Read more about the article MediaStorm Mini-Lesson #002: Simple Fixes to Continuous Noise Challenges

MediaStorm Mini-Lesson #002: Simple Fixes to Continuous Noise Challenges

Our second audio mini-lesson for the month of April features simple ways to prevent and overcome continuous noise in your production from MediaStorm's executive producer Brian Storm and producer Tim McLaughlin's 101: Reporting Track. A new lesson will be posted next Monday, April 21st. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be first in line to see it. Can't wait? Access our full training video catalogue with an all access subscription.

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Read more about the article MediaStorm Online Training Mini-Lessons Coming to YouTube

MediaStorm Online Training Mini-Lessons Coming to YouTube

Multimedia students and professionals have used our Online Training to take their storytelling skills to the next level for three years now, letting MediaStorm's production team walk them through essential tools and techniques for improving production quality. Now we're excited to bring a few key lessons from behind the paywall exclusively on the MediaStorm YouTube Channel. Audio is our theme for April. Every Monday this month we'll release a new lesson on gathering and producing great audio from our executive producer Brian Storm and producer Tim McLaughlin's 101: Reporting Track. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be first in line for our mini-lessons.

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Read more about the article MediaStorm Guide to Google Docs Add-ons

MediaStorm Guide to Google Docs Add-ons

At MediaStom, we edit all of our transcripts in Google Docs. It’s a great tool for real-time collaboration. When two people work on the same document, I can actually see my colleague’s edits as they happen.

Recently, Google introduced a new feature, Add-ons. Think of them as extensions for Google Docs that work across all browsers.

To get started, in an open Doc select the menu Add-ons > Get Ad-ons…

A pop-up window will appear, displaying available add-ons.

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Read more about the article The First Step in Your Social Media Strategy Isn’t What You Think
Aly, Cortney & Samia - The women of MediaStorm get social. Photo: Shameel Arafin / MediaStorm

The First Step in Your Social Media Strategy Isn’t What You Think

Social media is vital to content distribution. Filmmakers, photographers and journalists who don’t use it are missing out on the opportunity to build direct relationships with their audience. But getting social online can feel overwhelming to storytellers who don’t use these tools in their personal lives. In our Methodology workshops, the first questions participants looking to get started with social media ask me are: which platforms are worth my time and what in the world do I talk about all day?

It seems daunting, but the answer to both questions is simple: Listen first.

It’s easy to overlook the value of listening when socializing online or in person. Our instinct is to just dive in. But that’s not a strategic way to build your business. As every great procrastinator knows, new social platforms and tools are debuting all the time and it’s easy for social media to turn into a time suck that steals productivity rather than a tool that promotes your work.

Aly, Cortney & Samia – The women of MediaStorm get social.
Photo: Shameel Arafin / MediaStorm

(more…)

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Read more about the article User Questions on the MediaStorm Post-Production Workflow

User Questions on the MediaStorm Post-Production Workflow

Marius asks: I’ve previously bought your complete workflow and recently the Field Guide (so much good information guys!!). But I have a question. In the folder structure section you usually create an Z_Version folder and Z_Transcription. What do you put in these folders and why is it a Z? Let me begin by explaining the purpose of the version and transcription folders. At MediaStorm, we transcribe every interview. It’s the only way to make sure that no good bite gets left behind. It’s almost impossible to connect responses from the first minute of an interview with those spoken at the end unless they’re written down. So before we create a multi-camera sequence, we export an audio file of each interview for transcription. These audio files are exported to the Z_Transcription folder and can be deleted at the end of production as they won’t be used directly in the final project. The Z_Versions folder is used…

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