Link to a Vidding Documentary and a Vid Poll about WMM.

[beccatoria]

Look! It's an awesome documentary about vidding and vidders!

Having just watched this and having just finished a lengthy vid project (the vidlet series) myself, but not being in the mood to do a retrospective post on it yet, I have decided to instead make this poll about WMM.

Because I am still deeply confused by my relationship with it. On the one hand, if you're willing to put in the elbow grease I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as most people imagine. The fact that I get so many surprised responses when I comment that I made a vid in WMM kind of suggests that to me, at least. And I know how to use WMM; I'm comfortable with it, and I don't really think my vids are suffering for it exactly. On the other hand, I'm aware I'm horribly out of date. But...every other vidding suite I've used I've hated or I've had technical difficulties with. Though I think a lot of this inability to learn something new is because I hate, hate, hate clipping. It's irrational, but true.

So I'm trying to work out a) what exactly fan opinion on WMM is, and why, and where those opinions come from, and b) whether I'm happy being the crazy old lady in the corner who won't update and dispenses occasional nuggets of wisdom to the vidding newbies who are stuck with inferor technology, and whether I'll be happy with that, or whether I want to step up my game and actually try and use a 'real' program and try to make better vids.

But c) I'm also...ambivalent about whether this is even a biggest fish in the smallest pond issue anyway. Do I need to feel vaguely ashamed about the fact I use WMM and therefore be extra loud about it to compensate? Would my vids necessarily be better for using a different program? Is this just the last vestiges of my feelings of not being a 'real' vidder that 'counts'?

And...stuff. Hence, POLL, because POLLS are fun. And also, in my experience, more random people from your flist are willing to randomly click a few ticky boxes (so don't let me down!)

I'm not going to cross-post this or anything because that seems horrifically vain, but if you are here for some reason via random journal hopping and I don't know you, please feel free to click on ticky boxes anyway.

Also, I'd be interested in any general WMM opinions in the comments. :)

[Poll #1293033]

Comments

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I clicked "Other" on the last question for totally selfish reasons. I want you to continue to be a WMM master so you can pass on tips to me. :)

It's all about me, me, me.

COOKIES for you though. :)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I should have picked that, too! I use WMM, and it's not a program, just a bit frustrating when it freezes. What I really want is to learn how to use it effectively, now that I've finally figured out how to avoid stray clips and silly things like that.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Ah! Somehow I totally missed this comment! *headdesk*

I had no idea you made vids: this is very exciting! If you ever have any questions I'll be happy to try and help and it does look like I'll be making that "Tips & Tricks" post reasonably soon.

The ghost-frame issue is an irritating one in WMM yes. Basically you always have to cut at least 0.07 seconds before or after a shot change. sigh. ;)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I don't make vids very often, mostly because my laptop doesn't quite have the memory to cope with all that data. But I have this vast playlist of "songs to vid", which I really must get around to sorting.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

Fair enough! :p Though I think I've passed on most of my useful tips already. Though I did work out how to use the blue screen custom effects I have installed to add a watermark to a vid the other day. Not that I intend to use it as I think unless you're working with DVD quality footage it's cluttersome as there'll already be "SciFi" logos, etc. But still...entertaining.

Thanks for filling in the poll! The results are pretty interesting.

[heyiya.livejournal.com]

I think I have 'lower expectations' for WMM only because it seems to be a program that is mostly used by newer vidders so I don't expect technical astonishment. (Not that I have anything against newer vidders, I am a newer vidder!)

As I said to you in person, the thing that astonishes me about you using WMM is not the speed or complexity of effects *technically* (because I've never used WMM so I don't know what it's like) as *conceptually*. Because I started off with imovie, which I imagine is quite similar to WMM, and started trying other programs when it became clear to me that imovie and I did not get along especially when dealing with sources that had different aspect ratios. And having ended up with Final Cut, I learned to rely so heavily on having multiple tracks and not having to vid linearly that I can't imagine how you created a vid as complex as 'War' in a single line editor.

But so long as you can bend WMM to your will, there seems no reason yous should not stick with it!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's a really good point and is something of a pattern I'm seeing emerging in my very small-scale and unscientific poll. There does seem to be an awareness among vidders that WMM isn't quite as awful as its reptuation suggests, and that relatively complex stuff can be done on it if you're willing to put in the legwork, but because most vidders do graduate, the number of vidders who are new and therefore less technically proficient or who simply don't care so much about that aspect of vidding are over represented in the WMM-field, which probably...doesn't help its reputation. As the market is flooded with third-rate WMM vids and far fewer 'good' ones (quotes used because 'good' is, obviously, a very subjective value).

I remember when we met in person and you had to painstakingly explain to me the concept of a non-linear editor. I think it's just not a concept my brain is set up to handle. Sometimes I wish it were otherwise, as working less linearly would certainly be a real boon to my writing, I feel, but in terms of vidding, I want to plan the whole thing out then start at the beginning and work through, even if I had the capability to do otherwise. Which I think is partially why I'm less frustrated with WMM than some.

Multiple tracks would certainly make things like overlays easier because at the moment if I want to put a transitional effect on the overlay I have to render the overlaid clip in a separate video file first. :/ So the appeal of multiple tracks I can see, for sure, though if I'm not overlaying clips I'm not sure that I'd feel they're necessary to my vidding style?

Hmm. Things to ponder.

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

Last question is 'Other' because I think: no, keep using WMM because you like it. Because it works for you. And because it doesn't affect the quality of your vids -- in fact, your comfort with it probably makes the vids better.

I second what heyiya said, after using multi-track editing I cannot imagine going back to single-line, linear editing.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

in fact, your comfort with it probably makes the vids better.

That's probably a very good point and thing to consider.

As I mentioned to heyiya, I don't think that the linearity issue bothers me the way it bothers some others because I'm pretty sure I'd choose to vid that way anyway, but the multiple tracks thing intrigues me a little. Mainly because I'm so...not used to thinking about it that aside from overlays I'm not sure what I'd use multiple tracks for. Though I suppose overlays are a pretty big thing in vidding terms.

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

I am so glad that you posted the link and poll. First, the documentary is sooo interesting! One, I never see fangirls in RL so their bravery to be on screen is so damn awesome to me. And second, vid love! I was like beaming through watching the clips and the fact that the love is mutual among vidders makes me very happy. :-D

That said, I don't feel like a real vidder, either, vid love or no. I just love to watch vids. Yep. That's the long and short of it for me. I was so glad you said you didn't feel like a real vidder though you are like vidder Obi Wan for me. :-) I hate clipping too! With a fiery passion. I think that doesn't make me a 'real' vidder. You have cracked WMM's secrets and I don't have that tenacity with the tech to want to master things. Maybe in the middle of the night when I have this fleeting vision of what I want to see on screen. But! I am still at the stage of, 'what are you doing? are you crazy?' with vids so I don't know.

This is probably why I will stay with WMM. Because it's easy. And I'm not plagued with pixellation or even crashing. For now. And I take long breaks from it. I think as long as you can continue to grow with it and be happy, you'll be happy with it. For some that's with a single vid, and for others it will be with twenty vids. Some marry WMM for life. Hee!

COOKIES! Oh wait, you need a response first. I think you are WMM queen. There you go. I think you rule wisely and justly. But someday you might want to conquer other territory. Or you may be content to rule gently and with much technical grace. Whatever makes you happy. :-)

Now, can I get at least a picture of cookies? :-)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad that you got something out of watching the documentary. I was also amazed by the awesome bravery of these people and very jealous and was filled with a powerful desire to go to vividcon!

There's nothing wrong with choosing to vid casually either, or sticking with WMM because it's easy. That's the reason I stuck with it at first. And I also went through a long period of thinking 'I'm not a real vidder, I've just made one or two with long gaps in between,' and...that was okay. That was fine. For some people that's all it'll ever be and that's also okay because it's a hobby and it should be fun and we engage with it on different levels as both creator and viewer. I know that you engage with fandom a lot via rec lists which requires a breadth of knowledge, social interaction and trawling the net I could never manage, so um...hooray for diversity and different methods of being fans?

Thanks for the encouragement to stick with WMM until I'm not happy using it anymore. I guess I'm just worried that if I did change, I'd suddenly become a much better vidder...but really I think that sort of skill has to be earned and I may as well do it with WMM for now at least. I am slowly becoming more willing to use other programs occasionally when I can't get the effects I want on WMM, so that's progress and reassuring that I won't stick with it just cus I'm cranky.

Also I'm pretty sure I'm not the WMM Queen (for instance, I'm thrilled to discover sol_se is another WMM nut!), but I'm flattered by the compliment! :p

Now, can I get at least a picture of cookies? :-)

OOo0O00OOooO <--- a dozen, mis-shapen cookies. :)

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

There's nothing wrong with choosing to vid casually either, or sticking with WMM because it's easy.
Yay, vidding! And shhhh! Don't let WMM let you hear I said it was easy. Easier than other programs. Yeah. I swear that program has ears. :-)

Maybe I am a casual vidder. I don't know! I know a few things. One, I have seven ideas for vids, all storyboarded and everything. A few bunnies I've had for going on three years. Alas, they aren't going anywhere and are mainly AU, so yeah, evenutally I'll make 'em. :-) And a few ideas will require some facility with some program. Silly vid muses! Making me all ambitious!

Second, I like to write fic too! So many ideas, so little time. I'm finishing up a few remaining fics that have lingered for months. But! 2009 is Vid Year for me! I find that vidding is a jealous taskmistress. She wants your full attention!

Yes, yay for fannish diversity! Wow, making a recs list only takes me like 90 minutes. I made one yesterday. But whoa, what if making a vid for you is as quick and straightforward as making a recs list is for me? *boggles*

Hey, if you are sticking with WMM because you're cranky, you keep being cranky! More vids for us! And I will e-mail you someday when I'm in the middle of vidding for WMM's Inner Sekrits. Mwahahahaha!

I'm high on misshapen cookie high! YUM!

[sol-se.livejournal.com]

Hi, we don't really know eachother, and I'm not exactly sure how I got here *g*, but I just wanted to say that I feel exactly the same way. I've only ever used WMM, and I've been vidding since 2002. People are always shocked. I love it, even though it can be an abusive relationship at times. Have you added/altered new effects in it with XML?

I keep telling myself that I'll switch to a "real" program soon, but I never do.

edit: In reading that back, I realize that the "I've been vidding since 2002" comment sounds...I dunno. I didn't mean to pretend to be an expert or like I've been doing it forever. Because really, 2002 is not very long ago.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't care how you got here, I'm glad you did! :) Thanks for filling out the poll and ZOMG I'm so ridiculously excited to learn that you use WMM! You're like an actual proper vidder I know of and stuff!

I also love your icon and the fact that you describe vidding in WMM as an occasionally abusive relationship. I've previously mentioned that sometimes it feels less like editing and more like getting into a brutal fight with the program and hoping you win... But...it's sort of fun in a challenging way. And I'm familiar with it.

I do have a few custom effects for WMM, thoguh I don't have too many installed at once as it can make the program even more prone to crashing. I also haven't used very many, but I have been moving more in that direction and used a "warm colours" filter (among other non-custom effects) in my last vid and some overlays in the vid before that. I'm also reasonably excited by some of the effects I can achieve with the various custom effects I have installed although I'm not sure how/if I would want to apply them to a vid.

I haven't made any of my own though, because I don't know the first thing about XML!

And dude, vidding since 2002 TOTALLY makes you an expert. That's like...twice as long as me and for the first two years I wasn't even doing it regularly. :)

Thanks again for commenting and letting me know I'm not the only nut who kind of likes WMM...

[chaila.livejournal.com]

I totally think WMM gets an unfairly bad rap. There are all sorts of effects and transitions in my vidding program now that I'll never use; I really don't need anything more than what WMM can do. I think I would have stuck with it and really tried to learn its secrets if not for the totally random PIXELATION PROBLEM OF DOOM. OMFG. I almost threw my computer against the wall several times. Because it wasn't something that could be fixed with fiddling, which I have no problem with, it was just a totally random glitch that I could attempt to work around, but really couldn't do anything about. It seems like many people use WMM until they run into something like that, something that is The Last Straw. WMM has been good to you! You have no reason to break up with it. :)

[thedothatgirl.livejournal.com]

Interesting poll - I've been using WMM since 2004 - I've attempted to switch to three different editors since then and have failed miserably - not because I couldn't get them to work but it stopped being fun and then what's the point.

WMM get's a very bad press - sometimes from those who have never even used it. Fair enough it's got problems but so have all the other programs I've tried. The biggest thing is the linear single track aspect. Everything else I can live fine with.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hi! Sorry for the late reply - I've been sick :( On the mend now though!

Thanks for your reply. I've tried to switch a few times too, but like you, it wasn't fun. And I had technical issues with the other programs too, but unlike WMM, I didn't have any tricks to fix them.

It's really interesting to me to find people who are happily (or relatively happily!) vidding using WMM!

I'm glad you found the poll interesting.

And I agree - it's the one-track linear nature of the thin that I can see as its one major limitation.