Beneath The Beat: Hip Hop explores the authentic essence of hip hop culture. We offer an independent voice, free from record label and big business imperatives.
This is part two of our Legend series. Hip Hop legend Guru (formally of Gang Star) joins forces with Super Producer Solar as co owners of 7 Grand Records. Guru and Solar have worked with some of the biggest names in Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk & Soul. It is recognized that Guru is one of the founding pioneers of the Hip Hop Jazz component of Nu Jazz fusion. Check out the audio interview below.
In the audio segment above features the following artists:
1. “Down the Back Streets” Guru Featuring Lonnie Liston Smith
2. “Feel the Music” Guru Featuring Baybe And Paul Ferguson
3. “Talk to Me” Guru Featuring Jaguar Wright
4. “State of Clarity” Guru Featuring Common and Bob James.
The following are basic tips, ideas, and solutions discussed in Carmina’s Small Business Internet Marketing Workshop on Tuesday September 30, 2008. The topic was on: “Online Video Basics - Part 1“.
We were going on the basis that there is minimal budget for this project. We were limited to the use of cell phones, digital cameras, webcams and a computer with an internet connection. In part II, we will discuss video editing and more video distribution options. So the question is how do we create an online video presence on a shoestring budget?
I. Whats the Purpose For Shooting the Video?
A. Tell us your story!
- distinguish if its for a business, a hobby, or if its personal
- know the audience and the tone of the story
- decide how often you will produce the video
- people have short attention spans, decide on a length below 10 minutes
B. Shoot your story!
- use an embedded computer cam, a webcam or a connected digital camera
- go mobile using a personal cell phone or digital camera
II. Once you know the story, figure out how you will produce it: What Is your Video Recording Tool?
A. Using a cell phone?
- Quality: be aware that the quality is generally of poor resolution.
- Record: the length of clip depends on the size of the memory car
D. Ask for memory upgrade
- Format: file format is usually 3GP.
- Audio: not very good but under minimal noise conditions you can capture it ok
- Examples: LG Vu CU920, Samsung SLM a747, T-Mobile Wing, Motorola RAZR2 V8
- Price: range from
B. Using a digital camera
- Quality: be aware that the quality is decent to superb depends on the camera’s sensor
- Record: the length of clip depends on the size of the memory car
D. 4GB is great
- Format: file format is usually AVI, MOV, MPG
- Audio: its solid as long as you are close enough to the subject with minimal background noise
- Examples: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS, Canon PowerShot SD20, Casio Exilim EX-Z750
- Price: range from
C. Using a webcam?
- Quality: anything over a 2-megapixel sensor is acceptable quality.
- Record: the amount of time you can record depends on the size of desktop or external hard drive
- Format: file format is only limited to the computers’ software usually its a native DV format
- Audio: some of the cheaper webcams do not have mic’s, if the internal mic is poor buy a USB mic
- Editing: comes with editing software out of the box
- Examples: Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, The HP Elite Autofocus, Creative Live! Cam Optia AF
- Price: range from $20 to $130
SHOOTING TIP: Be conscious of color contrasts, Lighting too much or little (dark-light) and minimize motion
III. Now that you have recorded the story, where do you put it?
A. Choose a web service and create a profile
- Youtube: its America’s most popular video sharing service the worlds fast growing site ever
- Blip: is a versatile video sharing service that has a huge google ranking and very flexible
B. Get the image from the recording device to the computer
- cellphone: message direct to online service or email to theself and download to the desktop.
- digital camera: download direct to the desktop using USB cable or memory card slot or device
- webcam: record direct to the online service or download direct to the desktop
C. Be aware of the mandatory video upload requirements
- the web video formats .avi, .qt, .dv, .mov, .mpeg, .mp4, H.264, .3gp, .asf, .wmv, .flv, .mpg
- the final video must be under 10 min and 100 MB
- make sure that the video is original content and not someone else’s copyright
D. Upload or Record the video clip up to the web-service
- make sure you provide a strong eye catchy title
- provide a detailed description about the video clip and make sure you type in the website URL
- when you tag the video clip, make sure you type in as many key words associated with the clip
- select the video category best associated with the video
- upload or record (if the site has recording capabilities) the video to the website
NOTE: even though its smart to test with Youtube and Blip first, it harms nothing to sign up for as many video sharing sites as possible. The more video sharing websites at you become a part of the better. Lastly after joining all the sites you can find, and exploiting them the best way possible, join Tubemogul.com. I suggest that this be your primary upload location. Tubemogul is the single most important video sharing submitter tool online today. Whatever sites that Tubmogul has on its list are the sites you must join to increase visibility.
These are the very bare very basic guidelines to creating an online video presence on a shoestring budget. Please go to my delicious bookmarks to find a list of more video sharing, online tools and resources. Also if you review the right side of the blog you will see the “Tools We Use” and the “Books We Use”. Every single item is a tool or a book that we have in our arsenal to get the job done. We highly recommend and stand by each of these products.
You may have heard of the power that viral videos can have on brands. The “Will it Blend?” and Smirnoff’s “Tea Partay” clips have received unbelievable traffic - (5.4 and 4.5 mill page views respectively!). And the good news is you don’t have to be a Hollywood producer to create a rockin’ 3-minute message for your business, whether it’s client testimonials, or product demos, or company news. Take advantage of free video applications that give your site’s visitors a much richer experience. It’s time to move from the printed word to the moving image!
Come to the Online Video Basics 2-part workshop and learn how to shoot & edit videos from your cellphone, camera or web cam to easily create compelling content for your website. Give your products and services added exposure on YouTube and other video sharing sites.
My guest speaker will be Ben Williams, aka Bendrix, a 9-year veteran of the media/advertising world and expert video producer/podcaster. Here’s what we’ll cover:
1- How to use hardware - webcams, digital cameras and cellphones - and download tape
2- Basic video editing
3- Downloading and promoting your clips on YouTube
4- Podcasting
5- Case Studies: How companies are using viral video to promote their business
There will be hands-on instruction with take-home assignments. In Part II we’ll be giving feedback on videos created by class participants.
Details:
What: Online Video Basics: 2-Part Series
When: Part I - Tuesday, Sept. 30
Part II - Tuesday, Oct. 7
When I worked for JWT I worked with this experimental hybrid department. “The Nursery” was established in 2005 as a unit of JWTwo Entertainment. An edgy animation group composed of talented, young and irreverent artists — filmmakers, animators, illustrators — The Nursery was initiated as an experimental vehicle for creating original content that could draw an online following. It has served as a testing ground for innovative online campaigning.
In 2004 I got my first DVD project for WildAid, the international wildlife conservation organization launched its first U.S.-based public information campaign starring gold medal-winning Olympic athletes including Maurice Greene (100m gold medalist), Allen Johnson (110m Hurdles) Cathy Freeman (400m), Dwight Philips (Athens gold medal long jump), Hailie Gebreselassie (mid distance) and featuring a resonant message: “When we all come together, we can do anything.” Eric Steinhauser, Executive Vice President for J. Walter Thompson in New York was the lead Creative on the project. JWT called in favors to secure the highest possible production values from some of the best directors, special effects teams, and film crews, who all donated to this cause. I worked on the DVD distributed with this campaign.
Visionary is the celebration of extraordinary individuals, innovations, ideas and events that offer progressive or foretelling insights. Bendrix highlights his thoughts and other lunatic fringe thinking.
In the 1990 my freshman year at college I used to carry 2 book-bags and a portfolio case. In one book bag I carried my books and a Kinkos Customized Notebook that included my To Do List, Calendar, and Notes. In the other book-bag I carried music cassettes. Yep you heard it cassettes not CD’s!!! In the portfolio case I carried all of my graphic art work. It was all ridiculously heavy and I began to gripe about my mobility. I wanted a more compact mobile lifestyle.
In November 1999, I was among the first to get a Handspring Visor. Negating from Apple’s Newton it was the worlds first official multi-platform PDA on the market. It was 2 MB and I was absolutely geeked to finally get rid of my custom Kinkos notebook and manage my To Do List, Calendar, and Notes. I was finally able to micro-organize my life. Since 1999 I have gone through 5 Handsprings and 2 Palms.
On August 16, 2002 I was among the first to purchase the worlds first ever 20 Gig iPod. I specifically held out for the 20 GIG because I was looking for a pocket sized device to store my files and applications. Not to mention listen to my 150+ GIG’s of music. Since 2002 I have gone through 3 iPods.
On July 7, 2005 I was among the first to purchase the Palm LifeDrive Mobile Manager. It was the first of its kind. I was specifically looking for three things with this device: 1). It was the largest PDA on the market, 4 GIGs 2). I wanted to play music 3). I was looking to showcase my video portfolio and visual art graphics. The photo and video capabilities was key because it took 15 years for Palm to create my ultimate dream device. Alas the PDA was buggy and eventually died within the year. Foolishly I did not have the extended warrantee. Even worse lack of support that Palm provided. Three months later the video iPod came out and lacked some of the major features that the Lifedrive had. I was disgruntled once again and that was the last device I purchased until now …
On September 21, 2007 at approximately 7PM, yet again I am among the first to purchase the worlds first iPod-Touch. I somehow avoided the long line brewing at the Apple store on 5th Ave and got there 1 hour after it went on sale. It is now 9PM. For the past 17 years I have been searching for this very Apple specific pocket sized device: PDA, Video, Photo, 8 GIG Storage, Bluetooth, Wifi/Web capable dream machine. I believe I’ve met my match.
I admit that I am a gadget geek, I admit that I love being on the bleeding edge, but first and foremost I aim to make my life simple and efficient. No longer do I have to carry 2 bookbags and a portfolio case, everything is at my fingertips. I am a digital lifestyle junkie and I wish to communicate to the world as I open the box and unleash it from its plastic underpinnings … Stay tuned!!! I will have a full report sometime next week.
This past weekend I met my brother Marc Williams, in Springfield Massachusetts. We were there to work with his client Bayette Gordon, the NBA hopeful, 5′6” point guard with the talent, heart and discipline to make it pro. Mark’s company Demarc Entertainment arranged a shoot at Spalding’s headquarters, where I kept my camera trained on Bayette as he showcased his amazing ball handling skills. The NBA was there, as was the local paper, which ran a front page article in its Sunday Edition (Springfield Republican, July 23).
Two weeks ago, we entered Miller Lite’s Go Pro Challenge. The rules were to create a 3 minute video testimonial showcasing your skills. Our video got a lot of buzz, from the NBA camp because it featured Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond, 2 of the NBA’s top 50 legends speaking on Bayete’s behalf. Aside from the star appearances and his dribbling dynamics, the story about the 5′6” point guard has peaked some interest from some undisclosed media outlets. Out of 400+ entries, ours was one of the 30 selected, winning Bayette a chance to try out for the NBA’s Pre-Draft Camp at Arlington, Texas, July 28-29.
The second part of the contest judges the 3 most popular videos. The top prize is $30,000; $15,000 for second ,and $7,500 for third. Today, July 23rd, Bayete is in first place. I think voting ends this Thursday. Please go to the following link below, watch the video, vote for “Bayete Gordon” and make sure to tell your friends. Vote at this NBA Go Pro Link
Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.
Webbiz reviews and spotlights stuff related to online entertainment and web culture. This is part of the Beneath the Beat Webbiz Podcast.
On Monday July 1st, I was sending a clip to Zadi Diaz to show her the madness over at the 5th Avenue Mac Store in Manhattan, and she wrote back… “that’s insane! Hey — if you’d like, we can probably feature a part of it on Jetset this Monday.”
Actually its no longer called The Jetset Show, its now called Epic-Fu, but in the spirit of preserving an archived memory lets just refer to it as The Jetset Show. Jetset happens to be one of the few shows that I check out regularly. For those of you who do not know, Jetset is a show created by Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf. They conduct interviews and showcase whats hip and cool on both online and offline. For me I watch to see coverage of the newest online applications and to see what is interesting on the web. They also touch on the music scene and there are some very funny skits throughout the 5 min episodes. Oh did I mention that Zadi is a real hottie, (oh and yeah Steve is a dashing young devil as well). But Jetset is so much more because they are an “Internet and pop culture show for young adults featuring cool, weird, fun, geeky, underground, true-to-life, curious, quirky things and people found online and off.” I also wanted to mention that Jetset has accumulated rave reviews from the online community by winning Vloggie and a Webby awards and they just have a growing number of fans world wide.
I highly recommend the Jetset Show and hope you will watch the clip below and go to the following links to support the Jetset movement: website, youtube, mix.jetset
Visionary is the celebration of extraordinary individuals, innovations, ideas and events that offer progressive or foretelling insights. Bendrix highlights his thoughts and other lunatic fringe thinking.
On Friday June 29th I traveled to the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in New York City to witness the pandemonium over the iPhone. I have been present at both the SOHO and 5th Ave Apple Store grand openings, about 9 Mac World Expo’s, and a slew of Apple product release events. Let me just say that this was a crowd that stretched a full city block and the largest police presence and gathering of news teams that I’ve ever witnessed at an Apple event. So why all the madness and what exactly is the value of this product?
Some people are interested but think the $600 price tag is steep. Others ask what’s the big deal over a stooooopid gadget that is nothing more than an indulgence. Others are griping about the exclusivity with AT&T.
The significance of this event and this device marks the beginning of a Telecom revolution. Just like the iPod+iTunes and now AppleTV are revolutionizing digital downloads and the way we view our entertainment – the iPhone will do the same. Apple will make the cellular networks and device makers step up their game - forcing them to offer services and innovations long over due. I will be blogging more on this topic over the next few weeks… stay tuned and check out the mayhem on the video clip below.
Visionary is the celebration of extraordinary individuals, innovations, ideas and events that offer progressive or foretelling insights. Bendrix highlights his thoughts and other lunatic fringe thinking.
Yesterday I traveled down to the Apple Store in SOHO New York City and saw the first line brewing for the iPhone. Its absolute madness, in order to be first in line you would have had to have been there on Tuesday June 26th before noon. Some people have been camping out for a few days, but today Friday June 29th is the release date of the long awaited iPhone. The revolutionary device that I predict will change the face of the telcom industry just like the ipod is doing to music, and what iTV is about to do the broadcast and film industries.
Being a tech and mac geek I tend to have a first round adopter mentality but a second round adopter practicality. I think I am going to have to sit this one out. I am very interested in the iPhone but at a $600 price tag and the AT&T subscription, its just not exactly what I’m looking for. Actually, I’m not really the phone that excites me… its the video capabilities, the touch screen simplicity, Bluetooth, and the internet.
I will be taking a trip to the Apple store 5th avenue within the next few hours. I gather the madness is probably more intensified there… The real geeks go to SOHO the wannabe’s go to 5th Ave that’s gonna be my theme over the next few days… stay tuned and check what I post over the next 48 hours and peep this exclusive clip below
May 1, 2007 Bendrix speaks at the Podcast Meetup. Its the New York City Podcasters monthly meetup hosted at Ariel Publicity 325 West 38 Street - Suite 505.
Its called “Using Video to Expand Your Audience!” This talk takes a look at the What, When, How and Where of video and portable media.
- Fun and effective uses.
- The various media outlets
- How to engage your audience read more…
Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.
There is this competition over on Youtube – “Why I should be the “Official Voice at the New York Comic and Anime Con.” Please go to this Youtube Link and leave a comment expressing your support.
Bendrix is the founder and Digital Media (Brand) Strategist for Codedsignal; a portable media network featuring; 1. Beneath the Beat: Hip Hop, 2. Beneath the Beat: Electronica, 3. Digital Media Tips N Tricks.
I worked with NAB (The National Association for Broadcasters) in Las Vegas NABs annual Las Vegas conferences are the world’s largest electronic media events, drawing attendance from around the globe. For their 2006 conference, NAB launched a major interactive initiative, delivering HD video content to interactive, television and mobile platforms. As part of the launch of the NAB Interactive, HD video content was produced and distributed over multiple-platforms. An interactive microsite, HDTV broadcast throughout the Vegas Strip and was also made available via mobile video DVB-H standard mobile devices, via a partnership with Verizon and Microsoft.
Bendrix, Blog, Music | bendrix | 
February 12, 2009 4:28 am | 
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