Video and trains

[traingeekboy]

We seem to be missing a section on TB for video and trains. Has this ever been considered?

I know a fair amount about video production and would be glad to moderate that section.

Resume follows:

I worked in broadcasting and video production since 1984 in both production and engineering.

Fluent in the following softwares:
Final cut Pro
Photoshop
After Effects
Combustion
Some experience with 3d modelling with 3D studio max.

References upon request. :D

Seriously though, perhaps we can add that?

[Pete Nolan]

Interesting suggestion, geeky. I think this is an up and coming aspect of the hobby. I haven't gotten into it yet, as I've had so much else to do. It seems pretty easy and inexpensive to do. Let's see who else chimes in here.

[Stourbridge Lion]

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c273/Stourbridge_Lion/Video%20Clip%20Library/th_DSNG_09-24-2005_11c.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c273/Stourbridge_Lion/Video%20Clip%20Library/?action=view&current=DSNG_09-24-2005_11c.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch15)

[BoxcabE50]

Hmmm. I had always thought this Forum was a good place for sharing videos?

:confused:

Boxcab E50

[Stourbridge Lion]

Not just video but a perfect place to talk about the equipment, techniques, and software involved in making the final products we share in all the various forums here. My wife and I have gone 100% digital in the past year so good by photo albums and welcome in the new age of information of the digital age.

:computer: :camera: :mobile_phone: :messenger3:

[traingeekboy]

Stourbridge, nice clip.

Pete, I just noticed there wasn't much in terms of video information. So I figured I'd suggest the new area, or perhaps expanding the photo section a bit.

I'm not the world expert but I've played around with the stuff a bit. Soon i'll be uploading the T-REX light rail expansion video I did last year as a sample of what can be done with video. I just have to get it compressed without losing too much detail. The big drag about Internet video, Codecs (compression/decompression) grrrrrrrrr...

Infact I have a bunch of old videos from coal trains rounding big ten to switchers working White Fish yard. I will have to start uploading soon.

[Pete Nolan]

Geeky,

I know what you're suggesting, and think it's a good idea. I'd just like to hear from others.

BTW, I share your misery with Codecs.

[ADulay]

Funny you all should bring this up now. I've recently been shooting a lot of "test" videos of the CSX stuff that transits near by my hotel when I'm on the road. Some of it is half way decent but as I shoot the video at 640x480 (and 30fps) , the resultant sizes are pretty big but they do look good when you view them, that's for sure.

I've posted some test vids on YouTube, but I find that whatever algorithms they use to resize and post uploaded video clips, that the results are not nearly as good as the originals.

I'll be checking in on this thead more often to see if we can come up with something that might keep everybody happy with train videos.

AD

[Stourbridge Lion]

The videos I share on the web are definitely low quality to keep the size down without going through a ton of effort. An hour of quality AVI format is about 20GB so by the time your reduce to a few minutes in MPG format allot gets lost. Those that obtained a copy of a DVD I did about a year ago knows how much better it is in the higher quality format.

I plan to stop using Pinnacle Studio after I finish my current project and will likely go with SONY's version. Pinnacle was a very nice package when it first came out but they have lost it it the past year and not worth staying with them.

:computer: :computer: :computer: :computer:

[Pete Nolan]

I use Final Cut Pro but, man, what a learning curve. I learned because I had a high-quality DVD to produce for a client, but I farm it out now. I have only so much time in a day, so it just makes sense.

[MOPMAN]

The only problem I see with video is the file size. Unless we all want to invest in some kind of compression software ($$$)..... I have some short video clips I would like to post, but they all exceed the 2MB? limit and I have no idea how to compress them. I am a video newbie.

[Leo Bicknell]

I've done a couple of video things. Pinnacle stuido and a small Canon camcorder. DV Tape is really slow, the editing is a bit slow, and it just takes a lot of time to put video together. Here are some of my clips:

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200506Backshop/backshop-broadband.wmv

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200509Altoona/

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200509Bedford/

However, the little bit I've done has shown me I need to invest in some better equipment, and I think it may happen this summer:

1) A camcorder with a mike input and a wireless mike. The built in is junk, ok for filming a train going by and not much else.

2) A hard drive based camcorder. Relatively new, and a few drawbacks right now, but clearly the way to go in the future.

3) Better software. I'm a Mac head, so Final Cut Pro would be the way to go, but to do that I need a new laptop (which is in the cards anyway) and it's still quite pricy.

4) I need to develop better workflow for quick web clips.

I think the Internet is finally at the point where Video is viable. Enough people have Broadband and the computers are fast enough. One thing I would like to research is how to make YouTube style (flash) clips since they seem to work really well. I'm also considering a Podcast in the future...

So, yes, interested in a forum.

[traingeekboy]

I've done a couple of video things. Pinnacle stuido and a small Canon camcorder. DV Tape is really slow, the editing is a bit slow, and it just takes a lot of time to put video together. Here are some of my clips:

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200506Backshop/backshop-broadband.wmv

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200509Altoona/

http://www.ufp.org/~bicknell/nvntrak/200509Bedford/

However, the little bit I've done has shown me I need to invest in some better equipment, and I think it may happen this summer:

1) A camcorder with a mike input and a wireless mike. The built in is junk, ok for filming a train going by and not much else.

2) A hard drive based camcorder. Relatively new, and a few drawbacks right now, but clearly the way to go in the future.

3) Better software. I'm a Mac head, so Final Cut Pro would be the way to go, but to do that I need a new laptop (which is in the cards anyway) and it's still quite pricy.

4) I need to develop better workflow for quick web clips.

I think the Internet is finally at the point where Video is viable. Enough people have Broadband and the computers are fast enough. One thing I would like to research is how to make YouTube style (flash) clips since they seem to work really well. I'm also considering a Podcast in the future...

So, yes, interested in a forum.

Most pro sumer cameras have XLR connectors. the ones with three little prongs. So long as you aren't wanting HD video. the DVX100 by panasonic is a really good buy these days.

You can run FCP on most macs. At home I have an older dual 1 gig G4. Silver front panel. I bill clients on that thing for editing with no problems. Aside from mild slowness.

If you do go with FCP. It comes bundled with compressor. compressor allows you to export files as various file types. Of course it allows you to also just export as QT movie and you select whatever codec you want.

Cleaner is still good for making good web clips. It allows you to do things like de-interlace videos for web and change frame rates.

when you say flash movies on youtube. you mean they are embedded into a web page as part of a flash site correct?

[Steve Brown]

Well I have started shooting video of trains but I think it will be a while until I have anything good eneugh to post but a new location for video would be gerat.
Steve

[Wolfgang Dudler]

Model railroad videos are great. It's fun making them. Some fine day I will buy my own video camera! But with todays photo cameras you can make videos. I did so. my videos (http://www.westportterminal.de/video.html)

Wolfgang

[Stourbridge Lion]

I would think we would need to see a lot of Video topics in this forum before we would want to talk about a seperate forum. Don't get me wrong, I shot allot of video these days and am working towards making DVD's as a side business in the future so I would like to see more video topics here.

:lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb:

[Wolfgang Dudler]

Well, Darren,
here's another video I've made:Hennen (http://www.greatwizard.com/westport/Hennen.wmv)
It shows a film I took with our old Sony 8mm video camera in the 80s. You see me 20 years younger! Now I made a web video. It's big, about 37 MB. But web videos aren't for dial up. You need broadband.

Wolfgang

[Stourbridge Lion]

:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

[Mr. Train]

What ever you guys can do to expand and improve if there was any more to do to inprove I am all for it. But then I also enjoy trainboard now as it is.
:zip: 2cents:zip:

[Leo Bicknell]

Most pro sumer cameras have XLR connectors. the ones with three little prongs. So long as you aren't wanting HD video. the DVX100 by panasonic is a really good buy these days.

when you say flash movies on youtube. you mean they are embedded into a web page as part of a flash site correct?

I'm not sure I want to go as far as a "pro sumer" Video camera, e.g. with XLR inputs and such. I've been looking at products like Sony's HDR-SR1 (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRSR1).

Records in HD, uses a hard drive so no tapes to worry about, longer recording, instant access, and better battery life. Has a external mike input (miniplug). Very price competitive.

The whole problem with that model right now is the AVC video. Not supported by much editing software, and not the best format for editing (overcompressed to start with). However, I think this general class of products has the most potential, and we're just starting to see HDD HD camcorders.

[traingeekboy]

Well, Darren,
here's another video I've made:Hennen (http://www.greatwizard.com/westport/Hennen.wmv)
It shows a film I took with our old Sony 8mm video camera in the 80s. You see me 20 years younger! Now I made a web video. It's big, about 37 MB. But web videos aren't for dial up. You need broadband.

Wolfgang

Wolfie,
that's a great layout. Looks like it was fun to run all those trains under catenary.

[traingeekboy]

I'm not sure I want to go as far as a "pro sumer" Video camera, e.g. with XLR inputs and such. I've been looking at products like Sony's HDR-SR1 (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRSR1).

Records in HD, uses a hard drive so no tapes to worry about, longer recording, instant access, and better battery life. Has a external mike input (miniplug). Very price competitive.

The whole problem with that model right now is the AVC video. Not supported by much editing software, and not the best format for editing (overcompressed to start with). However, I think this general class of products has the most potential, and we're just starting to see HDD HD camcorders.

The things I look for in a video camera:
White balance settings-presets don't always work too well
Manual iris
External Mic inputs
A decent lens that can zoom and also do Macro for those layout shots.
Manual focus


That Sony looks interesting. I would love to see what kind of images it can capture. It all depends on that little lens. You never know though. sheesh it's cheap too. (relatively speaking) :)

If I had a couple grand lying around...
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-Announces-AG-HVX200-HD-Flash-Media-Camcorder-with.htm *sigh*

[SRT-FAN]

The things I look for in a video camera:
White balance settings-presets don't always work too well
Manual iris
External Mic inputs
A decent lens that can zoom and also do Macro for those layout shots.
Manual focus


That Sony looks interesting. I would love to see what kind of images it can capture. It all depends on that little lens. You never know though. sheesh it's cheap too. (relatively speaking) :)

If I had a couple grand lying around...
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-Announces-AG-HVX200-HD-Flash-Media-Camcorder-with.htm *sigh*

Before anyone forgets, I'd like to add that a good and sturdy tripod or monopod is an essential accessory for a good steady as a rock shot.

[traingeekboy]

Before anyone forgets, I'd like to add that a good and sturdy tripod or monopod is an essential accessory for a good steady as a rock shot.

Tripod is everything! Handheld is ok, but a nice steady tripod shot makes a difference.

Another tool for shooting is a sand bag or bag full of beans. It's handy for setting the camera on the gound or on a steady object for those low shots or car roof shots.

[Pete Nolan]

I'm going to hold off for a while. I just bought my daughter a Sony miniDV for about $350. My research into the hybrids (miniDVD) did not impress me with the image quality. When I make the plunge, I'll go high definition.

MK,

Glad I could help.

[Second Moss]

Video is another hobby, I've had experience with Final Cut Pro, i've used professional level cameras on a limted basis (The sony DSR series, really nice cameras) DVcam is the way to go as far as a recording format. I haven't shot any RR related stuff, just school related things.

[ADulay]

Well, as long as we're on the video portion of our beloved mode of transportation, is there anywhere here in the forum that we can post video or should I just bite the bullet and set up my own streaming video server, again.

Not impressed with youTube's video compression, among others.

I'm open to ideas on where to host for the time being.

AD

[Stourbridge Lion]

How big are we talking since our own RailImages will support video?

[ADulay]

How big are we talking since our own RailImages will support video?
Well, I've attempted to upload a test video or two, all apparently within limits but so far, nothing has shown up.

I have been able to upload photos with no problem, it's just that the video never seems to appear in the appropriate area selected.

I'll mess with it a bit more for sure.

AD

[ADulay]

How big are we talking since our own RailImages will support video?
Well, after a few more tests I got some vids to upload that were under 2meg in size, which is kind of small.

So, depending on how much space the forum wants to expend for video uploads, it looks like we'll be stuck with things like YouTube for the time being. :(

AD