How that Austin SF! live DVD is going

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:16 am

If you weren't here when the old board was here:

I shot footage at the Austin "Hot & Bothered" SongFight get together and I'm putting together a DVD for sale at the cost of materials.

It's been several months and I haven't delivered it yet, but fear not!

Mostly I've been lazy about putting it together, but I was also waiting on a new show I was to be editing about a month ago to give me the funds needed to upgrade to the latest version of OS X and thus get a version of iDVD that would allow chapters instead of just separate buttons for each group that performed, as well as 2 hours per disc instead of 1 1.2 hours, and a reported video quality improvement, but that show isn't gonna happen till January so I figured I'd stop waiting and just get it done.

As I edit each group I'm saving the full quality video footage, so if I can get the upgrade before I'm done you'll get real chapters, otherwise you'll get what I can provide.

I've been editing seriously for about a week and have the first 6 performances done. On average I'm finishing 1 performance a day. I have to edit when I don't have other work to do.

Also I now have access to a DVD duplicator, so that should make last-minute orders easier to fill. The set will be 4-6 DVDs with nice covers and cases and should cost in the $45 range plus or minus depending on the quality of disc each person wants.

This will be around 10 hours of video including every single song performed and after party footage helpfully provided by Glenn Case, and maybe some extras. Fluffy provided the audio, and you can get it at http://trikuare.cx/files/sfhb/ if you haven't already.

I know it's taking a while, but it will be worth it when it's done. There were some great performances during those two days. I'll give ordering info and more details when it's all done.

Here's some images from the video for your enjoyment:

Fluffy and his funky glasses

JB working the audio

Marcus Kellis with Spud on keyboards.

MC Poncho and his big red afro.

Abecedarian with Sober Irishman and Glenn Case.

Brother Machine waiting outside.

Sober Irishman practicing with Hoblit and Spud. Marcus Kellis looks on.

Dr. Worm rocking the house.

Thanks for your patience.

bortwein · Post by **bortwein** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:00 am

Thanks for the update. Man I need to get on designing those Labels for you.

Future Boy · Post by **Future Boy** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:01 am

BAD ASS. I was just thinking about this the other day. Glad to see it hasn't slipped through your fingers!!

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:41 am

What kind of price deals could one work out with you if one were to be able to get it from you in person?

mkilly · Post by **mkilly** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:12 am

Jumping on the cheapskate bandwagon, could I just send you eight (or however many) DVD+Rs and money for return postage?

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:27 pm

I forgot to mention in this post that you'll be able to choose whether you want cheap or expensive DVD-R discs. Cheap means about 10 or 20 cents each, expensive will probably be a dollar or two a disc (there will be 4-6 discs total).

If you want to drive down to Houston to pick them up yourself, be my guest, but if this page (http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail ... iamail.htm) is correct it will cost less than $1.50 to ship it.

I'll also be happy to send it to you in plain CD jewel cases if you'd rather not have the DVD cases and printed covers.

So assuming it's 6 discs the lowest price would be about $3-5 total (cheap discs, plain jewel cases, no labels).

The high price would be about $30-40 (expensive discs, DVD cases, printed covers).

When I actually finish all the editing I'll post an itemized price list and you can pick and choose what you want (i.e. cheap discs, DVD cases, printed covers; or expensive discs, jewel cases, no covers) and I'll price it accordingly.

Keep in mind this is 10 hours of footage, about 20 bands and about 100 songs. Total editing time is going to be about 40-50 hours, and I'm not adding in any kind of profit for me. When it's done I'll give you hard prices, but I can only make it so cheap. I'm almost finished with day 1, so it should only be a couple more weeks.

mkilly · Post by **mkilly** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:25 am

so... what's new on this front?

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:24 pm

mkilly wrote:so... what's new on this front?

It's still moving along. After a frenzy of activity on my part my laziness + real work slowed it down again. Basically we've been doing some long projects, so there's no harddrive space (or time) left to work on songfight. But all that should be finished before February is out so I can start working on it again.

The good news is that one of those projects was for a video game company and I got them to use Puce's "The Pawnbroker's Stepdaughter". They've posted the video online, so you can see it at:

http://www.tiburongx.com/new_release.htm

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 6:50 pm

DELETED

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:13 am

Thank you very much. It was a fun project, very different from what I usually do.

(gets defensive)

See!? I do finish projects in a timely manner usually! I admit the SF Austin project is taking way too long, but 10-11 hours of footage plus doing it for cost, PLUS my incredible laziness means that it gets done slow.

But it will be done and I think everyone will be happy with it when it's finished.

(/end defensive)

mkilly · Post by **mkilly** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:35 am

Yeah, I don't think anybody's going to complain, so long as it doesn't suck balls. We would've all went to the show even if it wasn't being recorded.

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:31 pm

Just an update:

All our big projects were finished tonight, so editing the DVD will resume tomorrow.

I'm not gonna guess when it will be done, but I'm back on the job.

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:44 pm

Hey, while you're editing it, feel free to censor out my ugly face or whatever.

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 11:16 pm

fluffy wrote:Hey, while you're editing it, feel free to censor out my ugly face or whatever.

Done and done:

Noone will ever recognize you.

update: I finished Glenn Case and Frontalittle Squad. We've had another small flurry of business, but that should be done in the next two days, then I can get back to Songfight editing.

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:42 am

Yet another update:

Everything is finished except the last three sets (JBB, Octothorpe, Please the Pig) and the afterparty footage. I'm looking forward to editing all of that, those last three sets were great and the afterparty footage will be fun to work on. There will be no more stalling from this point on, the only limiting factor is my free time.

Day 2 is going much quicker than Day 1 because I didn't have to turn the camera off between songs (since I had a lot of tape), which means I don't have to include as much of the footage that Glenn shot. That footage was a life-saver since he ran the camera the entire time, while I had to stop the camera to save tape (thanks, Glenn!).

I've been taking advantage of a lull at work and have been editing Songfight all weekend. I finished two sets today and hope to finish JBB and Octothorpe tomorrow. Please the Pig should go pretty quickly, then comes the afterparty footage which will take longer than the regular sets.

The most optimistic completion date is the end of March, a more realistic one is by the end of April. After editing there is a lot of computer time involved in transcoding the video and burning master DVDs. Most likely one day per disc, I'll have to let it transcode overnight when there's no one working, then burn the DVD in the morning. I'll also need to print labels and covers for those who want them. Duplication will be quick, since I have access to a DVD dupicator.

The only bad news is that we're still using an old version of Apple's iDVD, which means there will not be any chapters (sorry Marcus!), there will just be a separate button on the menu for each set. After each set you will be returned to the main menu where you can select the next set.

As soon as the masters are burned I'll know what the final price will be and I'll start taking orders.

So the end is in sight!

Working on this has been gruling, but also a lot of fun. Watching the footage (now nine months later) reminded me what a great show it was. If you weren't there (or even if you were) I encourage you to buy a copy of the DVD (and remember, I'm only charging for materials and shipping, I'm not making money off this).

You've heard the submissions from these songfighters, talked to them on the board and IRC, and reviewed their songs...but it's really something else to see them perform live; joining in on each other's sets, playing on songs they've never rehearsed and STILL rocking (I'm looking at you, Glenn), and just generally showing that music can be more than a manufactured commodity, and it can be fun as hell.

The DVD set will be around 9 HOURS of Songfight video goodness that you can pop into your DVD player and watch whenever you're in the mood. When your friends ask what Songfight is about you can put on Dr. Worm or JBB (or High Density or Abecedarian or Ken or...) on the TV and show them.

So keep the faith, it's almost done.

And don't forget, you can see video clips of individual songs here: http://home.houston.rr.com/songfight/video/clips.html

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:47 pm

Okay, everything is edited except for the afterparty footage. The Please the Pig fight ended up being a full hour even after cutting out all the setting up time.

The set is going to be eight DVDs, but the last DVD still has plenty of room on it, so if you have any random Songfight video you want included I can add it in.

Just the afterparty/misc. footage to go!

bortwein · Post by **bortwein** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:36 am

MalachiConstant wrote:Okay, everything is edited except for the afterparty footage. The Please the Pig fight ended up being a full hour even after cutting out all the setting up time.

The set is going to be eight DVDs, but the last DVD still has plenty of room on it, so if you have any random Songfight video you want included I can add it in.

Just the afterparty/misc. footage to go!

You can leave me out of the After party footage interview sections, if you please. I don't care if I'm in any of the other after party footage as background, I just don't care to have my interview part burned onto the dvds. Thanks. (that is if you have that footage)

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:00 am

MalachiConstant wrote:The set is going to be eight DVDs, but the last DVD still has plenty of room on it, so if you have any random Songfight video you want included I can add it in.

Ooh, that makes me wonder - are any of the people who shot video of past SongFight Lives able to get their footage in? I'd love to see some of the Plain&Tall and Wet&Wild footage if possible. (I mean, come on, there were like 6 or 7 people recording W&W, so surely SOMETHING must have survived...)

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:46 am

bortwein wrote: You can leave me out of the After party footage interview sections, if you please. I don't care if I'm in any of the other after party footage as background, I just don't care to have my interview part burned onto the dvds. Thanks. (that is if you have that footage)

No problem, I'm cutting myself out of it, too. If anyone else wants their footage cut now is the time to let me know. I'll use sensible discrection to cut anything that might be embarassing, anyway. I know a few people were a little intoxicated that night...

fluffy wrote: Ooh, that makes me wonder - are any of the people who shot video of past SongFight Lives able to get their footage in? I'd love to see some of the Plain&Tall and Wet&Wild footage if possible. (I mean, come on, there were like 6 or 7 people recording W&W, so surely SOMETHING must have survived...)

If they can get it to me quickly I'll be happy to include it (but I ain't editing another 10 hours of performances!

)

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:50 am

MalachiConstant wrote:I'll use sensible discrection to cut anything that might be embarassing, anyway.

So that means I'm going to be totally removed from all footage, right?

MalachiConstant · Post by **MalachiConstant** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:54 pm

I haven't been able to start the afterparty footage yet, but I HAVE started burning the DVD masters. Discs 1-3 are burned, they should go about 1 disc a day.

Bortwein has been excellent at designing the DVD menus, cases and labels. It all looks really excellent.

I have some partial prices worked out:

Cases:
plain jewel cases: $1.60
DVD boxes: $2.70

DVDs:
cheap: $3.50 (for all 8 )
expensive: $5.00 (for all 8 )

I don't have prices for inserts, labels, or shipping yet, but shipping should be in the $3 range.

I'm hoping to be all finished within 2 weeks, so all you cheapos start saving up the ~$7 you'll need.

By the way, does anyone do a good "movie trailer" voice? I want to put together a trailer for it, but I need an announcer.

Eric Y. · Post by **Eric Y.** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:35 am

shipping would probably be cheaper if you were just sending DVDs and inserts, and if everybody got their own empty cases. that is, for people who would be interested in this option. just sayin'.