Complaining: it's good for the soul

[katiefoolery]

There are two main problems with the Samsung MX-20.  Firstly, it claims to film in genuine 16:9 widescreen; secondly, it declares itself to be YouTube friendly.  It is neither.  It is so, so neither.  It's so neither that it almost makes me laugh out of slightly-crazed frustration.

It does film in 16:9 widescreen.  Unfortunately, it doesn't export in said aspect ratio.  In fact, this is a common problem with the camera, as I found out much later.

I wasn't even game to introduce it to YouTube.

Actually, there are three problems with the Samsung MX-20 and the third would be the TYPO ON THE BOX.  Hassle is not spelt "hassel".  No, really it's not.

I was going to purchase the Canon mini-DV cam, but the Samsung was sitting there, all red and shiny and designed to record on memory cards, rather than mini-DV tape...  And then I got around $50 off, due to its being on special and being the display stock (and the last one in red).  So even though I had intended to buy the Canon - on my dad's expert advice, no less - I went ahead and followed the shiny.

And tonight, it's going back to the store, to be replaced for the Canon.

So while I thought I was going to shoot this week's vlog on my shiny new camera, I ended up with my webcam again.  And all of the footage I took over the weekend?  In useless, squished-up 4:3 instead of widescreen.  GAH.  I wanted my writing week video to be extra special, dammit.

Anyway, here it is for you all.  Writing week: Why do we write?  Watch the video to find out!

Incidentally, why do you write?

Comments

[little-wolf1985.livejournal.com]

You have to be the most adorable person EVER!

[http://users.livejournal.com/traycer_/]

Hey, you're not whispering anymore! I can hear you so much better. Oh, and I've been wanting to tell you the following ever since you posted that video asking about the good and the bad. (That was on one of my bad internet connection days and I forgot to come back when the internet fairies liked me again). :D

I love the bright blue curtains against the dark yellow walls!! Best background ever!!

*ahem*

I write because I love to do that more than anything in the world. :D

[wiccanslyr.livejournal.com]

No worries sweets, sometimes we have to let the shiny get us in order to learn why we should follow our "instincts". It's all good. Just think about the extra special super awesomeness that will be NEXT weeks vlog! =D

Also, I'm totally going to recommend that you pick up an inexpensive desktop mic while you're out too. I'm still having trouble hearing you when you're on the webcam and I think it has more to do with the internal mics on those things being mostly shite then you not speaking loud enough. A mic should fic that for time you use it. =D

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

oh I'm sorry about the stupid camera :(.

I write cos I can't not. THere are stories in my head and they have to come out.

Also - be on MSN tonight. I am lonely and demand your wisdom!

[qwaynt.livejournal.com]

But it's red! And red should mean it works better. *sob* Because red is...well it's red! At least it can be returned. I hope there's better luck with the Canon. As a former typesetter I'll forgive the typo, because it looks like something I could have done. I'm very bad at transposing letters.

Writing is something I recently started doing, but I've always created people and scenes in my head. A few years ago, I decided to move some of that stuff out of my head and onto paper. I also think that is my problem with writing. I can create scenes - a moment in time - I'm not sure I can come up with an entire story.

Good luck with the new camera.

[erinmacha.livejournal.com]

Ooooo - you mentioned very many similar reasons why I write. :P Chiefly because I usually have a story in my head that I have to share - or my head may explode. :P

Number one reason why I'll stop writing - stress in real life. Although I can't blame it only on that at the moment.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

I know why I used to write, but it looks like I've given it up, so I dunno.

[natally.livejournal.com]

I'm disenchanted with writing at the moment. This is probably because I write to get marks. The fulfillment comes from the percentage at the end, not the lovely feel of the language itself.
I mean, good marks are necessary but can't I enjoy it too? Where is the happy medium?

Wishing you a better week this time round!

[faded-pretense.livejournal.com]

LOL! I write because I can't get my creativity out any other way. I feel like my head might explode too if I don't get the ideas out. I haven't written in forever. I'm too lazy. u.u; Just like I'm too lazy to make a vlog. Haha!

[violentstylings.livejournal.com]

A lot of digital video devices record their widescreen video as squashed 4:3 footage. That's because *insert ye olde trumpet noise here* all standard definition widescreen content is actually just 4:3 content squished and then stretched across your screen. Technically, if you use software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut it should be able to tell from the file if it's widescreen or not... unless that's the problem with the camera? It's not saving the correct aspect ratio information to the files it records???

Oh, and be nice to us poor graphic designers and our lazy and ignorant use of the English language. We just like to make things look pretty! ;)