To buy or not to buy...

[sekiharatae]

I have 14 days left on my 30 day trial of Sony Vegas.  I'm trying to decide if I want to fork over the $$ for the software, so I've been playing with it.  (Plus, I needed to do something else for awhile, and this was fun!) The end result is my second ever video (and, sadly, I think the first was better).  I'd do another Cloud/Tifa since they own my soul, but it's kinda repetitive, no?  Which is why this one is Zack/Aerith.

Here we have the .avi and here we have the .mp4.

I'm also working on something silly featuring Marlene.  So here's a link to the rough draft (cut?) of the first thirty seconds or so.  (pokes it with stick... look better, dangit...)

Comments

[whiteadelphi.livejournal.com]

Considering how little footage you really have to work with, that was kinda sweet. :) Made me smile goofily anyway, but I'm so very partial to Zack and Aerith. Hee.

Putting aside the no-footage-argh problem, the only piece of technical advice I would give you is that the shot of Zack with his hand extended out is jarring when it refocuses on a close-up of his face ... if only because you've used fades for most other transitions. I'd suggest splitting that particular clip in half and fading it as well. :)

And I didn't know you'd done a Cloud/Tifa one... link? :3

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

Wee! I'm glad it made you smile. =) And I'm glad the song was sort of short, because I was running out of Aerith clips especially.

Hmmm... the section you mention is actually the way it is in the original -- I didn't add the zoom. But I definitely see what you mean. Will go poke it with my stick. ^.~ TYVM!

As for my Cloud/Tifa...

http://sekiharatae.livejournal.com/47296.html

[whiteadelphi.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know that's the way the clip was :D Wasn't blaming you for that bit. I had to learn the hard way in one of my RK vids that sometimes it's easier to change the original for the sake of what you're doing. *cough*

*waits for CloTi goodness to download*

You've picked some nice shots in that one. :D I think your Aerith/Zack one is better, but mainly only that it ...Hmm, hard to explain. You come across as more relaxed with what you're doing? Either way, this is cute too. :D

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

LOL. =) I was definitely more relaxed -- I took maybe four days on the cloti one, and only a day on the zerith one. But I chalked that up to he fact that there aren't as many scenes to choose from. (So I would say to myself: quit angsting about how grainy that scene is, there aren't any other choices unless you want it to be a zerith vid with a side of clack! or Yes, that's a lovely pic of Zack, but it doesn't fit so quit messing with it!)

I also have a new loathing for Zack's longer 'do. I really prefer him with the shorter hair. He looks... happier with it. The longer style makes him look Serious (capital S intended). I know he's channeling Angeal, but I still like chocobo-headed Zack!

I has poked zack/aerith vid with stick! (and uploaded again) =)

Thank you again!

[whiteadelphi.livejournal.com]

Aw, I know what you mean. I loved Zack's earlier hairstyle too; it suits him far better than the slicked back look, but I guess that's how they had him in the original game (well, in a hedgehogged polygony fashion) and in Advent Children. At least we got half a game of incredibly cute puppy looks out of him. :D

The fade on that shot looks much better!

[windrider1.livejournal.com]

I love and hate my vegas. It's a hell of a program and makes awesome video if you can manage it. I haven't made a new vid in awhile. I have a Cloti video, a Fack video and a Splintered Dreams trailer all saved as projects but...finding time O.o Gah!

I enjoy Vegas and Photoshop, but my favorite videos of mine I made in WMM. So... it's preference.

Wow. Wasn't I a huge help? /sarcasm

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

I know that vegas must be able to do some of the things I want to do... it's figuring out *how*. And now that I've figured out so many things in vegas, I kinda don't want to have to relearn it in WMM. Even though WMM is free...