My main software tools for animation and new Manga are Reallusion’s iClone, Crazy Talk, Crazy Talk Animator, and 3DXchange. For audio I use Audacity and Ableton Live.

For video, I have traditionally used Sony Vegas. I am looking into new options right now so I do not currently have a go to program for this.

For all of my project management and script writing I use Celtix. That software ROCKS! For note taking and documentation I use Google Docs and Springpad. I like to use utilities with a cloud aspect so that I can access my work fro almost any device.

For storage on the go and syncing files between my computers and devices I use DropBox.

For graphics I use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks.

To format and produce my Manga series I use Comipo. Comipo is a progrm with graphics collections for those with no artistic talent to be able to produce Manga. I use this differently. I produce all off my art in my Reallusion programs as I have all of my already designed characters in there. I use Comipo’s easy to use formatting to put my art together into book form. I love taking programs and using them in new ways that they were not originally designed to be used.

Well, that is about it. I of course will pull out other programs from time to time, but this forms the core of my creative tools, software wise.

In the near future I may post how I use the above tools. Also, I may post about the hardware I se to create my media.

Cheers!

I love magazines. I love the look and the feel. I know that in most cases I can find the same information online, but the experience is not the same.

With that said, let me also say that I stopped reading magazines for a while. The price kept getting higher for less and less information. Instead of more content the ads were taking over.

This is a result of a cycle. Less people read the mags and revenue falls–so the mags increase the advertising which brings in less revenue from individual ads as the readership lowers–so the magazine sells more ads with less content until the end finally comes and the magazine goes under. How is that for a run-on sentence?

At times, especially now with the economy so uncertain, it seems like this is an unbreakable cycle. Blogs and news sites run stories about the troubles of the print media. People like Rupert Murdoch talk about the shift and suggest charging for online content that was once free. It is the start of a whole new cycle.

Well, I have an idea, and it involves everyone’s favorite price point, free. I put forth that the new paradigm of print is free. For free, people will accept more ads and less content. For free, more people will subscribe to magazines previously abandoned. More eyeballs means that the mags can charge a higher premium for the advertising content. A whole new cycle breaks the old.

Now, before you bolt from this blog calling me an idiot, let me give you some background on how I came up with this idea. It comes from the most frugal person I know, my better half, Effie.

Effie is the type of shopper that spends hours each week searching out deals, coupons, and offers. She sets out strategies, which she calls scenarios, and then hits the stores. It is not uncommon for her to come back from CVS pharmacy with up to $50 worth of stuff paying between pocket change to a couple of dollars out of pocket. She can hit the grocery stores and come home with $100 worth of stuff for around $25. She regularly makes Target and Wal Mart her bitch.

She does great in store, that is for sure, but on top of that, she has learned to find deals online as well. She is always getting free stuff in the mail, everything from free samples to actual product to–get ready for it, magazine subscriptions.

We get Forbes, Muscle and Fitness, O, Rachel Ray, Town and Country, Sports Illustrated, Good housekeeping, and more, all free. What I have noticed is that I don’t mind reading these mags, higher ads and lower content, when I don’t pay for them.

Now, sometimes these subscriptions are just introductory and a short run, sometimes it is a full year, but it is nice reading mags again.

This is where my thought comes from. My eyes are valuable, not just to me, but to those advertisers. If a mag goes under, so does all of that advertising real estate. I won’t even begin to say that I have the logistics of how this shift can work, but I still think it can be worked out to a winning situation.

The thing is, I don’t think anyone wants to work it out. The people on top of these industries have always looked for the money. The idea of a shift of this magnitude is scary for them. I mean, the subs we get do eventually end and the purchase forms eventually come. But think differently for a minute. How many people like to separate their reading from the internet and the computer screen? How many still prefer a book or magazine to a screen? How many people love FREE?

By offering the subscriptions for free, the sub rate would probably jump by double or triple or more. This is where the ad revenue picks up. No longer do the mags have to look to subscription purchases to make it, those extra eyes are like gold!

Some mags already do this. Most cities have local mags that are totally ad supported. Imagine that on a national scale. There are many more eyeballs on the national scale, every one an advertiser target. Of course, some changes would have to be made to the format and such, and more space would go to the ads. Maybe the mags would have to go bi-monthly, whatever. But still, FREE speaks to people.

Well, that is just my take. It works locally, it works for broadcast TV. The numbers are there for free. The numbers have eyes that can lead to greater advertising revenue. The print media world does not have to go under.

It would be a shift, but some shifts are a good thing. Still, the probability of this shift is unlikely, unfortunately,

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Print Media, Magazines, Subscriptions, new ideas, advertisers, paradigm, change, shift, periodicals, online, media

It drives me insane when a news website can’t maintain a consistent link structure.

It drives me insane when any form of media loads without my consent. I mean, really, is it that hard to put up media with the default on false when it comes to autoplay? No, it is not, to answer my own question.

I really only ask two things of a news website, and these two things have to do with the way I consume my news. I go to the site and scan the headlines, which I then open several at a time in separate tabs. This way I get my browsing done at once and then I can read each piece in turn.

Well, one site I visit everyday can’t get their link structure together. Most of their links are set to open in another window or tab when clicked. I like that as it feeds into the way I read news stories. So, it really irks me when they occasionally don’t set the target to blank and I get shuttled off to another site, which then means I have to go back to the original page, find my place again, and then right click and chose another tab.

I know that seems like a silly thing to get worked up about, but I read a lot of news. As such, I came up with my system to help me get through it quickly. By not keeping a set standard, they eat up my minutes, and it drives me nuts.

Now, looking at the way I read news, you can probably guess why my second peeve gets to me. When loading multiple windows, and then one starts to play music or a video, it is aggravating. Heaven forbid it happens on a day where I was watching a movie online or something the night before and the volume is up. Nothing says morning like a blaring news story, which you don’t even know where it is coming from.

It gets worse, who ever had the great idea of embedding ads with sound and video was an idiot. When those start, and you have multiple tabs open, it often seems impossible to find the culprit as the ads are small and often far down on a page. Heaven forbid there may be more than one tab with autoplay content.

Haven’t we just about reached a consensus as web users and developers that autoplay is pretty much akin to murder? The murder in this case is against my sanity.

Just had to vent. I really wonder when people will start to get it. Everything online is a choice. You take my choice away, to play or not to play media in this case, I will choose not to visit your site. Fair enough?

Oh yeah, and fix the links as well.

Cheers!

The problem with these titles is the price, unless you want to go the pirate route. The cost of these titles can be the reason people stay out of media production.

There is, of course, the open source path. Many of audio folks use Audacity for their projects, and it is a great program. The problem sets in if you want to do more video oriented stuff, there is not a whole lot available. Add to this the fact that with open source, you don’t get support for the products. You get forums and such, but for some, this is a negative point.

Enter the German company Magix. This company has been producing cheaper variations of the programs needed to produce quality media. The products they create are almost as feature rich as the high priced counterparts, but at a fraction of the cost. Get Sony Acid for a few hundred, or get Magix Music Maker for $50-75. You get 95% of the functionality, but really, few people even need that extra 5%.

My computers were loaded with Magix software when I got started. Now, I keep my old versions around. I never get rid of a computer, unless it goes belly up. I use my older Magix programs on my retired systems and still mess around with them to this day.

Well, Magix is making it even easier to jump into media production. They are having a clearance sale to blow out some of their titles to make way for new versions. The sale lasts until Aug. 17th, or supplies run out. At least one of the titles is already gone, so check it out quick.

The price of all the sale titles is $19.99! That is 20 freakin dollars! Add shipping and the final comes to around $25. That is a deal, or a steal.

Just so you know, this is a good time to say that I have no financial dealings with Magix. This is not a paid endorsement or an affiliate deal. I really believe in these products at the regular price point. To get them for 20 bucks is a great deal.

Titles offered in this deal include Music Maker 14, which is competition for Sony Acid, Audio Cleaning Lab 12 which helps to digitize records and clean up rough audio, Webradio Recorder which allows recording of audio as it is played on your system, and more!

So, go HERE and check it out. Get your supplies before they run out.

Gordon, Scott, and Pat acting the fool by Totallyangel

Everyone is new at something at first. I know, that is a redundant statement, but it makes sense to say considering what this post is about.

What is that, you ask?

Newbies and social media, or networking, or whatever.

The curse of the noob is not fun. Noobs come in and barnstorm where decorum is the name of the game. Where things are riotous, they come in and try to be authority.

They are, well, noobs.

Hell, we have all been there. My noob experience was filled with the dreams that come from “make money online” gurus. I had every free e-book, and I shelled out some serious cash for the programs. I was going to take over the world.

Well, that didn’t happen. Luckily I am quick with the learning curves. I learned the lay of the land and followed my passions. Design, media, research, and meeting new and interesting people that enhance my web networking experience.

But, noobs, they are always there. For every web user that elevates above noob status, three or more jump in to take their place.

The type of noob that is aggravating me right now is a bit personal, as I was close to that type of noob myself.

Luckily back in the old days when I was an aggravating noob, things like Twitter did not exist. Hell, AOL, Yahoo, LiveJournal, and forums were still the lay of the land. I had to work at aggravating others, and my reach was pretty dismal.

Unfortunately, Twitter, FriendFeed, Facebook, and the like do exist now, and the noobs are amplified.

I get friend and follow requests everyday from people that have nothing in their streams but adverts for the same stupid make money online programs from back in the day. No following community decorum, no real posting, just puked up, canned ads. It is crazy.

There is even a guy in England (I will keep the name out of it as who knows which name is real?) with several different accounts all offering the same crap “get rich quick” or “get new followers fast” products.

The thing that elevates this guy from aggravation that does not conform to community standards, to total asshole, is when you un-follow his accounts, he un-follows and re-follows, several times, trying to get you back.

Getting hit by a double-decker bus is too good for him. He is pure evil.

Listen folks, I get that you have this great program or script that got you 17,000 followers even though you only have 25 posts. Good for you. I would put my measly 1400-1500 followers up against yours any day. I have carefully cultivated this list and I get value from most of the people on it. Yes, some are filler, like those with forgotten and unused accounts, but I can guarantee your accounts are almost all filler.

And then comes the money schemes. Only morons are clicking on your links. I know there are morons out there, but come on, do you really want that online rep?

You did not make a fortune. You are not rich. You did not find the freakin secret program. You just did not! You are another noob, sitting at home with dreams of overnight internet wealth and the fame and adoration that goes with it.

Now, let’s go to that next level, the auto-responder. If I follow you, I am giving you the benefit of doubt. I am giving you a certain level of trust, but it is only a test. How do you fail that test, by hitting me up with an auto-respond direct message trying to “help me” or show me the way.

Hey, idiot! I was here before you. I know the way. You showing me your bad manners and lack of etiquette right from the go only shows you to be someone that needs to follow for a while, not lead, or “show the way.” You are an asshole. Seriously.

Okay, so you got the griping, now is there an answer? Nope.

I can hope that a noob reads this and self identifies and starts on the path to being a proper online citizen.

I mean, we could mass shun the gits, but then the gits would just flock together and organize. Could domination be far behind? Yeah, probably not.

Unfortunately, as the web gets easier to use, and the online services and apps get better, we will get more noobs and more aggravation. Hopefully the learning curves will get faster as well.

We can hope.

Cheers,
Eban

I used to call people that did that crazy. (BTW, I still do)

It is just that I seem to have joined the ranks of the insane. I am now doing for others all that I used to do for myself. It just seems so much easier doing it for others. (some actually pay as well)

Of course I am talking about website design, SEO, social networking, media creation, and so on.

Well, usually the first step in solving a problem is admitting it is there.

Of course, not all of my production battles are to be blamed on my day job and freelance work. Some of the blame lies firmly on a hacker with an ip address from China. I am talking about the guy that hacked my hosting and made a mess of the back end of my sites.

Yeah, the malicious code is gone, mostly, but some of the mess remains. Plus, looking through all those .php scripts looking for that code takes away a person’s will to exist. Trust me on that. I hope no one reading this ever has that experience, even if I pretty much hate you.

It is true, I have finally found the one thing I would not wish on my worst enemy. It turns out it is getting hacked. Go figure.

The one other drama that has kept me away from producing is ongoing, and I still can’t talk about it. There is one difference now, however. That difference is that I can no longer go on without producing my shows. I had sworn not to produce anything else until this issue was brought to a close, but I have to go back on that pledge.

I need to produce again. I really miss doing the shows.

So, within the week, the “Eban and SJ Express” is coming back at you. Yes, it is a for better or worse situation. It depends on your view of RfL, I guess.

I also just upgraded some equipment on the animated front, as well as purchased a better camera for the video stuff.

Well, for tonight, it is off to the land of content management systems as I have yet another deadline approaching for a client, so adios for now!

Cheers,

Eban

Cheers,
Eban Crawford

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Not to be labelled as only a political blogger due to my last post, here is some of the other things I am promoting around the web.

Over at RfL, I have not done any 2.0 shows this week due to another head cold. My voice and throat are out of whack, but I have been busy. I started a new section called, “The New Media Cynic,” where I take on what I perceive to be the myths in the online media world.

Also, I have divided all the categories in to individual feeds so that people can subscribe only to the content they want. Don’t worry, if you are prone to worrying, the main feed, which brings all of RfL to you is still in place.

Now, why is there yet another slowdown in the RfL production? I am having a crisis of
Faith. Not of belief, but of how to conform the RfL media to get inline with my Christian Beliefs without scaring off my fans.

Why does that matter?

Because I want to create content that reaches everyone, not just those that believe like I do. Lewis, Tolkien, and others, obviously more creative than I, have used allegory to such an extent that both Christians and non-Christians love their work, and in the process, get their message.  Head over to Jesus Pirates for more on this topic.

And, as always, most of my time is devoted to Certified Golf. Jobs, eh?

Cheers,

Eban

The “Field of Dreams” scenario of build it and they will come is very comforting, but it is total hogwash in the real world. Whether it be web media, a retail outlet, a grocery store, whatever, if it is not promoted properly, no one will come, ever. The fact is people have to know you exist, then they have to actually care, then they need to know that you are filling a need in their life. That is much more work and sweat than build it and they will come.

The People, or should I say, gurus or rock stars, that say different are feeding you a line of bull. If they want to charge you for telling you that bull, run very fast.

“But,” you say, “I created a production of real quality.” Well, it doesn’t matter, not one bit. Quality has little to do with anything. What matters is what I wrote above. Do people know your media exists? Do they care? Does your media bring something to or fill a need in their life? If the answer to the above, any one of the above, is no, you will not be a success.

There are tons of great, and just as many, if not more, mediocre, media properties out there that have achieved what could be called success. This simply means they are known, the have many people that consume the media, and they are talked about. The key is, the producers of this content are always talking about, promoting, and making sure their media is in your face. Good or not, that is what works.

The problem comes up that producers, the creative types, are often not natural promoters. Creative types often feel that they are stepping over boundaries when talking about their media. They talk down about their own product to make sure they don’t seem cocky. They may feel that self promotion robs the art aspect of their work. Whatever the case, the need to learn to self promote is necessary if you want to get your media out to the world.

Of course, producing a great, high quality product is what we should all strive for, whether it be a blog, a podcast, video, animation, whatever. A quality product will go much further with your promotion than a mediocre product, but face the facts, the number of sub par media properties that are popular is proof that quality is a distant second to quantity. Quantity of promotion, that is.
Remember the old adage, there is no such thing as bad press. So go and promote, and be proud of your work. Yes, there is no such thing as bad press, but their is nothing worse than no press at all.

Seriously.

Cheers,

Eban

Today’s quickjabs features a singer songwriter out of the UK, Lisa Redford. We heard her on a recent show and I just had to bring her back.

We will be hearing the songs Here Alone and New Years Day.

Lisa was described by BBC Radio 2′s Bob Harris as ‘one of our finest singer/songwriters’ , I think you will agree.

Cheers,
Eban

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Links for Mark Rogers and his Family

Myspace donation site

News Coverage of the Accident

Brian Noe and his Productions The Frank Truth and The Comedy Genius of Martin and Lewis

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