How To Rip & Convert Youtube Videos

Step 1: Go to the YouTUBE site in Firefox.












Step 2: click on the balloon icon in firefox and if an MP4 version is available download it, if not download the FLV version, the folling steps will show you how to convert a FLV file to MP4 (take note of where on the hard drive the file is downloading to).






Step 3:Open Free FLV Conveter for Mac application










Step 4:From the ADD FILE button at the top left open the downloaded youtube video.








You can add multiple files if needed, or unselect files not to convert








Using the SETTINGS button, choose MPEG-4 Movie as the file format in the RENDER fiel to to convert to.











Set the file resolution to the highest available, the frame rate to KEEP ORIGINAL and raise the Bitrate to the highest. This preserves the quality to keep the image or sound from being degraded by the conversion process. Audio settings should be at 44100Hz SAMPLE RATE, and the BIT RATE should be 128kbps, using the AAC settings in the ENCODER tab.


Step8: use the CONVERT button to make an MP4 of the FLV file. Note where the file destination will be on the hard drive.

Aux vs Matrix Fed Subs

Over the past few months I've been unpleased with the low frequency content in the audio mixes. I believe I have found a solution that will help improve our mixes but will, in time, improve our skills. We have been doing aux-fed subwoofers, which is simple. You want more subs you chuck more in there, job done. But what has happened as a result is that over time we become lazy about EQ-ing the low frequency content, so it doesn't sound tightly focused and defined. I set up Matrix 6 as a feed for subs calibrated within .1dB of the system level balance. So don't just go cranking the matrix master knob, if you want more subs add more on the EQ. This will help us be more deliberate about what we do and don't want to hear coming from the subs and will help bring clarity to the mixes.

Changes to Video World

For normal Sunday morning's we're not going to use Camera 2. The color's and white balance look so drastically different from our big Sony Camera's that until we can figure out another solution where we get as-good high quality picture and color on camera 2, it will only be used for special events, concerts as a stage roamer. The 1' platform for Cam2 is living behind the stage near the green room. The comm and BNC leads, camera and tripod are in the electrical room.

On thing that Josh is unpacking on the staff level and will unpack to the rest of the volunteer leaders on Nov. 15th (6:30 in the Youth Room) is that we need to be "better before bigger". I really like how Tim Cook (COO Apple) puts it in this interview, he says that,

"We say no to good ideas every day. We say no to great ideas in order to keep the amount of things we focus on very small in number, so that we can put enormous energy behind the ones we do choose, so that we can deliver the best products in the world."

What that means is that myself, and the staff are going to have to occasionally say no to some things because if we become better, people will demand we become bigger, but if you try and scale bigger, that doesn't necessarily mean you get better. Worse yet, you can get bigger and not maintain the same proportional quality for what you deliver.

Christmas Stage Design

This is our Christmas stage design. The materials have just been ordered. All of this needs to go up on Saturday December 4th. We can't do it any earlier because of women's Christmas Dessert. This is going to require some pre-building in sections to happen so that we are able to come in on December 4th and set it up with ease and then move lighting.






UPDATE: I have added an image of a rough mockup what it will look like in the worship center. Details are omitted to save time building 3D computer models.

We Are All Interdependent

Right now our current Sunday mornings utilize live video IMAG, PPT/Graphics for sermon points and song lyrics, and sound reinforcement for audio. Looking at this images shows there are completely untapped areas of creativity. Areas like, CGI and holographics. I know I'm talking proper Hollywood madness, but if we as a church are about creating an environment where non-Christians can meet Jesus in a culturally relevant environment (which, at Sunridge we are) then we should think about it. Or how about theater? Our lighting system is set up for theater lighting more than video lighting but we don't do any dramas or theatric elements in a service. But the biggest thing that has my eyebrow raised like Mr. Spock is the big question mark intersecting between lighting and video. I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a huge potential for art in that area but I just don't know what? Lots of comments are welcome.

Video Splitters Found

Doing some looking around backstage and I stumbled across some wonderful and geeky pieces of video equipment still in their box, new. I'm hoping we can find a good use for them, or if not we can find them a new home on ebay to generate money for the tech budget. So here's what I found:

Panasonic AG-DA750 - 2in 10out S-Vid amplifier multiplier with variable gain and image equalization potentiometers on front.

Leitch VEA-681 MB - 2in, 8 out BNC amplifier multiplier