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03-26-2002, 06:33 PM
nevil

the key to being successful in this industry?
Firstly do you have enough range to adapt to changes in the market, for example if flash goes out of fashion, can you adapt easily to something else, or is flash the only software you have learned, something I learned at uni was the importance of learning a broad range of skills, a designer should know the basics, of "video editing", "3D modelling" "2D" "programming" "flash/web design" "photography" "pc maintenance/configure". Many designers who havn't studied multimedia at college tend to learn flash alone, and maybe a bit of dreamweaver and photoshop, this will greatly limit your success.

So basically yes you can skip college, but don't just learn the software that you think is most imortant or fun, ie flash, learn everything and you will be more prepared for success! not to mention the fact that you will be able to build much cooler websites and have skills basic skills for other areas of the media industry, like 3D modelling for games development, film special effects or video editing for film and TV.

I know I am rambling on a bit, but I will say one thing, the 3 years that you do at uni will be the most fun you ever have, so don't pass it up anyway.

cheers
Nevil
http://www.theory7.com
03-26-2002, 07:04 PM
pbleper

Any specific courses I should take if I want to be one of those.. you know.. g-munk or 2advanced type of guys?
03-26-2002, 08:17 PM
nevil

I don't think you can take a course to turn you into a certain kind of web developer, you will have to teach yourself those skills, take a look at the courses of the university that you would like to go to. Make sure that the course is varied in what it teaches, not just hardcore programming, the key would be to look for courses that focus on "multimedia".

cheers

nevil
http://www.theory7.com
03-26-2002, 08:27 PM
edgen

Damn Nevil,

I couldn't agree with you more. You've hit it right on!! Knowing multiple softwares, hardwares, and having knowledge of the concepts of TV, film, video, 3d, design, and even music can greatly improve your chances of success. I hate programming... but I know just enough to grasp what it can do and it's potential in any given project. Knowing this, you can easily convey those thoughts and ideas to those are are more skilled in the area.

Nevil... HA!! wanna team up? :)

-j
03-26-2002, 09:34 PM
pbleper

Well the thing is.. I went to a seminar for a good 'film school' a few weeks ago, and they showed a reel of what kind of stuff their graduates produced.. The 3d animators, excellent, worked on stuff like the final fantasy movie. The 2d animators, great as well, disney quality. Video guys, sound guys, etc etc, very high quality work. Then, there was "New media".. The work featured things from all different subjects.. 3d, 2d, video, sound, webdesign, flash, etc.. but it was quite crappy quality. The other guys all produced tv-quality (very pro looking) work, but the new-media artists' stuff wasn't all that great, and didn't really look good enough for tv or even 'net.

So.. that kind of made me ignore new media.. But now, I might think again.. hrm :-/
03-27-2002, 05:03 AM
nevil

this will always be the case, you have to remember that multimedia especially on the web has only been around for 3 or 4 years, where as 3D and video production has been going for decades. Because of this there is a great lack of teaching resources for the subject, a good multimedia course may be tought by someone who has been in TV/Film making all there life and decided to move into teaching, you are not going to get someone who has been doing flash for 10-15 years teaching on a course, it just hasn't been around that long.
Another reason why you might see such contrasts between multimedia projects and say 3D/video projects, is that as a 3D modeller/animator you focus all of your attention on 1 piece of software, you may then use premiere for composition, this enables you to get pretty advanced in your work output, on the other hand a multimedia designer will have to put his time resources into learning several pieces of software and combining them, for example to build my site http://www.theory7.com I use Flash 5, HTML, Javascript, PHP, Perl, Premiere, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max R4.2, Swift 3D, Illustrate 5.0, Sound Forge 4.5 and Reason, not to mention all the little tools needed. We have to learn so many different skills and how how to integrate them effectively, 3D and video is totally linear, they don't have to worry about building preloaders, interactivity, programming database functionality, that's why the graphics look so good, that's all they need to do.

Anyway enough of all that

cheers

Nevil
http://www.theory7.com
03-27-2002, 03:06 PM
edgen

Ok.. I dunno if I should post this... but I found another thread of people who do not care for http://www.allmediastudios.com

http://www.were-here.com/forums/show...hreadid=127631

I think it's good to have some criticism right? So, take their considerations and hopefully you'll learn from it.

oh.. and music for the intro for AMS fyi...
http://www.mp3.com/concept called, "Evolution" (hence the banner at the top)

-j
03-27-2002, 09:17 PM
asiatrek

[QUOTE]Originally posted by edgen
[B]:)

I don't mind if someone doesn't like it. If they can provide reasons why... that would be much better. Constructive crit. is the best way to learn, and if everyone thinks your work is perfect, then we've got a messed up, laid back world where no one gives a tihs* one way or another.

I agree but I wonder ......
You really are very impressive ......
Your work is a inspiration for me to use in my
Phd program in Practical Theology
I just wish I was rich and then I could have
enough resources to have your crew design some
thought provoking stuff for me..... (grin)

Well it's back to my beginning stage ......
03-28-2002, 09:21 AM
Quantum EQ

Quote:

Originally posted by nevil
Many designers who havn't studied multimedia at college tend to learn flash alone, and maybe a bit of dreamweaver and photoshop, this will greatly limit your success.

This is so true. I realized that as well starting out in the industry I myself learned just about only Macromedia's products Flash, Director and so fourth and a few Adobe products. But I realized that with going to college to study design I learned a broader range of skills to facilitate to other industry aspects like game design and graphic arts. Moving past even non-tangible things. Meaning studying past whats designed just the web. Giving me an in-depth understanding of design as more than a medium to express your thoughts or passions but a proper visual understanding. So in cases I agree with going to college or some form of teaching on not specifics ie: "Flash Animation" but "Design".
03-28-2002, 10:08 AM
gdstudios

Quote:

Originally posted by edgen
Ok.. I dunno if I should post this... but I found another thread of people who do not care for http://www.allmediastudios.com

http://www.were-here.com/forums/show...hreadid=127631

I think it's good to have some criticism right? So, take their considerations and hopefully you'll learn from it.

oh.. and music for the intro for AMS fyi...
http://www.mp3.com/concept called, "Evolution" (hence the banner at the top)

-j

Edgen, thanks man. I was wondering where I could find this type of music. Also, how can people actually say that your website sucks? I still don't get it. It may not be their taste, but the website DOES NOT suck. That's a fact. It is very well done and I look forward to seeing your upcoming projects.

Also, I am looking for some guidance on an issue that you appear to be an expert with. Sincing sound with the movie. Do you do this manually through trial and error? Or is there a secret to this?
[Edited by gdstudios on 03-28-2002 at 09:14 AM]
03-28-2002, 12:59 PM
pbleper

gdstudios, if you're looking for a tutorial, there was an issue of computer arts special a few months ago, called Animation. It's purple, and has a tutorial on lip-synching and one on animating text to make it more lively..
Myself, I synch the animation to music by first making the parts that should be synchronized on the main timeline, and then putting them into a movie clip. Folders in MX probably solved the little problem about too many layers, but I still use MC's. Anyways, for most animation, you can try to make the sound's 'hit' point a frame or two after the animation's 'hit' point.. oh, and, use streaming mode for music :-P

Edgen, what kind of method do you use?
03-28-2002, 01:35 PM
electrolux3

yeah

Quote:

Originally posted by pbleper
Any specific courses I should take if I want to be one of those.. you know.. g-munk or 2advanced type of guys?

There aren't any courses on being one of those. The technical stuff is easy to learn, every programme has tutorials, creativity and vision can't be learned, u either got it or u aint,
03-28-2002, 03:16 PM
edgen

My mehtod of Sync

Well, Here's how I do it.

First and foremost.. I'll sit here staring at a blank wall, walk around, pace back and forth wondering what the hell i'm going to do. Then, I'll come up with an idea, and write it down.. Sometimes I'll storyboard it out. ( http://www.edgen.com/artgallery/storyboards.html ) ( http://www.edgen.com/theclose - animation to go with it) Then, i'll usually think of what music will go with the piece. Since I usually score my own tracks, i'll do a custom piece, or i'll pick one of my past mp3s. Once the music is picked, i'll figure out what sound FXs to use. Using Sound Forge and Nuendo, i'm able to layout the entire 30-1:00 animation all with seeing it in my head.

create a new movie.. set the size and adjust the frame rate. I typically use 24-30 fps. Once you set the frame rate you have to keep it the same. Otherwise, your sounds will be all funct up. Create 2 scenes... Preloader, and Main. or whatever. Then, in main, add a Layer and label it MUSIC or SOUND FX. import your audio file, and on the first frame of the timeline, select your audio track, and be sure to set it to stream. One way to know if you've done this correctly is by "scrubbing" the top. if you hear scrambled music/sounds.. you're on the track. Once you have that in place, extend your audio track out. Sometimes it could reach from anywhere to 2000+ - 3000+ frames. Also, in the audio layer, look at the wave form.. Usually you can tell where the "hit points" will be by the heighten peaks. Either that, or hit play and listen. scrub, scrolll back, and hit play again. Usually if there is a particular hit point i'll place the MC at that point.(set as a graphic > play once)(if it's a 3d animation element 30frames long)(that way you can actually see what's going on within the animation) Once that is set up , you can go through out the timeline, create another layer called "HITPOINTS" and whever you see and hear those "point", create a blank key. If you animation becomes too cluttered with layers, you can copy frames, and paste your "HITPOINTS" layer towards the top or bottom.

Its all about a concept and idea, and being able to pull it off and making it look somewhat good. Keeping a nice low file size, and keeping the audience's attention long enough not to frantically look for a skip button.

This is a mp3 mix with my music and sound FX i created before starting the intro. The client didn't want me to post the intro online just yet. You probably can't see the animation or what in the world I had in mind... but it'll give you an idea of what you have before even starting.
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...al_angels3.mp3

Alot of people cannot do this method. They need visuals before they can score soundtracks. A curse I have perhaps? Once again.. another reason to learn a wide range of audio, video, multimedia and graphic programs.

here's an example..
Music Composition
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...e/oa_music.mp3
Music + FX
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...ance_intro.mp3
Final intro.
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...nce/intro.html

Hope that helps! questions? feel free to ask :)
-j
[Edited by edgen on 03-28-2002 at 02:19 PM]
03-28-2002, 03:38 PM
gdstudios

Edgen, I have 2 questions based on your detailed reply. 1). Can you describe what you call the "HITPOINT" in the music? 2). Are you saying that at these "HITPOINTS," you place MC's of your animations (they are not on the main stage, rather only MC's on the stage, with the animations in them?

It seems that it really is a trial and error process then. The most important aspect of the syncing is setting the audio to streaming right?
03-28-2002, 03:59 PM
edgen

here's a snapshot within that intro. Notice the high points within the timeline and the hitpoints I placed within.
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...a_timeline.gif

Sometimes, ya.. it is by trial and error. You just have to export the audio at the right compression. For this particular project, I've exported the audio in the Publish settings as "Audio Stream, MP3, 48kbps, Stereo".

I think it sounds ok.. But.. if you have a reallllly long audio track, you may want to lose the stereo quality and knock it down to another size.

-j
03-28-2002, 04:03 PM
nkosi

Egen,

Again you site is very cool. But I don't think you should care so much what others think about them. Just do your stuff.

Horace
03-28-2002, 04:14 PM
gdstudios

Quote:

Originally posted by edgen
here's a snapshot within that intro. Notice the high points within the timeline and the hitpoints I placed within.
http://www.allmediastudios.com/worki...a_timeline.gif

Sometimes, ya.. it is by trial and error. You just have to export the audio at the right compression. For this particular project, I've exported the audio in the Publish settings as "Audio Stream, MP3, 48kbps, Stereo".

I think it sounds ok.. But.. if you have a reallllly long audio track, you may want to lose the stereo quality and knock it down to another size.

-j

Ok ok. So, a hitpoint would be like where the browser shakes during the http://www.allmediastudios.com intro? Sorry, just having trouble getting what you're saying. Been wanting to understand the syncing thing for a long time. ;)
03-28-2002, 04:40 PM
edgen

yup! And... at that particular hitpoint.. you add an action on that frame..

GET URL
javascript: shake_xy(8)

and put this in your .html containing the flash movie before the <head> tags:

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.2">

function shake_xy(n) {
if (self.moveBy) {
for (i = n; i > 0; i--) {
self.moveBy(0,i);
self.moveBy(i,0);
self.moveBy(0,-i);
self.moveBy(-i,0);
}
}
}
</script>

Sometimes browser shakes can be annoying... subtle shakes are sometimes the best route.

-j
03-28-2002, 04:50 PM
gdstudios

Ok. I think I have a clear understanding of the concept now. I appreciate your help with this. I make many intros for my company, but hardly ever include sound in them because I have had no clue how to sync the sounds with the movie. And there's nothing that looks worse then a song just thrown into a movie where it doesn't belong. ;)Thanks again, Edgen.
03-28-2002, 05:07 PM
sk8Krog

i read this thread and it touches on every aspect of design i have ever run into. great job everyone for asking the right questions. :)

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