Welcome to this Premiere Pro tutorial from BizVid Communications, a video production company based in San Diego. Today you will see how to correct an overexposed section in a video clip.

Often during post, you will find various exposure ranges within a scene. This video clip example shows a restaurant server placing a food item on a counter top. Overall, the scene is dark. To correct the exposure, I will use various Lumetri controls to adjust exposure and contrast according to the Lumetri scope.

Once the adjustments are made, hot spots emerge, specifically the counter top. However, the server looks good and is properly exposed. Not to despair because the counter top exposure can be corrected while keeping the rest of the scene in tolerance. To do so I need to duplicate the video clip.

I hold down the ALT key, then click and drag the duplicate clip up to video Track Two. Next, I will create a mask around the counter top by using the Opacity pen tool. In this example the countertop has straight edges so masking is not as difficult as it might be in other scenarios.

Next, I turn off Video Track one, select Video Track Two then use the Lumetri controls to dial in the proper exposure settings for the countertop. Once that is complete, I turn on Video Track One to fine tune the adjustments. Mission accomplished.

The scene has a balanced exposure in all quadrants and the issue is solved. Masking is great tool.

San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications, has produced hundreds of videos over the years. One of the more satisfying categories for us is medical surgery.  Typically in this environment, we are asked to document a new surgical procedure or the use of a particular instrument in the performance of surgery.

We are honored to be a part of such a project because the resulting video helps to advance the cause of medicine. In the performance of our duties, we must operate at the highest level and without distraction to the surgical staff.  A do-over in surgery is not an option.  

In the case pictured here, we used two cameras. Camera 1 was placed on jib and was suspended over the cadaver for an unobstructed view of the area to be worked. Camera 2 was placed on a ground level tripod so as to capture surgeon interactions.  We rigged each surgeon with a wireless microphone in order to record their teaching moments. 

After recording, the next task in the process is to edit all of the recorded material into a truncated and cohesive presentation. It must accurately represent the procedure and include the important teaching moments. Typically, the edit will go through several iterations prior to sending the video to the client for their final notes and input. Once their edit notes, if any, have been addressed, the video is finalized and sent back to the client for distribution.  It is a rewarding process. One that we hope to continue for a long time to come.

Welcome to another in a series of Adobe Premiere Pro video tutorials produced by BizVid Communications, a leader in San Diego video production services for business and industry.  Today you will learn how to create a title using Adobe Premiere Pro.

First, access the type tool by selecting the keyboard shortcut, “control T” on the keyboard.  After accessing the type too, a window is opened in the program monitor and that’s where you can type any text.  You can also access the type tool by selecting it in the tool bin, then click inside the monitor. Double click the box and type your information. Next, place the text where you want it by clicking the text and dragging it into position. 

Now we’re going to add a background behind the text.  In the tool box, select the dropdown in order to access the rectangle.  Next, click and drag the rectangle around the text. Let’s click the“graphics” tab in order to open the Essential Graphics window, which is the place where all text editing happens. 

In the right column, there are two tabs; select the “edit” tab.  This is where all any changes can be made.  Let’s start with the text by clicking and dragging the text layer above the shape layer.  Once done, the text can be edited in a variety of ways: changing font, color, size, kerning, or whatever.  For this demo, we’ll use the Gotham font and add a drop shadow to the text.

To change the color of the shape, double click the “fill” box in order to open the color palette.  We’ll add a second shape to our example, in order to give it a little more visual interest. Return to the rectangle and click and drag around the text.

Once everything looks good, we’ll “pin” everything together so that noting moves independently.  Once everything is “pinned”, we can add more text without having to rebuild all of the boxes.

If you wish to align and transform this box, go back to the “Editing” mode and locate the title.  If you want to create another text graphic that features the same design but with different text, simply hold the “Alt” key down, then click and drag the box to a different location.  After you’ve moved the box to a new location, you can then change the text. 

Unlike earlier versions of Adobe Premiere Pro (versions prior to 2019), the changing of words in one text box will not affect any other text box.  Additionally, when you create any text, you only find them on the time line; they will not be in the Project section.  

Now you should have a great title for your Adobe Premiere Pro project. If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment here or on our YouTube channel.

Today I’m going to show you how to use Adobe Audition to create a seamless music track customized to whatever length you want.

Before I discovered the technique I’m about to show you, I used to waste a lot of time trying to get a seamless loop of music: I’d lay the music track in the time line, cut it in half, drag the ending to the end of the video, then drag the left side back to the cut, add a cross dissolve and hope it sounded seamless.  If not, I would play around with it until it worked. All of that process took a lot of guesswork and time. Thankfully, there’s a much easier way.

In this example, it’s worth pointing out that I subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud so my versions of Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition are up to date.

In the video embedded above, I have a talking-head segment that is 3:49 long, but my music cut is only two minutes thirteen second. If I played the existing music track under that video clip, the music would stop well before the video did, and that’s distracting to the person viewing the video. Let’s make our audio track match the length of our video clip  

First, determine the length of your project.  In my case, my project 3:49 so that’s the length of time I need my music to be but the track I have is only 2:13.  So let’s make a seamless loop timed to 3:49. Next, go to “Edit” and scroll to “Edit in Adobe Audition” and click “Sequence.”  Next, name it what you want.  I’ll name this “Loop Track” then click “OK.”  That opens Adobe Audition and imports the audio tracks from your Premier Pro project.

Next, I’ll create a new multitrack session.  So, go to “file > new > multitrack session” and click.  I’ll name it “music loop track” and click “ok.”  Next, in the “files” section, find the music track and drag it into track one of the multitrack session.  Next, go to the “properties” tab on the left side.  If it’s not visible, go to “Windows” and click “properties.  In the “properties” window is “Remix.”  Click “enable remix” and that will take a few seconds to remix the track.  Now we create the magic.

Here you’re going to change the target duration to whatever you want the new length of your music track to be.  My project is 3:49 minutes long so I will change the duration of the music track to 3:49.  Next, click enter and it will seamlessly loop the track to your desired length.   To see where audition made the cuts, you can zoom in to see the little razor lines.  Beautiful.

Next go to “file > export > export to Adobe Premiere Pro”. Click “export” and next it will open your project, where you will click “ok” for a new audio track and it will bring your seamless, looped audio track into the project for your use.  How easy and convenient is that?!

By the way, if you have other projects you are working on an you want to use the same music track, you can leave Adobe Audition open and change the duration time to meet the needs of the new project.  So there you have it.  I hope this tutorial has been helpful.  Please visit our website to see the type of work we do.  Thanks for watching.  

Bluetooth is a great technological advancement that adds a ton of convenience to our way of life.  If you recall before Bluetooth, it was cables, cables and more cables.  Cables connected the DVD player to the TV; the printer to the computer; telephone extensions throughout the house and my favorite, the keyboard and mouse to the computer.  Thankfully that archaic form is safely tucked away in the books of history.

Like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is a way of linking electronic gadgets together by using wireless technology. It sends and receives radio waves in a band of 79 different frequencies centered on 2.45 GHz and is set apart from radio, television and cellphones.  This frequency is also reserved for use by industrial, scientific and medical gadgets.  However, your use of Bluetooth does not interfere with any of these because Bluetooth is low power and the signals do not travel very far.  In fact, they use virtually no power and are more secure than wireless networks.

So how does Bluetooth differ from Wi-Fi?  Well, Wi-Fi is designed to transfer much larger amounts of data between computers and the internet and over much greater distances. This is a task that Bluetooth cannot handle.  Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are complementary technologies, not rivals, and you can easily use both together to make your electronic gadgets work more conveniently for you.

We often take such inventions for granted.  In those instances, simply think back to the way it used to be and then give thanks to the “nerds” who have made our lives so much easier.  Back in the 1800’s there was a movement by many in government arguing that the US Patent office should be shut down.  The reason  cited was that “there is nothing left to be invented.”   Thankfully the office was not shut down and the wiser  voices prevailed.

We are often asked about the video production process and how a video gets produced.  In this blog, I will outline the steps that BizVid follows on its’ productions.

Meeting

Our initial meeting will determine the video’s message, target audience, locations, talent requirements and other elements to be included in the production. These decisions will drive all aspects of the project from scripting through the final edit and will give us the information we need to present a proposed budget.

Budgeting

Armed with information from our initial meeting, we formulate a project budget.  The budget is our best estimate of what we feel the project requires. Once client-approved, the budget is used to establish guidelines for us to work within.

Scripting

We meet with clients to determine the specific content of the video, which we turn into a written script. After a few revision processes, a client typically provides their final script approval. This revision process is accounted for in the budget.

Logistics

Shot sheets and location sheets are made, to indicate which shots to get and at which locations to get them. Together, these technical sheets provide a real-world timeline for the client and all crew members. This “heads up” minimizes interruptions to the client workflow.

Video Recording

Production is where cameras, lighting, sound, and actors come together to record the scenes. A typical “shoot day” is up to ten hours. BizVid Communications uses the techniques previously listed to ensure that the production day can run smoothly and according to plan.

Reviewing Footage

After production days have concluded, the director and editor will review the shot footage and create logs according to the script. Client involvement is not required during this phase.

“Review Cut”

BizVid edits video into a “review cut” which is, in essence, the completed video (includes music, text, voice over, etc).  This video is sent to the client for review, and to check for any errors. Review Cuts provide an opportunity for company associates to comment, should the client desire. Script changes at this stage would incur additional cost.

“Final Cut”

After the “review cut” has been seen and noted by the appropriate parties, BizVid uses their notes to make any required changes and will produce a perfect, final cut edit. Client reviews final cut and provides final approval.

Finished Product

BizVid Communications delivers the completed video in a format of client’s choosing. Typical turn-around for a finished video is approximately two weeks from last day of production (shoot day). This can be shortened to 1-week, provided the client review notes are returned to BizVid in a timely fashion.

In every project we undertake, we strive to make the process as easy as possible for our clients.  Apparently it is working as we have been in business for over 18 years.

If you venture into any electronics section, the first thing you are likely to see are massive TV screens playing clear, realistic video images. It can be an amazing thing to behold. These magic portals range in price from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending upon screen size.

How did HD video start?

HD (high definition) was introduced to the consumer world in 1998.  With that introduction, TV screens went from a 4:3 aspect ratio (square) to a 16:9 aspect ratio (rectangle).  It was felt that 16:9 more closely matched our natural vision.

The HD TV picture was noticeably better than the TV picture we had been watching up to that point in time.  4:3 screens had a pixel configuration of 720 wide x 480 high (standard definition).  16:9 screens introduced a pixel configuration of 1920 wide x 1080 high (high definition).

More simply: more pixels means a more realistic-looking image.

To see this effect for yourself, look closely at an image in a newspaper or magazine. With careful attention, you’ll likely start to notice that newspaper images are made up of colorful, little dots. The further away you move from the newspaper image, the fewer dots you see and the more realistic the image appears to be.

If that same newspaper image had been composed of even-smaller, colorful dots, then the image would appear realistic even when the viewer is physically close to it.  It’s the same with TV. More pixels mean that the image will still appear sharp and realistic, even when viewed up close and/or on enlarged 100″+ screens.

High definition (as well as 2k) catapulted TV picture quality into something quite spectacular compared to standard definition.  And, for several years, it was loved and appreciated by the TV-watching public.  All the while, engineers were working on the next generation of TV’s and in 2016, Ultra HD sets were introduced to the market.  

What is UHD?

Ultra HD sets (UHD) doubled the pixel count from 2k to 4k or 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160 for a great viewing experience. If you stand next to a UHD TV you will notice that the picture is very clear. Comparatively, an HD TV requires a viewer to be at least six feet away from the screen to see clarity. Again, more pixels make for a better picture and the potential for larger screens.

Should I get an UHD tv?

If you haven’t’ already guessed, work is being done to improve our TV-viewing experience even further.  We are about to see 8k sets come to market.  One can only imagine how nice that picture quality will be. Do you hold off buying a new set until that time?

The best advice for any high-technology purchase is this: find what you like, buy it, and don’t concern yourself with the next best thing.

Unless you are an avid early adopter with a lot of money to spare, what you have now will serve you just fine.

Image credit: Marketing Land

Here is a thought to ponder: when was the last time you updated your sales or marketing video?  Do you have a video that speaks to your company’s position and offerings?  If you do have a video, is it current and up-to-date?

Developing a strong company brand is an ongoing process and video is an essential element in that process.  Educating, nurturing, and engaging your prospects with video is proven to boost sales conversions.

Some statistics about why online video is important

• Businesses using video grow revenue 49% faster year-over-year than organizations without.
• Video on a landing page can increase conversions by 80% or more.
• Companies using video enjoy 41% more web traffic from search engines than non-video users. (Google LOVES websites with video on them)

Creating a short, impactful video for your company’s home page can be relatively easy and inexpensive. As video producers, we are frequently asked “how much does a video cost?”. The answer depends upon many variables but our motto is simple:

”It’s not big budgets but big ideas that make a video successful.”

Your task now is to review your company website through the eyes of your customer. Does your website have a “video advantage” over the competition?  If it does, be sure your video is current and relevant to your business today. If video content is absent from your home page, then it’s definitely time to consider making video a priority.

BizVid Communications is a San Diego-based video production company and we serve an international client base. We’re happy speak with you about utilizing engaging online video to increase your brand relevance AND revenue.  Again, we ardently believe that it’s not big budgets but big ideas. We put our slogan into practice for our clients every day.

If you have an interest, please contact us. We’re here to help you communicate your big ideas to the world.

Take a tip as we talk about one of the most appreciated areas of the BizVid website, our Behind the Scenes section.

No matter your product or service, offering customers and potential customers a glimpse of your behind the scenes processes, strategies, challenges and solutions will give them a greater understanding of who you are and how you will engage in solving their own needs. What we do in our Behind the Scenes web section and in some of our blogs is introduce individual clients and give the web visitor a brief overview of the needs they faced and how our video production approach solved those needs.

For example… this behind the scenes video showcases our work with Teledyne Impulse. Our copy delineates the challenge the client faced and how Bizvid set out to use split screens and step by step instructs to talk a customer through the process of using our client’s innovative product.  

In this Stars Montessori Academy video we wrote about the challenges of working with children in crafting a video. Our web visitors could view the finished product and read about the difficuilties inherent when working with children, teachers and parents.  For us, it identified BizVid as a problem solver and illustrated how challenges are met and conquered.

By offering behind the scenes moments tied to your products and services, a similar value can be gleaned by you. The end result is having a customer confident in how you will solve their needs. As we have just shown you, some of our behind the scenes examples offer our solutions in writing, while our finished videos are displayed.

Other behind the scenes examples literally take place behind the scenes, providing insights and perspectives to further bolster a client or prospective client’s confidence in you. 

For example…it may be helpful to show a condensed version of an entire production, to minimize a client’s anxiety and give them an idea of the on-location process from beginning to end. This is an excerpt from a time lapse to show how the entire production is streamlined from beginning to end.

Other behind the scenes topics may deal with how complicated logistics are dealt with to make a cost efficient and time efficient video that commands attention. Sometimes a behind the scenes approach can simply show some of the fun that happens as creative efforts come together. This excerpt shows off one of the catering spreads offered during an in studio production. We always say that a contented crew makes for a happy crew…and a very happy client.

We hope this blog inspires you to consider using key behind the scenes moments around your own products and services to make your customers comfortable in who you are and what you can do for them.

You have heard it said the end product should be greater than the sum of all of its individual parts. This is particularly true in every video production BizVid creates.

On an average production, the value of having high quality equipment like we do, accounts for about 20% of the value of the finished product. About 80% of the value in a client’s completed video project has everything to do with the people behind the scenes… from the producer, director and editors to the cameramen, sound technicians, lighting professionals and grips.

Key factors in keeping our pricing low and our quality high is in the way we bring in longtime, experienced crew on a per project basis. Our production teams not only know their stuff very well, but most often they know one another very well. < A client does not need prima donnas on their sets. Each of our team members looks forward to lending a helping hand to one another to benefit a client’s finished product.

Here is an example of synergy that is created… our director, producer and cameraman work in close tandem with one another giving input on camera angles and moves, along with logistics, timing and lighting. Once a conclusion is reached, the director gleans the best ideas and ramrods a cohesive and effective production.

Most taping sessions are time sensitive to meet a client’s budget parameters.  As such, each person on the crew is looking for ways to not only streamline their task, but seeking to help the other person do the same. While BizVid may have a similar crew to other competitive videographers, clients are amazed with the seamless process of a video project from start to finish.

Synergy and teamwork help in every facet of the production process from concepting, to scouting a location, to scripting, to production to editing, to the delivery of a remarkable finished video. Another element is found in the relationships between clients and the production team and video production principals. 

In fact, we encourage clients to see us as more than service providers, but more like partners, coming together on their behalf. Our great track record is most often due to the harmony in the working environment.

We hope you find this blog on the values of teamwork helpful. By combining your energy with great synergy we make the most out of every production.