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Check out These Great Articles!

David Roth Weiss ~ ILY SpartanPro
Stephen Smith ~ Stack Tracks: Layered Digital Music
Stephen Smith ~ How to Add Video, Photo and Audio Assets to your Digital Toolbox
Ron Lindeboom ~ Apple Bows Out of NAB 2008
Nick Griffin ~ Inside HBO's The Wire
Ron Lindeboom ~ Avid says No to NAB 2008
John David Hutton ~ Evoluent Vertical Mouse
Mike Gondek ~ Dean Collins On Lighting
Tim Kolb ~ Demystifying HDV Workflows
Bob Zelin ~ SAS RAID from Dulce Systems

	Walter Biscardi view bio HDV Format High Definition for the Road Thanks to formats like DVCPro HD and HDV, High Definition can now be edited pretty much anywhere on just about any computer. Yeah, this is cool and you can really make your friends jealous just cutting away with your super slick laptop. But you know what's really slick? Editing Uncompressed High Definition anywhere. How about an Uncompressed editing workstation in a 25'' square box? No way? Way! Read on to find out about Wally's Traveling Box of Mystery and Intrigue... Tutorial, Feature Cinematography First Look: AspectCorrect(TM) We've all done this at least once in our careers. You're shooting with a standard camera but you know you're going to letterbox later so you tape two pieces of paper to 'crop' the field monitor. Or you're trying to make sure an element in the shot is in safe title, so you use a grease pencil and approximate where safe title will be. You do what you have to do when you're out in the field, but of course you're never quite sure if it's accurate until you get back into the edit suite. In this article, Creativecow leader Walter Biscardi takes a first look at a handy 'widget' developed by Cinematographer and fellow COW leader, Clay Walker called AspectCorrect and determines that ''...This is just one of those cool little things that should make camera operators lives easier.'' Review G-Tech The G-Tech G-Raid For years Medea Corporation has been the hallmark of reliability when it comes to storage for the media industry. If you wanted big, fast storage with mission critical reliability, Medea was the drive array for you. Now comes its little brother, G-Technology Corporation. In this article, Creativecow leader reviews the G-Tech G-Raid and concludes...''This is the most versatile unit I've ever used with its ability to work seamlessly with anything up to 10bit uncompressed and just remain solid no matter the situation or machine it's connected to. ''' Review back to top

	Business Roundtable view bio Business & Marketing Client Management Strategies CreativeCOW.net business leaders Nick Griffin, Walter Biscardi and Aharon Rabinowitz join Creative COW Magazines co-publishers, Tim Wilson and Ron Lindeboom, to discuss choosing clients wisely, managing their expectations with the goal of successful, and enjoyable collaboration, while striving for equitable profits. Tutorial, Video Tutorial, People / Interview, Business back to top

	Joaquin Gil view bio Adobe ULTRA Serious Magic's Ultra2 CreativeCOW.net contributing editor Joaquin 'Kino' Gil writes a review on Serious Magic's ULTRA 2 Professional Keying Software with Vector Keying Technology and tells readers, ''[Before ULTRA2] each matte had to be calibrated separately and the values adjusted almost on a frame by frame basis in order to get details like loose strands of hair, bluish shadows and reflections, grains of sand and other minutiae. Yes, it took forever [and] no motion tracking software, either. All of that effort, [and hours of work] very seriously done, is made moot today with this software tool from Serious Magic. ... The key is perfect to the extreme of perfectly keyed fine strands of hair, transparency and translucency.'' Review back to top

	Mike Gondek view bio Digital Photography Dean Collins On Lighting CreativeCOW leader, Mike Gondek examines Dean Collins On Lighting: Live at Brooks Institute of Photography 1991 and published by Software Cinema. Although, this was presented in 1991, Mike believes the content is timeless material. Review back to top

	Nick Griffin view bio Cinematography Inside HBO's The Wire Set in Baltimore, Maryland, The Wire will begin its fifth and final season in January 2008 on HBO. As different from standard TV as it gets, the show has received the highest levels of critical acclaim, being referred to by multiple reviewers as ''the best show on television.'' In its last issue of 2006 Time Magazine ranked The Wire first on its list of ''10 Best TV Shows.'' And ''Finally recognized as the best series on TV. Sorry, Tony (Soprano),'' was Newsweek's description. Creative COW's Nick Griffin spent time on set earlier this year and interviewed one of the show's Producers. Here's his inside glimpse into The Wire and its production. Editorial, Feature, People / Interview Corporate Video Media 100 Producer: Media 100's software-only editor Creative Cow's Nick Griffin, a longtime Media 100 user, switched to Final Cut Pro a few years ago. Here, he explores Media 100 Producer, a new software-only editor from Media 100. Media 100 Producer offers a mobile and scalable editing environment as well as FireWire I/O and Panasonic P2 acquisition capabilities. Ideal for in-the-field or mobile editing, editors using Media 100 Producer can shoot using their Panasonic P2 camera and immediately begin editing. In addition, Media 100 Producer can use media captured by Apple Final Cut Pro and Media 100 and output via FireWire or export to DVD or web. Nick explores this latest offering from Media 100 and gives it 4-1/2 Cows out of five. Why? read on... Review back to top

	Jim Harvey view bio Cinematography The Easy Slate System In this article, CreativeCOW.net contributing editor Jim Harvey takes a look at the Easy Slate Professional Slating System. Jim likes the way it looks, and thinks that it makes him more attentive to the small details that he used to let slip past. It's a simple idea with a clever implementation. Review Cinematography HandsOnHDV: How to Setup, Light & Shoot Great Looking Interviews In this article, CreativeCOW.net contributing editor Jim Harvey takes a look at one of the newest titles from HandsOnHDV called How to Setup, Light & Shoot Great Looking Interviews and has determined that this is a 5 cow instructional DVD that you really can't be without. Review Cinematography Vortex Media Warm Cards In this article, CreativeCOW.net contributing editor Jim Harvey reviews Vortex Media Warm Cards and states, ''You know you do it. We all do it. It's not something that we brag about. It's not even something that we think about too much. White Balancing. Sure some guys carry a worn out piece of white paper, or they use the foamcore to set the camera. We've balanced on walls, notepaper, even the fat guy's t-shirt. It gets us by and we get on with the show. But as we are all professionals, shouldn't we have a professional system to white balance out gear and do it consistently? Well, we do and we can.'' Read on to discover an effective answer to your white balancing dilemmas. Review back to top

	Philip Hodgetts view bio Adobe Premiere basics Great Titles with the DV Codec In this article, Philip Hodgetts gives us a few hints on how to make great titles with the DV Codec. In most cases, if you're using the DV Codec, you'll find that your titles at best will be good. If you want great quality, then you will need to follow most of these guideliness that Philip discusses but NOT compress to the DV Codec. Tutorial back to top

	John David Hutton view bio Windows Hardware & Software Evoluent Vertical Mouse It starts as a slight twinge in the shoulder, or a prickle in the wrist, a dime-sized knot in the forearm or a tingling somewhere up and down the arm. Whatever the symptoms, the cause is usually the same - RSI or repetitive strain injury or its widely publicized brother, carpal tunnel syndrome. In this article, John David Hutton takes a look at the new Evoluent Vertical Mouse. It could be the answer to protecting yourself from carpal tunnel and other strains. Review back to top

	Tim Kolb view bio HDV Format Demystifying HDV Workflows Creative COW Leader Tim Kolb uses his HDV expertise to explore the technology behind HDV, and show how it applies inside Final Cut Pro and other NLEs, with a special focus on longer projects. As Tim notes, this is a modified version of a post he made in the HDV forum responding to a question about FCP, but anyone who wants to know about editing HDV needs to check this out. Tutorial, Feature Business & Marketing Becoming Your Client's Voice Creative Cow's Tim Kolb takes a look at the concept of 'voice' -- not the narrator's voice but the actual tone in which people and organizations communicate and how to relay that 'personality' to better convey your message. Feature, Business HDV Format HDV vs HD: A Primer Emmy Award winner, Tim Kolb discusses HDV and its place in the greater scope of HD production formats. Since the inception of the HDV format, we have seen many responces regarding the HDV format and how it fits alongside HDCam, DVCProHD, XDCam and other formats in the greater scope of the HD picture. In this article (which is taken from an HDV Format forum responce), Creative Cow's Tim Kolb gives what we feel is an exemplary job of dissecting the subject and clarifying the many components of the HD universe, HDV being one of those parts.... Tutorial, Feature Business & Marketing What is Value? Creative Cows Tim Kolb takes a look at the concept of value -- Its a topic that comes up over and over on the many forums in which Tim participates. In this article, Tim discusses the various factors involved in determining value and how to know if were getting our moneys worth. Feature, Business FireStore Creative Cow looks at the FireStore from Focus Enhancements Tim Kolb explores the FireStore system from Focus Enhancements. The FireStore allows camera operators to shoot directly to FireWire harddrives, allowing longer shoot times and also giving users the ability to hook the drive directly to their computers, avoiding the capture process. A real time saver. Review Corporate Video Corporate Clients: What do they want? Tim Kolb of Creative Cow gives some tips on how to really understand what your Corporate Client wants and how to deliver. He points out that: There are very few of us in this industry who can purchase a piece of equipment and have customers approaching us because of it. We must understand how to deliver a usable video/CD/etc., as most of us base our livelihood on our ability to provide a finished project that is successful. This is not a difficult premise, until you ask the question, What does the CLIENT see as being a successful project? Tutorial, Feature, Business Corporate Video Entering the Age of Expertise Creative Cow's Tim Kolb, looks at our changing profession and offers some insights he's gained in his thirteen year career that has won him multiple ITVA, Telly, American Advertising, and Emmy Award honors. In the end, Tim concludes it isn't the kitchen that makes the cook. Feature, Business back to top

	Ron Lindeboom view bio N.A.B. Expo Apple Bows Out of NAB 2008 Following Avid's November 13, 2007 lead, Apple officially opted out of NAB 2008 on February 7, 2008. What are the ramifications of this laterst news on the future of NAB and what does it likely portend for the industry's largest gathering? In this editorial, the COW's Ron Lindeboom explores some of the trends and factors that are affecting decisionmakers and the growing move away from expensive trade shows. Editorial, Feature N.A.B. Expo Avid says No to NAB 2008 We at The COW asked Graham Sharp, the VP and General Manager of Avid Video for some more details about Avid's recent announcement that they're skipping NAB in 2008. “Meeting people directly, where they live and work, without distractions, is the right thing to do, he told us. We agree, which is why we're making a similar choice. Read on for details. Editorial Indie Film & Documentary Formats, Color Bit-Depths, Data Rates and Storage Requirements In this article, Creative Cows Ron Lindeboom examines how much hard drive space is needed when using the most commonly used formats, data rates, color bit-depths and formats. Tutorial back to top

	Aanarav Sareen view bio Adobe Premiere Pro Creating Custom Client Review Systems In today's rapidly moving editing and post-production world, faster methods of client review have become an absolute necessity. In this article, CreativeCOW leader Aanarav Sareen demonstrates how to create custom client review systems using Adobe Captivate. Tutorial Corporate Video MediaFiler 2.0 MediaFiler 2.0 is a professional database software designed for the video production industry. It's an easy way to catalog, track, label, and organize your whole library of tapes and disks. In this article, Creative Cow Leader Aanarav Sareen takes a look at the software for use in his own production environment and determines that it is everything they say it is. Review back to top

	Ron Shook view bio Broadcast Video A Primer on NLE Video Quality In this article, Ron Shook attempts in a relatively non-techy way to put some perspective on a range of quality issues inherent in today's Non-Linear Editing technology. Perhaps as you shop for your next NLE or the services of an NLE/editor, you will have a better background for asking significant questions and separating the important stuff from the selling hype. Editorial, Tutorial back to top

	Stephen Smith view bio Event Videographers Stack Tracks: Layered Digital Music In need of some high-end royalty free music that can fit any media professionals budget? Creative Cow Contributing Editor Stephen Smith explains why Digital Juices StackTraxx layered music library can be the perfect solution for your next project. Review Event Videographers How to Add Video, Photo and Audio Assets to your Digital Toolbox Who doesnt love high quality free stuff? Let Creative Cow Contributing Editor Stephen Smith be your maitre D. Hell provide a menu that will show you some of the best places to get free video, photo and audio assets that will benefit every media professional. Feature back to top

	Marco Solorio view bio Adobe Premiere Pro TBC Crossfire X-K3 Non-linear Editing Console DESCRIPTIONWith people continually asking, "what edit desk do you use?" here at the COW forums, Creative Cow forum leader, Marco Solorio hopes to settle this question once and for all with his in-depth review of TBC's Crossfire X-K3 edit console. If you're in the market for a new editor's console or are just curious to know what's "out there", this should give you all the information you need to base your own judgment. Review back to top

	David Roth Weiss view bio DVD Authoring ILY SpartanPro Recently, CreativeCOW leader, David Roth Weiss purchased his very first CD and DVD duplicator. After a lot of research he chose the ILY SpartanPro, and it did not take him long to realize that he should not have gone so long without one. Review back to top

	Bob Zelin view bio Apple Final Cut Pro SAS RAID from Dulce Systems Creative COW Contributing Editor Bob Zelin talks about the latest step in the Serial Attached Storage revolution: full RAID 5 protection with read speeds over 350 mb/sec. from Dulce Systems. At least that's what Dulce claimed. When he heard the rest of what Dulce had to say, Bob simply didn't believe them. When he put those claims to the test, he got a lot more than he bargained for. Will you? Review AJA Kona Cal Digit S2VRHD CreativeCOW's Bob Zelin tests a Cal Digit S2VRHD with a host card for a PCI-X computer, and a PCI-E computer. He used the incredible AJA Kona System Test, to evaluate the drive speeds. He was determined to 'break it.' Did he? No. He determined that...''If you want to do uncompressed HD, for a fraction of the price of an Apple Xserve RAID, or other hi end SCSI or Fibre Channel drive arrays, THIS IS YOUR BOX.'' Read the rest to find out why. Review AJA Kona AJA HD10AVA Converter CreativeCOW's Bob Zelin discusses how to turn your HDV VTR into a professional product using the amazing AJA HD10AVA converter. It takes the analog component HD signal from your Sony or JVC HDV VTR, and converts it to an HD-SDI signal that can go right into the HD-SDI input of your capture card. Review