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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And if you like stuff like this, then why not subscribe to the Meejah Youtube channel... It's free!
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Easy Laser Zap Effect in ANY Video editor.

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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If you like this sort of stuff, then why not subscribe to Meejah's Youtube channel - It's free!

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

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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If you like this sort of stuff, then why not subscribe to Meejah's Youtube channel - It's free!

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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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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.

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

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

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)

Head Shot Gunshot effect with Windows Movie Maker

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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Make a Pro Video Intro with WMM

Do you find the standard titling options in Windows Movie Maker (WMM) a bit Mnnahhh...? Do you long for something with a bit more gravitas that will bestow an aura  of high technology jiggery-pokery?

Alas, we all know that this kind of intro requires high octane (and costly) programs like "After effects". There is no way you could even come close to producing such video eye-candy by using something as basic as the free editor "Windows Movie Maker" 

Well,  my friends you have been informed. Impressively cool intros can indeed be created using nothing more complicated that your free copy of WWM.

Fancy having a go at making some cool pro-looking intros? This tutorial will show you how. It's easier than you think and loads of fun.So if all you've got to edit on is Windows Movie Maker (WMM) here is the tutorial you have been waiting for.

Camera Trick An Easy Wind-noise Reduction Hack

Ever had your video recording ruined by wind-noise that completely obliterated what was said?. It's a common problem  with most video cameras especialy those without a mic jack - which means that you are totally reliant on the camera's built-in mic.

There are, of course ways around this problem. But it's not always practical or even desireable to cart a separate recording unit and dead cat mic with you when all you want to do is make a quick one-man video up the side of a windy mountain

Although it's a common problem, it's one that can be solved easier than you may think. This video shows how to hack your video camera in seconds to vastly reduce wind-noise.  And it's not expensive or time consuming either - this hack costs just pennies and takes just seconds to do.

So if you are having trouble with wind-noise, check out the following video. For what the hack costs in terms of time effort & money (i.e. negligible  - It's well worth trying. 

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.