[fanattic]

this is kinda long, sorry

first off, here's a link to the GREAT Highlight making FAQ started by Creed: Making highlight videos ver 1.0

definitely give this a read before you go any further,^^ it's great. i just wanted to make a continuation to this because i felt it could use a little updating.

anyways, in the thread i made about my first highlight, some veteran hl makers replied with some very useful information, so i'll post it here with the hopes that "up and comers" will find there way to it and make use of it. im also throwing in my tips for what they're worth:

Originally Posted by crazysoccerblad

Music makes a compilation. You needn't have any screaming in your compilation for it to be compelling. It's all about how the footage works with the music.

It's hard to find a song with lyrics that will fit the video so sometimes it's better to go without lyrics. Boondock's Furious Angels is a great example of HOW TO use a song with lyrics with the clip. Rob Duggan is as much a poet as an artist and it would be hard for some to use anything of his other than Clubbed to Death, but it worked perfectly. Has even inspired my next compilation. The compilation needs a path more than anything.

Originally Posted by juggo

you should either choose a specific fighter to work with or a limited theme (i.e. one fighter vs. another, one event, etc.). My first two HL's were of GSP and Loiseau. Don't think I started on a big theme HL until later on after several fighter HL's. It's easier to maintain consistency throughout when you're working with the same fighter or one fight/event. Keeps it from just looking like random clips being thrown in. and try mixing in some audio from the fights as well

I've used WMM before and created videos with multiple audio layers.

I just didn't use the program itself as the audio mixer. I used a standalone audio editing program like CoolEdit Pro. And then used the WMM timeline to time the sound right, saved and re-saved the audio file and imported it into WMM to test it out and make sure it's synced up right.

Originally Posted by boondock

(is there any way to transfer an existing project from wmm to vegas or vegas to wmm? and if so, will i still be able to add to/work on it?)

My only thought is that you have to print/export/produce (whatever your program says) what you've ALREADY done into a video file: .mpg, .avi, .mov, .wmv.

Then open Vegas and import the video file of your old version and use it in your new one. Not the best.

Here's a trick you can use if you KNOW you like the clips you have but not sure about the editing (all in WMM).... Put all the clips you want to use on the timeline with 3-5 seconds of black video in between each clip. That way, when you produce the movie as an mpg and import it to Vegas, you'll have the clips but you still get to remix all the transitions in the new program. makes for smoother sailing so you're only cropping off black video and not those seconds between clips that bleed together from transitions.

don't know if that makes any sense. But it works.

Originally Posted by wamrage

wmm tip: rename all of your files to something short. for instance, instead of UFC 48 Ken Shamrock vs Kimo,
something short you’ll remember like Ken v Kimo

also, save your work often

Originally Posted by fanattic

start off with something simple like wmm (windows movie maker) to cut your teeth. don't do like i did for my first hl and pick a montage of fights with no correlation, it isn't the easiest thing to pull off. pick one fighter and stick with it.

when you're ready, move on to something like sony vegas 7. also, imo the most important part of a hl is the concept, so before you go downloading/importing a bunch of clips; think long and hard about what you really want the video to be about/contain. we really don't need any more fedor highlights, leyagamuth has done a great job with it and it isn't likely you'll do better early in your "career."

also, don't go crazy with transitions and flashy effects/filters, showing off your program cheapens the video. ill stop there, but believe me, there is a lot more to it.

and lastly, a link to the stickied thread, Highlights, with a huge number of highlights from tons of talented hl makers:Highlights