Posted on 08/22/2014 3:20:09 PM PDT by Maceman
Never used this program before, but I am trying to learn it for a project and have been watching tutorials on youtube.
My problem is that the preview screen on the left side of my screen doesn't work, either for individual images on the right side of the screen, or when I try to run the images as a movie. All I get is a black screen, although I can hear the soundtrack.
I have searched online and learned that this has not been an uncommon problem for WLMM 2011 (or 2012, apparently), as there are many discussions about it but a real lack of solutions. Still, those discussions are pretty old, and I'm hoping that maybe there is a fix available that was previously unavailable.
I'm running a Dell Vostro with Windows 7 Professional.
Does anyone have any ideas about what I can do to address this, besides GETTING A MAC (don't even go there with me), or a new computer. And yes, I'm logged in, plugged in, the computer is on, and whatever.
I'm not that technically savvy, unfortunately. But I'll appreciate any CONSTRUCTIVE insights or suggestions if anyone has any.
Thanks as always.
I’ve looked at the Panasonics and they are appealing. Using the adapters for my canon lenses, I lose auto focus. My eyes are starting to go a little wonky though.
The frustrating thing with DSLR cameras in my case is grit on the sensor no matter how careful I am that never seems to be there in the LCD but plain as day in playback. Hence thinking about a camcorder. Everything is a trade. A DSLR 4K could come later as HD gets phased out.
Adobe after effects cloud is on the list of things. That is one I’ve never played with.
bookmark
Sorry for all my spelling errors, earlier I was typing from my phone:
If you do a lot of video editing —and this is advice coming from a person who does not like Facebook— I would recommend you join the group, “The Frugal Film-maker”.
Those people are geniuses, humble, and will save you lots of time and money.
EVERY video problem you’ve encountered 100 people there have encountered and are now expert on.
They will teach you TONS of stuff. For free. Immediately.
It is a very active group and I can’t recommend them enough.
Most people shooting video will go in for manual lenses in order to maintain constant, silent focus control —a lot of the really old, shallow depth of focus ones are $50 or less on Ebay, and some even use some of the CCTV lenses for security cameras.
It sounds like because of your eyes this manual lens route might not be quite your ticket, however.
I believe for your gritty camera sensor they make and sell cheaply on Ebay a special wipe resembling a tiny T-bar squeegee with a special cleaning solution but cleaning it manually requires extreme care.
I haven’t done it personally but there are over 3 specialists on TFFM (The Frugal Film Maker) who can coach you through manually cleaning your sensor properly, or give you a referral to a pro outfit that can do it affordably.
Thanks for the old lens tip and I will keep that in mind definitely. I’ve been on my Canon lenses since my 20D days.
My manual focus is about 50% right when I’ve done some testing against auto. Price of getting older and having eye trouble all my life. Lasik fixed a lot but not everything.
My problems these days aren’t really related to Lasik. My last eye doc visit was impressed how well it has held up for so many years. Believe it or not, I was a TV camera jockey. Mostly studio but once in a while, EFP/ENG. I later went into engineering.
I’ve found a good cleaning kit and it works really well and sounds similar to what you are talking about. I don’t need it that much, usually auto clean does the job. I try to avoid open sky. If it is something important, I will do a manual kit clean and keep a blower bulb on hand.
I also use neutral density filters which I have really come to love.
A software idea I brought up to a developer who worked with video applications was a fixing tool that had something like the clone stamp to fix annoying sensor grit problems instead of having to get pricey after effects. He thought it was a good idea. I lost touch with him.
For YT and personal stuff, a little dot doesn’t bother me but my stock submissions, I want them to pass.
I joined the frugal filmmaker group and check it every so often. Some good ideas there.
Have you tried another video editor, one of the free ones to see if it has a similar problem?
do you have a Linux liveCD or LiveUSB?
Then try OpenShot Video editor if your project is on the simple side.
Thanks for all the great input. I finally decided to download Wondershare Video Editor after viewing various reviews and tutorials of different products, with price being a key consideration.
I’ve been playing with it for the last several hours and find it pretty intuitive and easy. So it’s what I’ll be using for my project.
MS Live Movie Maker is a dog.
Thanks again everybody.
The last tape I handled was DVC Pro and Digital Beta plus some Quad if you want a real contrast. I was a videotape guy (among other things) at SCETV HQ in Columbia up until a few years ago. I had to make a living so I transitioned over to the IT field. That took a while to get going but finally started to function. No one really understood what I did in TV world outside of editing. A small part of my job.
I miss actually producing and creating but not the wacko office politics that came about in my last few years there and the professional poverty. The three stooges that caused most of the trouble are finally gone though. I hear from who is left, things are a lot better overall.
The Go Pro 4 is coming out soon, I might give that a try.
I used to pick up events on the side once in a while but that died. Nowadays I do stock submissions for a little extra money. I’m not a hardcore contributor since I have other stuff going on.
If you want a laugh:
http://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/?contributor_id=64505
http://us.fotolia.com/p/201245571
Other stuff:
http://www.zazzle.com/tysonneil
I’m going with the Lumix and get a dedicated lens for it of some kind. There are a couple in my price range.
There seems to be a love/hate thing with the adapters.
I’ve been a Canon person since always and love Canon stuff but it is probably time to shift gears. For stock sales, 4K sells at a much higher price.
I may start parting out my Canon stuff after testing the Lumix and getting the editing down. My new PC here should handle it. Some people I know ask if I would sell my 60D from time to time. I baby my equipment, keep dry, and in a bag when not in use.
The more I read of some other reviews of that camcorder I was looking at turned me off it.
Thanks again for the advice.
good call but I’m going to say something that’s admittedly will sound completely crazy.
I think you should consider some of the CCTV lenses that means lenses that were originally made with a security video camera in mind some of the affordable ones f 1.4 from Hong Kong sells for about 30 bucks and let me tell you this one of my favorite lenses...!
that sounds completely crazy but following for these c-mount CCTV for let me tell you it really does an amazing job: shallow depth of focus, very high performance in modest light, tiny bit of vignetting in the very corner, but somehow it gives a really pleasant effect and also the as far as video ring at night reflections are street lights there is an amazing effect a bit like an anamorphic lens on one of the experts on these CCTV lenses is named knit Sun on the facebook group, frugal filmmaker
disregard the last portion of that last paragraph I’m using the voice feature on my extremely tiny phone my apologies
I’ll take on crazy ideas and even come up with one once in a great while that works. The rest, well never mind.
I read the frugal film maker from time to time and get ideas or get a refresher on stuff I used to do or heard about. Glad it is there.
Thanks again.
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