Meejah - The Video makers blog

EASILY SYNC YOUR AUDIO TO VIDEO WITH SONY VEGAS

2017-01-02T15:25:00.000+00:00

When we record our videos, we usually just rely on the in-camera mic to pick up sound - which is fine, up to a point. The problem is, (apart from the fact that most in-camera recording tends to be very poor quality), that it's very restrictive. The mic must stay with the camera, whether or not the sound source is close, or miles away.

To get good sound, we must do what the professionals do, and record our sound seperately, and with reasonably priced, high quality recorders like the Zoom H1 (much beloved by indie film makers) available, there's no reason not to.

Seperate recording however, does leave the problem of how to match the two files together afterwards? So, in this video, I take a video clip, and an audio recording from a Zoom H1 recorder and show how to synchronise them together in post production.

It's not complicated or difficult at all, but the difference in sound quality is very impressive - Try it yourself.

HOW TO MAKE GHOST EFFECT WITH SONY VEGAS PRO

2016-12-04T16:42:00.000+00:00

The Ghost Effect is a staple of movie making and remains impressive despite being one of the easiest to create. In this tutorial you will see not only how to use Sony Vegas Pro to create the Ghost effect but also how to add some echo enhancement to the sound track for extra spookiness.

This really is an exceptionally simple effect to pull off and yet most satisfying to observe. Once you have understood how the effect works you will no doubt see endless possibilities for plenty of other similar effects that can be produced simply by tweaking the basic technique.

So, delay no further, Watch the video and try it for yourself - and you may find yourself creating Ghosts just for the fun of it :)

EASY DIY AUTOCUE/TELEPROMPTER

2016-11-25T21:36:00.001+00:00

When doing a piece to camera, you can save yourself a lot of time, grief and video footage (not to mention the neccessity of learning lines), by using an autocue/teleprompter. "But aren't they massively expensive"? I hear you cry! Well professional ones certainly are, but if you own a smartphone or tablet computer, then there are apps available that will turn your device into something very similar to an autocue/teleprompter.

If when using these apps, you place your device just above the camera lens, the it is very difficult for your audience to detect that you are looking at the device and not at the camera. The problem, of course is, how do you get your device to hover in that sweet-spot above your camera lens?

This video will show you an easy an inexpensive solution to that problem. Build one yourself and never again be lost for words in front of a camera.

Jumping through closed door effect - In Sony Vegas Pro

2015-09-03T13:04:00.000+01:00

It's a surprising and humerous effect. Jumping through a closed (in this case, car) door. In this video I show how to make this nifty little effect using Sony Vegas Pro. The version I used for the tutorial was Sony Vegas Pro 13, but any of the Pro versions should be able to do the job just as well.

When I first tried to make the effect, I thought it would just be a basic jump-cut - cutting from the actor on one side of the door, jumping against it, to the actor on the other side of the door. When I tried that approach however, the results were somewhat less than convincing...

So I used the last few frames of the "Jump" side to "blend" the actor into the door - a bit more with each frame, until they were completely on the other side and this produced a much more convincing effect. But don't take my word for it, check it out in the video below.

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Sony Vegas Easy Effects - The Matte Effect

2015-07-14T15:32:00.001+01:00

Ah the magic of the photgraphic Matte. This technique allows filmmakers to literally build castles in the air. In the old days, nary a film went by without some spectacular matte-ing taking place. In the days before CGI it was THE magic technique which could turn a tiny studio into a canyon or huge spaceship

In the old days, mattes were created by painting the scene or effect onto a pane of glass. The film would then be shot through the glass, making whatever was painted on it look like part of the scene. The mattes were painted by skilled artists who could match the tones and colours of their imaginary scenery almost perfectly with the surrounding area making for an almost undetectable blend.

These days of course, mattes can be created digitally by anyone who has a computer, an editor and a couple of hours to spare. This video will show you how to do that very technique for yourself. I use Sony Vegas Pro 10 in the tutorial, but the method should be the same for any of the Sony Vegas Pro series. It's not difficult and the results can be very impressive - Why not try it
yourself?

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Sony Vegas Easy Effects - The Matte Effect

2015-07-14T15:32:00.000+01:00

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How to make a Cool Intro with Windows LIVE Movie Maker

2015-06-03T20:41:00.003+01:00

I'll be honest with you - Windows LIVE Movie Maker is not my favourite beast. The Old Movie Maker at least looked a bit like a real Video editor and had a timeline. The new one does have editing abilities but is nowhere near as flexible or intuitive as it's ancestor.

Having said that, Windows LIVE Movie Maker is the only editor that some people have. After all. if you want to try your hand at video editing, you are not going to shell out hundreds on a program that you may decide not to use after all - you are going to try it out on something that's available, and hopefully, free!For anyone who runs Windows, then the free and available option is going to take the form of Windows Live Movie Maker.

One of the most popular videos on the Meejah Channel is How to make a Pro Intro with Windows Movie Maker which was a tutorial using the Original Windows Movie Maker but it has prompted a torrent of messages asking for a tutorial showing how to do this with the LIVE version.

I ignored the situation for a long time hoping it would go away, but it looks like it never will, so I have finally taken the bull by the horns and produced the video they were all asking for. It's a complete how-to, from sourcing your background clips, through editing them on Windows LIVE Movie Maker, and finally rendering into a Video. Hope you enjoy it.

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Zero budget Camera Stabilizer.

2015-05-05T22:01:00.000+01:00

My original intention was to demonstrate a "ghetto filmmaking" technique known as a "bag cam", which is a very simply constructed camera stabilizer using basic easily-available materials which is particularly useful for producing a "Dog's eye" point of view. The basic idea consists of placing the camera into a platic bag (with a hole cut for the lens). This places the camera close to the ground and the pendulum effect of the bag produces a stabilizing effect.

Well I tried it - and it was rubbish! The camera flopped about in the bag, which was much too light and blew about in even mild breezes and the bag material itself rustled like crazy ruining any attempt to record audio through the on-camera mic.

There was obviously room for improvement, and the "Bag cam" as it stood was not fit for purpose, so I had a think, came up with an idea, grabbed some everyday household stuff and created a new improved "Doggie Cam"

It's easy to make, effective and solves most of the problems presented by the unsuccessful "Bag Cam". Check out how to make one yourself in the video below. It's great fun and won't cost you anything.

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How to Clone in Sony Vegas.

2015-04-06T13:51:00.000+01:00

Ahh, the magic of cloning. The ability to have more that one of any particular actor, to create twins where none existed before - The sheer novelty of the situation is one beloved by video watchers and video creators alike, and is the staple situation for many video effect gags.

But is this effect a difficult one to produce? Modern technology has made it very easy to clone yourself on video with even standard home video equipment. Unfortunately it's not really possible to do this effect with the lowest of low end editors (i.e. the free editors like Windows Movie Maker et al.) but it is certainly well within the capability of most medium range video editors like Sony Vegas Pro, which was the Editor of choice for this demonstration.

Taken step by step, this is not such a difficult effect to produce and once the principle is understood, many variations of the basic concept can be created. It basically relies on locking down the camera and producing two identical video clips, one with the actor on one side and one with the actor on the other side. The two clips are then layered, one on top of the other in the editor. Now a virtual "hole" is cut in the actor-less side of the top layer to reveal the actor on the bottom layer next to the actor on the top layer. Because the background to both is identical, both actors appear to be in the same scene.

That's a basic overview of how the clone effect works, but for a more detailed description and examples check out the video below and soon you'll be multiplying faster than rabbits.

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Cheap/Easy DIY Video Lighting

2015-02-06T18:36:00.000+00:00

Photography lighting kits, as a rule, tend to be on the expensive side, but if you are planning to do any sort of decent indor video shooting, good light is pretty much essential. I have seen a number of lighting tutorial videos hailing from the USA which suggest using, as a cheap lighting solution, a clamp light which is common and inexpensive over there. Over here in the UK however, those lamps are difficult to find and not that cheap either.

I had been using a simple bulb in a bulb-holder and attached to a bit of flex & a plug as a light source. It did indeed provide light, but was non-directable, difficult to mount and fragile. I decided that it was time to do something about it, and after a bit of thinking, I came up with a solution.

The solution was a lamp that was cheap, easy to make, directable, robust and easy to mount virtually anywhere. The basic Idea is easy to scale up and can be used for making much more powerful lights simply by using a bigger container and more lamps. Very little skill is needed to make them and I'm sure that these lamps would have their uses for straight photography lighting as well, so if you are looking for some cheap camera lighting, why not try them out for yourself.

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How to use Windows LIVE Movie Maker - Easy Tutorial

2015-02-06T18:35:00.001+00:00

It's not like most other video editors, and maybe it's not well liked, but it's the only video editor that some people have. If you're not sure whether you are going to like video editing or not, and you just want to try it out to see, you're not going to be willing to shell out a small fortune for a top-end video editor.

If you already have a video editor provided free with your Windows, then that's the one you are going to use as a tryout. This is the situation many people find themselves in as they try to get to grips with Windows LIVE movie maker.

Unlike the original style Movie Maker, the LIVE version doesn't look much like a video editor as we know them and at first can seem somewhat incomprehenisible but a little perseverance reveals a program that is perfectly capable of all the basic editorial functions, and providing that your planned movie is not too ambitious, can provide some pleasing results

It's certainly an excellent way of easing your way into the art of video editing and giving you a glimps of what's possible even with basic editing. So if you have been thinking of trying out editing and Windows LIVE Movie Maker is what you have on your computer, then wait no longer. Watch this easy tutorial and make yourself a movie.

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Easy Laser Zap Effect in ANY Video editor.

2014-10-16T21:52:00.000+01:00

Ever fancied zapping people (filmically speaking) with a laser? Perhaps this is just the effect you need to put the fininshing touches to your own no-budget Sci-fi short but the ability to produce such an effect is beyond you?

After all, this stuff isn't easy. Hollywood spend gazillions of dollars on special effects like these. Producing such a feat requires high-end editors and an encyclopaedic knowledge of specialist programs like Adobe's After Effects doesn't it?

Well usually, yes but there is a simple technique you can use to pull off a pretty respectable laser-zap effect with minimal tools and skills. You can emulate the classic Star Trek style Laser/Phaser zap with surprisingly little in the way of fancy editors.

In fact, this Classic effect can be created on virually any video editor - even the most basic ones. If your editor can do simple cuts, fades and screen grabs (and they nearly all can) - Then you can do this. Check out the video to find out how.

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TOP 5 TIPS - How to make a Youtube Video for Newbies.

2014-08-24T19:31:00.001+01:00

Are you a potential movie maker? Always wanted to do SOMETHING, but don't quite know how to start? Are you one of those people who are always planning to make their first video for Youtube, but somehow never quite get started because of the fear that you might make a pig's ear of it?

Well fear no more. Meejah's latest video is all about addressing this very problem, with five Top Tips that will steer the ususpecting newcomer away from the most common mistakes that newbies tend to make.

There's nothing difficult here, just some common-sense advice that will give you a jump-start in the art of making videos. You could of course find out about these tricks yourself eventually by simply making the mistakes, seeing the results, and saying "Well I won't do that again", but now you can save yourself all that time, hassle and pain, and hit the ground running.

So, check out these Top Five tips, grab your Video camera, and go and make some great videos - Now!

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How to get FREE licence-Free music and Sound effects from Youtube

2014-08-06T22:04:00.000+01:00

I get an awful lot of messages from people asking about where they can get hold of copyright free music and sound effects for use in their video productions. Which is understandable because appropriate sound effects and music can add a whole new dimension to a video.

The reason they need licence-free music is because they know that the use of unauthorised music in their videos could lead to their video being pulled by Youtube for copyright infringement. What's more, they could be laying themselves open to a legal challenge from the music's owners.

It seems that it is not generally known that Youtube have a library of copyright-free music and sound effects that are available for free download by anyone with a Youtube account. These downloads are all absolutely safe to use in all Youtube videos (and indeed, any other videos for that matter).

So this video shows you exacly how to go about accessing these great freebies - Courtesy of Youtube. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.

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How to Bleep out Bad Language and Swearing on your videos with ANYvideo editor.

2014-06-28T19:33:00.000+01:00

Ever had a great bit of video that you really wanted to upload, but were too embarrased to show because it contained swearing, cursing or bad language?

Well now you can use that golden footage - dig out those clips, because in this video tutorial you can find out how to "Bleep" out those naughty words and make your video suitable for everyone, not just Builders and Sailors.

It's remarkably easy to do and the technique can be used on pretty much ANY video editor - Including basic ones. If you can split your clip then you can use this method.

To prove the point that the technique can be used on any video editor, the demonstration in this video is performed on Windows Movie Maker - So C'mon - don't just sit there, get %@%! Bleeping!

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Easily Remove Background Noise from your Video Soundtrack

2014-06-11T21:51:00.000+01:00

Ever been dissapointed by a video recording that you have made because of some annoying background noise going on that was unavoidable when you were recording. Or maybe the camera itself produces an unacceptable ammount of hiss that you just wish wasn''t there

The two great quality indicators of video making is lighting and sound and sound is one of the most neglected aspects when making a video. Perhaps you think that there is nothing you can do about background noise or a hissy soundtrack and that you will just have to learn to live with it - Not so.

Removing hiss and background noise is quite straighforward and easy to do with an excellent (yet free) program called Audacity. And this one simple process will do wonders in increasing the percieved quality of your videos. It's quick, simple and it works. This video will show you how - Check it out.

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Everything you wanted to know about Windows Movie Maker

2014-05-09T13:55:00.001+01:00

Most of the messages I receive at The Meejah Channel tend to be questions about how to use the basic functions of Windows Movie Maker. It would seem that there are a lot of would-be video editors out there who are struggling with the technicalities of Microsoft's free video editor.

So I thought "why not produce a basic how-to guide for Windows Movie Maker"? A guide that covered everything from getting your video clips into the editor, right through to rendering the finished edit into a movie.

This was not such a quick 'n easy job as I had at first thought and I ended up producing a series of seven videos explaining all the various aspects of using WMM in a quick no-nonsense way.

The videos (and these are links by the way - click on them to see the videos), cover these topics:
Importing your Video
Editing your Video
Editing your Sound
Video Transitions
Video Effects
Editing Titles and Credits
Rendering your Edit into a Movie

You can also access the whole playlist Here:
You can subscribe to Meejah's Youtube channel Here

So if Windows Movie Maker has ever confounded you, or if you're just curious as to what it's capable of, then check out this series - It may just surprise you.

Watermarking with Windows Movie Maker - The Easy Way.

2014-04-21T08:04:00.000+01:00

Watermarking on video. - In case you don't know what "Watermarking" a video means, it is the addition of a name, or a channel identification logo to a video. It is usually quite small and unintrusive - frequently semi-transparent - and more often as not, lives in one of the corners of the screen, where it remains for the entire length of the video.

What's it's point? - Well it's not just an excercise in vanity, a "Look what I made" statement. It's actually a security measure. The internet is replete with "bad'uns" who are happy to download videos they have taken a liking to from places like Youtube and then re-upload them elsewhere as their own work. This is of course ruined if the true owner of the video has their name or channel indelibly marked into the very fabric of the video.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of nascent video-makers use Windows Movie Maker as their video editor of choice and being a somewhat basic program, has no facility for producing true video watermarks - So does this mean that WMM users will just have to do without Watermarking.

Actually, No. Because although standard watermarking as we know it cannot be produced by WMM, we can nevertheless produce something mightily similar by tweaking the "Titles" options. It's quick, It's easy and It WORKS, and you can find out how by checking out this video:

Compose your videos like a Pro

2014-03-30T21:32:00.000+01:00

Ever thought that your video and photographic compsitions were lacking that certain "something"? Wondered why your snaps never looked quite as good as some of the pro shots you have seen?

So what is the secret to composing pleasing shots with your camera or camcorder - Is it something which requires an artist's eye and years of training?

Well, actually, the secret of composition rest in the application of a very simple rule - more a guideline really - called "The Rule of Thirds". It's actually a very simple technique that was discovered hundreds of years ago by the great artists of old and continues to be used by artists, photographers and cinematographers to this day.

The technique is simple to learn, yet very effective. Adopt this technique and you should get successful results 90% of the time.Check out the video and you'll see what i mean.

Creating voiceovers and adding music in WMM

2014-02-06T19:24:00.000+00:00

One of the most useful things that you can do with a video editor is to add narration to your video. In fact if you want to make a documentary of any sort, it's pretty much vital.

Windows Movie Maker is a great little program for what it is - and the price is right (Free). But sophisticated it is not. It offers only one Audio/Music track which usually means having to choose between having background music or a voiceover.

With a little bit of cheating however, you CAN have both and although Windows Movie Maker does not allow you to gently fade between different volume levels, this too, can be done by cheating.

So if you want to know how to use Windows Movie Maker to remove an annoying sound-track, add some nice music, a narration AND drop the background music level whilst the narrator is speaking, then this video is for you - Check it out.

How to produce an Echo effect in ANY video editor inc. WMM

2014-01-05T12:06:00.000+00:00

Everyone loves an echo, and it has to be one of the most useful sound effects that the video/film maker can use. It can give the impression that you are in a tunnel, hall or other cavernous place.

Where would classic horror movies be without the creepy feel that comes from dialogue laced with a generous helping of echo?

Unfortunately, not every video editor comes with a built-in facility to produce them. The high-end editors will have it as part of a more comprehensive audio management toolbox, but few if any of the free video editors will posess anything like this.

But that's no problem, because in this video I am going to show you a quick and easy method that can be used to make your clips echo - whatever video editor you use, and to prove the point, the demonstration uses good old Windows Moviemaker. It's quick, easy and effective so you need never be without an echo again.

How to do Jump Cuts

2013-11-15T20:08:00.000+00:00

Do your Vlogs lack snap and pazazz? Do they ramble on a bit? - Then you need to discover Jump Cuts!

What are Jump Cuts? Jump cuts is a rough 'n ready video editing technique, the sole purpose of which is to cut out all the rubbishy content of your Vlogs, such as ummms, aahhs and pregnant pauses, and to stitch together the rest of the content into a fast pacey Vlog.

Check out the vlogscape on and around Youtube and you will see that this video editing technique has become the de facto way to edit Vlogs as it provides pace and zing to even the most mundane videos.

This video transition technique is quick and easy to do and can be done with even the most basic of Video editors - in fact the demo here is done with Windows Movie Maker ( don't have a copy? No problem you can download it free from the link at www.meejah.co.uk)

How to make Fake Blood

2013-10-20T17:20:00.000+01:00

Halloween is nearly upon us, and now is the time when the world and his mother will want to get their hands on the Film-Maker's favourite prop - Fake Blood!

Theatrical blood isn't cheap, costing many pounds/dollars for just a small 25ml bottle, so if your ambition is to produce a low budget zombie movie requiring gallons of the red stuff, you may find it quite expensive

Ordinary red stuffs don't cut the mustard - Red fruit juice is too thin and runny and ketchup isn't going to fool anyone. You need something viscous, deep red and slightly opaque - and cheap!

Luckily such a substance is not difficult to produce - In fact you may well already have in your larder all the ingredients you need to make very convincing fake blood.

So if you are looking for a way to make cheap, convincing (and edible) fake blood - Look no further, just check out the video below.

Head Shot Gunshot effect with Windows Movie Maker

2013-10-03T14:35:00.002+01:00

Ever wanted to shoot someone in the head - I'm speaking Cinematically of course. Well if so, you're in luck because in In this episode we show you how you can easily produce the classic headshot.

No fancy (or expensive) editors, or high end programs like Aftereffects are needed to produce this quick n' easy effect. You can do this with even the most basic of video editors. To prove the point we demonstrate the whole technique using nothing more than Windows Movie Maker.

This is also a special episode as it marks our 1000th subscription (Hip Hip Hurrah!) and to celebrate this fact, EVIL TED the megalomaniac Teddy has returned to help us with our demonstration, but it's not for the squeamish because he's as evil as ever.

Don't take my word for it. Check it out in the video below.

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Zero budget DIY Camera Slider - Easy and Instant!

2013-09-04T14:40:00.000+01:00

How we all love those sexy slow slider camera shots that we see on the movies and TV.

The way that the camera seems to effortlessly and smoothly float past the array of ingredients on your favourite cookery program, the smooth segue of the camera as it displays the dazzling flowers on those gardening programs and the slow considered change of point of view on those sumptuous period dramas.

Of course the equipment to carry out this feat of cinematographic splendour - a camera slider - are not cheap bits of kit.

But despair not people, you can produce similar sexy smoothness with very little in the way of equipment. In fact you may already have everything you need to do this

So check out the video below, This incredibly quick and simple DIY hack will allow you to take those sexy smooth slider shots that you've seen on the movies and TV with virtually nothing in the way of equipment and cost.

For something so quick and easy, the results of this DIY slider are remarkably good. Try it yourself.