Larry Jordan's Newsletter: Jan. 1, 2024

January 1, 2024

20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (May this year be better than the last.)

Twenty years ago this week, I began writing this newsletter. (Here's a link to my first issue.) My two lead stories discussed excessive white levels and frequent upgrades. Change may be constant, but some issues remain the same.

My newsletter was a monthly PDF back then. But, as each issue expanded to 40 - 50 pages, it became a lot to write. So, starting January 2, 2012, I converted to a weekly web newsletter. I've published a new issue every week for the last twelve years; more than 600 issues! (Yeah, I'm surprised, too.)

My goals, though, remain the same: To answer your questions, improve your skills, and inform your buying decisions. And, hopefully, have a little fun along the way.

This issue also celebrates my posting more than 2,900 written tutorials! That amazes me. I never realized there was that much to write about. It's all due to your interest in the subject.

So, to start this new year, I have a new review: A new storage speed demon - the OWC Express 1M2. This SSD provides speeds faster than Thunderbolt!

Link: Review: OWC Express 1M2 – A New Speed Champion

As you might expect, the tech industry shut down for the week between Christmas and the New Year. With the upcoming January trade shows, though, I expect this quiet period to end shortly.

Webinars will start again mid-January. As always, email your ideas on what we should talk about. I like sessions with lots of different subjects.

I spent the week between Christmas and New Year's reviewing a variety of hardware and software. Luca Video Walls 3.0 is a stunning collection of 3D effects for Final Cut Pro that create animated video walls. Developed by Luca Visual FX, even if you don't own Final Cut the pictures are worth looking at.

Link: Review: Video Walls 3.0, from Luca Visual FX

Exciting news for FCP 7 editors! There's now a way to run FCP 7 on Macs running Mojave or High Sierra. Here's what you need to know.

Link: Apple Final Cut Pro 7 Now Works in Mojave and High Sierra

Next, I'm getting a lot of questions on how to digitize old video from video tape. So, I asked Michael Powles, a UK-based videographer, to write a tutorial.

Link: UPDATE: Capturing Video from Tape for Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro

Finally, the folks at Digiarty Software asked me to review VideoProc Converter. This utility, for Windows and Mac, compresses video and offers a variety of tools for manipulating clips. It isn't perfect, but it is worth knowing about.

Link: First Look: VideoProc Converter from Digiarty Software

Now that the New Year is here, we need to find the energy to lift ourselves out of holiday mode back into work mode. This coming year will be challenging. While success will depend, in part, upon our creativity, flexibility, and understanding of our craft; more than that, our success requires an ability to help others tell their stories effectively. People skills remain transcendent. I wish you success!

Until next Monday, stay safe, stay hopeful, and edit well.