How I Fake Widescreen

I have been asked how I am able to use a 4:3 camera and old editing equipment to create Widescreen and HD content for YouTube. I'm hoping this will help someone. I think YouTube must have a wide definition of High Quality. If they mean "in focus" then OK.

First, I tape everything in standard 4:3 aspect ratio. I have tape marking my video camera so I can tell what will properly be in the frame. You can see the yellow tape I use in this doctored image.



I use a program named DVDFab to convert the video from the DVD to an ipod format of mp4. Now, I select the video from the menu of the DVD+RW. That's the kind of disc that allows me to erase and use again. I'm just using equipment I have around the house.



You select Advanced Resolution Settings that will allow me to fake widescreen.



Next, I select 672 X 336. This iwas the setting that gives me the closest appearance to widescreen of them all. You'll notice that you see lots of black around the picture. That will go away when you go to the next step.



Move the resize lever from Leterbox to Pan&Scan.



Now, see what's happened! Whatever fills the yellow box is what will be posted. Yes, that's me on the radio in 1988 in the picture behind me. lol



Click start to make the MP4 file. Now I'm done!



Upload the video to YouTube and you're creation is online! I hope this helps someone that lives in a parallel universe with exactly the same screwed up equipment as me.

Closed Caption

In a recent collab I was included as a contributor along with 15 other amazing people. A friend named Richie who also contributed sent me a file to close caption the video. I had never done that before and he was kind enough to tell me how to do it.

On December 28th I added close caption to several of my videos. I will try to add them from here on. I am not a good typist so it's difficult for me to do. But, having a hearing loss myself, I feel strongly that everyone should enjoy YouTube videos. The program is named Media Subtitler and it is very easy to use.

New Years Collab

I've submitted my part for a New Year's Collaboration with Delane, Stewze and Stufish4040. When it posts I'll also make public my video part as a New Years wish to my viewers. It's an interesting mix in that Delane and I are both insane and Stewze and Stu have their feet firmly on the ground. (No offense to Delane)

100,000 Miles

Christmas Day, my 1994 used Honda Accord (which I bought in 1996) turned the odometer to 100,000. It was pretty eventful as cars go. And, I've been told that it should easily make it another hundred thousand if I take care of it. Hopefully by that time there will be more earth friendly alternative fuels that will power cars.

Also in this video are some awesome Christmas gifts and a look at my days in the Christ Church choir. Plus, I had to do a shoutout to DeLaNe whose name I had been mispronouncing! Yikes! He made me feel good telling me he is called Delaney by folks.

On the list for the next video is to answer some questions people have asked. This should help some of the new subscribers. Thanks for subbing if you have.

Flurry Of Replies By Video

I've made two replies by video fairly quickly recently. I had planned on taking some time off from vlogging (I've been told I don't really vlog, but I'll have to sort that out later) but there were two requests for video responses that I couldn't pass up. The first was from Tyler Oakley and his request for videos of expired things in your refrigerator. Last night it was to answer a post by Luke (someguy090) on SomeLikeItVloged. This is for a temporary slot while the regulars on on Christmas Holiday. There are so many that deserve outside of me who hav so many more viewers than my humble channel. They are the ones that should do it.

Christmas Video

Almost everything is done for my Christmas Video. Not the collab by Connor on Christmas eve, but my own entry. I want to say that the edit may confuse some people that I'm being unkind to Jimmy Carter. The statement about the "one guy at the party whois an idiot" goes into my Carter impersonation where he says "I approve this message. " That is in reference to the peanut butter comment as President carter was a peanut farmer in Georgia. I didn't want anyone to misunderstand.

Widescreen

BillTvMacon made it's widescreen debut today. Actually, that's not all true. The first time I posted publicly with widescreen was to answer a "Best Friend" question on the channel "charlieissocoollike."

Now, the video "Faux Widescreen" is online. Is it more difficult to post this way? Not to post, but to edit. Now, let me go check E-Bays for Mac mini's.

Lisa Nova Contest

I've entered the "LisaNova's Non-Corporately Sponsored Holiday Contest!!!" on YouTube. And, so have over a thousand other people. Chrissyjeano, one of my kind 121 subscribers, wrote me to tell me to enter. Three people will win more recognition on YouTube and $1,000. I have no illusion that I'll stand a chance to win against some of the great posts I've seen on there. I just enjoy the participation process.

Over Sixty Videos Deleted

Lets make no mistake about it. Bill Tv began as a private video sent to friends. I have decided to be pro-active and have deleted videos that I believe may be tagged for copyright infringement. All three complaints have been about background music behind the videos. If I understand correctly, the exceptions are song parodies which fall under the lip sync or parody category.

If I get any other correspondence about remaining old material I will remove all of the old clips. Period. (So don't be surprised if it goes away quickly.)

Now that my original vlog material is starting to get some attention it is more important to me to have it survive than to have the site taken down.
More new videos ahead.
Keep rating, commenting and subscribing!

Christmas Collab

I was asked to be a part of a Christmas Collab. Connor, (crash3462) messaged me that Chris (crabsickz...not his real name) had given him my name. Alasdair (roguebluejay) is also contributing.

It's going to be 15 people who will have no more than 30 seconds to tell their two Christmas Wishes. The first is what you'd idealistically like to see...like Peace on Earth, etc. The next is a personal want...like a Nintindo Wii. Fun stuff!

They'll be assembled and posted on Christmas Eve. Watch this space for the link.

Crabstickz and 100 Subscribers

As of this post it's actually 105. Since this site is all about the postings and inner workings I'll assume you understand how subscribers work. My friend, Chris (aka, crabstickz), pushed me over the top yesterday with his video. He even drew the picture of me that is now my avatar. Alasdair and Chris have been so generous with their selfless promotion of my channel and videos.
Thank you to everyone who decided to click the button.

RogueBlueJay

Alasdair is a friend who is a big hit on YouTube. He is RogueBlueJay and has done a very kind thing for me. By mentioning me on his popular Vlog, my subscribers went up, yet again. I'll state that however many subscribers I have won't change what I post or how. He and I had a good conversation about this today. I do my vlogs like I did the radio show. If it entertains me or if I think it's funny then that's what I do. Ali agreed. Unless it's a collab, you're pretty much in it alone.

What impresses me are people like Alasdair who have so much natural ability and great things to say. YouTube is a good thing because it gives any individual who wants one a voice. Oh, and be watching for his video on Democracy. Probably in a week or so.

Thanks to Alasdair for risking his good reputation to help a friend.

Charlie Challange

There is a popular vlogger on YouTube named CharlieIsSoCoolLike. Thousands of subscribers. Yesterday he asked folks to video reply to his post about Best Friends. I made a video and posted it. An amazing thing happened. My subscriptions went up from 52 to 59 overnight. I had no idea this would happen. The video views are at 222 as of now and I posted the video yesterday about 5PM EST.

I don't really do my videos to be popular, although I love that people like them. It's the creative process I enjoy. When I did the radio show it was the actual performance of live radio that I enjoyed. There is so much talent on YouTube. There's no magic formula why some are more popular than others. In a kind way, Charlie is allowing those who post to introduce their videos to a new audience. So, to that I say, Thanks!

Blocked From My Own Replies

Sorry I could not reply to my own post. It wasn't until I did a search that I learned that YouTube does not allow URL links in replies to viewer posts. I tried a few times and eventually was blocked from posting at all. Sorry about that. I'll know better next time. Here's what I wanted to post.
RogueBlueJay
http://bbcamerica.com
How else can I watch Skins?
Daleroflrofl
http://fredsinc.com
It's a store. That was the sales flyer I had in my hand.
-------------
UPDATE: Hey, I can post again!

YouTube Widescreen Pressure

Peer Pressure is a terrible thing. YouTube has just added widescreen players for their viewers. I have the oldest editing equipment available to produce the offerings on BillTvMacon. In the middle of December I'll be going widescreen...to the best of my ability. If things start looking really bad, I'll reserve the right to go back. lol

Here's how I'll do it, just so you'll know it's nothing legitimate like having a good new camera or "real" editing system. The camera shots will be in 4:3 but I'll zoom back to allow for the aspect ratio. The graphics will be adjusted for that, too. It will be edited in 4:3 like it is now. However, the encoding is where the widescreen happens. I'm using DVD Fab and forcing the encode to be 640 X 360. Wish me luck. Maybe I should say, "I wish YOU luck!"