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06/22/2009 03:52:19 AM · #1 |
So, let me start by clearly stating I am NOT a graphics design artist, nor videographer, so I'm a little out of my element here.
I'm looking for advice or thoughts on the best way to achieve what I describe below. I have no attachment to a particular method nor software, but I do have some ideas on "the look" I'm going for, which I'll describe below.
Short version: I have a series of audio tracks I mastered for a radio theater program last year, and I have a collection of photos I took for the show. I have the copyright and licenses to air all audio for the program (which was produced by my audio production company), and of course copyright for the photos. I've been asked by the theater company to put the audio online, and thought it would be a great idea to have a photo slide show accompany the program. The desired target is a web-based presentation. Either easily-integrated with a wordpress-based site, or standalone content (which I could reference via the existing site). So, reasonable-bandwidth is a concern, but I want to sacrifice as little photo quality as possible in lieu of bandwidth.
Long version: So, technically I have a series of audio tracks (which I can convert to any format -- my masters are broadcast-ready CD media, which I've encoded as mp3, but can happily recode to another format if necessary), and a series of JPG files (here I have raw files which I can export in any format also). For audio, each track is around 7-10 minutes in length, and reasonably compressible (as most is speech) -- using variable bit rate MP3, for example, I've gotten them down to 5-10MB each. For photos, I'd prefer they be shown at a decent "web-sized" resolution, something like 800-pixel-longest-edge. I have anywhere from 5 to 15 photos per audio track which I'd like to present, and I'd like them to be *reasonably* synchronized with the audio (i.e. they auto-advance at specific times).
At first I had two ideas for presentation:
1 - A slideshow, coupled with audio. I like the aesthetics of a web-based slide show. Something minimalistic/basic, which doesn't distract from the photos themselves -- something you might commonly see based on Shadowbox.js or similar. This just has the "feel" I'm looking for, but as I mentioned early on, I'm not completely married to a particular idea. I just think I'd like the look of this vs. an actual video.
Pros - The aesthetic I'm looking for. Saves bandwidth (I expect), compared to video.
Cons - How to synchronize the audio and video. Even if I can use a separate delay for each slide, how can I be sure the audio starts "when I expect it does" -- in other words, how do I start and/or track the synchronization?
2 - A video. I have Premiere Elements which I could use to generate an actual video -- stills from the photos; one video per audio track.
Pros - Closely synchronized audio/video.
Cons - Bandwidth -- I don't have specific metrics, but my gut-feel is this option would be much higher-bandwidth than the slideshow+audio. Quality -- I do NOT want a "youtube" video here. I want the photos displayed around 800-pixels-longest-edge, and as sharp as possible (i.e. just like they would be viewed in a slideshow). I'm no video expert, but all the examples I've ever seen of video-based-photo-slideshows were severe compromises in visual quality. Construction -- I have little experience with video editing, although I do have an installation of Premiere Elements at my disposal.
So, I think I've rambled enough -- if you're still with me, I really appreciate your time. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. If anyone is a decent graphics/video designer and would like to help with or take on this project, I'd be happy to work something out with you, depending on your requirements. I nor the the theater company have much, if any, capital to put into this project -- it's the usual community theater labor of love -- but if you can help out, I'll see what I can do for you.
Thanks for any thoughts/ideas/references/links/constructive-criticism/or-whatever-else-you-have-to-offer! ;)
- Chuck
Message edited by author 2009-06-22 03:56:16. |
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06/22/2009 09:09:33 AM · #2 |
I've been putting slides and some animated text together for a commercial using AfterEffects. What you use is one consideration, but what you need the final file to be is the other.
For web you have flash and MOV (apple quicktime) as the options. I've not tried to make a flash 'movie' (AE can do it I think) but I've done AVI (windows movie format) and MOV and for 30 seconds at 1280x720 the files are HUGE. 350mb huge. Youtube huge.
Now you can do a smaller size (640 perhaps) or compress the hell out of it but you'll lose quality.
How small do you need the output to be?
How will you host it (on a webpage, link to youtube or someplace else)?
Who will the users be - broadband or must you make it dial up friendly?
All the software I have that makes a slideshow renders MOV files as the final output.
I would think you do a simple slideshow in Javascript.
I believe LR2 has a module that can make slideshows and upload it to the web, perhaps it's part of a gallery or not.
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06/22/2009 12:47:45 PM · #3 |
You can type "Proshow Producer" in google to see one of the most versatile slide show programs. It can supposedly automatically synchronize to music. I haven't tried that, yet. It has a timeline editing for Video and Audio tracks. It is cheaper and many times less learning curve then Adobe Premiere Pro. There are many output choices such as iPod, HD, copy-protected-DVDs, and internet. Quality looks great even on an iPOD video.
Many output choices:
Search here for other forums on Photodex ProShow Producer, I think idnic and dwterry use it.
website for Photodex Proshow Producer |
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06/22/2009 02:28:45 PM · #4 |
| I played with Animoto in beta a bit but didn't have the need for a pay version.... It does what your after pretty well. |
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07/01/2009 02:50:04 AM · #5 |
I just wanted to say thank you for the great advice! I've been sidetracked with some family things for a while, but I hope to revisit this very soon and see what I can figure out. If anyone has any other thoughts, feel free to follow-up!
Thanks!
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07/01/2009 03:05:57 AM · #6 |
Have a look at ShowitWeb, I think this would work well for what you are looking for. You can't create dvds yourself with this software, but you didn't mention the DVD aspect, so perhaps it's not that important.
ShowitWeb |
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07/01/2009 03:27:01 AM · #7 |
Sony Vegas is by far the best I've used : Vegas
You can see some stuff we did here : DXU555 YouTube Site albeit mostly with video theres also just still in there. AE used sometimes to create teh more obscure videos, but Vegas always used to bring everything together.
I used to make DVD for people from their holiday snaps, just grab all photos, drag into a Vegas project, then mix music over them, dead easy.
Alan |
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03/24/2010 05:19:51 AM · #8 |
I agree that Windows Movie Maker provides a basic (and free) way to make a simple slide show. It creates it as a WMV file, which can be viewed on a computer or, as you say, put on DVD using another DVD authoring program.
DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe gives you more control over the show and its audio, provides motion effects for slides, allows you to create a DVD photo movie directly, and has a variety of other output options.
Other software (such as Adobe Photoshop Elements) may include slideshow software as a \"bonus.\" In most of these cases, the slideshow capabilities are very basic (although it\'s hard to argue with \"free\"!).
If delving into creating slideshows beyond the limits of these basic shows, you will get more satisfaction by moving to a full-featured slide show program. |
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03/24/2010 07:11:11 AM · #9 |
| I've used both Proshow Gold and Vegas Movie Studio (Sony product). Vegas is my favorite, hands down. Proshow is easier; Vegas is more sophisticated. |
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