Help make this section useful (tips for riffing)

[mikelesq]

PowerDirector 11 is free for download until August 10th:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7122242-cyberlink-powerdirector-free-with-promo-code?src=pdw&v=1

This is the previous version (they're up to 12 now).  Not my software of choice (I use the consumer version of Sony), but I downloaded it to play with it, and it's not bad.  It does direct recording of audio commentary, so if you're looking for a free video editor that gets really good reviews, and you can record your commentary while playing the source audio & video, there's nothing to lose.

One thing I have observed, other video editors you can right click on an audio clip to add an audio effect (for example, you can normalize, so that your commentary volume is at an approximately even level), and it looks like this is the OEM version they ship with some DVD drives, and it's missing the audio effect components (which they are happy to sell you, of course).  So if you're looking for a way of avoiding exporting to Audacity to clean up audio, this probably won't help.  Now, I do that anyway because Audacity does so much, and does it so much better, so that may not be an issue.

[fireyf]

PowerDirector 11 is free for download until August 10th:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7122242-cyberlink-powerdirector-free-with-promo-code?src=pdw&v=1

This is the previous version (they're up to 12 now).  Not my software of choice (I use the consumer version of Sony), but I downloaded it to play with it, and it's not bad.  It does direct recording of audio commentary, so if you're looking for a free video editor that gets really good reviews, and you can record your commentary while playing the source audio & video, there's nothing to lose.

One thing I have observed, other video editors you can right click on an audio clip to add an audio effect (for example, you can normalize, so that your commentary volume is at an approximately even level), and it looks like this is the OEM version they ship with some DVD drives, and it's missing the audio effect components (which they are happy to sell you, of course).  So if you're looking for a way of avoiding exporting to Audacity to clean up audio, this probably won't help.  Now, I do that anyway because Audacity does so much, and does it so much better, so that may not be an issue.

My laptop came with version 7.  It's not too bad but you can't import Dolby Surround audio tracks with the basic version.  I'm waiting for Videolan to finish a stable version of their VLMC editor but it's been a long time coming and it's still not ready for release.

[mikelesq]

I'm waiting for Videolan to finish a stable version of their VLMC editor but it's been a long time coming and it's still not ready for release.

I was hoping at some point that OpenShot would add commentary recording, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon.

[mikelesq]

Looks like it's free video editor week.  iSkysoft video editor is the giveawayoftheday:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

Giveawayoftheday.com gives away a piece of commercial software every day.  You have to install and register it before the end of the day.

I tried this one.  More than anything a video editor has to have a look & feel that the user likes.  This one is dead simple, and it also allows commentary recording.

Having said that:

• The voice over has a countdown before it starts recording.  YMMV, but I hate that.  I think it makes it harder to do punch in lines.
• No audio clean up at all.
• The sound isn't displayed graphically, so if you want to edit out silences, remove a cough, position a riff between two lines, etc., you need to do it purely by sound, without any visual help from the waveform display (this for me is a dealbreaker).

Again, video editing software needs to have a look and feel that the user likes, so maybe the uncluttered interface may make up for the above, depending on your preferences, and it is free today.  I'd definitely recommend trying the free PowerDirector offer over this (and that isn't limited to today).  I certainly wouldn't recommend the $35 normal price of the software, since for that you can get a more robust editor that's a couple of generations old and still get more for your money (heck, for that you can get the latest Sony Movie Studio basic version from Amazon, if you don't care about DVD burning).

[MightyBombJack]

One tip I would offer if you're doing a VOD iRiff is to "play fair" with the movie and use the best copy of it available rather than a really muddy and murky one that makes the movie seem cheaper and more incompetent.

[fireyf]

One tip I would offer if you're doing a VOD iRiff is to "play fair" with the movie and use the best copy of it available rather than a really muddy and murky one that makes the movie seem cheaper and more incompetent.

I know I personally try to find the highest quality I can but on a lot of public domain films the best you can find is still kind of low quality.  We also have to make the file a reasonable size to download which can also mean lower quality due to compression.  I'm not sure what the file size limit is now, but for a long time there was a size restriction which, again, affects quality due to compression.  Another issue is that even with films that are otherwise public domain, they are often digitally restored for DVD's and that restored version is copyrighted making it something we can't legally use.  But I agree that we should use the highest quality copy we can find and reasonably use.

[mikelesq]

PowerDirectorLE is the giveawayoftheday:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/cyberlink-powerdirector-11/

Giveawayoftheday is a free version of commercial software, that needs to be downloaded, installed and activated that day for it to work.

One thing, this version doesn't support mpg2 or flv (but I think most riffers are working with mpg4 most of the time anyway).

In any event, probably worth a try (for free) if you're looking for a video editor.

[mikelesq]

AVS Video Editor is the giveawayoftheday:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

Like all giveawayoftheday software, it's free, but you have to download and activate it today.

Also, per the comments, it's a one year license, so it may disable some features without a purchase this time next year.

[mikelesq]

Another good giveawayoftheday today, InPaint:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

This one comes up every so often.  Long story short, if you don't have Photoshop, this can take a stab at removing specific objects from a picture, which can save a lot of time when you're  trying to make posters, thumbnails, etc.

Like any other giveawayoftheday, you need to download and install it today for it to be free.

[mikelesq]

If you have a Youtube channel, Fan Funding is now out of testing and available for everyone (well, almost; you need to be in the US and be in good standing):

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6052077?hl=en

Basically, it's a tip jar, separate from ad revenue, so if you put up any free content it's another revenue source.  You'll have to set up a Google Wallet account, but the nice thing is it looks like you only need $1 for them to do a monthly payout (as opposed to the $100 you need from ad revenue; I'm looking forward to buying 10 months of Spotify sometime around 2019).

[mikelesq]

InPaint came up as the giveawayofthe day again:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/inpaint-6-0-2/

Long story short: It removes objects from pictures fairly well.  Good if you want to turn screenshots into posters/thumbnails.

It's today only, meaning it has to be both downloaded and activated today.

[mikelesq]

PowerDirector (this time version 12) is the giveawayoftheday:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/powerdirector-12-le/

Looks like this is still a restricted LE version (they kind they give away with a new DVD drive), and it doesn't support some video formats (such as MPG2), but it's free, so if you're looking for a video editor that can record commentary, it may be worth a try.

[mikelesq]

PowerDirector 12 LE is up again as the giveawayoftheday:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/powerdirector-12-le-2/

As always, must be downloaded and activated today to be free.

[mikelesq]

For anyone looking for a microphone, it looks like Amazon is going to have the Blue Snowball iCE ($35) and Blue Yeti ($85) on sale for Black Friday:

http://deals.kinja.com/clears-throat-amazons-discounting-a-pair-of-great-mic-1744578545

[Asbestos Bill]

I was talking with Michael T. Bradley about editing, and it seems we have completely different working styles, which made me consider doing a live stream sometime to show my editing method. Is that something anyone else would be interested in seeing? Or should I just do a private video call?