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August saw the released Windows Live Movie Maker from beta as part of a refresh to the Windows Live Essentials download. Windows Live Movie Maker is the first application designed for Windows 7 and is built to make beautiful movies from your photos and videos very quickly. You can download the new Windows Live Movie Maker to get an immediate (and free!) upgrade to your Windows Live experience. ...

Microsoft Research has developed a tool you can use to create custom music called Songsmith. Songsmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice, or it will create backing music for video.

You can use Songsmith to generate your music and from the Songsmith UI, there is an entry point to add your creation to Windows Live Movie Maker as a soundtrack. Check out the how to video “M...

The look on my puppy Alki’s face says it all… My Flip Mino is dead. Toast. Nothing more than a paperweight. It seems I left it in the pocket of my pants, and, well, the Mino is not waterproof. More like water-poof.

When my wife pulled it out of the washer, water was literally dripping out of the case. I did manage to get it dried out, but the battery won’t hold a charge and the lcd in the back ...

A few months ago LoiLo rolled out an editing program that is worth serious evaluation, if for no other reason than marveling at their provocative approach to a very traditional process. Who knows what the future holds for editing software, particularly with the anticipated release of a new and improved MovieMaker by Microsoft and the revamped iMovie09. Certainly simple editing with your mobile ...

Apple has just announced a new version of the iPhone: the iPhone 3G S and it includes the easy to use video recording I speculated on last month. This is a game changer for social media, particularly social video.

Mashable is posting about how this will have huge implications for application developers. The new hardware will support video capture and trimming so that functionality can now exist w...

A very interesting post today in the WindowsLiveWire blog about the efforts behind developing the next phase of Movie Maker. The plan is for a release later this year, and after looking at some of the development efforts I am guessing they are hoping to not lose users the way Apple shed them with the release of iMovie08 in 2008. I am hopeful they will get it right.

Absolutely worth a  look if you...

The folks at Patahouse have posted a nice explanation and demonstration of Canon’s recent firmware upgrade for the Canon D5MarkII on their blog. They have posted an HD video up on Vimeo that seems to show Canon has addressed a few of the camera’s shortcomings. They have even gone so far as to generously provide the Magic Bullet pre-set for the demo’ bleach-bypass look (if you happen to use the Mag...

OK folks… All of you passionate about shooting your own videos, creating your own movies, and getting the most from the experience, settle in for a moment. This post is long, but by the end I think you may view your practice of storytelling a little differently.

Storytelling is in for a change. Truth be told, storytelling never stops changing.

When we create personal videos and home movies we ...

In a follow-up to last week’s post about video uploads from your phone and the impact on cellular phone networks comes an article in today’s Wall Street Journal. Yet another portent of doom about unlimited data plans going the way of the dodo bird.

The Wall Street Journal's math is interesting. Current iPhone users (including this author) consume two-to-four times the data of a non-Apple mobile...

Bobbing around in the sea of speculation about the potential implementation of video capture, edit and upload to the iPhone comes the news that the next generation of Android will also enable YouTube uploads. Jonathan Matus, Product Marketing Manager for the Android Team, posted news this week that the next generation software will allow users to record and play back videos whenever they have t...

It has been fun following all the hand-wringing and unbridled speculation about the next generation iPhone. As we all know the update comes in June, but the rumor that keeps catching my eye is the idea of using your phone as a production studio.

Many cell phones have video recording capabilities. And with cameras like the Flip capturing HD video on a device that is half the size of an iPhone, the...

The New York Times reviews the Panasonic’s Lumix GH1 digital camera. This is a new Micro Four Thirds format camera that does so much more than just snapshots. I want you to know about it because the GH1 has a significant breakthrough: full, unlimited-length, 1080p high-definition video, with autofocus. Yes, autofocus. Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II and EOS Rebel T1i, Nikon’s D90 and other similar still...

Tripods suck. OK, there I have said it. I feel better now. I mean, really, using a tripod when shooting your video can put a damper on the creative juices, deflate your storytelling ch’i.

Tripod Basics Video

Unfortunately, tripods are a necessity if you’re serious about shooting. As I mention in this episode’s video, it’s as simple as ...

I would guess that by now many of you have seen the amazing footage that is coming out of Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II and EOS Rebel T1i, Nikon’s D90, and Panasonic’s Lumix HG1. The big image sensors and incredible glass in these second generation digital cameras means the user can capture footage that rivals cameras costing 10-15 times as much. But outside of using a tripod, the ergonomics of shooting ...

It seems my previous post sparked a number of conversations and even a little confusion. “Curt on Cape Cod” cross-posted my frustrations to the DPReview website. That conversation instigated a number of interesting threads, none of which really touched directly on my dilemma. The folks there didn’t really get the problem.

I will say that the companies who make this technology “get it.” To their ...

I am feeling a little too far in front of the curve these days with my FlipMino HD. I had such high hopes for using this camera as part of my regular production flow. But the process just doesn’t really work yet, and it is really aggravating. Perhaps someone out there will have a better work flow. Trust me, I am all ears.

As you probably know, Pure Digital’s Flip MinoHD shoots 720p HD footage. ...

I am doing my best to skip the cheesy and easy word-play about this camera’s name. No comments about flipping over,  flipping out, or doing back flips. But if the visitor statistics for the MediaFlow website are any indication, if you write about Pure Digital’s Flip MinoHD camera then folks will find you. The hunger to learn about how to get the most from it is the epitome of “if you write it they...

As you probably know from my recent video post about CES, the fastest growing technology company around is Pure Digital, with their Flip camera. Well today woot.com announced a great deal on the Flip Ultra -- $79.99 plus $5 for shipping.  I just saw this camera on “sale” at the Circuit City fire sale for $179, so $85 for a flip camera is a bargain. But you have to do it today, Thursday January 2...

There are times when you must stray from your stated purpose and venture into silliness. So today I step away from camera techniques, editing tricks and insights on how to make great personal videos and bring you three of the worst music videos of all time. I am not entirely certain they were created with anything more than a genuine sense of goofiness, but I am pretty sure the creators were serio...

The 2009 international consumer electronics show, or CES for short, is the world's biggest technology tradeshow. 2700 companies holler for your attention as you wander aisle after aisle. Think Best Buy times 10 thousand. Oddly enough, this year’s CES didn’t have the same buzz as in previous years. Not surprising, I suppose, given all the economic doom and gloom in the air.

My goal in Vegas thi...

To no one's surprise, tape is dead in consumer cameras. And 1080 (again to no one's surprise) is THE format in the consumer space.

Personal video on the web is moving away from the "one to many" model of YouTube over to the "one to few" model of Facebook. Hard drive and flash memory cameras are making it not only possible but easy for folks to put their movies on the web. Cannon, Panasonic, Son...

The second floor in the back of the convention center is always my favorite place during any tradeshow. It's where you find the startups, the dreamers, the companies working the margins of an industry. Here at CES it is no different. Cheap radios, funky lighting systems, low voltage muscle massagers. It's a 21st century flea market. I love these guys taking a break in the muscle massage chairs...

These posts appear to have stacked up in the cue, so let’s get them posted now. Sorry for the delay.

Everyone is overcranking their refresh rates. 60hz, 120hz, even 240hz for clearer playback on high motion video.

The other trend is (unlike me) tvs are getting bigger and thinner. LCDs at 82". How about Sharp's 108" monitor?

OLED (Organic light-emitting diodes) screens are getting...

Today marks the Winter Solstice. As autumn changes to winter, it is important to protect your camera from inclement weather. This simple little "how to" shows you a quick way to create a water resistant cover for your camera.

Camera Baggie in HD
Baggin' Your Camera from Drew Keller on Vimeo.

All you need is a rubber band, a waterproof plastic bag and a pair of scissors. Just sharing the list of...

You may think you “don’t need no stinkin’ rules” when you shoot video. Rules are old school… lame… a lazy technique for the unimaginative. But if you learn only one rule for shooting, learn the rule of thirds. 

What the heck is the “Rule of Thirds”?

 Media Notes Episode 11 | Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds from Drew Keller on Vimeo.Rule of Thirds Video | Click to play

The Rule of Thirds is one o...