Author Topic: Video on the web  (Read 36464 times)

Phil_The_Rope

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Video on the web
« on: October 30, 2007, 11:05:17 PM »
Hello Friends!

At long last I've got around to constructing a "knotty" web site - www.gr8-knots.com

I will endeavour to produce streaming video for the site, so I'd welcome your opinions. It's a tricky dilema in that quality has to be compromised for file/video size. The first video has been posted on the"Videos" page, so any feedback would be most welcome before I produce more -

http://www.gr8-knots.com/videos.htm

Thanks!

Phil The Rope







DerekSmith

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2007, 01:17:17 PM »
Great site Phil, I can now do the MWK.

When can we have the rest?

Derek

Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2007, 02:41:59 PM »
I think you're teasing, Derek! I'll bet you've been tying them with your eyes closed for years.

Seriously, I wasn't sure if the resolution was good enough, or indeed whether the instructions were clear enough. I was waiting for a little feedback before I moved on to the next knot (diamond knot).

My intention is to try to persuade colleges to try a "Get Knotted" course, where I can teach some simple decorative stuff. I would produce a DVD with instructions on too, so that when people finish the course they'll have a reminder of how to do things (new skills are easily lost, especially if those skills aren't used again soon after learning them). The resolution on DVD would be much better than the web video.

Of course, it would give me an opportunity to promote the IGKT too. I probably need to speak to Des Pawson about the right sort of cord too - don't want people getting blisters after only a couple of hours!

Thanks for the feedback.

Phil

roo

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2007, 03:16:25 PM »
Hello Friends!

At long last I've got around to constructing a "knotty" web site - www.gr8-knots.com

I will endeavour to produce streaming video for the site, so I'd welcome your opinions. It's a tricky dilema in that quality has to be compromised for file/video size. The first video has been posted on the"Videos" page, so any feedback would be most welcome before I produce more -

http://www.gr8-knots.com/videos.htm

Thanks!

Phil The Rope

Aside from the problem of Flash, I had to wait several minutes to get to a finger pointing at knots.   I would not return to such a page.
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Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2007, 03:39:14 PM »
Hi Roo - thanks for the feedback.

I agree - if something doesn't load quickly, then people will quite rightly give up.

Hmm ... I wonder why it took so long? Do you have a fast connection? The reason I ask is that I used the same process for producing the video on this site as I do for my main work site (www.gr8-productions.co.uk), and the only time this has happened before is with people who have a 56K Modem connection, or when servers were "playing up". This is not generally an issue on my main site as my customers tend to be corporate.

Flash - yes, I deliberated for some time with my main site as to whether to use Quick Time, Windows Media, Real Player or Flash. The concensus I got from my test audiences was to use Flash, as there seemed to be fewer issues with versions. I may consider reproducing the video in different formats and give viewers a choice, but chances are if the first choice doesn't work well they're unlikely to try another option.

I'll watch out for any others who report the same issue - thanks.

Regards,

Phil

roo

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2007, 04:28:52 PM »
Hi Roo - thanks for the feedback.

I agree - if something doesn't load quickly, then people will quite rightly give up.

Hmm ... I wonder why it took so long? Do you have a fast connection?

I don't have a fast connection, but it is fast enough for 99% of the websites I visit.  I have a  free dial-up connection.
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KnotMe

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2007, 04:39:52 PM »
given a choice i vote quicktime.

Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2007, 06:35:16 PM »
Hi Folks!

The question of loading time for the first video on my site ...

The video (flash)  file is actually a fraction under 12MB, which is quite big even for streaming video. Without a fast (i.e. broadband) connection, people WILL struggle to watch it. Although I could reduce the file size, the resolution would suffer and make the video impractical, so I'm reluctant to do that.

I accept that even slow(er) connections will cope with the vast majority of web sites, but streaming video does demand rather more than most other web applications.

I'm particularly grateful to Roo for highlighting the issue, so I think I'll put a warning on the "Video" page before visitors actually click on the link(s) to this or any future videos.

Endeavour as I might to actually make videos shorter, I don't want to cut instructions short in order to reduce file size(s) - this particular video was filmed first, then a voice-over added afterwards, as I've found historically that this does reduce the length of the final video (it concentrates the mind, making the commentary fit the video).

Keep the comments coming!  Positive comments are always welcome of course, but I ALWAYS welcome negative feedback too as that highlights areas that need addressing.

LOL,

Phil
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roo

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2007, 09:48:20 PM »
Phil,

I just gotta know (referring to your icon):  Why is one part of your rope red, and the other part the same color as your arm?
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DerekSmith

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2007, 10:36:42 PM »
I think you're teasing, Derek! I'll bet you've been tying them with your eyes closed for years.

Seriously, I wasn't sure if the resolution was good enough, or indeed whether the instructions were clear enough. I was waiting for a little feedback before I moved on to the next knot (diamond knot).

snip.....

Thanks for the feedback.

Phil

No tease Phill, I don't tie decoratives, and until your video, the only fancy I could tie (with my eyes closed) was the Chinese button knot.  My good lady would be much happier if I tied something productive or useful, but my interests are in structure, stability and strength and I produce little more than copious diagrams and reams of variants of the same basic knot structure -- AKA 'Really BORING stuff.

I had not appreciated that the MWK was nothing more than a stack of interlocked OH knots.  Knowing that, I can now tie any number of strands into a MWK, in fact, I hadn't realised it, but I have been tying a two strand MWK for some time now -- it's one of my favorite bends.  If I now need to bend two cords to one, I might in future use a three strand MWK to do it, then there is the two strand MWK Loop - Oh Heaven - when all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of tangled knotty bits....

Anyway, to your question re resolution and clarity.  Yes, the resolution was a little jpeggy, and the odd arm between camera and knot blocked the view once, but generally, the resolution was quite adequate and the fact that I can now tie the MWK is testament to this.  However, there are a couple of comments I would make that might make the video a little better.  Don't forget that you know how to tie this knot and the viewer does not.  So when the end goes through the loop, to the viewer, that is all that happens.  You gave the almost throwaway instruction that the line goes UNDER the previous lines.  This was easy to miss (first time I did miss it and tied a very novel creation).  When there are key steps like this, either stress them or go in closer so the student cannot miss where the cord goes.  Second, dressing.  Instead of fiddling and squeezing the knot into form, explain that sometimes the lines might cross and lay in the wrong 'slot', show an example and show how to tease the line into its right position.  Finally, twist.  In some cords, twist can kill a knot and the MWK is no exception.  If the cord resists twists, then explain the importance of feeding the cord through the knot, then laying out any undesirable twist BEFORE starting to dress up the knot.  Once you have tightened in a kink, the job is buggered, best to understand the need to manage twist as you are tying.

See -- although it is only an ornamental, there is a chance to teach some real knotting while you are at it  :o

Apart from that, I am looking forward to Part 2

Derek

Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2007, 10:15:23 AM »
Hi Derek,

Thanks for your comments and observations. For a first bash I was reasonably happy, but you've made some really useful suggestions.

I'll redo the video (which I always knew would be necessary), and be mindful of the points you raise. I may use photos in one or two places to help if the video is not clear enough. The main dilema will be getting the instructions in clearly without dragging out the video for too long - considering other comments about loading time, it might be an idea to break the project down into smaller parts, although I'll need to be careful not to make it disjointed.

I'm really grateful for the time and effort you've put into this for me - thanks!

Regards,

Phil

Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2007, 10:19:46 AM »
This one's in answer to Roo's question about my icon ...

The icon was a piece of royalty free clipart, and I believe the knot is tied in a baseball bat, the red part being the handle.

Yes, I know it could be construed as a rather aggressive image, but I think it's humerous. Some might even say there's a likeness in the face!!

Regards,

Phil

Phil_The_Rope

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2007, 03:17:32 PM »
I've tried to incorporate Derek's suggestions, and now the video project consists of two parts - an intro and the Matthew Walker knot.

I have just filmed the first diamond knot in the bellrope - this will probably take even more iterations before I can publish it because it's a tricky one to film!

Regards,

Phil
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squarerigger

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2007, 11:03:45 PM »
Nice work on getting a video together Phil!  What was your motivation (other than to make sales perhaps?) for putting this together?  I want to add to Derek's comments on what I saw when I watched your video - the yellow line is difficult to see clearly, because it kinda glows on the screen - is there maybe a more muted color you could use?  A small point and what might be considered nit-picking, but my tired old eyes just cannot pick out the crossings and turns in this rather bright line.  Something for Derek - "although it is only an ornamental" seems a little harsh, but I'll take it in the spirit it was, I feel sure, intended.  It happens that the MWK is very practical, acting as the stopper to lanyards on square-rigged ships' standing rigging, thereby preventing the whole spider's nest from falling about our ears.  Just a thought....

Looking forward to seeing the next iteration Phil! ;D

SR

DerekSmith

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Re: Video on the web
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2007, 12:04:29 AM »
snip..... acting as the stopper to lanyards on square-rigged ships' standing rigging, thereby preventing the whole spider's nest from falling about our ears.  Just a thought....

SR

That's just plain scary, how on earth did all that rigging stay up before MW invented his famous knot???

Derek