Video Editing

I'm making videos recently.

I use Sony DSC-T90 to shoot HDTV-720p quality video. The format is MP4, which can be played by VLC media player.

Next I use VideoPad Video Editor to edit it. Different clips are cut and put together. It seems like the subtitle added is not in nice font. It looks rather stout. When saving movie the YouTube HQ format (.flv, 854x480, 25.00 standard frame rate) so far gives the best quality. I tried other formats such as HD1080, HD720, Widescreen TV and Traditional TV, and used other file format (primarily .wmv), all give aliased graphical effect. .flv format can be played by VLC media player. However there is no way to drag on the progress bar, once you do the VLC media player ends the play. Also the VLC media player needs download and install for most windows users and not so convenient.

So I use the Prism Video File Converter Plus to convert from .flv format to .wmv format. This has much better quality than the .wmv file directly generated by VideoPad Video Editor. I'm hoping to add subtitles using Windows Movie Maker now.

Well, Windows Movie Maker does not keep the widescreen setting of the movie. So I'm now trying Subtitle Workshop. It's said the version 2.51 is the best, latter versions not as good. So I downloaded Subtitle Workshop version 2.51.

- 10/19/2010
Subtitle workshop 2.51 works great.

VideoPad Video Editor can directly save the movie to .avi format (parameters: custom, 1024x576). This has the best quality, even better than the previous .wmv format converted by Prism.

Font: when saving as .avi, font height 26 looks the best. When saving as .wmv converted by Prism, font height 24 looks the best. Previously I mentioned the font looks stout. That was because the font's border color is white. Set it to black then it's perfect.

- 12/3/2011
Extracting audio from video.

Extracting audio from video can be done using the recent version of VLC media player (version 1.1.11). But when the video is big, VLC will crash. The workaround is to extract the audio from the original video and compile it into a small video file, for example, a video with a still image.

This latter task can be done in two steps: 1) Open the video in VideoPad, split the audio track from video track, choose the audio section needed, open a still image and compile the chosen audio track with the image, save to a new video file (e.g., in wmv format). 2) In VLC media player, open "Media -> Convert/Save", follow the instructions, the audio can be saved into OGG, mp3, mp4, flac, CD formats.

James Jean

James Jean is an artist originally from Taiwan.

This is his website.

Here is one animation video made by him.

Online Book: Fundamentals of Piano Practice

Fundamentals of Piano Practice. 270 pages. Available on amazon.

This book is written by a physicist Chuan C. Chang. The book includes two parts of material: 1) Piano technique, 2) tuning your piano. The book can be downloaded in PDF format. I have not read this book yet but think it's worth a reading since it's an art performance book written from the angle of a research scientist.

Valentina Lisitsa

I like this play, both the music and the pianist.

Valentina Lisitsa plays Rachmaninoff Etude Op. 39 No. 6 "Little Red Riding Hood".

Lola Astanova

Youtube homepage: http://www.youtube.com/user/LolaAstanova

This is a very passionate young pianist with amazing skills, power and speed. She's also good in composition. The following two are in the style of Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, which in her words, is a kind of music joke of distorted baroque/classical arrangement.

Here's her version on Rihanna's "Don't stop the music":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqorloj2YZY
I can listen to this many times without stop, without feel bored.

Another one of her version on Madonna's "Music":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pfeohQSaS8

Rachmaninoff Moment Musicaux No. 4 in E:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPEd8AZX5dQ

Lola was born in former USSR. She started learning piano at 6 and began on-stage performance at 8. She received MS in piano major from Rice University and now resides in New York.

Other very good young female pianists include Valentina Lisitsa and Valentina Igoshina. But I'd prefer Lola Astanova.

Adiemus

What is "Adiemus"?

It's the title of a series of albums by British composer Karl Jenkins.
See wiki page on Adiemus.

I like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL8kZ-iVk90
I have heard this music at a bookstore but couldn't find out what music it was.
Now I know.

Some interesting stuff

How To Juggle Three Balls