Apple has been known for being very ‘i’ centric with it’s devices – often only allowing Mac-able applications to run on many of the products Apple sells. So we were all taken aback with the big news coming from Avid’s corner that Avid Studio editing software will now run on Apple’s iPad.

Avid is known for Big Processing and Blockbuster Movie editing, but a few years ago they acquired Pinnacle Studio, which was an entry level editing software. Avid changed its name to Avid Studio and re-wrote its code to be more like mainstream entry level systems and more stable than it was in the past. Now Avid Studio is being released to edit on an iPad and we think the user abilities have many possibilities. Read the rest of this entry »

As you’re honing your skills with video, you may, at some point, be asked to do freelance video work for someone else. You know as well as anyone that video production is a skill that has value, so when you’re asked what your rates are, you’ll want to be ready with a number. All too often, new videographers are, for some reason, eager to work for free in order to build their demo reel. DON’T DO IT! Unless it’s for friends or family, your potential client is surely expecting your services to cost something.

FreelanceSwitch.com has put together an hourly rate calculator to help you determine what to charge. Now, this calculator is designed for individuals who are planning on doing freelance work as their main source of income, but even if you only plan on doing video here and there on the side, there are a few take-aways here. The main one is that you should charge for your equipment. Even if you’re okay with not charging for your time and labor, your camera and editing system in order to work, and being able to pay your credit card bills or business loans ensures that you’ll still have your gear the next time you want to shoot. One thing that FreelanceSwitch.com’s calculator doesn’t account for is rented equipment. If you’re renting your camera and lights, I’d recommend using the calculator to figure out your rate without the rented gear, then putting together a work order and tacking the price of the gear on there.

So let’s assume you’re not still paying off your camera, you really love doing video, and you have all the time in the world. You really should charge something reasonable anyway. The reason why charging for you work is important is because every time someone does video work for free they are devaluing the market. Think of the producer that was passed over because the client was sure they could get someone new to videography to do it for free. You might be in their position some day. This kind of thing happens all the time with video, graphic design, and art. It’s a side effect of these fields to be really fun to work in!

You can win some free video tools, just by donating to the Japanese earthquake relief efforts overseas. Or just donate to help because Japan needs our help, and they’ve supported our hobby, career and love of video creation all these years.

For years we’ve enjoyed their technological innovations, we’ve used their products, enjoyed their technical advancements, salivated over the latest techno ‘gee-whiz’ toy they released. Our visits to Las Vegas for the Consumer’s Electronics Show (CES) and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) every year remind us of their importance to our industry and our lives, now the Japanese are in dire pain and despair, and video producers are giving back. You have a chance of winning some video gear at NAB 2011 due to the efforts of producer-director Philip Bloom.

The massive earthquake, then the following tsunami, and now radiation in the very air they breathe, water they drink and food they eat, has touched every single person living in the entire island country of Japan in ways few can completely understand.

Factories that build our gadgets are closing, companies that deliver our goods are unable to process the orders, and benevolent producers like world-renowned documentarian Philip Bloom are reaching out to help.

Bloom posted a “Help Japan” message on his website, offering a chance to win an iPad – his very own iPad – as incentive to donors. Other manufacturers of techno and video gadgets stepped up to the challenge and also offered “prizes” in Bloom’s drawing for cash donations to the Japanese Relief fund.

Do you recognize any of these names? GoPro, Marshall, Kessler Crane, Letus, Zacuto, Digieffects, Redrock, Redgiant, and Cineroid? You should, we’ve written about every one of them in Videomaker and they all have some connection to Japan – either due to design, or build or accessories for their products. All of these companies have donated gear for the drawing.

Bloom’s drawing will be held at NAB 2011 in Las Vegas in a few weeks, and participants need not be present to win. Many people have donated to the causes posted on Bloom’s site stating they don’t want a prize, only to help those that have given so much to the video world. Where would we be today without these companies’ designs, innovations and support?

Everyday, Videomaker hears news from companies we work with – Robin Hoffman of JVC sent us a note confirming JVC’s employees are safe, DisplaySearch tells us the chemicals needed in some semiconductors and LCD displays are affected and the supply chain is on hold.

Our own CEO, Matt York, was in Japan just 2 days before this tremendous quake, meeting with Sony reps about their latest releases in the NXCAM family. Some Sony plants have been shut down, and other companies like Canon, Panasonic, Hitachi, Grass Valley and more – all companies you read about every day in the pages of Videomaker – have been affected. Sony is donating 300 million Japanese yen to help the country and 30,000 radios to help get news updates to citizens.

So check out Bloom’s site – or follow the links below. These relief agencies below are the ones posted to Bloom’s site. If you donate and can prove a receipt, follow up with Bloom’s site for a chance to win – or just join in the conversation.

World Vision , Mercy Corps , Islamic Relief USA , Red Cross

NAB 2011 will be a somber one this year, I know it will stand as a reminder of how small this world has become and how we all share in concern for our friends across the Pacific. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all of those who have lost loved ones during the tragedy.

The analog switch is done. Like the Y2K scare, the sky did not fall and the machines did not take over. We’ve said all we’re going to say about it. It is History.  However, it IS a big moment in history, as video has been around for 6 decades, most of us are acutely connected to television transmission. As video creators, we producers are even more connected. So in honor of this historic day, We’d like to invite our video producing community to share a few tidbits about themselves.

I would like to ask you who you are, why you’re producing video, when did you get started, and what you’re doing now.

Videomaker is beginning a new series called Reader Profiles that is a short snapshot of selected Videomaker readers. We want to know what your equipment looks like, what type of videos you produce and how you got into the video creation business. Are you happy? Do you have any goals or ideals you’d like to share?

Our readers often express their curiosity about other readers, but many of us tend to be singular in our lone-wolf producing techniques. Sharing our skills and ideas helps all of us become stronger producers.

To participate in our reader profile series, email us at editor@videomaker.com, and use Reader Profile in the subject line. Are you a hobbyist? Event producer? Do you make training videos? Wedding videos? Family Fun videos? Tell us in a 500-700 word essay about you and your video production work. Along with your profile, send a printable photo of you and another one of your rig… the entire setup! Tell us what each piece of gear is, so we can show other readers what you use, including camcorder, tripod, lights, computer, editing software and any other equipment you use for producing videos.

The photos must be at least 300DPI, and we prefer them in JPEG format. If you have a website, please supply the link, or, if you can link us to videos you’ve produced elsewhere, you can supply that, too, but it’s not necessary.

Here is a link to our first submission, aviation enthusiast Henry Tenby.