Stopping by to say hello :)

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:12 pm

Hi guys

I haven't been around for awhile. I've been working my booties off the last couple of months. And then, 2 weeks before Christmas my boss wants me to do a really important presentation...quickly, so I worked around the clock until D-day. Had to stop and learn Flash. Arrrrg! Can't complain though. I get to work at home. Loosely translated that means I work 24/7. Thankfully I have plenty of toys and love them all.

In the *can't complain department* my boss is buying me a new G5 1.8 gighz dual processor with all updated software. I previously had Adobe Premiere but since Adobe has decided not to support Mac with Premiere, I *had* to get Final Cut Pro. I'm also upgrading to After Effects Production Bundle from the regular AE. I'm pretty well excited about all that!

My son is a multimedia designer and a really good one at that so we have plans to create some videos this year. I already have music for the first one ready. I'm just waiting for the computer to arrive.

Here's an interesting parent story. A few years ago my son was wild in the streets. When he had run out of his last option, I scooped him up, put him in his room with a computer and some manuals and told him not to come out until he was prepared to get a job. I took everything away from him (Mom's boot camp), so preparing himself was the only way out. He did it and blew everyone away. He is a natural at motion and took to it like a fish in water. One morning I woke up and he asked me look at what he had done. It was a motion ad for Armani. It was so good that I literally ran to my bedroom and sobbed. He came running after me and asked my why I was crying. I told him it was so good I couldn't believe it!

Finally the day came when he made a marketing Flash presentation and sent it everywhere. We got calls from all over the world asking him to come for interviews. It was unbelievable. He was too young to go but it did land him the job he has now. He's been there now for 3 years and is making $45 a year!

The moral of this story is that I truly believe that art of some sort is the savior of children. There's no ceiling and it is a way for them to express themselves and be heard.

I'm preparing to start creating music for my first *real* cd. I'm going to get it profesionally mixed and mastered so I'm pretty excited about that. It's going to be music in the vein of Tangerine Dream and Hybrid. I'm still totally in love with my Alesis Andromeda. It's got to be the best synthesizer on the planet. If I could ever find a man like my Andromeda my life would be complete! LOL!!

Something fun I did for family Christmas presents...this past year I've been creating music mostly with the intention of learning the recording/mixing/mastering process, etc. So I took all those songs and put them on a cd, designed the cover and printed it out on glossy paper, put it in a jewel case and handed them out to my family. They loved it so now they are all on board with the effort of producing the real cd. Smile

My son is also helping me build a Flash web site that is going to contain design, music, art and video. LOL, I like to have my container ready first and then I'm compelled to fill it with good stuff. Smile

Just getting the right design has been a mare! My son is very high end corporate, used to doing sites for Audi and such and I'm more alternative in style. Finally yesterday I nailed it. I designed a site he would love and then replaced all the photographs with my artwork. It worked. hehe, he says I'm the worst client he's ever had. LOL, my Mandala video will likely have an Audi edge to it. Smile

Should be interesting.

So I have a very full year planned....just the way I like it. I did manage to go to a Christmas party and had a blast.

I read all the posts here so I know you all had a good Christmas and New Years. I'm late but Happy New Year's to you all. My apologies for the really long post!

Cheers,
Sioux

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:46 pm

Long time no see, G5...I'm jealous.

But not that jealous, Santa brought me a new Powerbook.

Cool

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 3:25 pm

Happy New Year Sioux! That is a great story about your son. Your story is hope for many parents, and young people. If you think about it, your story could be told in a video. I think it would be an inspiration for many. I know I would like to air something like that, even if it is only 15 minutes or so.

Sounds like you have a very nice Boss, too! Enjoy your new tools!

All the best,

--Rick

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 5:14 pm

Hey G,
Long time no see but I have thought about you. Congrats on the powerbook. Very cool! They took our Mac section away. ;(

Hi Rick,
That's a good idea about the video. I'd love to do something like that. I definitely feel the passion to crusade for *art for children.* I'll see if I can do it.

My office is all about helping the unfortunate and indigent which has opened me up to a whole world of tears and the desire to tell the story. One group of people I work with and feel for are the migrant farmworkers who come to the US hoping to make a better life for themselves and their children but instead end up living a 3rd world status in the richest country in the world. I've had a video planned for that for a couple of years. I have it all written and all the elements. That's on my list as soon as I can get to it. There's a guy here in town who is a photographer. Amazingly, he completely underestimates his talent. His photos of the farmworker people in their daily life are enough to make you care even if you didn't before. Fortunately I get to use them.

My boss is a really nice person, definitely. Everyone loves him. Everyone at my office is pretty heart oriented so that's nice. It's a very interesting place...very loose structurally. I've often wondered how it managed to exist for all these years but we're actually the leader of all the offices in the country. I think that everyone is so dedicated to their work that it all just works out. Before this job I worked at a large pharmaceutical company...very demanding and highly structured so it was a shock to come into this environment. I've learned a lot from working in both environments and feel very fortunate on both counts.

Take care,
Sioux

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 7:45 pm

[quote]Originally posted by G-Dub:
[b] Long time no see, G5...I'm jealous.

But not that jealous, Santa brought me a new Powerbook.

Smile

Hi G, what have you got loaded in your notebook? How many Gig's? Also, for portability, do you use a desktop DV recorder/player, or a camera for uploads and downloads?

--Rick

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:58 pm

What do I have loaded.....well

Logic Audio 6.3.1, DP4.12, ReCycle2,DVD Studio Pro2, Photoshop 7,After Effects 5.5 PB,Illustrator10, InDesign2,Premiere6.5, Final Cut Express1,Office X and it came loaded with Quickbooks.

Put in a wireless card yesterday, so now I have access to the drives on my desktop.

But Sioux, I'm still lusting after a G5.. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2004 7:53 am

Quote:

But Sioux, I'm still lusting after a G5..

I don't know why with all that stuff you have! And you're mobile! Smile

Besides, the G5 is only for design and video. I'm still using the G4 733 QS for music and really need a G5 there. How does it work for you running all the music AND design software on your computer. Don't you have to have different settings for the two things, design/music?

Sioux

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2004 5:02 pm

No I don't have differnt settings, it's more of a file management issue.

I have two internal drives in my desktop and a couple of firewire drives connected.

One of the internal drives, and a firewire drive are used for audio, and video.

My wife was an Adobe manager, and we still have some friends who work there so I enjoy the employee discount.

Rick, I'm not a standard videographer. I do some editing, but mostly I animate Photoshop files in After Effects. Lately I've been outputting animation sequences to Flash format for the web.

I'm primarily a musician, and I've been learning multimedia.

My first project turned out OK.
http://www.bohem-int.com/stage/Site01/home.html

Cool

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:55 pm

Interesting about not having different settings. I had to in OS9 with extensions. I haven't used OSX yet. Soon I hope.

Quote:

My wife was an Adobe manager, and we still have some friends who work there so I enjoy the employee discount.

Sweet! I love Adobe!

I checked out your project. Looks pretty cool! Good job. Smile

I know you're having fun. Don't you just love After Effects?

Cheers,
Sioux

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 11:42 pm

Hello,
First, Hello Sioux. I don't recall if we have ever spoken (prob. have)but welcome back anyways!! My question is for G-Dub... What do you think of DVD Studio Pro? Is it worth it?
Regards,
mIchAEl

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:48 pm

That's a good question, I've only had it for a couple of weeks, and I'm just starting the tutorials. So far it's leaving a good impression.

It comes with two associated apps Compressor, and A Pack.

I'm really interested in A Pack, it does 5:1 Dolby surround audio encoding, and several other formats. Most stand alone encoders are more expensive than the whole package. Not a bad $500 investment. Plus there is a $300 rebate when you purchase Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro, with a new Mac. Once I learn it I will bring in some media elements that I have created, and make demo reel DVD.

For a pure video person all you would need is Final Cut, DVD Studio Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator for apps.

Sioux, I was running Conflict Catcher in OS9.
I had several extension sets. But after extensive testing I couldn't find any performance gain from one set or the other.

I had a basic set that turned off speech, Adobe Type Manager,and apperance manager.

Basically if you have enough ram it's not an issue.

I would be having more fun if I was doing it full time. I currently work for a rapidly shrinking aerospace company in the Pacific Northwest.

Jump on the OSX bandwagon, I actually have better performance on my ancient G4/400 with Panther, than in OS9.

:c:

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 1:55 pm

Hi Michael,

I don't believe we have actually spoken but almost. Smile

I was wondering if you ever posted that video of your trip to the mountains. Do you have any other videos you could share? I'd love to see them.

Hi G,

You've really given me something to think about. I have separate set ups for design and music but it would be nice to have them both running off the G5. Thanks for letting me know it works. Have fun with your powerbook!

Cheers,
Sioux

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:45 pm

Sioux,
I only recorded audio on my mountain trip. However, I did get some great nature recordings. My favourite ended up being the "babling brook" recording which I've brought up here before! I can post a few on Nowhere Radio if you'd like a listen!
Best regards,
mIchAEl

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:09 pm

Hi Michael,

Yes please if it's not too much trouble. I'd like to hear that. Thanks!

Sioux

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