Cheap & easy fan videos for Windows, using Ulead VideoStudio
Finally! A finished (very goofy) video!
Let's look at all the potential and possibilities that can happen with VideoStudio. I made this totally absurd, ridiculous video, combining a variety of clips from different fandoms, into one incoherent, tacky, strange little nightmare. But it will suffice in showing you some of VideoStudio's capabilities! Below are several different copies of the same 70 second video, using different encoding programs and codecs. All videos edited with Ulead VideoStudio 9 DVD SE.
- Silly fan video, H.264 MOV file, high bitrate, encoded with MPEG Streamclip (18.3 MB, playable with VLC Player, Quicktime 7, and Quicktime Alternative.) This video is a teensy bit darker than the others because I was able adjust the contrast in MPEG Streamclip.
- Silly fan video, H.264 MOV file, medium bitrate, encoded with MPEG Streamclip (8.9 MB, playable with VLC Player, Quicktime 7, and Quicktime Alternative.) Contrast also adjusted slightly in MPEG Streamclip, just because I could.
- Silly fan video, DivX AVI file, high bitrate, encoded with SUPER (18.1 MB, playable with VLC Player and DivX Player, or using the DivX or XviD codecs.) Note: You'll notice a slight "drift" in the audio tracking, especially with the clip where dialog is heard. This does not appear to be an issue with the current version of SUPER.
- Silly fan video, WMV (Windows Media) file, high bitrate, encoded with RiverPast VideoCleaner (19.7 MB, playable with Windows Media Player, or Flip4Mac Quicktime Plug-in for Mac.)
- Silly fan video, RM (Real Video) file, high bitrate, encoded with ALO Video Converter (16.8 MB, playable with RealPlayer or Real Alternative.)
Notes on the video:
You'll see a variety of clips in this video, some with borders (letterbox) around them, some with softer detail. I acquired my video clips from several different sources. A few were from XviD/DivX files; others were imported from a DVD. Some of the clips were fuzzy to begin with, so it was impossible to increase their quality too much. Other clips were very sharp and clear.
Transitions and filters: I showed off many of them in this video, so you'll see some interesting (sometimes extremely tacky) special affects. You are not encouraged to use this many together in one fan video! Special effects and fancy transitions can be easily overdone.
Overlay & Chromakey features in VideoStudio: The vaguely unsettling, slightly squished-looking "floating man" (you'll know it when you see it) is the result of VideoStudio's "Overlay" and "Chromakey" abilities. Of course I did a dreadful job with it, but hopefully you can see the potential for all sorts of creativity. I learned the basics of overlays and chroma key on Ulead's Tutorial section. (Consult the "Overlay" tutorial.)
Adjusting audio levels: There's one small part of the video where I let the dialog be heard. I fiddled with the audio settings (lowered the music volume gradually) just long enough to hear a few words, then when the next clip started, increased the volume back up again. VideoStudio allows you to fine-tune the volume levels of the soundtrack in this manner.
Freeze frame and aspect ratio adjustments: Also, I used some "freeze frame" shots in this video. All still pictures were made using the Still Frame feature. Often, when I did this, VideoStudio messed up the aspect ratio of the still, so I had to manually adjust it back to normal. Sometimes this was frustrating and too "fiddley" for me—I'm afraid that a few of the still shots don't have perfect aspect ratio. (But not too bad.)
Pan and Zoom: You'll notice the "pan and zoom" (like the "Ken Burns effect" in iMovie) is used in several spots. VideoStudio allows for many variations on zooming and panning, especially in still pictures. You can manually adjust these settings as well.
Final words:
Obviously this small little tutorial cannot cover all aspects of vidding. But I hope by being specific about what settings to start with, and which applications to try, I've given you a starting point. I also hope that you are now more aware of important issues such as frame dimensions (do I need to remind you that a squished and distorted video picture looks really bad?) and picture clarity.
Vidding resources:
- Anime Music Videos: These people are very thorough and very scary. An excellent resource! (You think I'm picky? Ha!)
- Vidding for Newbies: Gives all sorts of advice and has links to other articles. Great resource!
- Huge list of fan video sites: Look at what others have done and get some inspiration. (Hey! One of my sites is listed there! Cool!)