RJ’s Geeky Explorations #9 (Sept-Oct 2024)

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Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done a geek-oriented post. Frankly, I don’t become interested in geek stuff until I encounter a reason to want to care about it. I’ve found two subjects to geek out about: chatbots and open-source animation software. I don’t expect really to become highly conversant in these tools, but I hope that in the next few weeks I can create simple animations.

Editing with Vegas Pro 19

Vegas Site/Forums: Vegas Pro tutorials ; Vegas Pro Forums

Vegas Subreddit Threads:

My Youtube Playlist of Vegas Tutorials.

Recommended YouTube Video Settings

Chatbots

I don’t know how seriously I’m interested in chatbots, but I am doing research for a story, and also I have been trying some out for the purpose of story creation (Just at the experimental stage, but…).

Author and blogger David Rothman talks about how to install a chatbot for your book. Basically you set up a free AI account (ChatGPT), install a wordpress plugin that connect to an AI engine, set up a third party database service, upload your book as a pdf with your wp plugin, do a lot of preliminary testing and embed the chatbot on your blog.

How does ChatGPT save your data and other privacy concerns.

This chart separates the different functions of conversational AI (Source).

A lot of the introductions are clickbaity rankings of platforms; they seem to cover dev tools and platforms and front end tools more than the actual technology. I don’t see much documentation about how to customize NLP.

Open Source Animation Software (Blender)

I’ve been trying to make a simple 2D animation graphic in my VegasPro editor, and I was encountering all kinds of difficulties. I was going to ask a technical question about it on a subreddit, then had a lightbulb moment. Surely there are better tools to do this that I can just import into VegasPro.

Several free/open source tools exist to do that. After reading this reddit comment, I realize that all roads lead to Blender. Let me repeat that I am not a graphics guy and certainly not a video guy, so even being mildly productive will be a stretch, but I really really need to do some simple things. So begins my journey…

(Update: I looked at a 2d animation tutorial, and it might be overkill for what is essentially an animated sideshow).

Video Production for Bookish People

I’ll be putting together some video shorts for book publicity. Aside from making short animations, I have many of the tools I need, thank goodness.

For video production I’ll be using my OnePlus11 phone. ($500)

For editing I’ll be using Sony Vegas 19, Audacity and Gimp. The Vegas upgrade license cost 200$, but frankly DaVinci Resolve might might a good free alternative.

For simple animation, I’ll be using the free Blender software.

For lavalier microphones I’ll be using 2 Pack Lavalier Microphone USB C ($24)

For phone mount, I’m using the Metal Phone Tripod Mount 3 Cold Shoes & Arca Port.

For flexible tripod for phone, I’ll be using JOBY GorillaPod Compact Tripod Kit with Ballhead for Mirrorless Cameras up to 2.2 lbs. ($30)

For backup audio, I’ll be using my 4 year old Samsung Lite tablet (unreliable and no microphone) and Marantz audiorecorder + Shure Microphone (ancient, but reliable, even though I have to tape the damn memory card door shut)


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