Wanting to take my editing up a notch - Latest Premiere or something else?

jackscoldsweat

jackscoldsweat

Member
Geez - I'm going to look like an idiot but here goes

I'm an experienced amateur who is deciding to have a go at making a living producing videos. I've been using older versions of Premiere cos I'm not big on pirating software - so I have 6.5

I've been making short films for a while - I want to produce wedding videos as my bread and butter but would ultimately not say no to trying other things - maybe even TV commercials if someone gives me a shot

My standard to date is to shoot with 3 DVXs and then I edit in Premiere which in all honesty is a slow and painful process.

In my head I think I'd like to set up 3 decks into a visual mixer and then output to a 4th deck for the bulk of my editing and then just add the standard slow-mo montage type stuff which is how I do most of my vids. (all of this in post obviously - not mixing live)

In other words I'm wanting to buy a setup to do this

So here is where I sound dumb:

Do those visual mixers require software? or do they work in with something like Premiere and can use it to do the simultaneous playback? Or is this a totally separate process and then I'd capture my mixed tape and finish the editing in Premiere? Or do I switch to a product more suited to this?

I'm currently on SD but will switch to HD when the time is right - which I don't believe is now - so any hardware and software I buy would be good to not have to replace immediately cos I won't be replacing the cameras yet

I'm prepared to spend a bit to set up - possibly up to 20K for the right setup - I have a repuation in my town and believe I will get the work I need to keep me employed - I'm currently actively marketing my services to increase that some more.

What I would like help with is if someone would be so good as to steer me in the direction of some reading or FAQs that can tell me about the transition I am trying to make and give me some more background reading?

I don't expect you to indulge my foolishness with your valuable time typing. I haven't had much joy finding out how this "next level" works and i'd like to know before I approach the sales guys

:dankk2:
 
It should not be a painful process at all so that means your workflow is all wrong.

Visual Mixers is not the way to go.

Three cameras is not necessarily the best way to do things either. Bit tricky for drama shooting or TV commercials but maybe ok for weddings and conferences and events.

Anyway...the next level (pros) ....all use NLEs like Premiere, Avid, FCP to edit.

Maybe an editing course at the local tech or time in a post house with an editor before you embark on a business of charging people for your efforts.

Why not use a freelance editor anyway?
 
Thanks for the reply Shooter.

Couple of things - the 3 cameras is purely for weddings - obviously not appropriate for all settings as you point out.

I shoot all 3 cameras simultaneously and synchronised and they run for the duration of the wedding. With respect - it seems to me that a mixer would be the right way to go - like mixing the live event only not done live? But perhaps I don't understand something you do?

I've used Premiere for about 4 years and I think my workflow is correct I'm pretty quick at moving around it - there is just no way to watch all 3 sources in the timeline (in 6.5) to choose which shot I'm going to cut to next and the "in and out" just doesn't feel like the appropriate tool for this kind of "live" event.

it feels to me like if I could have my 3 sources and switch between them in "real time" then I could do the bulk of the editing of a wedding in a couple of hours rather than the couple of dozen it takes me otherwise

I choose to edit because I like it - it's actually the fun part (for me) of telling the story - i find the filming stressful and exhausting - I guess I'm thinking of becoming an editor more than a filmmaker...

Appreciate any comments you have...
 
it feels to me like if I could have my 3 sources and switch between them in "real time" then I could do the bulk of the editing of a wedding in a couple of hours rather than the couple of dozen it takes me otherwise
Click to expand...

I believe it started with Premiere Pro 2.0, but you can do multicam editing. You would sync up your three cameras in the timeline, and you can live switch between them. I know for sure you can with Premiere CS3.
-Kevin
 
Thanks Kevin - appreciate the tip

I'd like to stick with Premiere if I can mostly cos I am comfortable with it - but as you can see I'm a long way behind in terms of versions. The only thing I have found it lacking for me has been the "live" mixing and it's something I'm doing a lot more of

Thanks for taking the time to post
 
I would definatly recomend the premiere CS3 or if you cant get your hands on that go with CS2. Coupled with a Sutable PC to give you the speed and efficency you need and want. as Snack Snack says CS2 and above allows you to do multi camera editing on the fly as it were, so you can see up to four source videos at any one time. If this is the type of work you will be doing a lot i would suggest that you go to adobes website and download a trial version of premiere CS3 so that you can see what it is that you will be getting. I'm pretty sure you can use it free for a month, so that gives you a reasonable amount of time to find out if this is really what you want. I would also recomend that you look into adobe after effects as that gives you a lot of effect controls not available in premiere, and will really help you to make some nice title sequences.

if you have some money to spend i think that your money would be best spent on a nice fast pc as this definatly helps with the frustration of working with a PC, there is nothing worse than not being able to see your effects properly without waiting for lengthy rendering times. And whatever adobe software you feel you need and are capable of working with. i.e. premiere and after effects if you can get your head round it (i still find it pretty confusing at times but fortunatly i have a post producer).

A really good website for some tutorials on premeire and after effects is http://library.creativecow.net/ this site goes into detail about loads of different features of premiere and after effects, i have found this to be an invaluble resource, it has helped me to understand my workflows a lot more. there are also some tutorial dvds called Linda or something like that i haven't really looked at but other people have told me there excelent. I'm sure a bit of googling will help you out.

The idea of using hardware to visoin mix is really only used in the reall world for live stuff and even then these days you will find that more often than not they will have an extreemly powerfull pc setup behind the scenes rather than hardware based systems. This is mainly becasue you will find that hardware limits you to a certain number of effects, where as when you out grow these or get bored of them a pc will allow you to add plugins infinatly, there by increasing you potential and the life time of you hard ware.

I don't come to this site very often but i'm sure you can send me a personal message if you have any more questions about any of this, i'm only happy to help when i have the time.

Best regards

Jay
 
I would like to comment on the multiple cameras in 6.5.: When I was on that version, 1. I would make mutiple video trackes 2. (seeing the upper layer will dominate the lower due to higher arcy) I would make the upper layer monochromatic(one color) and make its opacity 50%. This would allow me to watch both and make cuts and ect.
I would like to comment on the slow comment: try assembling segments/sequences while editing. When you go to do the export, assemble the sequences into one. The segments will have been rendered to preview. Thus, it is almost as simple as drag and drop.
Jeffery Tahl
www.youtube.com/user/jefferytahl
 
^^Couldn't agree with him more - especially on the education side of things^^

I thought I was reasonably OK with Premiere pro 6.5 (self taught) but invested in the Total Training DVD set for Premiere pro 2.0 when I upgraded - it was the best investment since I bought my DVX :)
Proper tuition will almost certainly speed up your work and help with producing much better results (as well as open you up to new techniques)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top