TV & Movie Appreciation
Star Wars: How Much Is Too Much?
When Disney announced that they would be making a new Star Wars movie every year for at least 10 years I was both excited and a bit skeptical. In 2012 when Lucas sold his company to Disney for $4billion, he included his outlines of Episodes VII, VIII and IX. But Disney and Co. decided to discard these stories and start over, also discarding the extended universe of comics and books that millions of SW fans had grown to love. Adding JJ Abrams to the mix was icing on the cake for SW fans who have become critical of SW. But Lawrence Kasdan was the saving grace, who wrote a script for VII that the original actors could get behind. So, how much Star Wars is too much?
Review, Editorial, Feature
Mike Cohen |
Cinematography
DJI Mavic Pro In Depth Review - The Best 4K Drone?
VFX guru Tobias Gleissenberger was so delighted with the DJI Mavic Pro 4K drone that he bought (yes, bought) that he was inspired to take a break from making tutorials to create an in-depth review of this compact, lightweight, consumer drone offering terrific value. No, it's not a platform for your digital cinema camera, but if you're looking for a fast, fun, integrated 4K camera drone packed with features, the Mavic Pro might be for you. This review is delivered Surfaced Studio-style, with wit, high energy, and details you won't find anywhere else.
Review
Tobias Gleissenberger |
DaVinci Resolve
Fairlight + Resolve, Part 1: The DAWn of a Resolved Era
Marco Solorio of OneRiver Media gives an introductory overview to the rebirth of the Fairlight digital audio workstation (DAW) that is now part of Blackmagic Design’s powerful DaVinci Resolve post-production system. Is this finally the solution to break away from the Pro Tools stronghold?
Review, Editorial, Feature
Marco Solorio |
PLOTAGRAPH PRO: A Powerful Tool For Animating Still Images
The COW was just introduced to one of the coolest new creative tools we've seen in a long time, PLOTAGRAPH PRO, which powerfully animates still images. Imagine animating your still images to become full high resolution video, all the way up to 4K. In this video tutorial, Blake Rudis is your guide.
Review, Tutorial
Blake Rudis |
Microsoft Surface Studio: Does It Out-Mac the Mac?
The day before Apple was set to announce their big news for the year, Microsoft introduced their own big news and for some Mac users -- no, not all but at least some -- it seemed to recall feelings and dreams of old. This is a Microsoft that few saw coming and in their swing for the fences, they have gotten many things right. Will it be enough to plant their flag on the mountain that Apple has long been king of? We'll see.
Review, Editorial, Feature
Ronald Lindeboom |
Storage
G-Tech G-RACK 12: Fast, Easy, Expandable, A Winner
Already having a great reputation for standalone RAID arrays, G-Tech makes a bold move into shared storage with the G-Tech G-RACK 12. With 120 TB, expandable to 480 TB, blazing speeds, a built-in server (no separate computer or metadata servers needed!) and incredibly easy set-up and management software, longtime broadcast and facility engineer Bob Zelin says that the G-RACK 12 is a winner. Bob doesn't say that often, so you're going to want to check out all the details -- and because it's Bob, there are a lot of details!
Review
Bob Zelin |
Boris FX
Boris Continuum Complete 10: A Winner For Every Creative
Walter Biscardi has been a Boris FX customer since 1995, and he calls Continuum Complete 10 a winner that belongs in every post creative's toolbox. With filters that nobody else has, customizable presets galore, multiple host support for one price, the watershed Title Studio, and the integrated power of mocha's Academy Award-winning tracking built into every filter, forget the cliche of Continuum Complete being a Swiss army knife, says Walter. Now, it's more like a cannon! Join Walter for some of the details on why you need this amazing package yourself.
Review, Editorial
Walter Biscardi |
Adobe Premiere Pro
PluralEyes: Fast & Easy Connections for Video & Audio Clips
With the popularity of HD-DSLRs, many shooters are recording sound separately because of the camera’s limitations with audio -- but putting audio and video together in post can be a chore. Longtime spots ace Bill O'Neil has been dealing with this over the past several years , and has found PluralEyes from Red Giant to be fast, easy, and effective. Take a look to see if PluralEyes will help you, too.
Review, Editorial, Feature
Bill O'Neil |
Boris FX
Walter Soyka On Boris Continuum Complete 9 NLE & AE Plug-ins
Creative COW's Walter Soyka has been using the Boris Continuum Complete plug-ins for years, and now takes a look at BCC 9. His conclusion: it's exactly what a plug-in set should be, adding power and creative options, saving time, and a strong value. Available for every major NLE, After Effects, and Resolve, you'll want to take a look at Walter's experience yourself.
Review, Feature
Walter Soyka |
DaVinci Resolve
Blackmagic DaVinci Goes up to 11
Colorist Joseph Owens has been in the heart of postproduction for over 30 years, and has used one form or another of DaVinci Resolve for a large part of that. In his look at the latest release of what he calls the gold standard for color correction, he both covers new features, and considers the possibilities that those features offer.
Review, Editorial, Feature, People / Interview
Joseph Owens |
What Computer Should I Buy?
HP's New Workstations: Powerful, Expandable, and Compatible
Expanding its Z-series line, HP announced major updates to desktop and mobile workstations focusing on expandability, reliability and compatibility - and specifically targeting disappointed Mac users that may not have considered the PC world before. With the key word for creative professionals being "bottleneck" as 4K media (and beyond) and native editing become a mainstay of a typical workflow, HP hopes that giving users more options will be the solution.
Review, Feature, People / Interview
Kylee Peña |
CSNY 74: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Epic Tour Revisited
Meet CSNY 74, wherein Messrs. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young make a definitive 3-hour, 3-set, 40 song, case, supported by 8 video clips and 188 pages of written and photographic evidence, for being one of the world's very biggest and best rock and roll bands, working at the very top of their game. Creative COW's Tim Wilson explores the beautifully rendered, exceptionally satisfying experience of this historically epic tour.
Review, Feature
Tim Wilson |
Art of the Edit
Interlude's Treehouse: Interactive Video Authoring
"Welcome to a new world of storytelling," invites Treehouse's Interlude, an early player in the world of online authoring and delivery of interactive videos. In this review, Jerry Hofmann finds an impressive and easy-to-use service for creating "smart video" for more engaging content.
Review, Editorial, Tutorial, Feature
Jerry Hofmann |
TV & Movie Appreciation
Stalingrad: An Intimate Epic
Set in one of the bloodiest battles in human history, the film Stalingrad also offers an intimate look at five Russian soldiers in World War II, trying to preserve their own humanity while protecting the life an 18-year old girl - while also trying to hold off a dramatically larger Nazi force. This bold 3D story is already the highest-grossing film in Russian history, and Creative COW's Tim Wilson says you'll be impressed.
Review, Feature
Tim Wilson |
What Computer Should I Buy?
The Great Migration: From Mac Pro Tower to Mac Pro Tube
Helmut Kobler loved all the card slots and drive bays in his old-school 2009 Mac Pro. But after ordering a new Mac Pro, he had to rebuild his old tower's functionality - RAID and LTO support, broadcast monitoring, and plenty of spare drive space - with new Thunderbolt peripherals. Here's how he did it.
Review, Editorial, Feature
Helmut Kobler |
Sony Vegas
Pixelan DIssolveMaster Review: Organic, Powerful, Affordable
Organic, powerful, affordable, easy to use -- what else are you looking for from a plug-in package? Creative COW's Douglas Spotted Eagle found even more than he expected from Pixelan DissolveMaster, plug-ins for Adobe After Effects and Premiere, and Sony Vegas. Douglas invites you to see just how elegant, organic and flexible such a simple tool can be, even with 4K footage.
Review, Editorial
Douglas Spotted Eagle |
Sony NXCAM
The Sony FDR-AX1 & Your 4K Future
Even though it's not yet a broadcast format, 4K production has been happening every day for years -- delivered as HD. It offers the same advantages that early HD production offered for SD delivery, including beautiful downscaling and a measure of future-proofing. Looking for a flexible, affordable way to jumpstart your 4K future? Join longtime Creative COW leader Douglas Spotted Eagle for a look at Sony's FDR-AX1 camcorder.
Review, Editorial, Feature, People / Interview
Douglas Spotted Eagle |
Blackmagic Design
Bob Zelin Looks at the Blackmagic Design Audio Monitor
The Blackmagic Audio Monitor offers rack mount audio monitoring from an advanced 6G-SDI input, AES/EBU and analog audio sources in a compact and elegant package. Bob Zelin gives the 'eagle eye' look as he zooms in on its real-world application in XOS Digital's extensive broadcast media asset management system.
Review, Editorial, Feature
Bob Zelin |
Blackmagic Design
Using a Little Blackmagic to Revisit a Documentary
Pixie Dust flows from Blackmagic Design's Teranex 2D Processor to integrate and upconvert newly discovered vintage SD footage, photographic stills and new interviews into a re-edited and remastered 2001 documentary memorializing the 1963 NCAA "Game of Change" between Mississippi State University and Loyola. Over 60% of the new DVD/Blu-ray includes new footage or pictures, and the challenge was to make the old SD footage look as good as possible in an HD project.
Review, Editorial, Feature
Robbie Coblentz |
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