Going back to our predicament. Converting them is not the problem. We could do that easily with Xilisoft or with any other media conversion software. But it’s not so simple anymore when that MKV has subtitles built in it because the subs are bound to disappear after conversion. Especially if your video is in Japanese, it’s not gonna be watchable. But thanks to a certain Sachin Tangoria from New Delhi, we’re now able to make things right!

Here’s a simplified step-by-step process on how to convert your MKVs with built-in soft-subs to AVI with hard-subs.

1. Download MKVToolnix + MKVExtractGUI and extract them.

2. Transfer all the content from the MKVExtractGUI folder (mkvextract.exe, MKVextractGUI.exe, mkvmerge.exe, mkxuncat.exe, Formats.txt) inside the MKVToolnix folder along with its files

3. Run the MKVextractGUI.exe

4. Load your MKV video in the ‘Input’ tab

5. You can now select which video, audio or subtitle you want to extract from the MKV file

6. Click extract and go to the location of your MKV. You should see the extracted files there and then you’re done!

Now that you have separated the subs from the video, you can now use your favorite video conversion software to convert that MKV into simpler formats like AVI and embed its subtitles. Of course, you’ll need a conversion program with features in which you can add subs. Personally, I use Xilisoft Video Converter.

You can view Sachin’s version here:
http://how-2-do.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-to-convert-mkv-files-to-avi-with.html

Crew:
Japoskee – Director, DOP
Chad Senga – Editor

Cast:
Lea Anareta, Ysabel Arcangel, Jessica Belulia, Cara Consunji, Cyrene Cruz, Iyya Guevara, Angelina Go, Franz Pacquing, Bea Sablam, Kimberley Taytayan

At first, I wasn’t pretty sure if it was the power supply or the drive itself, but when I looked it up online, everyone was ranting on how crappy the power supply was. And the fact that it was WD exclusive, replacing it was a headache. Here’s the hardware brief:

Model name: WD Elements External HDD
Model no: WDE1U***0A (*How many GBs)
HDD Type: 3.5″
Bus Interface: SATA / IDE
Power Supply Model No: DA-30C01

There are three full-proof solutions! Results may vary.

1. Dismantle HDD
Personally, this is much more convenient and time-saving. You just extract all the screws on the casing, remove the wires, and pull the HDD-thingy out like so:

But try to be careful as to not break anything. Once you extract the HDD, you have two options:

A. Hook It Up Your Motherboard
If you have an extra slot for one more hard drive in your motherboard, this should do. Here’s a straightforward procedure in how to install a new hard-drive c/o buildeasypc.com: http://www.buildeasypc.com/hw/howto/insthdd.htm

B. Buy a New Casing
This is what I did. I just went to PC Express in Katipunan with my naked HDD and covered it with a new casing for 500PHP. You can visit their website to locate the nearest branch to you: http://pcx.com.ph

2. Buy a New Power Supply
I tried this first, but to no avail. You can go to http://ebay.com and search for the power supply’s model no: DA-30C01. Or you can go here: http://www.apd.com.tw/contents/products_01.asp?majcidx=1 There should be Chinese replicas showing at the results. Problem is, you have to import and wait for it.

I called the distributors of WD in the Philippines, but they said they don’t sell or provide such. I went to Greenhills and Gilmore, the two computer capitals in the city, for a Chinese replica or customized one. As expected, there was zilch. So the only way to get a new power supply is to import it from abroad.

Those who complained early the US, AU and UK were lucky enough to be provided with free power adapters c/o Western Digital. But they stopped production when the complaints exponentially amassed. This is where Asian Power Devices (APD) came in and provided the HDD patrons with the replicas.

The all-new Western Digital Hard Disk Drives!

I just bought one of the latest HDDs of Western Digital (Yes, I’m still a WD user) and thank God they replaced that crappy 5-pin power supply with just an A/C one. So far, this 1TB beauty hasn’t given me any problems. I can see this one has promising longevity.

Here’s the scoop: I shot various interview scenes for a corporate video using a Panasonic DVX100B. Most interviewees, or otherwise identified as the company leaders, came from different parts of the country and went there just for that cause. The shoot lasted for about six hours and we produced two mini-DVs worth of footage. The camera I rented was just for that day only so I was obliged to get another camera to capture the tapes.

I rented a friend’s Sony DCR-HC38 to try to transfer it via FireWire but upon playback, everything was messed up, both audio and video. The IEEE 1394 port rejected the file transfer. It worried me a bit but I thought to myself “It’s just the camera.” so i tried troubleshooting by punching in a previous mini-DV which was shot with the same Panasonic camera. And guess what, it worked perfectly! It was the first time I despised to see smooth playback.

Confirming that the tapes were likely to be the faulty ones, I searched and skimmed related help articles online, but found nothing. Next thing in mind was to go to the nearest production houses and try my luck there. I went to three of them. They had Samsung and JVC cameras. Results were zilch. Until I went directly to whom I rented the camera from, and voila! The FireWire transfer was successful. The most probable cause was that the tape had PAL footage while the cameras I played it on were NTSC.

After awhile, I finally found insightful articles that tackled the problem head-on. If you experience the same problem, one of the ff. could be the cause:

-NTSC or PAL (recording camera may have diff. system than playback camera)
-DV or HDV (camera must support the format type recorded on the tape)
-FPS Rate (30p, 24p, etc. has been recorded and the playback device doesn’t support it)
-SP or LP (recorded on Standard Play or Long Play?)
-Brand of tape / camera / deck (take a good look at Sony)
-Overwritten tape (e.g. overwriting 30fps footage on a 24fps one will mess things up)

To avoid this type of contingency, always use brand new mini-DVs and be careful with the brand of the camera, tape and deck as well as the kind of camera used, the format, frame rate, type of play, etc. There’s no telling where things could go wrong next.

Adobe explains:

“Most consumer TV sets use a process called overscan, which cuts off a portion of the outer edges of the picture, allowing the center of the picture to be enlarged. The amount of overscan is not consistent across TVs. To ensure that everything fits within the area that most TVs display, keep text within the title‑safe margins, and all other important elements within the action‑safe margins.”

In layman’s terms, whatever you put outside the action-safe area (indicated as red) has the risk of being cut off on regular TV sets, though not on flat panel, plasma and LCD screens. And to make sure that your texts won’t be chopped off as well,  put them inside the title-safe area (indicated as blue). It’s awkward to be reading text on the very edge of the screen.

What are the measurements for these safe areas, you ask? The size of the title safe area is typically specified in pixels or percent. The NTSC  and PAL analog television standards do not specify official overscan amounts, and producers of television programming use their own guidelines. There is no fixed criterion on how to determine these safe areas, but it would help if you will use those on your favorite editing programs such as Adobe Premiere, Avid Express Pro and Apple Final Cut.

Not being mindful of the action and title-safe areas would prove catastrophic to the overall output of the video. Of course, we don’t want the efforts of the production crew, especially our cinematographers and directors, to be wasted in vain. It is the job of the editor to make sure the scenes of the output is properly visualized just as how the team depicted it to be. Chopped off images and text titles are big no-nos.

With the use of A/V cables, you can literally digitize and convert videos from any medium to any other medium such as Betamax, VHS, Hi-8, etc. so long you have the playback device containing the video to be recorded, a capture or recording device to which the video is to be transferred to and the corresponding cables to connect the two.

What equipment will we be needing for this exercise?

1.) The medium (with A/V output) containing the video to be captured – We are going to use a DV Camcorder for this example

2.) A PCI TV Capture Card with A/V input OR a USB Video Capture Card

3.) A/V cable that connects the DV camcorder to the capture device

If you still don’t have a USB or PCI capture device, I recommend you inquire and buy at your nearest computer hardware store. Mine is from KWorld – PCI Analog TV Card Lite (PVR-TV 7134SE) – also available at CD-R King.

This badass not only lets you capture videos, but it can also transform your PC into an instant multimedia center! Watch cable TV, listen to FM radio and plug in S-video devices. It even comes with a remote control!

Okay, let’s get back on track.

Step 1: Install capture device to your computer

For the PCI card, click here for a comprehensive step-by step process on how to install it to your motherboard c/o LifeHacker.com. If you have the USB device, it should come along with an instruction manual.

*Don’t forget to install the software and hardware drivers!

Step 2: Connect the DV camcorder from its A/V out to the capture device’s A/V input

Step 3: Open your NLE program and go to its capture menu. Take note that every NLE software has its own way of capturing video, not to mention the different formats and menus in which to handle the files created. In my case, I used Adobe Premiere CS4. Start recording in your NLE and play the medium. Press stop in your NLE when done capturing.

Step 4: Go to the location where you saved your video and play it and you’re done!

If the video is too big a file or if the video looks crappy, it could be a lot of things. Check your camera settings when you shot the video as well as the capture format settings in your NLE at the time you captured it. You may have put the camcorder in LP mode or just compressed the video too much.

For further questions, just write in the comment box below and I’ll get to you when I can. Next up, how to rip mini-DVDs recorded on your DVD camcorder!

This goes for your desktop as well.

Greg Wells and Monica Ricci pointed out six reasons why you should be organized:

-Good First Impression

Imagine meeting an attorney for the first time, whose office is a cluttered mess? Papers piled all over the desktop, mail and files scattered on the credenza, and an overloaded bookcase with stacks of books on top and on the floor. Regardless of the actual skill or reputation of that attorney, might your first impression be a negative one? Might your confidence in that attorney be lessened as well? In business, first impressions are important.

-Save Time

We often spend far more time looking for items than it would have taken to designate a place to store it. Have a place for each item you use and get into the habit of returning it promptly when you’re finished; you’ll free up more time to do what you want later.

-Save Money

You’re pretty sure you can find the misplaced wrench that you need, but you just don’t have enough time you need it now! Many of us will run to the store and buy the same tool again rather than delay a project further by tearing the house upside down. By staying organized, you’ll have less reason for an impulsive purchase based on a tight deadline. The costs of organizing are minimal compared to the potential unnecessary spending!

-More Focus

It’s easier to concentrate when you can find the tool or instrument you need to complete the task! Why spend time trying to remember where you put it when you could just be using it? The alternative is to lose precious time searching and re-focusing to get back on task. Having what you need at hand exactly when you need it allows you to strike while the iron is still hot and accomplish far more with less distractions.

-Less Stress

It’s Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong and in the case of storage, things will always go missing when you need them most. Whether you spend 30 seconds or three hours looking for something, you take on added stress and negativity around the need to locate the item by a certain time.

-Higher Quality of Life

How does putting your shoes back in the closet or keeping your desk neat and tidy contribute to you living a better life? While no single act will change your life, getting organized has many benefits. The previous reasons of less stress, increased money, focus and time added up over the course of several years can definitely impact your quality of life.

Janice Perez wrote about an article how Japanese companies innovated a productivity philosophy called “5S,” which stands for five Japanese words that refer to a methodology not only for cleaning, but for business. The 5S methodology is all about eliminating waste, speeding up daily tasks, and improving the quality of the workplace. You can use the 5S methodology to help you organize your tasks at the end of every working day.

1.) Seiri (Sorting)

Go through everything in your workplace. Check your shelves, desks, and even the file structures in your office computer. Keep only the items you need at work, and discard or store everything else. Sorting and storing reduces the time you spend looking for a particular pencil, a notepad, or a certain file on your computer, which means that you can devote more time to work.

2.) Seiton (Set in Order)

“Set in order” means that there’s a place for everything, and everything should be in its place. After a day of work, take the time to see if your writing materials, tools, notes, and files are in their correct and proper order. It also means that you can improve the work flow for the next working day.

3.) Seiso (Sweeping)

At the end of each working day, take the time to clean up after your office space. Clean up after any mess you make. Not only should you do this out of courtesy, but “seiso” also means that you know the exact place of everything you need for work. It also means that when you enter a clean office, you should work and leave in a clean office.

4.) Seiketsu (Standardizing)

Almost every company has a standardized manual on company behavior and workplace cleanliness. If your company assigns cleaning tasks, you should know exactly what you should do and stick with that role for the particular task.

5.) Shitsuke (Sustaining)

A systematic and productive workplace is not a one-day-affair just because the boss or some prospective clients are around. Sustaining your cleaning tasks is important to improve productivity and increase employee satisfaction. Remember that if you cannot sustain 5S, you have to start over.

The 5S system may sound simple, but it demands dedication and commitment. With 5S, you can be sure to complete your office cleaning tasks in no time.

Article sources:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Janice_Perez
http://how-to-be-organized.info/busting_workplace…
http://searchwarp.com/swa470869-The-Top-5…

One thing I noticed though, is that almost every production house I’ve been in uses FireWire in capturing videos. So I decided I better catch up and give it a try. This entry is about how to transfer videos from your DV camcorder via FireWire.

First things first, here’s a list of gadgets we’re gonna use:

1.) Mini-DV Camcorder with IEEE 1394 port (i.e. FireWire)

2.) PC with FireWire port

3.) IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Cable

If you don’t have a FireWire port, you should probably buy a PCI 1394 card and hook it up your motherboard. For test purposes, I got mine from CD-R king for 250 PHP.

By the way, CD-R king is a local brand here in the Philippines that is all China. They got everything from mp4 players to USB hand massagers to computer tables and LCD TVs for a hell of a cheap price.

Anyway, let’s proceed.

Step 1: Install PCI card to motherboard
Click here for a comprehensive process on how to install your IEEE 1394 card to your computer c/o LifeHacker.com

Step 2: Connect camcorder to PC through their FireWire ports

Step 3: Open your NLE program and go to its capture menu. Take note that every NLE software has its own way of capturing video, not to mention the different formats and menus in which to handle the files created. In my case, I used Adobe Premiere CS4. Press stop in your NLE when done capturing.

Step 4: Go to the location where you saved your video and play it and you’re done!

If the video is too big a file or if the video looks crappy, it could be a lot of things. Check your camera settings when you shot the video as well as the capture format settings in your NLE at the time you captured it. You may have put the camcorder in LP mode or just compressed the video too much.

For further questions, just write in the comment box below and I’ll get to you when I can. Next blog entries would be how to rip videos from your DVD camcorder and how to transfer your videos via analog/component. Watch out for it!

Written and Directed by Japoskee
Shot by Kenneth and Japoskee
Edited by Chad c/o Perfect Renders