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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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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MediaStorm Guide to the Slip Tool

This article is part of a series of posts with tips and tricks from our producers' experience working with Adobe Premiere Pro CC after years of working in Final Cut Pro. To read more about why we made the switch, check out this post. One tool I often overlook when editing is the slip tool. My buddy Tim McLaughlin reintroduced me to its power last week. The slip tool allows you to change the in and out point of a single clip without affecting it’s duration or the duration of adjoining clips. Your project length stays the same. Activate the slip tool with either the shortcut key Y or by clicking on its icon in the toolbar. Next, hover over a video clip and you’ll see that your cursor change to the slip icon. Hold down your mouse and drag forward or backwards inside the clip, don't move the clip itself. You’ll…

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Check Every Output

Here’s a simple tip I’ve learned the hard way: check every output. And by check I mean watch your files from start to finish every time. Because no matter how conscientious you are, it’s just too easy for typos and sound pops and other gremlins to slip by. Checking every output is the only way to catch them all. Once, at the very end of a Storytelling Workshop, I made some last minute structural changes to our team’s project. I did not have time to check my work before the final screening. Everything was out of sync and everyone saw it. It was a disaster. Check every output. Prior to the ICP Infinity Awards, we played back all of the projects on a large TV. Among the discoveries: white edges on photographs that went unseen on a smaller monitor, low-res footage that had not been replaced, watermarked video. We caught these mistakes…

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One More Day to Apply: MediaStorm Spring Internship Deadline is Nov 1st

We’re accepting applications for our Spring 2014 Internship Program until tomorrow, November 1st, 5 p.m. EST. If you’re motivated, highly organized, and passionate about multimedia, we’d love to hear from you. The internship generally runs from January to April, but start dates are flexible. We’re looking for applicants with experience in multimedia production, design, motion graphics, and/or web development. Internships are paid. How to Apply All applications must be submitted through our online application form. Applicants should be prepared to supply: Links to pieces produced/collaborated on (please indicate role in each) Available start/end dates Hours/week available Apply Now

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