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We’ll soon be posting some in-depth tests on specific editing functions and how they compare across the FCP 7, Avid MC and FCP X platforms.  In fact, two of our editors are at an Avid showcase in Chicago Tuesday evening…but first a few words about how surprised we have been by Final Cut Pro X.  Apple is definitely trying to reshape the video editing market with FCP X; determining what they feel are obsolete functions moving forward. There are workarounds for many of the rumored disconnects that the software has; some of which are just unproven assumptions. If you want the truth about what FCP X can and cannot do check out this link.

FCP X is a very fresh approach to editing; it has all of the tools you would expect from a professional editing platform. The “keyword” organization is a little different from traditional bin structures, but once you understand the concept it’s really a genius way of organizing footage. You would be amazed at how much time is saved when you don’t have to double-click footage into the viewer. The magnetic timeline combined with keystrokes makes editing fast and efficient.Despite all of the critical noise concerning Final Cut Pro X it’s important to remember that this is a new editing platform and it’s going to take some time to perfect. Next week I’ll let you know how Avid Media Composer 6 stacks up to FCP X! Explore Media uses the latest technology to tell your story. Check out some of our Fort Wayne Video Productions to see stories in action!

For this week’s news from Explore Media directors, we’d like to share some links to work by other directors who, quite frankly, are a cut above the rest.  Epoch Films  www.epochfilms.com/and Imperial Woodpecker www.imperial.tv.  We watch these reels and are inspired and motivated to refine our own HD digital video productions & television commercials.

If your brand is successful, chances are you have a compelling story. Explore Media can take this broad narrative idea and filter the information down into an easily understood, well-paced, entertaining visual nugget. In short, we don’t create the stories…we help you tell them! Videos & TV Spots for your Brand.  Some of the brands we’ve produced videos and TV commercials for?  Retail products and service industries like Universities, Health Care providers and hospitals, and Credit Union video production.

With the emergence the new Final Cut Pro X we here at Explore Media (currently using FCP 7) have been curious as to what would be the best editing option for us to crossover. So we’ve decided to do an editing platform showdown between FCP 7, FCP X, and Avid MC 6. Our biggest question is: how will these systems perform in a real-world test with the workflows and file management our time-sensitive projects demand? We’ll start with no bias and totally forget everything we’ve read (accept for the manuals). So stay posted and be enlightened. Who knows you might even get to see a cool video from the process!

Explore Media uses cutting edge digital video editing software to bring your story to life. Check out our Fort Wayne Video Productions!

http://vimeo.com/30859426  Here’s a video comparison from @helloworldny between the ARRI Alexa, Sony F3, and Canon 7D cameras.  If you’re not a complete camera tech nut, why does this matter?  Let me give you an example from Explore Media:  often when getting inspired to produce a web video for a client, or a television commercial where we’re bringing in crew from Chicago, the first question we ask is: “what camera do we shoot on?”  Lately we’ve loved the look of Canon 7D and 5D for our lower-budget projects, and the RED or Sony F3 for some bigger-budgets.
In our neck of the woods, as an Indiana video production company crafting award-winning projects with smaller budgets for a variety of clients, we’re a bit unique because we don’t buy camera equipment and then try and sell our clients on this technology for the next 5 years.  What happens when that technology becomes clearly dated, or a project is not a good fit?

With cameras and technology changing constantly, we instead use the best camera with the best look for the project/budget.  Sometimes we spend money out of our own pockets just to make sure a project is using a camera that suits the project.

How does this affect marketing directors and communications officers?  The basic trend in new camera technology is moving towards digital high-definition cameras with very large “sensors” which mimic or exceed the size of 35mm film.  This gives creatives the ability to shoot at very low light settings and not break the bank bringing in extra large crews.  In effect, cameras are getting cheaper and will use less crew to capture a stellar image.  See the ARRI Arriflex demo here and read the description; they didn’t use any external lighting beyond what was available in this violin maker’s shop.  http://gizmodo.com/5516152/arri-alexa-camera-shoots-beautiful-video-with-little-light

Canon just announced it’s new C300 camera, and the cinematography nerd in me is ecstatic! With the Canon 5D/7D revolution in full swing this camera offers the next generation in DSLR technology; with a super 35mm equivalent CMOS sensor, and a host of other built in goodies. This camera will be available early 2012! Check out Canon’s website for more info.

Explore Media uses the latest in digital video production gear to make your story come to life. Check out our Fort Wayne Video Productions to see the cutting edge in action!

Although it’s the way things have been moving on some level it’s unfortunate film is used less and less—to the point where we’re now at the end of its era. Yes, there’s been wonderful growth for digital cameras; image quality, frame size, latitude, bit depth, etc. have improved and some are more incredible than others, but there’s something magical about shooting and handling film, processing it and seeing the result of labor on screen. Creative Cow contributor Debra Kaufman has this to say about the major camera manufacturers:
“ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have all quietly ceased production of their film cameras to focus exclusively on the design and manufacture of digital cameras. Film? Fade to black.” Click here for the rest of the article.

Explore Media is part of the movement that uses HD cameras for productions. Makes for a smooth workflow for any Chicago Video Editing, too.

Brains & Braun Car Ads, Employee Takeover at Health Care Co., Top Ten Brand Stories, all in our latest Newsletter!

Explore Media is near the Indianapolis Video Production market, and loves telling stories for all kinds of organizations in North America.  Checkout our Indianapolis area work here.

Explore Media had the opportunity to see the group “The Paul Dunton Quintet” at the new Lerner Theater! Paul Dunton has a fresh classical/alternative/pop approach to music which makes it’s own atmospherical path. Check out Paul Dunton’s website for more info. Also don’t forget to support your Lerner Theater so we can get more fresh outstanding acts like this here in good ol’ Elkhart!

Explore Media supports the community of northern Indiana. Check out our Fort Wayne Video Productions to see our fresh approach to digital video production.

Although updates to the MacBook Pro line are minor I’m sure no one will complain about having a faster CPU.

While we at Explore Media don’t use the MacBook Pro for editing, we do use Mac Pros fast enough to do any Chicago Video Editing. We sure love our Macs!

No, this isn’t another trudging remake of the Johnny Cash classic “Long Black Veil,” but if you are feigning for more Steve Jobs and Apple coverage, it is fitting that on October 23, 2001, ten years ago, Apple unveiled what we know now to be a transformative device:  the iPod.  Sales weren’t promising.  In fact, if you were like me, you had perfected downloading 5 versions of the same song on Napster, hoping to get just one free playable copy, and the idea of shelling out $400 for a device that only worked on Macs was a bit steep.  Then Apple comes along and completely saves (reinvigorates too) the music industry.  I can’t find the Entertainment Weekly story that prompted this blog online, so here’s the PC World version of the story.  Some interesting highlights:  the first iPod model was made out of Styrofoam…the first iPod only sold a few hundred thousand units and only worked on Macs…April 2003 was the real turning point when the iTunes music store was announced.  Instantly people felt honest about paying for music, and you didn’t have to download the entire album!

Before starting Explore Media, I (Jeremy Pinckert writing here) was working in the Indianapolis video production market. I distinctly remember going jogging on the Monon Trail, an exercise thoroughfare near my Broad Ripple neighborhood, using an mp3 player that held 5…count ‘em, 5 songs!  It was, I’m not embarrassed in context to say, a Napster-downloaded bootleg of a Dave Matthews’ album called The Lillywhite Sessions.  Spring of 2002 was the first time I ever saw an iPod, I remember piling in a car to caravan down to Bloomington, Indiana to collectively watch Indiana University play in the NCAA basketball national championship game, and there it was:  my friend driving was a bit of a computer geek and was almost embarrassed when we saw this white handheld device that even back then he had wired into his car stereo.  I was floored, and the rest is history.

Since starting Explore Media in August of 2003 near South Bend and Chicago, I’ve bought, and loved, many iPods…I can even credit the iPod with helping ease the transfer from PC to Apple computers for our company, and now like most creative video production companies we have Mac laptops, Mac Pro editing suites, iPads, iPhones, and we even use the Apple Time Machine for our network and physical backup!