Recording a live webinar by GoToMeeting, Zoom, or TEAMS can be a daunting task to someone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of video frame rates, resolutions, and codecs.  We developed our webinar recording service for businesses and podcasters that either don’t have the technical expertise or don’t have the time to learn.

Why Hire a Professional to Record a Webinar?

We’ve done extensive testing to find the best method to record webinars.  Here are the highlights.

1. We capture the entire screen with the best video codec.
2. We record PowerPoint animations, cursor movements and desktop sharing.
3. All elements are in high definition.
4. Audio editing and video editing are available.
5. Output is typically .mp4, .wmv, or almost any audio/video format available.

We produce the best, highest-quality, highest-resolution webinar recordings possible.

If you don’t already have a web conferencing service, we can help with that too.

Give us a try today.

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Podcast Editing Tips:

Before this podcast editing tip, a bit of background. Our podcast editing service has been going strong for over two decades.  During that time, I have tried to listen to as many podcasts as possible to see how others are editing their productions.  One thing I have noticed is that a lot of podcast editors don’t like to remove unnecessary conversations or banter at the beginning of a paragraph.  For example:

Interviewer:  What’s the biggest thing that companies need to do when it comes to security?

Interviewee:  Yes, well, thank you for having me on.  I appreciate the question.  You always ask great questions by the way. {Long Pause}. You know, this is something I spend a lot of my time thinking about in my day job.  It is a really hard problem because it’s not going to be the same solution for each business.

You can see that there are several sentences at the beginning of this answer that are fluff, gratuitous, whatever you want to call them.  If you leave too much of this type of thing in a podcast, the listener will get tired or frustrated listening to it and might even hit the stop button.  There is no one correct way to edit this example, but consider the following and see if it is a bit cleaner and more to the point.  Everything to be removed is in CAPS.

Interviewer:  What’s the biggest thing that companies need to do when it comes to security?

Interviewee:  YES, WELL, thank you for having me on.  I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.  YOU ALWAYS ASK GREAT QUESTIONS BY THE WAY.  {LONG PAUSE}. You know, this is something I spend a lot of my time thinking about in my day job.  It is a really hard problem because it’s not going to be the same solution for each business.

Again, this is just one possible edit of this section.  You could leave a bit more IN, or you could take a little bit more OUT.  My overall suggestion is to remove as much of the unnecessary banter as possible without making your podcast sound unnatural or robotic.  Think of your listener and whether they really want to hear this type of fluff, then hit the cut/delete key.  You will usually be better off.

To read other tips about podcast editing, check out this article on The New Media Revolution website: How to Edit Your Podcast Like a Pro. (Editors note: this legacy link is no longer active)

The post Podcast Editing Tip: Removing Unnecessary Content appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

We’ve been editing a lot of recordings made with the WebEx web conferencing application lately.  Many people think this cannot be done because WebEx is a proprietary service that creates .arf and .wrf file extensions.  Rest assured, we are editing both the audio and the video of these web conference recordings with very little noticeable quality loss.

When you download the WebEx file from their website, the file extension will be .arf.  If you’ve recorded directly to your computer, expect to see a .wrf extension.  We can fully edit both of these file-types.

Whether you want all stuttering, ahs and ums removed from the audio, or whether you made mistakes in the video / slide presentation, we can fix just about anything.  We also automatically remove all dead air from the beginning and end of the presentation.

Output format is video and ready to post on your website.  Windows Media (WMV), MP4, and FLV are all options, including many more, even for DVD and Blu-Ray…

Contact us today for more information on our WebEx audio and video editing service.

The post Editing a WebEx Conference Recording appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Commitment to Quality
Our company believes in producing the best podcasts; this starts with the highest quality podcast recordings possible.  Whether that be in the studio or over a telephone conference call, our recordings are always going to be top notch.  Ok, you might be asking, “What makes you so special?”  The single largest differentiator between us and our competitors is a commitment to quality. 

Our equipment is designed to produce the best quality audio and video productions, but equipment hardly tells the whole story.  In fact, podcasting equipment is only as good as the person using it.  We’ve been recording and editing digital audio since 1996.  We are first and foremost professionals in this field, and our experience is hard to beat.

One area we pride ourselves in is our telephone recording.  All of the companies mentioned above automate their phone call recording service.  That is, there is no one there to fine tune the settings for each individual podcaster.  Again, while this one-size-fits-all method may have it’s place, we have a different view.

1. Our recording levels are set by hand.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach here.
2. Phone call/line quality is checked and problems are troubleshooted.
3. Pre-processing of the audio file is done by hand, not using any automation. Your recording will be precisely optimized for the internet or for CD.
4. The beginning and ending are trimmed of any irrelevant material such as on-hold music.
5. Professional audio editing is available.
6. Audio file encoding and conversion are done to our exact specifications.

While telephone and conference call recording is only one aspect of our business, the above serves as a key reason why recordings made with DIY services may not be the way to go, especially if you are a business protecting the quality of your brand.  Recordings made my DIY services typically sound inferior in many different ways:

1. Volume levels are low or, alternatively, much too loud.
2. Audio is heavily distorted because of number 1 above.
3. Audio sounds unnatural because of an inferior encoding process.
4. There is dead air at the beginning or end of the file.
5. The end of the audio contains loud pops and clicks when you hung up the phone.
6. Various drop-out and quality issues because of a poor VOIP connection. 

Commitment to Service
The second reason we’re different from DIY services is our commitment to service.  When we begin a project, our producer is with you hand-in-hand helping you decide which podcast production style is right for you.  Once the style is decided upon, he/she will walk you through the entire recording and production process—from beginning to end.  Whether that is to record a telephone interview with a content expert, produce a script for a professional voice-over, or discuss the best music to use for the introduction, we’re with you the entire time.

Commitment to Our Customer
We do not believe in producing expensive, extravagant podcasts when the situation calls for much less.  Our commitment to you is that we will give you our honest advice based on the needs of your company, not ours.  If your company is best served with a podcast production costing $100, we promise not to push you into producing the next version of Titanic—it’s that simple.

If you’d like more information on any of our audio and video production services, please contact us here.  We’d love to help.

The post Podcast Production Should Be a Team Effort, Not a DIY Project appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Begin Press Release
—————————

Sony Unveils Vegas Pro 10 Software Featuring Native Stereoscopic 3D Video Editing Workflow

New Version of Award-Winning NLE Offers Flexible Tools and Updates Including New Features that Simplify 3D Content Creation and Delivery

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ — [IBC Trade Show Stand 12.A10] — Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio editing applications, today announced Vegas(TM) Pro 10 software. The most recent upgrade to Sony’s award-winning nonlinear HD video and audio editing (NLE) application provides broad audio and video support for media ingest, editing and delivery workflows for a wide variety of production professionals.

New features in the native 32- and 64-bit versions of Vegas Pro 10 include powerful stereoscopic 3D editing tools, enhanced closed captioning features, broadened video effect support and new event level audio effects, as well as workflow and user interface enhancements. These updates enable media creators to quickly produce and deliver compelling content for broadcast and broadband distribution, theatrical releases, YouTube(TM) 3D, and prepare content for DVD and 3D Blu-ray(TM) titles.

“As the market leader in developing 3D technologies, Sony is focused on providing integrated professional 3D hardware and software products built for everyone from innovative broadcasters to inspired filmmakers,” said Dave Chaimson, Sony Creative Software vice president of global marketing. “With the upcoming launch of Vegas Pro 10, Sony now provides one of the industry’s most intuitive applications for natively editing 3D. In addition to providing tools that simplify professional 3D production, Vegas Pro 10 continues to innovate unique solutions for closed captioning, 5.1 surround sound, and widespread content distribution support to offer the most intuitive and progressive workflows for media production.”

Vegas Pro 10 Feature Highlights

—  Stereoscopic 3D Editing: Vegas Pro 10 facilitates the creation of 3D
projects by enabling users to import, adjust, edit, preview and export
stereoscopic 3D projects natively without any additional tools or
plug-ins. These new features and workflow updates make working in 3D
as seamless as working in 2D.  While fully compatible with the latest
3D screen technology, anaglyphic viewing is also supported, making it
possible to preview 3D on any monitor.

—  Improved Closed Captioning: Improved support for closed captions
enables broadcasters to preview captions in the Video Preview and
Trimmer windows for increased accuracy and ease of editing. Other
improvements include increased support for line 21 closed captions, HD
SDI closed captions, multiple closed captioning file types, as well as
the ability to export captions for Sony DVD Architect(TM),
YouTube(TM), RealPlayer®, QuickTime(TM), and Windows Media Player®.

—  Workflow Tools and Enhancements: Sony has also introduced the
following updates to Vegas Pro 10:
—  Expanded Multicam Functionality: Updated multicam features provide
a more robust editing and preview experience by offering the
ability to view the multicam source clips and the full-screen
edited program output simultaneously
—  Improved support for DSLR video: Performance improvements make
editing video from popular DSLR cameras faster and easier
—  Track Grouping: This update offers a quick and easy way to
organize and manage complex projects by grouping related sections
of video/audio for a cleaner working environment
—  Advanced Transport Controls: UI modifications offer efficient
access to important editing tools, providing a more intuitive
workflow while improving overall productivity

—  Image Stabilization: New stabilization tools greatly reduce jittery or
shaky video sometimes caused by hand held recording.

—  Video Plug-in SDK: Video Effects Plug-in Architecture: Vegas Pro 10
now offers a completely new video effects plug-in architecture based
on the Open Effects Association standard. This industry-leading
standard was created from the combined experience of the leading
companies in the visual effects industry. The new architecture is
accessed by a new software development kit (SDK), which reduces the
developer’s workload by automating UI integration. These features will
benefit editors by greatly expanding the available visual effects
plug-ins available for Vegas Pro 10.

—  Enhanced Audio Tools: In addition to the Dolby Digital
Professional(TM) 5.1 surround sound production capabilities of Vegas
Pro, the upcoming version includes the following new features:
—  Audio Event FX: For more precise control over the placement of
audio effects, Vegas Pro 10 allows editors to assign audio effects
at the master output, bus level, track level and now at the event
level for greater flexibility when working with multitrack
projects.
—  Input Busses: Input Busses now enable editors to record, mix and
monitor audio from external hardware devices.
—  VU meters: The Vegas Pro Mixing Console view becomes even more
powerful with the addition of new VU meters.
—  Track Meters: Track Meters provide direct feedback and a faster
editing workflow throughout the record, edit and mix process.

—  GPU Accelerated AVC Encoding: Users with CUDA-enabled nVidia video
cards are now able to encode to the Sony AVC format with improved
rendering performance and speed.

—  Device Support: Sony continues to add expanded device support with
each new version including HD-SDI adapters, Sony NXCAM cameras, and
broader support for DVD and Blu-ray Disc(TM) drives.

Once a project is ready for delivery, Vegas Pro 10 features broad support for industry leading media formats. From DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring to integrated tape, file, and SDI I/O options, Vegas Pro makes it easy to encode and deliver content in an extensive range of popular formats.

“Vegas Pro 10 provides powerful features that are crucial for 3D editing,” said filmmaker Jean-Jacques Mantello, director of the acclaimed IMAX theatre films “Dolphins and Whales 3D”, “Sharks 3D” and “Ocean Wonderland” distributed by 3D Entertainment Distribution. “Creating quality 3D projects can be a complex challenge, but Vegas Pro presents a solution that allows editors to intuitively work with footage for results that put audiences into the heart of the action, whether on land, in the air or under the sea.”

Price and Availability

Vegas Pro 10 software is scheduled to be available on October 11, 2010 at retailers worldwide and for purchase online at www.sonycreativesoftware.com. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for Vegas Pro 10 software is U.S. $699.95. Upgrades from previous versions of Vegas Pro are available for U.S.$249.95 from www.sonycreativesoftware.com. Localized French, German, Spanish, and Japanese versions will be available on October 11, 2010.

About Sony Creative Software

Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, music, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and audio production. The company develops applications that integrate with and enhance use of Sony cameras and other hardware devices. Sony Creative Software customers span the globe and include seasoned professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, as well as students, educators, hobbyists, and enthusiasts. For more information about professional and consumer products, visit www.sonycreativesoftware.com.

Vegas is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Creative Software Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Sony Media Software

CONTACT: Shannon McPhee, Shannon_mcphee@bhimpact.com, or Jessie
Comstock, Jessie_comstock@bhimpact.com, both of Bender/Helper Impact,
+1-310-473-4147

Web Site: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/

The post New Release of Professional Audio Video Editing Tool appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

With the advent of digital television and new viewing technolgies such as Plasma, LCD and LED, understanding how TVs overscan your DVD is not as important as it once was.  These TVs use newer connectors and often have 0% overscan—showing the complete image.  But how many millions of older TVs still overscan the image?  Your guess is as good as mine, but even some of the best HDTVs of today may still overscan a video image by as much as 20%.

That begs the question: What happens to text or images that are around the outside edge of a slide when you convert PowerPoint to DVD?  In many cases, when watching on a TV, you will not see this part of the video.

Here is an example of a PowerPoint slide that contains some text completely outside of the 20% boundary indicated by the second set of dotted lines (the interior set of lines).  In video circles, this is called the “Title Safe Area”.

As you can see above, “Tips and tools for creating…” is completely outside the 20% boundary and in danger of being cut off by a huge number of televisions.  The last two letters in the larger text above it, “Widescreen Presentation” will also be left unseen by anyone who has a TV that overscans by 20% or more.

How to defeat video overscan issues when converting your slides.
When creating your PowerPoint presentation, make sure to keep any text away from this 20% boundary.  Graphic elements and some images may be acceptable along the edges, but text is NOT.  You don’t want to leave your audience guessing about what you are trying to say, do you?

Here is an example of a slide that has all text positioned correctly inside the title safe area.

As you can see, not only is the text inside the usable area, relevant images are as well.  If there was a caption beneath the graphs at the bottom, we’d want to move the graphs even further inside the safe area to avoid losing the text below the image.

What if your 300-slide PowerPoint show is already completed—incorrectly?
Our PowerPoint-to-DVD service is able to “fix” this problem for you.  During the video editing process, we can shrink your slides slightly and create a new background to fill the newly created space around the edges of your slides.  In most cases, it will look exactly as you intended.  In fact, the second image above was created from a slide that was originally built incorrectly—containing some of the text outside of the 20% safe area.

We will discuss other PowerPoint-to-DVD tips in subsequent articles.  In the meantime, if you have the need for any of our services, please contact us here.

The post How to Convert PowerPoint to DVD — Adjusting for TV Overscan appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.