transcoding to MP3

I hate it when Apple remove a function or facility from some software. We get so used to companies adding utility. I recently wanted to create some MP3 files from .aiff files. Easy, I used to use iTunes. Possibily the only thing its useful for. Except the newest version I have doesn't seem to allow you to do this anymore. 

The solution was to use a free application called 'Switch'. This worked like a dream and with much more control and features than iTunes.  Great.

When working with FCP, its easiest to disarm iTunes. I hate the way it hijacks audio CDs and automatically opens them in iTunes. I turn this off, and re set the default application.   (Select the file in the finder, then click command (apple) + i.)

Now when I load an audio disc , I preview it in the Finder and when I open it , it opens in QuickTime. If I want to use the track in FCP then I save it to the media assets file of the project, and transcode it to 48K at the same time. No iTunes, no glitchy playback, all the assets in the right place.

The offical Apple way of bringing audio into FCP with Batch export is DAFT.

cheers, Mike J

Photomarathon Bath

This was the second time the photomarathon had run in Bath. Both times as part of the Bath fringe arts festival. I entered it with my daughter but I plugged it several time to the media students at BSU.

To be honest I hadn't quite understood the idea or exactly what it entailed. However I showed up at the Circus - under the trees in the centre - at 9.50 as requested. I paid £6 and received a 24 exposure neg film and a card. On the card were 22 themes. The idea was that I would find a suitable image for each of the themes. I needed to take the pictures the in order listed. I had just one frame per theme. If I failed to find a suitable image I was to snap my feet. It seemed very straightforward. Stevie decided to go shopping mid morning so the team got halved. At 3.30 we would all meet again at the Green Park Brasserie for card 2. This would have the final 11 themes. It was expected that we'd finish at 8pm at The Bell in Walcot St. Nice.

The weather was good and I set off with Stevie to take the first picture. I have to admit it took me half the roll to remember how the camera worked. I just use my digital compact or mobile phone all the time now. It was wuite a challenge and having to take them in order was very frustrating. You could take a picture and then around the corner would be an even better one for the same theme.

I was looking for something abstract. When I came across a 1950's cadillac in immaculate condition. I got the shot using the chromed bumper. The I chatted to the owner. he then drocve away as I looked down at the next theme...iconic. Oh shit..... I walked off kicking myself for missing a great shot. On the opposite side of the road I watched an old biker put his helmet, throw his leg over a harley davison and roar off. Double shit I'd done it again!

I walked alot but picked up all the necessary shots. Some better than others. The break, beer and chat with the other marathon photographers at Green Park was nice. I took the next lost quickly. I went home to sort out tea for the family. Later Mary and I popped down to The Bell (Great pub) and I submitted the film and the second card. There were a small band of finishers still there and we swapped stories of the marathon. We'd all had the same issues. Now we await the exhibition in the Octagon on May 22nd.

I learnt quite abit. I know now why I love my digital - its quick i can shoot plenty of images and I can see and re take when I need to. The whole thing opened my eyes - so that alone made it worthwhile. Thanks to Arran for organising it.

More issues with HDV and FCP

As we move through the production workflow with the students doing 'making a film' at BSU, more problems with FCP and HDV are emerging. There is a little trick to get FCP to recognise the capture deck that's not obvious.

IF the last project created was anything other than HDV, and you open your HDV project and try to continue logging and capturing - you can't. The deck (device control) will not link to the Mac. After trying 2 leads, 2 decks and 2 machines I found that if I changed the easy set up to HDV and created a new project. Then closed it. I could then, on returning to the original HDV project, connect the deck and log and capture. What a pain!

The pictures look nice though.