Re: [tlug] Video Editing Soft & Formats

["Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com>]

On 09/07/07, Dave Gutteridge <ebisudave@example.com> wrote:

> Sorry, you are both wrong on how well I know "the craft", assuming you are
> speaking about the craft of video editing.

I wasn't, as Keith pointed out.

> You are both making the mistake that because I disagree with you, I must be
> not be as informed.

Please quote my email, chapter and verse, where I said or implied
this. Because I do not believe that I did.

> I attended Vancouver film school, specialized in 3D computer animation, and
> my first career was developing graphics for Japanese television. I've worked
> on Mac, Windows, and SGI (Irix), and used just about every video and
> graphics related application out there. Everything from consumer end to
> professional end.

This makes your use case and requirements a bit different from ours,
which is precisely what I said after I read your follow-on email where
you clarified both.

> So when I say I've checked the software available on Linux, you can be
> damned sure that I really did check it, and I knew what I was looking for.

I did not take issue with this; in fact I took pains to point out that
*I* am not qualified to talk about video editing software.

> In other words, Jediah, to use your analogy, I AM an author, and I'll thank
> you kindly to not just start attacking my credentials just because I'm not
> saying something you agree with.

Don't get too defensive, Dave. Jedidiah is guilty of nothing more than
making assumptions and thus "an ass out of you and me", according to
the old saw. How was he to know that you are a professional film
editor?

I am sure he is sticking his foot in his mouth right now, as all
reasonable people do when they make a faulty assumption and say
something condescending.

> And Josh, I understand very well that King Kong and Lord Of The Rings, and a
> lot of what happens at Luxasarts and Pixar and Dreamworks are done with
> Linux rendering engines. But their editing software (which actually most
> likely is not on Linux anyway) is not available, and what they farm out for
> rendering and what they use as an interface is very different.

I know this. I put forward Weta Digital as an example of what is
possible on Linux, not what is available. But I went on to say:

"The important thing to note is that what is good for a professional
film maker is not necessarily the same as what is good for a LUG
member [...]"

Do you disagree with this statement?

> I absolutely think that it is fair to recommend that someone who wants to
> video editing on Linux keep their expectations low.

OK, but you should have clarified your perspective from the start:
"Speaking as a professional film editor..."

Your low expectations would be my dreams. :) i.e. I will be overjoyed
to be able simply to cut out bits of my footage where my son is
boring. ;)

> Just because you can
> play a lot of file formats (I like Xine best) easily doesn't mean you can
> work with them easily.

Agreed, but I really took issue with your claim that conversion sucks
on Linux, and I believe I limited my response to that point.

> If you want to know more about why I disliked anything specifically, or what
> particulars I experienced, then by all means ask.

Why did you not say this from the get-go?

> But don't just immediately jump on me with accusations that I'm either
> "spreading FUD"

Well, your statements about documentation being crappy in the context
of conversion were simply wrong. Seeing that, my FUD radar might have
gone off prematurely. Sorry 'bout that.

> or that I am not qualified to have my opinions.

Like I said, I am sure that Jedidiah feels a bit sheepish about this,
and I never said or even implied this, to the best of my knowledge and
intentions.

But this is a bit of a two-way street. We don't know what you do for a
living, so it is really your responsibility to let us know when it is
appropriate.

For example, it would not really be fair for Steve Turnbull to start
spouting off about economics without noting in the email that he is a
Professor of Econ. And when I talk about Amazon shite, I try to
remember to mention that they own my pasty white ass.

So please, give us the info that we need to understand your
perspective and decide how big of a grain of salt, if any, needs to be
taken contemporaneously with your opinions. :)

--
Cheers,
Josh