The software

I've been trying out various editing packages. My Panasonic camera came with some basic editing software, but seemed more gimicky than useable. I did some reading of online reviews and Cyberlink PowerDirector and Roxio Easy Media Creator seemed to come out well. I wasn't impressed with either. I couldn't get Roxio to download from my camera at all, and it was a real pain using CPD. I couldn't get the control I wanted over editing. Now it may be possible, of course, but I am at the beginning of a big learning curve here, so it's no good to me if it is difficult.

I've finally settled on Adobe Premiere Pro. Unfortunately it's the most expensive one too, but it seems to me to be the biz. I've laid down the basics of a whole 78 seconds. I hope I get quicker at it, or I'll be here until I'm 90.

One of the things I'm having to get used to is the size of the files - they are huge. This clip, when rendered to DV AVI format is a whopping 280mb. Even in Windows AVI at a 50% quality setting it's still 2.5mb. For anyone interested, this is what it looks like at the moment .

The music

As well as being the cameraman, Bob Ballard is an excellent musician, and has kindly agreed to provide the sound track. This makes it easy, as I don't then have licence and copyright problems. We've laid down some working-track clips this morning. I don't know yet exactly what I need, but I can work with this for now. At the end Bob will re-record the music to fit the length required.

I really need to come up with some suitable woody titles for the music, don't I? How about "I've got that Monday Morning Workshop Blues", "Scary Sharp Swing" or "Ticklin' the Tenon"? Just a thought!

Steve Maskery's DVDs - the idea

My workshop is my hobby, and it is also my passion. As hobby workshops go it is quite big and well-equipped, but compared to a professional setup it leaves a lot to be desired. Space is, indeed, the final frontier.

As well as making furniture I also write about it. It's now ten years since my first piece appeared in Good Woodworking magazine, the UK's leading title. I now have lots of material. But one of the problems with magazines is their short shelf-life - literally. Much of my material is now no longer available to anyone other than those with access to an archive, so I would like to widen my audience by putting my more general-interest stuff onto DVD. I have material for several, but at the moment only the first two, both on jigs, are fleshed-out.

The idea is to have about an hour's video on each volume, accompanied by a SketchUp model of each piece and PDF drawings which can be printed out and taken into the workshop. I'm not sure yet of the mechanics of mixing video with data on the same DVD. I'm sure it must be possible. All technical help gratefully received

We shot the opening sequence last weekend. I wanted it just there and then. There is a Rhus tree outside my workshop and it is beautiful at this time of year. Just for a few days a year it is the most wonderful red colour, and I wanted that as my opening shot.


We are filming with a Panasonic GS180, which has input for an external mic. This is important for sound quality on an instructional video, or the whole thing sounds like I am talking in a swimming pool. I've seen a number of WW instructional videos, and it is clear that the production quality varies enormously, from totally professional to home-movie. I want mine to be the best. I did produce some training videos in the 1990's, but that was a long time ago, and even longer in technology terms. I hope to finish filming by the end of January, and have a marketable product by Spring 2007. So I'll post progress here, and I'll try to remember to take some photos so you can see it all in action. The next shoot is this Friday, although it will be mainly recording music for the soundtrack. Licensing is an issue if I decide to use anything extant, so it is really easier to commission original music where I own the copyright.

So bookmark this page! I participate in www.ukworkshop.co.uk and I'll modify my signature with the date of my latest blog entry, so you'll be able to see if anything has been added. Also, if there is anything yo would like to see in the DVDs, and specific jig requirements, email me. If I can find something suitable, I'll certainly consider it.