"I enjoyed presenting the Members Only session this past Thursday morning, sharing Commonly Asked Casablanca Questions (and answers)." said Chet Davis as he spent more than an hour with Casablanca colleagues across North America and the UK who learned tips and tricks in several of the Casablanca menu screens. The 74-minute video recording of the session along with 16 (yes, sixteen) links to articles/tutorial mentioned are now available to website members here: May 2013 Members Webinar: Common Casablanca Questions and Answers. Continue reading

A colleague of ours on the Casablanca Forum asked the following: "I have a client who wants his logo over his shoulder on a background I shot with green screen. He wants the logo to at least fade in or even better fly or wave in, he mentioned popping in like the old Pop Up Video on VH-1. I've used Pattern 2 to import the logo with no background (a .PNG with alpha channel) but I can only do a hard cut when bringing in the logo. Any ideas on how I can fade in or effect in the logo... Continue reading

A Casablanca Colleague asked this week what the maximum size is for a photo (JPEG) that is to be imported into your Casablanca editor using Photo Studio. Here is my reply - as I thought others might benefit from this info I do not believe the ideal size (for our JPEG images) were posted in any company resources (at least not that I am aware of) but colleagues have found an optimum size for images destined for Photo Studio 2 to be Photo Studio 2 is 2048 X 1536. I have no idea with the original Photo Studio (1) as... Continue reading

Your Weekend Casablanca Tutorial. Looking to add something useful to your Casablanca editing repertoire? Check out this tutorial. One of my favorite functions in the latter version of the Bogart OS is the ability to add a PNG image/graphic in my video projects. The great thing about this is that it recognizes the alpha- channel (transparency) of a logo or graphic. Click here to learn (or review) this technique: Importing & Placing PNG Graphics (images with transparency) Continue reading

San Francisco and Seattle will be locations for a special post-NAB 2013 tech expo by the folks at Key Code Media "Didn't make your way out to Las Vegas at NAB? Key Code Media invites you to join us in San Francisco (location to be announced) where our partners will be showcasing new products released at NAB for editorial, post production and live production workflows. Here's your chance to test drive new products, have your workflow questions answered by manufacture technology experts as well as mix and mingle with your fellow industry peers. Get a hands on demonstration from new... Continue reading

Macro Motion has released a new update version of the BogartSE Operating System for users in the PAL Color Standard. Bogart SE version 5.5 includes a number of fixes and items that are listed on the Macrosystem website in the German language. You can read this list via the link below) which takes you to the Google translation from German into English language: Macrosystem Releases Bogart V5.5 OS in PAL One of the most exciting things I see in this new update of the Bogart V5 OS is the ability once again to export scenes longer than 10-minutes via the... Continue reading

MacroSystem US has released two software products for NTSC users (North America). These two software products are compatible only with the Bogart OS series of editors. The first is a brand new piece of software, in the style of the previous AnimX software/effects product. The 2nd is a software update, a free update for those customers who already own the Twixtor software. This update provides the ability to use Twixtor inside a Progressive project which was not possible previously (though Chet Davis did provide website members with a work-around as posted here: Using Twixtor In A Progressive Project) Here is... Continue reading

Had a great time this past Thursday teaching the April Members Webinar: Voiceover Recordings and Your Casablanca. Website members, when you are ready, can view the streaming video of the lesson (84-minutes) on this page: April 2013 Members Webinar: Voiceover Recordings and Your Casablanca Video Editor. This page also ha s the link where you can download (and print if desired) a 5-page PDF booklet of notes. Below the video on this page you will find links to other articles/ tutorials that I mentioned in the program, largely in response to the great questions attendees were asking during the program. Continue reading

You've likely heard of BlackMagic cameras (the folks who are helping to bring 4K Video to the forefront)... they have a new pocket camera at NAB this week" "Perhaps one of the smallest products of the show so far is also creating the biggest buzz. The Blackmagic pocket cinema camera is a compact-sized full HD camera with a super 16mm sensor. Priced at just $995 it is an affordable lightweight solution for those traveling light or looking to place a camera in a tight spot." Here is an introductory video from the folks at Newsshooter.com More details in this article:... Continue reading

The NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) this week as many of the 'big guns'... the major equipment manufacturers show off their latest, newest and forthcoming audio and video gear. I will post what I consider the most interesting news from the show floor on this blog and on the Casablanca Expert Facebook page. We'll kick off the news with an announcement Canon actully made last week but applies here as new video product news! Canon released three new camcorders today – that by itself is hardly big news as the camera companies regularly bring new models... Continue reading

This is not directly related to Casablanca video editor but indirectly in two ways: 1. some of the topics are related to video editing 2. The program is hosted by yours truly, Chet Davis - also known as 'The Casablanca Expert' Our Technology Tutor is a podcast (internet radio program) where Chet Davis shares technology tips you can use, in plain language you can understand. Learn to become more successful using your personal tech tools like the iPhone, Mac computers, video cameras & editing, and digital photography. You can listen to these 30-minute programs on your computer in the iTunes... Continue reading

I wanted to confirm that I sent out the April Casablanca Free Community Newsletter earlier this week. Please check your In Box for all the news & Casablanca resources. This month I shared links to all the new info about the Casablanca acquisition by the new parent company in Germany (Macro Motion). I also mentioned my new (free) on-line class titled 'Cables and Connectors' and have a good list of resources (articles & streaming videos) all about Titling in your Casablanca Video Editor. Let me know if you did not get a copy and would like to be added to... Continue reading

Since the news broke this past Monday (March 25, 2013) about the sale of Casablanca video editing products to Macro Motion - from Macrosystem Digital Video in Germany there have been announcements made publicly by Jörg Sprave (Macrosystem Digital Video) and Eric Kloor (Owner, MacroSystem US) about this development. You will find links to their complete comments/thoughts below. I have received a number of questions/concerns from website memebers and last night recorded a short video outlining and summarizing the development and the 'players' in the sale. Website members will find this video on this page: Short video explaining the news... Continue reading

There is official announcement in Germany today that the Macro Motion company has acquired the video editing (Casablanca) and home entertainment business (DVC) from MacroSystem Digital Video GmbH You may recall that Macrosystem AG was acquired by the Loewe company back in December 2009. Loewe is a consumer electronics company with a big presence in the HDTV market in Germany & the rest of Europe. This is an interesting development and one I believe could provide further stability for the Casablanca product line. The new parent company for Casablanca video editing, Macro Motion has been one of the apparently successful... Continue reading

QUESTION: "Arabesk is doing what I need now thanks to your instructions. Just one quick question. After I make all the settings including putting the Button Type to 'background stamp' everything stays the same the next time I go back into Arabesk except for Button which always goes back to Type 'from Scene'. I always have to make that one change to 'background stamp'. It would be nice not to have to make any changes when I use Arabesk. For it just to remain the same as the last session." ANSWER: The best and sure-fire way to make sure your... Continue reading

Just sent out the March News for Casablanca Expert Members... lots of info. Upcoming Webinar on Archives & Backups, Webinar Recording on Efx Pack 7 & 8, two Brand new video tutorials (short lessons), news about upcoming workshops, deeply discounted iPhone class and news about a FREE class to learn Twitter. If you did not receive your copy (and you are a member) please let Chet know. Continue reading

... finally! Whew, tried and tried to get the recording of the recent (February 2013) Member Webinar to cooperate but finally decided it was corrupt and not going to 'play nicely' (long story short - my webinar service allows me to record the sessions onto my local drive. Something happened this time at the end of the recording process that rendered the file unstable. It was there - but not able to convert to a play-able video file). So... I have re-recorded the whole program. I took the visuals and the scenes & effects along with the ideas developed with... Continue reading

QUESTION: I have a customer that wants music on her DVD, but she gave the music on USB drive. I have inserted the USB Stick but the files don't seem to show up in the Record Menu under the USB Icon? ANSWER: With Bogart V5 (on a Casablanca Next Gen editor) we can now import MP3 audio from a USB source, this is done in the Audio Record, Edit menu and not the regular Record Menu. First insert your USB drive into your editor, then click the 'USB Record' button at bottom of the menu to select that device and... Continue reading

Chet will present a session on Casablanca Effects Pack 7 and Effects Pack 8 with their combined 7 transition effects and 14 Image Processing Effects. These two add-on software packs are compatible with both Smart Edit & Bogart OS units. This is a particularly fun session as you likely already have these software packages, come learn how to get the most from them! As part of the webinar session Chet will be available to answer your specific questions and address your needs.As part of the webinar session. Registration is open to all website members - to sign-up for this on-line... Continue reading

Casablanca Expert Chet Davis is happy to announce a schedule of new opportunities to help you learn to get more out of your Casablanca video editors. This short video provides a summary of the differences betwee the hands-on workshops, virtuals workshops, and virtual seminars. Click here to visit the Casablanca Expert workshop page for complete details - or you can scroll down beneath the video for a complete list (with links to the registration pages) for each of these exciting opportunities! NOTE: The hands-on workshops and virtual workshops are offered right nowwith a special 20% discount off registration. This 'early-... Continue reading

I had a great time presenting the January Members Webinar yesterday with the focus on 'Motion Manipulation and Your Casablanca'. I was so excited and so much to share that I stayed on-line for an 84-minute lesson. We started with the foundations of Casablanca motion tools and gave some thorough attention to the settings inside the intricate Twixtor software. A lot of folks attending the session particularly appreciated learning more about the settings in the Twixtor-Vario menu (this allows some really cool effects). anThe last 25 minutes Chet showed us several awesome, new effect sequenes. He took slow-motion scenes and... Continue reading

Chet is happy to announce a new tutorial DVD to usher in the New Year! Casablanca Foolproof Volume 12: Success with Bogart V5 is a 2-DVD set that contains 15 different sections with some 3 hours of instruction. This learning resource is ideally suited for those colleagues who have or will soon upgrade to the Bogart V5 Operating System. In addition to the solid instruction on the Bogart V5 OS new features & functions you will learn what the new add-on Render Booster is, how it can help you on your HD productions, and how to use it. Chet is... Continue reading

I've had a number of conversations with website members in recent weeks about compatible HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) or external Hard-drives for use with the Bogart OS Casablanca... this is particulary important for those who wish to use either the add-on Bogart HD Backup or Bogart Store-N-Share software in concert with the Casablanca editor. I have been using the Porsche series external HDDs with my Casablanca for a few years but recently have been using a Western Digital MyBook HDD for my S4000PRO and S3000 with the Store-N-Share software (which I love). It might be more suspicion or folk-lore than... Continue reading

The CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2013 takes place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)... and this is often when major manufacturers show either their latest products or designs for products that are likely to be released this year. Here's an overview from Consumer Reports with a summary of what's showing that is new in cameras and camcorders Continue reading

You may know there is a service called RSS, which allows you to subscribe to a Blog or Website so that you are informed of each new article that is posted. I have been using a service called Feed Burner for the past several years for both the Casablanca Expert.com website and the Casablanca Expert Blog (which you are reading here). That service is going out of business and I am switching over to a new provider called Blogtrottr. If you are a subscriber of either of these feeds, you will need to switch over by completing the short forms... Continue reading