markers using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

A detailed, illustrated, review of the LG 27″ UHD 4K Display from the perspective of video editing and still images.

This is a fascinating, illustrated look at how different media affects performance of RAM, CPU, and Libraries in Final Cut Pro X, along with recommendations on upgrades and computer systems.

A step-by-step illustrated tutorial on how to create, automate and access proxy media files in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2018 or later).

“Wouldn’t it be great,” I thought, “if I could embed one project into multiple others?” But, as we all know, FCP X won’t allow embedding projects into others. Instead, use compound clips. And, as you’ll discover, compound clips are dynamic!

An explanation of how Massive.io can help filmmakers transfer files faster and cheaper than older services.

In this short video excerpt, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how and why to modify Library properties in Apple Final Cut Pro X (10.4.x).

In this short video excerpt, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how and why to automatically create and edit proxies in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2019).

The Vuze+ VR Camera, developed and manufactured by HumanEyes, is an eight-camera, four-mic unit for recording stereoscopic (3D) or monoscopic (2D) 360/VR video images, accompanied by either stereo or surround audio. Here’s a review of my experience using it.

While 360/VR won’t replace traditional filmmaking, it can create some amazing experiences. In this short video excerpt, watch Larry Jordan as he illustrates how to edit 360/VR video in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

While 360/VR won’t replace traditional filmmaking, it can create some amazing experiences. In this short video excerpt, watch Larry Jordan as he illustrates how to edit 360/VR video in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Reflector 3, from Squirrels, displays an iPhone screen live to your computer, which is great for streaming and webinars. Here’s a review.

Whether you purchase a template or create your own, Motion 5 makes it easy to create a visual effect once, then modify and reuse it as many times as you want. This article explains how to create, save, modify, export and reuse templates.

A detailed tutorial on the audio and video analysis settings as part of the Media Import window in Apple Final Cut Pro X. Not always accurate, not always fast, but perhaps worth knowing.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC does not include any Apple ProRes sequence presets.. yet. Here’s how to create them. (Updated March, 2020, with new advice throughout.)

How to create ProRes transcoding settings in Adobe Media Encoder – both old and new versions.

An explanation of how the speed of light limits how fast a computer CPU can go. This is VERY cool, even if you don’t understand tech!

A detailed look at the speed differences in exporting different versions of ProRes from Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2019. Which should you use to save time?

A detailed look at the speed differences in rendering different versions of ProRes in Apple Final Cut Pro X. Which should you use to save time?

A few days ago, Jay sent me a question: “Do you have a video where you cover the difference between ‘expand audio’ & ‘expand audio components?’ And also ‘detach audio’ and ‘break apart clip items?’” I checked and I didn’t. …

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a new poster frame for most movies using the Finder and Apple Compressor.

An illustrated tutorial explaining how much of your CPU is needed to playback or render 4K media using Apple Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

A product review of the new OWC Aura Pro X2 SSD, designed as a replacement SSD for MacBook laptops. This illustrated review looks at the results of installing it into an older 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina display.

An illustrated review of Better Rename 10, a utility that renames files, developed by PublicSpace.net.

A detailed, illustrated explanation of how to use Auto-ducking for both Ambience and Music in Adobe Premiere Pro CC. (New with the Spring 2019 update)

An illustrated tutorial on how to use the new Freeform view display option in the April, 2019, update to Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

An illustrated look at some of the lesser-known, but still powerful, features in Adobe Premiere Pro CC released in the April, 2019, update.