Master Track Productions

Blending Footage from the Sony EX3 and the Canon 5D

2011-01-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

Blending Footage from the Sony EX3 and the Canon 5D

For the most part we shoot on a Sony EX3, but occasionally we have to use different cameras or even blend footage from two different types of cameras. The Tipton Branding commercial was one of those occasions. Tipton asked Master Track to make a Branding commercial that would featuring their gun cleaning tools. They wanted to focus on the Tipton Best Gun Vise but also show many of their other gun cleaning tools and supplies in action. After some brainstorming we decided on a concept. We wanted a lot of quick close up shots of the various Tipton products as we show how they make gun cleaning easier.

However once we started doing some testing with the Sony EX3 we noticed that it did not have the narrow depth of field we wanted for the close up shots. So we rented a Canon 5D. The Canon 5D is a DSLR camera that uses regular still camera lenses and has the narrow depth of field we wanted for the close up shots.

The down side to it is that it has an extremely narrow depth of field and no auto focus. This meant that the opening and the closing dolly shots would be difficult to film with this camera. We decided to stick with the Sony EX3 for the open and closing dolly shots and use the Canon 5D for the rest of the commercial.

Once we had the footage we needed to blend the Sony footage with the Canon footage. First we used the Color Corrector in Final Cut Pro to adjust the color on all the footage so that it was a better match. I then added some brightness and saturation to the Canon footage and brought up the blacks on the Sony footage. Finally I added a vignette to the Sony footage and made the edges darker and more out of focus. Although a sharp eye can still see the difference in color between the two sets of footage, the adjustments were crucial in making the commercial feel seamless. Tipton was pleased with the results and the commercial will be airing nationally on various cable channels. You can see the final commercial below.

Cinema 4D R12 Updgrade

2011-01-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

Cinema 4D New Features

Recently we upgraded the lastest version of our 3D animation package Cinema 4D. The lastest version (R12) includes many extremely useful updates to the already very powerful 3D suite. I’ll be covering a few of my favorites.

Python Integration

Python is a very powerful scripting language, which allows you to programmatically manipulate virtually every aspect of Cinema 4D. Everything from animation to rendering can be programmed with specific behaviors.

I’m very proficient in Flash – and coming from an Actionscript background it’s extremely easy to get up and running with Python. It has a clear, concise and very readable format. So I’m excited to start testing this more extensively to see what can be accomplished with Python in Cinema 4D.

Global Illumination – And an updated Render Engine

Cinema4D R12 adds a completely overhauled Render Engine. Having apparently rewritten the entire Render Engine from Scratch – the new one is over 100 times faster than the previous version. It now handles Global Illumination and Ambient Occlusion at a production feasible pace. Plus, if gives great results.

Visible SubD Surface

Atop a polygonal model is a subdivision surface – this surface subdivides the polygonal surface, allowing for smoother results and greater manipulation. Cinema4D R12 adds the very small – but very useful ability to view the SubD surface even as you’re modeling the polygonal model. This makes a world of difference during the modeling process.

Those are just a few of the added benefits to Cinema 4D R12 – and we’re looking forward to pushing this software even further in the coming year.

Caldwell Shooting Supplies Animated 3D Commercial

2010-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

With a combination of live footage and 3D Animation, we developed this national TV spot for Caldwell Shooting Supplies. From script writing, to storyboard to final production, Master Track produced this commercial from concept to completion.

Above is an un-rendered version of one of the many Shots from the commercial. Each detail was painstakingly modeled from polygonal primitives. The Lead Sled itself was built from a combination of reference photos (3 view) and physical reference. Once the 3D models were finished, surfacing, lighting, and rendering were applied to the scene. Thanks to our in-house render farm, we were able to render each frame in High Definition video (1920x1080) in under 10 minutes.

Filming for National Dairy FARM Program

2010-05-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

As the sun rose vibrantly over the California countryside Master Track's production crew met early with the producers of the National Dairy FARM Program educational video. Sipping coffee during their breakfast meeting at their hotel, just outside of Fresno California, the team discusses their shot list for the day, as well as reviewing the script for the project.

Contacted by CMA, a public relations and consulting firm located in Kansas City, Master Track was tasked with traveling over 1400 miles to film best practices in Dairy Farming. After a 4 hour flight and several days of planning - which included condensing a "van-load" of equipment down to "three or four bags of gear" - the team at Master Track felt well prepared for the task at hand; capture the various procedures involved in proper dairy farming. Simple right? On paper perhaps - but the team quickly realized this project would differ from previous experiences. An "outdoor-centric" shoot meant the team had little control over lighting and staging, and the constant movement meant they wouldn't have time for a typical tripod setup. "We really had to think on our feet, and move with the flow of the process", said Micah Dorner, Master Track's videographer and editor. Micah chose a non-invasive approach to filming. "We left with three or four lights and all our usual equipment, but I quickly realized I'd have to shoot a lot of it by hand." He added that the team went to great lengths not to impose on the process. "The cattle see you coming and their instinct is to respond to you. What you really want is to blend in." He added that, unlike their usual Talent, cows don't give second takes.

Originally intended for the late winter months - the shoot was postponed until march, due to heavy rainfall in the Fresno area. Master Track put that extra time to use - finding a talented narrator to read the nearly 48 page script. "It's important to stress the benefit of good pre-production." Said Don Enns, Master Track's lighting and sound engineer. "A strong shot-list and a well developed script can go a long way in ensuring a fast and efficient shoot." He added that the producers of this project were well prepared.

After 3 days of filming and over 12 hours of footage - Master Track successfully captured the best practices of Dairy Farming on video. As Micah reviewed the footage - he now focused on the editing process. The purpose of the video was training - training in self regulation - and the video was one portion of a larger product. "It was important that the graphics and 'look-and-feel' of the video match the existing content," Micah said. "The existing content includes printed brochures and a web presence." At Master Track Micah will condense over 12 hours of footage into a 45 minute training video.

With excellent planning, script writing, videography and editing - Master Track Productions' team of talented artists and producers is continuously striving to meet the challenges of today's businesses and organizations.

A Master Track Production Wins Major Award

2010-01-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

We would like to congratulate Les Johnson - Host and creator of Predator Quest, on his recent win at the 2009 Sportsman Choice Awards. Predator Quest won the prestigious Best Hunt Show award from the Sportsman Channel. Master Track Productions has been producing Predator Quest for Les Johnson since 2005. In that short time, Predator Quest has become one of the most respected hunting shows on the network.
"It's really nice to be recognized for your hardwork - and Les has certainly gone above and beyond to make his show a success." Said Micah Dorner, Master Track's video producer. Micah added "This award is well deserved by Les." View the complete press release at the Sportsman Channel website - http://www.thesportsmanchannel.com/newsandevents/pressroom/news.php?ID=362

MASTER TRACK WINS THREE TELLY AWARDS

2009-07-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

MASTER TRACK WINS THREE TELLY AWARDS

Lincoln, NE – (July 8th, 2009) For the second year in a row Master Track Productions has been awarded a Telly Award for their work on Hornady Manufacturing Company’s new products video. This year the Hornady 2009 New Products Video won two Telly Awards in two separate categories, Direct Marketing and Infomercial. Two Telly Awards are great, but three is even better. Master Track Productions won another Telly Award for the RCM commercial also produced for Hornady Manufacturing.

The RCM commercial aired on a number of hunting channels including, The Outdoor Channel, Versus and The Sportsman Channel and helped launch Hornady’s new 300 and 338 Ruger Compact Magnum (RCM) ammunition.
The Hornady 2009 New Products Video, is a thirty-minute promotional video featuring Hornady’s new ammunition lineup for 2009. It includes product demonstrations, staff interviews and graphics to help highlight each new product. As a key part of Hornady’s marketing efforts the video needed to grab the viewers attention and deliver information in an exciting, energetic way. Thirty thousand DVD copies of the video were shipped all over the world. The Hornady 2009 New Products Video can also be viewed at http://www.hornady.com

The Telly Awards are the premier awards honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs and the finest film and video productions. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. Silver Telly winners include Disney, ESPN, Golf Channel, Lockheed Martin, NBA Entertainment, Outdoor Channel, PBS, SCI FI Channel, Sports Illustrated, The Boeing Company, and Warner Bros.

“There is a lot of competition in the video industry and so many great videos out there.” said Micah Dorner, Video Producer for Master Track Productions. “It feels really great to have our work stand out!”

Green screen composite.

2009-05-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

We recently did some green screen composite tests for an upcoming project. We utilized our 530sq foot studio and our (very large) green screen.

Once the green screen was keyed out, we developed a 3D matte for the background image. The 3D scene was lit to match (roughly) the lighting in the sound stage. The final shot ended up being very convincing. This was a true success considering we put the whole shot together in under 2 days. The imaginable possibilities are limitless. We will be posting the final composite video soon.

Recent interview

2009-04-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Recently we were contracted to film a series of interviews at Alegent Health in Omaha, Nebraska. The interviews were for a VNR (Video News Release) as well as for tradeshow purposes. Our video producer Micah Dorner received a call from a media provider based in New York City, specifically looking for a Midwest based production company which was capable of an HD (High-Definition) video shoot. So with our new Sony XDCAM EX3 and our comprehensive lighting and sound kit in hand, we got to work.

The shoot spanned the course of 2 days and contained copious interviews and locations within the medical center. The first day (consisting mostly of B-roll, and doctor/patient interviews) was nothing if not fast paced. With frequent location and schedule changes, "we really had to think on our feet, and be flexible", said sound engineer and MTP president, Don Enns, "We had to find locations all over the building, and get the shoots completed in a timely manner, so the doctors could get back to work". Micah, who at times only had 15 to 20 minutes to shoot the required footage, added that "We really had to think quickly about lighting and staging."

The second day progressed at a less precipitous pace, and consisted of interviews with several top leaders in the medical and technology industries, as well as former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich, who spoke about the benefits of advancements in technologies implemented at the medical center. While the interview with Newt Gingrich appears to be in a quiet and private setting, it was actually filmed in a busy waiting room. "That was a real challenge" says Micah, "to try to make it feel private - when in fact you have a room full of people, an ice machine, and a refrigerator (which was subsequently unplugged by Don to cut down on sound interference)."

Overall, the shoot was a striking success, and is one example of the type of work we can produce at Master Track Productions.

Adobe Media Player.

2009-03-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

For those video users who are not sure how to watch their .flv format videos outside of a flashplayer, you can download the Adobe media player. This is a desktop app that lets you open .flv format videos and watch them directly in the player.

Licor Microsite

2009-03-30T10:00:00.001-07:00

Micro-sites are typically dynamic and compact web locations which are dedicated to a specific topic, product, or service. They can either be embedded within the page, or hosted separately.

We recently completed work on a micro-site for Licor Biosciences' digital mascot "Photon". The site was built in Flash, and uses coded animation for easy updates and changes.
See the result. In this example we started with a simple proof of concept to show that we could create the 'x-ray' effect, then, taking feedback from Licor's project manager, we completed the application. The resulting page is a perfect example of effective implementation of a micro-site.

The power of video in any industry.

2009-03-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

In any industry a sales professional will reiterate over and over again the benefits of their organization's products or services. The so called "elevator speech." It can be repeated dozens (if not hundreds) of times daily by your average sales person.

Now what if they only had to send a link? A link to a web-video that described in a dynamic fashion everything the company offered. Web video is a growing market, and with current and future advancements video on the web will become the norm. Current digital video technologies can take video from the realm of an expensive marketing luxury - into an accessible marketing reality.

Consider corporate training; Recent studies have shown that companies spend an average of $1,202 per Employee on Training. However, using video training, and web delivery to provide your employees with world wide access to the training material, could dramatically reduce those costs.

The value of professionally produced video is important to note. Often times creative developers are competing with low cost (or even free!) hobbyists - or services that offer a "one size fits all" approach to your intellectual property. But your corporate identity only gets one first impression, and chances are you've spent time and resources on logo design and customer service - it's important to extend that to your multimedia needs as well. Plus, a professional produced video can have a much longer shelf life (meaning you won't be embarrassed to show your staff the training video from 5 years ago.)

Professional videography, lighting, staging, acting, narration and editing are all essential elements to achieving your video's purpose. Whether it's to entertain or inform; to train or impress; never underestimate the power of video.

About Master Track Productions

2009-03-30T08:10:00.001-07:00

Master Track Productions, Inc. began in1972 as a recording studio in Hayward, California. The fledgling company soon expanded into cassette duplication and built a reputation for excellent audio quality and outstanding customer service. In 1991, Master Track opened a second facility in Lincoln, Nebraska.

All operations were consolidated at the Lincoln site in 1995. Over the past 30 years, Master Track has continued to grow and diversify. In the new century, Master Track added corporate video production and interactive media design services to its established audio repertoire. Some of our current customers include: The Gallup Organization, Lillenas Publishing, Valentino's, Li-Cor, Back to the Bible, Hornady Manufacturing, Predator Quest Television, Legacy Sports International, National Student Loan Program, Education Quest. Broodmore Development. Local talents including the Wheezetones, Phil Walker, Bobby Layne and His Orchestra, Casting Pearls, The Lonny Lynn Orchestra and Abendmusik have trusted their projects to Master Track.

Our Team

2009-03-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

We have a diversely skilled team of developers and designers. Making Master Track a 'one stop shop' for your creative needs. Whether it's a corporate video, a 3D animation, web design, or dedicated customer services, we have a team member prepared to provide you with the best experience possible.