Ask hbi2k: The Abridger's Toolkit

Edit: Since making this video, I have switched from Ulead to Sony Vegas, which I find to be much more responsive and stable. It also has much more options, which is both a plus and a minus: more flexibility, but not quite as easy for the beginner.

So I often get asked which programs I use to make my videos and other similar technical questions about how to go about making an abridged series, so I thought I'd slap together a little video in which I could address the issue at length.

Keep in mind that, while I definitely feel I've improved in my editing since the early days of Berserk Abridged, I'm by no means an expert, so if you get contradictory advice from someone who's actually really good at editing like Kaiser or Masako, it's probably best to take their word over mine. (-:

Also keep in mind of course that this advice is hardly universal: it's just what works for me, so individual results may vary depending on your degree of technical savvy and what kind of editing rig you're running.

I kind of had to glaze over some of the really technical issues such as interlaced vs. progressive footage which is beyond the purview of a short video like this, so if you want to get really in-depth, I definitely suggest that you check out www.animemusicvideos.org where they have a great how-to section and extensive forums where you can get help with specific questions.

If anyone cares to see more of this kind of thing from me, don't hesitate to drop me a line via PM or in the comments with your questions. Fair warning, of course: simple, obvious questions that I've already answered fifty times like:

Q: Durr, what's the name of the theme song?

A: "Forces" and "Violent Pornography" respectively.

Q: Is that your gf voicing Kishimoto?

A: No, that's Cassius614 of The Life Abridged, nice gal and a helluva VA but not my girlfriend.

and

Q: I can haz cheezberger?

A: Noez, onlee lawlcatz can haz cheezbergerz.

will be met with unmerciful mockery.

Edit: The GIMP can be downloaded at www.gimp.org. DVD Decrypter is no longer being officially supported, but a quick Google search should turn up the last version without too much trouble.

Edit: I've been informed by vegeta3986 that he actually uses a very nice studio-quality mic, so you can mentally cross him off the Cheap-Ass Mic Club list. I must have been thinking of someone else when I put him up there.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ask
• hbi2k
• berserk
• gantz
• abridged
• abridger
• editing
• tutorial
• how-to
• program
• abridging
• help

[ZionKraze]

Just a quick question. What if the DVDs aren't in your region?

[hbi2k]

I don't believe that matters to DVD Decrypter, but I could very well be wrong-- I've never tried ripping anything besides Region 1 or occasionally the odd region free disc myself.

[ChadVision]

I've decided to make the Final Fantasy Unlimited abridged, it'll give me something to do and I LOVE FINAL FANTASY my favorite being VI and IV.

Hopefully people like it, only problem I might have is the voice acting, I've never taken an acting class in my life but I'm a great writer.

One question if I owned the DVD but my computer can't burn DVD's would you think it would be fine to download because I technically own it or should I wait until I get a better computer so that i could burn them?

[hbi2k]

A good PC DVD-ROM drive can be had for under $20 nowadays, so there's no reason not to just get one. Ripped footage will be much easier to work with and yield higher-quality results (useful now that YouTube videos don't necessarily have to look like crap any more) than downloaded footage in any case.

[SourJovis]

Just wanted to say thank you for the video. It really helped me a lot with my own abridged series (that I haven't uploaded yet). Also your audio commentaries on your series were very inspirational and helpful.

[OmegaZXProductions]

Tip: I am making an abridged series and I am using the cheap ass mic that came with my Guitar Hero game, all i do is cover it with a plastic bag and it cancels all sound in the background

[MrSkoringo]

Do u still use theat same mic to this day?

[SuperfastJ]

wow my laptop is only an 8.5 gig...

[OmegaZXProductions]

@ecwecwecw1 No prob :D i like helping people

[ecwecwecw1]

@OmegaZXProductions Thanks I appreciate that

[OmegaZXProductions]

@FalconFlyer69 download Corona.dll?

[OmegaZXProductions]

@ecwecwecw1 Export ----> Wave file

Just My 2 cents hope it helped

[FalconFlyer69]

How come everytime I try to run Virtual dub mod it says it says I can't because corona.dll was not found?

[FalconFlyer69]

@DaLadybugMan Netflix. They seriously have almost every anime dvd in stock.