Jumping through closed door effect - In Sony Vegas Pro

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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How to Clone in Sony Vegas.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Zero cost camera stabiliser that you can carry in your pocket.

Have you ever been in the situation where you have been out in the wilds with your video camera, hoping to make a nice little video, but the shots are a little shakey and you wishedthat you had brought something with you  to stabilise your video camera, but the prospect of lugging a tripod along for miles meant that you left it behind? (that was a big sentence wasn't it?)

Then this could be the answer. An easily constructed and virtually zero-cost camera stabiliser that is so compact that you can carry it about in your pocket. 

It might not compare with a full blown tripod, but it can certainly vastly reduce the inevitable shakiness that is part and parcel of hand-held shots. 

And anyway, It's so cheap, easy and effective, that it's certainly worth making and trying out for yourself. I'm guessing  that once you have tried it, you'll probably never leave home without it. Check it out in the video below.

Easy Gun-muzzle flash effects with Windows Movie Maker (WMM).

One of the most desired special effects among  video makers is the gun or muzzle flash effect. This effect turns a mediocre clip of a gun accompanied by a bang sound effect into something that looks real and deadly and believable.

Usually, to produce such effects you would have to utilise top-end video editors or specialist programs like Adobe's Aftereffects, which are not only complicated, but also very expensive to buy.

So what if you want to produce gun-flash effects for your own video, but all you have to edit on is a very basic video editor like Windows movie maker - Is it even possible with such kit?

Well, you will be happy to know that yes, it is possible, and it's not even all that complicated once you know how. The video below shows how simple the technique is. It may be simple, but the finished result is surprisingly effective.

You will need the use of a photo editing program, but this is no problem because the photo editor I use in the tutorial is absolutely free. It's called Paint.net. It's a useful bit of kit to have anyway, and it won't cost you a bean. You can download a copy from:
http://download.cnet.com/Paint-NET/3000-2192_4-10338146.html?
Just be sure to untick any boxes offering free browser toolbars etc. (Uless you specificall want 'em that is)

OK, 'nuff said - Here's the video.

Ghostly Orbs and Spooky stuff
 
Hello again. Following my last video,which showed an extremely simple way to fake UFO footage, I have been getting emails asking me if  I could show how to do some more Easy-Peasy special effects.

Your wish is my command, and so this time I thought I would show you an Extremely simple way to reproduce those videos which puport to show "ghostly orbs" floating around darkened empty rooms.

I have based the effect on a stage effect known as "Pepper's ghost".  This is an effect which produces the illusion of a semi-transparent ghost for live stage productions and although the effect can be breath-taking, the principal is very simple.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a simpler "in camera" special effect. If you can't pull this one off you may as well give up. It requires no special equipment, or fancy SFX editors like After effects. In fact, if you have a video camera, and a stable platform to rest it on, then you can do this effect. -Try it!
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How to fake your own UFO clips - Easy!

We have all seen them - the slightly suspect UFO videos that abound on the internet. The ones where you think "Hmmm.... is that real"? No doubt there are real UFO clips available at any number of places all over the interweb, but there are also a helluva lot more fake ones.

Now in these days of sophisticated computer graphics and awesome computer power, it is not unusual to see perfect videos of alien craft wafting through the skies. The problem is their perfection - These special effects are too perfect. We immediately suspect them of being fake because of their perfection.

The clips we really believe are the ones that appear to have been snatched by chance, recorded on a flip camera or iphone when the opportunity presented itself - No fancy camera work, but simple visual documentation of something that actually happened. - Er... it did actually happen didn't it?

But surely such gritty and "of the moment" video documentary must be real mustn't it? Well, no. Not necessarily.

Fake footage like this is incredibly easy to create and it uses the simplest of equipment. If you own a video camera or iphone, then you too can fake your own UFO's. No special skills or fancy editing programs needed.

So if you have always yearned to create  a "UFO flap" in your home town, just grab your video camera and take a look at this video - and may the force be with you.

Zero budget Audio hack.

I'll be honest with you - My video camera is a cheap one - VERY cheap! and the audio produced by it is not the best in the world - In fact it's a bit rubbish.  Living on the edge of Penury as I do, the purchase of a better camera is not an option, so I was forced to find another solution to the problem.

The solution of this problem (which involved the use of my mobile phone), produced really excellent results, and had some wonderful side-benefits that using the mic. in the camera simply couldn't compete with. I now routinely record all my audio seperately using this technique.


One of the benefits is being able to pick up perfect audio at any distance from the camera without the need for radio-mics, field recorders or boom poles.

In this video, I show how to use the technique - It really is simple, requires only a mobile phone and some gaffer tape, and produces excellent results. Check it out in the video below.

BTW. I routinely post any music, or sound effects used in the videos to my website at www.meejah.co.uk They are all licence-free so help yourself if you need them.

Inventive video makers

As you look around the Internet for information on amateur film making, you realise what an inventive lot amateur film makers are. Often they are working with the minimum of equipment, and a zero budget. These inconvenient facts however, don't seem to get in the way of their productions.

Often, the professional film moguls produce a certain effect, look or style in their movies that is coveted by the independent film maker. When they try to emulate the technique, they often find that it involves a piece of equipment with a price tag that runs into tens of thousands, but does that put them off? No sir!

These hardy souls are quite capable of finding out everything they can about the equipment they need, and back engineering it in a low-cost and low-tech way, that will nevertheless produce the required outcome.

You need only witness the plethora of plans and tutorials on line that can show you how to produce your own stedi-cam or dolly-and-track system for just a few pounds. But the best innovations of all are those that take a piece of equipment that you already own, and with a few tweaks, convert it for a completely different purpose.

Meejahs latest video offering is an example of this inventiveness. It shows how, by using your standard tripod in a slightly different way, you can achieve a similar effect to the smooth gliding shots produced by a camera dolly system.

Check it out:

Happy new year! - How to make things Appear and Disappear in your movies

Happy new year one and all.
As you may know, The Meejah Youtube Channel is a pretty young channel, and the whole idea is to provide ideas and guidance for new video makers, showing them how to make the best best videos possible even if they have minimal equipment and cash.

This latest video goes back to basics, and shows how to pull off one of the easiest, and yet one of the most used and versatile video effects - The disappearing (or appearing) effect. This effect is a staple of TV and the Movies - you will have seen it thousands of times over the years.  This effect is really incredibly easy to pull off. It requires no special equipment and yet there is no end to the fun you can have with it.

Once you have got your head around how it works, you can let your imagination run riot, but use it with care. Most people, when they discover how easy it is to do, go a bit mad at first, and use it in everything they make - whether it is appropriate or not. lol.

I know that many of you will already know how this works - It's so simple that many people discover the principal by accident whilst editing their videos - But we all have to start somewhere, and there are many newbies out there for whom all this editing stuff is a black art, and a simple, effective technique like this is just what they are looking for, so this is for them.

Another free music file added to the Meejah collection

Another free (licence free) music file has been added to the collection. It's called "The Gathering", is in the "Trance" style and is 2 m 15 s in duration.

There are ten music files in the collection at the moment. All the music is licence free, "Youtube safe" and is ideal for use in your videos (Youtube or otherwise), and other media projects.

The whole collection of music can be found at the Meejah website  www.meejah.co.uk  just click on the tab entitled "Music", and help your self.

I am now working on the second Meejah video, which will show (those not in the know), where to find, and how to use Windows Movie Maker (WMM), the free video editor that comes with windows.

See you there.

Meejah - Start making videos now.

Hi, I'm William Huw and I like making Youtube videos.

Now I know that there are lots of people out there that would like to be making videos for Youtube (and other places), but they believe that it's all beyond them. They think that it's all incredibly difficult (it's not), extremely technical (it doesn't have to be), and that they will have to buy lots of expensive equipment (they won't).

In fact, if you probably have everything you need to start making videos that you can publish on Youtube (and other places), right now.

So I have decided to make a blog that will show you how to do just that. How anyone can make some pretty good videos even if they have no budget and little to no equipment.

Each blog will be accompanied with a Youtube video, so you can see for yourself exactly what it is I'm banging on about. All the videos will be posted to TheMeejahChannel - my Youtube channel. If you would like to subscribe (it's free), here's the link: TheMeejahChannel

Once you have begun making and posting videos, you can even start to make money from them (it's not difficult), OK you probably won't make your fortune from them (well, not right away anyway), but you can cerrtainly make some pretty decent pocket-money to begin with, which could be a big help if you decide that you do want to buy some expensive equipment later on  :)

So don't delay. Make sure you get the lowdown on all the videomaking tips, tricks and wrinkles that will be coming this way by subscribing to this blog.
See you at the Oscars.
Will