BLOGGER embedding PowerPoint or Word as pdf through Canva

 All the instructions are contained below, including screenshots from when I made this post...

BLOGGER EMBEDDING DOCS.pdf by Dave B

finish

FCPX TOOLS - TRACKING CUTS NEED FOR MOTION

Motion still has additional functionality but wow this makes creating impressive FX so much simpler!!

This is rather awesome, and a strong sign that Apple is committed to upping the pro level of FCPX. These new tools are effectively integrating, while also hugely simplifying, tools you can access in Motion. If you skim to the last 2-3 mins there's a great demo on using the censor mask with this. After the two shot, dog and island egs there's a great eg of adding to mise-en-scene - cool tool for music video especially ... but usable for custom content for websites like tracking a logo! https://youtu.be/FR4_zYrp8S8

Audacity alternatives for audio editing

Handy ReviewGeek article. They include DaVinci, noting how useful it is to use software for both audio and video editing. Indeed - which is why I've settled into the flow of using FCPX. But at some point intend to try out Logic.

Using Terminal in Mac

Nice starter guide from MacWorld.

MAC SHORTCUTS

Handy guide.

EMBEDDING YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS

This used to be easy.
Then Google made it tricky.
They still have don't be evil as their corporate motto...

Its simple enough, but doesn't really stick in the mind to be fair! So, I've vodcasted how, and also copy/pasted key text in below....with colour highlighting...and I had to screenshot the 2nd bit as otherwise it would be interpreted as code by blogger...

In the place of the video ID (after "embed/"), substitute "videoseries?list=".

Then paste the playlist ID after the "=".

The video above has the usual, single video embed code; its that bit AFTER EMBED/ to look for - replace the video ID with "videoseries?list=" [the PL ID goes between the = and "]

This is a normal, single vid example

Switching between Premiere FCPX Resolve using XML file

I don't use either so can't confirm that this is as simple as using the XML file - you'd certainly need to be keeping all files on the same drive, as XML is just a spreadsheet LINKING to files and noting edits. There would be issues with fonts/FX not in the other software? Anyway...

https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/xml-files-premiere-fcpx-davinci/

I do note that for FCPX to Premiere you need to pay for additional software. But if you're using Adobe you're obviously happy to continually shell out more and more each year, unlike the simple lifetime purchase of FCPX - cheaper AND bundled with Logic, Motion etc if bought with a new Mac from an Apple store.

TOUCHSCREEN MACBOOK

You can now use an iPad to achieve this, with the new OS bringing iOS functionality to the desktop OS.

This is a USBC 13/15" screen - see https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2020/07/23/this-portable-display-brings-touchscreen-functionality-to-macbooks/

BLOGGER new way to embed videos

Who knows how such data-driven giants can make such dumb, careless decisions, but they've made a right mess of the Blogger interface.

The old, simple method of pasting an embed code, checking just ONCE...EVER that interpret HTML is selected in OPTIONS has been mysteriously ditched - and you can't change the default to just display HTML.

So, I've figured out a way to do it.

Always do --- + return + ---, to paste into the blank line

type H + return a few times

Now, change the view from compose to HTML (the icon on the very left)

Look for the H's (you'll see br or p tags after them.

Paste your embed code in before the 1st H (as in my screenshot)

Switch back to compose mode + hit preview to check.

It should work...

Delete the H's!

Now say rude things about Google!

---

H

H

H

---

CONVERGENCE future is now: wipe moving objects with FCPX plug-in

It's 20 years since I oversaw my 1st student coursework assignment, having created some ... interesting productions myself with fellow PGCE (teaching degree) students with a big old VHS camera and an agonisingly slow post-production digitisation process.

As much as I've been teaching on the concept of convergence for a lot of that time, I'm truly astonished at what popped up on my Google news feed this morning. This is an incredible example of where we're at with convergence, which is not just the barriers between industries crumbling but equally the gap between professional and consumer/prosumer technology radically narrowing.

For $30 (on offer from $50) you can do in Final Cut what very recently would have required a highly-paid team of VFX specialists working for days to do ... You can remove moving objects from a scene!!!

I haven't tried it out yet - to test for example if it works with wobbly camera shots or short takes (logically it needs the background it will use to be visible for at least 1 frame) - but definitely intend to buy it.

I'm not easily impressed but this is a genuine jaw-dropping moment. A decade ago my classes were just transitioning from iMovie to Final Cut Express 4 before we finally got the budget to move to Final Cut Pro X. Those licenses are still in place back in my previous school in England - I make no apology for highlighting that a purchase of Final Cut is a one-off lifetime payment, with two big updates/upgrades every year (in contrast to the Adobe Premiere subscription model). I've fought for and gotten Final Cut/Macs installed in several schools now, and would do so again if I started afresh somewhere else.

The power the student of 2020 and beyond has in their hands is absolutely incredible - I hope to see many more fantastic uses of it!!

https://youtu.be/vWqe3iePbzM

The website link is in the video description

FCPX Sharing full Library using Compressor

Thus technique definitely isn't for all! It's quite complex (though the video is a very clear step by step) AND requires the additional programme Compressor to work.

Ideally you can build and share a main Library first, then share additional clips as they come in, keeping file names and tags identical so that project files (the tiny XML files) can be shared via email. But this is an alternative if there's going to be gap in meeting up. The idea is to radically reduce (to 20%) the file size of the source video clips for easy online sharing. Once complete, a shared project file can be re-linked to the original full size media.

https://youtu.be/iyos9dP4eL0

FCPX AUDIO LEVELLING built-in compressor

This might still need initial manual levelling where you've got multiple voices, the demo looks at just one (you can always Google on that, keywords FCPX audio compressor multiple voices).

But it's a promisingly simple technique if you reduce the video to written notes!!

BEST COMPRESSOR SETTINGS FOR VOICE | A Full FCPX …: https://youtu.be/72rtkuk9Gb0

CONVERGENCE iPad iPhone rough cut to FCPX with Lumia

This could be pretty handy for those of you tied into the iOS platform with your iPhones and iPads. I'm not into either, but it seems the LumaFusion editing software now has a port to FCPX feature, ie you can edit on your phone or iPad then move the project and whole library over to a Mac to polish it up in Final Cut. Nifty

Hands-on: LumaFusion FCPXML Final Cut Pro X expor…: https://youtu.be/8yJ7n_NsCvk

GETTING GOOGLE EARTH MAP VIDEO

Izzy Video is one of the major software tutorial sites out there, a particularly user-friendly one if you want to learn s new one (eg Motion) or delve deeper into FCPX.

This tut is a handy one, very usable in coursework film, video and vodcast - or just for 'home videos'. I cut an occasional video as a present for Xmas or birthday, something unique (and lasting!) rather than more landfill, maybe something you'll try at some point. Either way, this is worth a look. And btw, it seems Google Earth Pro is free (from a search, I haven't installed it yet)

Final Cut Pro Technique: How to Get Video from Go…: https://youtu.be/_lAPjn3obz4

FCPX masking and colour glow

I'm not so keen on the 2nd of 3 FX this guy picks out, but this is a nice video for a quickfire intro to masking, which is a really powerful tool.

I used it a lot in the Xmas video, a 10 hour total edit, so it's a very achievable effect. Indeed, I'd never used it myself until I googled on the bus back from Avignon in September, trying to figure out how to layer inside the curved archways of the ancient viaduct there. I also used it in the Not Ones final video to layer on the Scoble Scale clips.

What I also like about this video is the guy's thought process - he knows a hell of a lot more than me about FCPX but we both look at videos and ponder how to reverse engineer some of the FX we see: try to work out how we might achieve this in FCPX, regardless of what suite was used for that video. I find that a great way to strengthen my familiarity with FCPX and editing techniques more generally. In this video he noticed that the 2nd effect (all 3 are taken from an actual music video) definitely comes from FCPX.

Have a gander for yourself...

https://youtu.be/vZUvzh42qH0

FCPX 3 music vid techniques also good for horror

https://youtu.be/Rem-qu_5rgI

Some great shortcuts and additional tips also in this vid. 11mins long but even just watch and try the 1st one and you're getting these. This really does highlight the media c-word (yes, convergence!) in full effect - it's incredible what you can achieve now with FCPX and some imagination!

MAC Finder shortcuts

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/finder-keyboard-shortcuts-cheat-sheet-mac/

MAC creating flexible APFS container on hard drives

This is a useful idea to consider, for example to store all your FCPX Libraries. The native Mac file format, APFS (used to be HFS) is much faster than Windows-friendly compromises like exFAT.

This approach would see you split your HDD so you keep BOTH file formats. The container concept varies from a partition in that its size is flexible.

https://www.imore.com/how-add-volume-apfs-container-and-why-you-would-want

EDITING ON THE ROAD

This looks like an interesting series to follow - not so much the programmes being produced as the backstory to how a couple are filming and editing a series with their Mac editing setup in a trailer, and part powered by solar panels.

I'm seeing more and more often veteran editors proclaim FCPX for its clip/library management system. It's clearly rebounded from the huge tactical errors of the initial dumbed down FCPX displacement of Final Cut Pro 7, which many still clung to a decade after it was outmoded.

The story here may seem outlandish - 48TB of hard drive space! - but it isn't really. I'd estimate I've got about 40TB of HDDs myself (though I've mostly given up on the USB2 drives as just too slow).

Anyway, may be of interest to some of you

http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/2203-1-year-30-000-km-on-the-road-with-fcpx-part-1

Filmmaker explains switch from Avid, Premiere to FCPX

https://nofilmschool.com/switched-final-cut-pro-x-after-25-years