wiscon_vidparty | Vidding Workshop!

Welcome to the

wiscon_vidparty vidding workshop! We hope this will be a chance for new or potential vidders to find out more about what’s involved in making a vid and to see the wide variety of ways vidders make vids, and for vidders of all skill levels to discuss vidding and share tips and ideas. Everyone is welcome to participate!

This workshop will be discussion- and question-based, so please, start or jump into any discussions you want to have and ask any questions about any aspect of vidding! Finding ideas, getting source, clipping (or not), editing programs, codecs, rendering, effects, specific technical issues you’re having, discussion about specific vids, discussing your own ideas, links to useful resources, tutorials, cheerleading--any and all vidding related topics are welcome.

We’ve created a few categories to keep some of the major topic threads organized. If you have a comment or question or want to start a discussion on a certain topic, just comment below the relevant subject. (We’re flexible though, so don’t fret too much about getting things in the right place. If in doubt, just give your thread a descriptive subject line so people can find it).

Feel free to add new threads if what you want to talk about isn't covered by the categories, but please give your comment a descriptive subject line so readers can tell what’s being discussed.

We have several awesome vidders who have volunteered to participate and introduce themselves at their convenience. We will be linking to their introductions as they appear. Keep an eye out and feel free to ask them specific questions!

Topics (to get you started--add your own threads and subthreads!)

• Vid Idea Development -- Finding and developing ideas for new vids

• Tech Questions -- Hardware and software (PC, Mac or Linux), codecs, aspect ratios, exporting and rendering, effects, etc.
          Questions asked/discussed:
          -- Software to use on a PC? (including discussion of Windows Movie Maker & Lightworks)
          -- Vidding with iMovie09?
          -- Codec rec: Avid DNxHD
          -- Converter recs for Macs?
          -- Linux clipping?

• Getting Started (and Finished) -- From beginning to end, how do you make a vid? Getting source, clipping, editing workflows, tips for getting started, etc.
          • Subthread: Editing workflows/processes
                --chaila (VirtualDub, Vegas, Zarx264gui)
                --heresluck (DVD Decrypter, DGIndex, Premiere, Zarx264gui)
                --thingswithwings (Handbrake, Mac the Ripper, MPEG Streamclip, Final Cut Pro, Sound Studio)
                --ghost_lingering (Adobe Premiere & AfterEffects, Mac the Ripper, and mpeg streamclip)
                --eruthros (DVD Decrypter, VirtualDub, AvsPmod, Premiere, Zarx264gui)
                --such_heights (Switch, audio editing/conversion, Final Cut)
                --beccatoria (avidemux, Cinelerra)

          • Other questions/discussion
           -- How to time clips to the beat?
           -- Using markers
           -- Approaching editing/revising? & how to deal with ambition outstripping effects/transition knowledge?
           -- Free/cheap editing software for Macs?
           -- Ripping DVDs vs. downloaded source?
           -- Note re: codecs & compression

• Links and References -- Link helpful resources from elsewhere on the internet.
          -- Various lists of resources, including subtitling
          -- Mac vidders: how to get the shiniest source
          -- Lots of links, especially about vidding creativity
          -- Panel notes on song choice
          -- A&E's Technical Guide to All Things Audio and Video
          -- Audio editing
          -- Multiple aspect ratio tutorials
          -- Understanding codecs & containers, & Autodesk software for students

• VIDDING SQUEE - All things happy, fun, and inspiring.
          • The first vid you made you're still proud of?
          • Vids/vidders that inspired us!

Meet the Vidder Threads

• Meet the Vidder: Rhi
• Meet the Vidder: metatxt
• Meet the Vidder: such heights
• Meet the Vidder: kiki_miserychic
• Meet the Vidder: Garrideb
• Meet the Vidder: ghost lingering
• Meet the Vidder: here's luck
• Meet the Vidder: chaila

ETA 3/3/14: The main part of the workshop has concluded, but please feel free to add answers or info if you've got them! We've organized a list of the threads, questions and answers for ease of browsing. And don't forget that you can sign up to be a vidding mentor to a newer vidder, or sign up to get a mentor!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's usually all about the song for me too. Though I've made a lot of vids that weren't The Vid I really wanted to make for that fandom, but I did it because I was excited about the song at that particular time. If I'd waited and thought more about it, it probably wouldn't have gotten made because it wasn't quite right or didn't quite work. But this can be fun too, to just make the vid you are excited about now just because you're excited! (But I only say this because I make *a lot* of vids). Squee is a VERY important component of vid motivation.

It's *really* hard for me to go hunt down a song for an idea if I don't have one. But I have done it. One word: fanmixes. Fanmix-creators can be AMAZING. I'll look for fanmixes for the specific character or source if I can (though often there won't be any, or the makers will have a different view of the show anyway), but I'll also just peruse fanmixes on Tumblr or LJ, for sources or characters that seem similar to what I'm looking for. A good, thematically coherent fanmix can be great, even if it's for a different source.

I have also googled certain themes or ideas + "song lyrics". It's a last ditch effort, but it often leads to Youtube spirals of listening to songs and related songs, and it can lead somewhere interesting.

I got a song for a totally different vid for a totally different source from a great TSCC fanmix. I found a Twilight song through some combination of googling songs about vampires and werewolves and listening to fanmixes for Hannibal and Luther, honestly. :)

omg so much agree re: fanmixes! I've found so many great vidding songs that way. Oh look someone made me a playlist of songs about this character that I want to vid, probably that could help! Even when it's a playlist about some other character(s) entirely, it's a great way to find songs with fannish sensibilities. For example, I gave

eruthros the song "Parachute" for her Virginia/Lillian Masters of Sex Festivid, but it was actually from a Tony/Rhodey fanmix I downloaded ages ago. FANMIXES

Fanmixes are the freaking greatest. A lot of times I get songs from fanmixes with the same tone as the vid I want to make.

Fanmixes! What an excellent idea! Thanks a lot! BTW, can you recommend sources where to find them?

8 Tracks is a fantastic site to look for new music - you search by tags and lots of people post fanmixes there. You can also search by mood, theme, all sorts. It can be a bit hit and miss but it's my new go-to when I have an idea before I have a song - eg for this year's Festivids.

Thank you so much! Finding a song for Festivids was not easy for me, too. I'll definitely use this source next time!

The fanmix tag on tumblr is a good place too.

Thank you! Looks intriguing.:)

I usually just browse the fuck yeah fanmixes or fanmixes Tumblrs, because both do a good job tagging shows and characters. Or I just google the character, show or relationship & "fanmix." It all kind of leads to the same fanmixes; there are just multiple ways of finding them. :)

Edited 2014-03-02 17:25 (UTC)

Thanks for the the tips! Using google is so obvious to find something you need, but I'm still tending to forget about it.*headdesk*

Vidding Workshop!

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