[Helpers] Comedy of errors.

[Gustaf Grefberg]

>    Space is not really a problem because web hosting accounts have
become
> so inexpensive.  Back in '96 I was paying $45. /month for a 10mb
account.
> Now I pay about $20. usd/month for a 4g reseller account which is less
> than
> 1/2 full.  At present I have a second account with another provider
> hosting
> the videos, because the old one at affordablehost did not offer
streaming
> vid. The new one does but I haven't moved them over to it yet. I
figured I
> would just cauncel it when the update and new vids are done.
> 
>    I'm thinking new format with bigger image will probably still be a
> smaller file than realplayer from 1999.

Ok I gotcha!  Space should definitely not be an issue then. It's still
probably a good idea to offer low bandwith versions of the videos as
well.  Like half the picture size and twice the compression ratio. Makes
for quarter size or so. 

>    I just kept surrendering, and druid (who is a certified genius)
came up
> with an elegant... and in hindsight, obvious solution. Tonight I
bought a
> new DVD player-recorder with firewire, for my TV!  A Sony RDR-GX315
> 
>     We were not sure which one to get, but while we were in Futureshop
> trying to find a salesperson who had a brain,  Goddess provided a pro
> videographer with a big turban who said he uses that one for
everything
> from capturing from a camcorder to copying DVDs for clients. At least,
I
> think that is what he said! I'm half deaf and he had a very thick
accent!
> 
>     Now I can play the workout music vid DVD I made, on the TV. I'm
really
> enjoying getting back into shape. I am a vain creature, and I want to
lose
> about 25 lbs before going on camera again. I was about 135 when the
FST
> vids were made, now I am 159 lbs. Makes me look jowly and
double-chinned.
> 
>    I can burn my old fave VHS tapes and some of my ancient vinyl LPs
to
> DVD
> too. I'm doing the happy dance!
> 
>     While I'm doing the DVDs I'll make some notes for you using the
time
> signature. We shot 2 or 3 versions of each vid and checking the
transcript
> or the current vids, is the only way to tell which version was used.
It
> may
> be you can edit the bits into something even better!! I've leave it to
> your
> discretion.

Daaang that's nice!   And cheap too. That will definitely make it way
easier. :)

>     If the vids change, the transcript will need to be adjusted too.
> Percyval transcribed them all, originally.

Maybe Kimberly can help out with transcribing them if anything changes.
She's said she'd like to help out.  Btw, she still hasn't been able to
read mails from the helpers list.. Not sure what's up with that. Her
email addy is ladyofquills at spray.se

>    Most of the pix of me on the site now, were captured from the DV
> tapes... then altered a bit because it had a wider aspect ratio for
some
> unknown reason. I don't like pix of myself from my digital camera
either,
> it has a fisheye effect that is most unflattering.

Maybe you have photos to scan or something?  What I had in mind is for
example the picture where you hold the candle on the FST starting page.
Is that a DV cap too? 

>     Yes... and I think it is still possible to password protect the
grail
> ritual? I've noticed some movie DVDs have all kinds of wierd stuff on
> them,
> like a Shrek quiz that unlocks a bonus feature. Dunno if you have the
tech
> to do that... remastering the vids is the important thing, for now.

It -should- be possible.  This will be a learning experience for me.
I've never done DVD authoring before, only video editing.  I'm going to
upgrade the work license of Vegas to include DVD architect. Until then I
have a trial "try before buy" version of it. It's fully equipped and
should be able to handle anything you're supposed to be able to do with
DVDs...  So I've got a bit of experimenting ahead of me. I will play
around some this weekend and see if I can figure it out. 

>    Ever since we made them, I have had a funny mental image of myself
> pitching  FST in DVD & VHS on a late-night infomercial like Tony
Robbins.
> At the time it seemed absurd, but since then I have seen other "better
> sex"
> etc. infomercials so it doesn't seem so strange anymore. Mind you, I
am
> miles away from being able to affoard TV air time or a studio to
record it
> in...
>    Wasn't my idea, Goddess put it in my head so if She wants it She
can
> provide... and now She is reminding me that I have some crazy old
> vaudeville friends who have a lease on a tiny old vaudeville
theatre...
> hmmm...
> http://heartachesrazzband.com/

Haha!  Looks like a gorgeous theatre. :)  Btw, when you make future
recordings, I would warmly recommend an external microphone for the DV
camera, that can be placed on a mic stand closer to you, or a small
personal microphone that can be fit on clothes, hidden under a collar,
etc. They tend to eliminate the engine buzz of the DV camera since they
can be farther away, and can have very good sound quality. I'd recommend
a narrow-cone condenser mic (It's a sensitive mic which is directional,
so it focuses on picking up what it's pointed out rather than the room
echo and other noises) Mics come in all sorts of price ranges, shapes
and sizes. If you ever decide to get one, let me know and I'll help you
out sorting through the microphone jungle.

It sounds like you have had decent micing on the original FST classes,
although the realmedia format has distorted it a bit.

And who knows, maybe the theatre people have external microphones..

>    LOL!! Yup.

FST T-shirts and coffee mugs.  "FST - what would you like to surrender
today?"  "The serpent is your friend!"

>    I have a small collection of Tibetan bells of various sizes.   I
gave
> Brian a call. He is a musician too, one band he is in was voted best
> independent Canadian band in 2004...
> http://www.fidgital.com/main.php
> http://www.fidgital.com/media/Fidgital_Wins_Indie_Award.jpg
> Brian is the blonde on the right.
> 
>    he agreed to take the bells to the studio, then suggested I record
them
> myself with the camcorder mike! I have the use of his DV videocam till
the
> end of Feb. when the band goes on tour. I don't know how the quality
will
> be, but I'll give it a try~!

Wonderful! I'm looking forward to it.