Finalists for Anime Expo Anime Music Video Contest 2008

[TaranT]

Here is a graph that sorta demos what happens to a sound's waveform when its clipped.

<image>

When the sound is clipped, it goes from a nice smooth curve (or the nearest digital approximation) to a flat plateau at the apex of the waveform.

These days, part of the fault is in the CD mastering (so-called "volume wars"). If the WAV comes off the CD already clipped, there isn't much an AMV editor can do about it.

The Degradation of CD Mastering
The Death of Dynamic Range (examples of waveforms)

[The Wired Knight]

AMV Contest on the same day as Seki Toshihiko's panel? Crud, gonna be real busy that day, I hope that his autograph session isn't going to conflict, otherwise I know my girlfriend won't be making it to the AMV showing.

[anneke]

I make such a beautiful website and nobody visits it ><
http://www.anime-expo.org/convention-in ... /schedule/
Follow the link for the schedule for the AMV contest.

My bad. But also what about getting our priority seating? I'm going to be coming from work that day, grabbing my badge and heading to the contest (as usual). But each year it's usually a big bit of drama to find out where I'm suppose to go, who I'm suppose to talk to.

-Anneke

[outlawed]

The Death of Dynamic Range (examples of waveforms)

LAWLZ
"Ricky Martin (C2/Columbia CK 69891)"

This man speaks truf.

BTW this is one cause but the other is some AMV editors who don't know anything about audio. The best thing is if there is clipping and you can't get better source to adjust the audio yourself as best you can.

As for normalizing audio I am FOR it at Acen contests when it is not the AMV staff who will be running the soundboard because the guys who are running it do not know what to expect as far as loudness of each individual track and often I have seen them overcompensate for quiet tracks and then have everything amped up too much later. I am far too lazy to correct individual tracks one by one for some simple insert DVD and playback screening. Far easier to load it all up and normalize =p. And amazingly enough no one complained about sound quality this year all I got was compliments lulz. Then again many modern pop songs don't have much dynamic range to begin with. In general something like Jazz or a Symphony is going to be hit much harder by dynamic range issues.

RE: AX Crew.
I have seen this issue over years. It is nice you guys want to get the word out again (it has been harped on in the past) but I honestly don't have much faith in the AMV contest submitters when many people have a hard time following simple direct instructions to begin with I'm sure you have received some e-mails from "quality individuals" as I have myself over the years.

[outlawed]

another good article about the audio in current CD releases
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/ ... cover.html

[DigitalPanther]

Here is a graph that sorta demos what happens to a sound's waveform when its clipped.



When the sound is clipped, it goes from a nice smooth curve (or the nearest digital approximation) to a flat plateau at the apex of the waveform.

Hey Nic, Can I keep this for the FAQ? It will save me from having to track a chart down.

-DP

[DigitalPanther]

Which brings me to a minor rant I will probably mention at the AMV panel if Nic lets me.

I have noticed alot of editors don't pay attention to their audio. I literally had one entrant tell me when I asked him to resub for audio as he was one of the early entries and he had time or if he wanted to go as it was, he said something akin to "Oh well I thought you were just going to normalize it all anyway and that would bring it down." Blink blink huh?

Ok, I realize not everyone has a degree in television production such as myself. I realize not everyone has taken sound engineering classes.(I strongly recommend you do if you have the chance you will be amazed at what you learn), but I saw many videos that redlined ALOT. The above mentioned video is one of them. Normalization may bring audio levels down but it won't remove distortion that is already present. In Premiere/Final Cut, Vegas or whatever you are using for your editing, if your Audio meters/indicators hit red its BAD. Once you hit red you introduce distortion and clipping. Normalization of audio is a compression technique. If you have a wide dynamic range in your audio, normalization can potentially fuck that up and make your audio muddy.

A great example of this is Linkin Park's - What I've Done song.
If you've ever heard it on the radio and then heard it from the CD player, you'll notice the radio version is normalized, as the intro piano is at the same volume as the chorus. In actuality the piano is quite soft. You lose that dynamic audio range.

I agree, and using 128-192kbps downloaded mp3s as source is a no-no, but i think most people already know that.

I make a notion of purchasing the CDs from Amazon (really cheap nowadays O_O)
and doing the rip myself.

But good advice Michael, I think i saw my videos doing that a few times, I'll be sure to bring it down.

Here is a question: what if we tone it down a little too much to avoid any clipping and it becomes too soft, will you guys bring it up?

depending on how low the audio is I don't mind raising the volume. Just don't hand be audio that is so low its barely audible at all (case in point the Source footage I had for the Staff DVDs. that was audio hell) . Yellow is fine. Red is bad is a good rule of thumb. In the Faq we will likely include a full db range suggestion guide.
-DP

[DigitalPanther]

I make such a beautiful website and nobody visits it ><
http://www.anime-expo.org/convention-in ... /schedule/
Follow the link for the schedule for the AMV contest.

My bad. But also what about getting our priority seating? I'm going to be coming from work that day, grabbing my badge and heading to the contest (as usual). But each year it's usually a big bit of drama to find out where I'm suppose to go, who I'm suppose to talk to.

-Anneke

I will be handing out the creators tickets at the AMV Panel before the contest.
At least thats the impression I am operating under.
-DP

[KagatoAMV]

Hey Nic, Can I keep this for the FAQ? It will save me from having to track a chart down.

It isn't actually my diagram, I don't mind if you use it, but I just grabbed it off the 'net.

I will be handing out the creators tickets at the AMV Panel before the contest.
At least thats the impression I am operating under.
-DP

Brad, Tommy and myself will be hosting the AMV 101 Panel on Thursday the 3rd from 2pm to 3pm. DP is welcome to distribute the tickets there, I figure its the best way for me to get mine. ^_^

I sent a request to AX Programing asking if we can increase the time for the panel another 30 minutes. Last year 1 hour just wasn't enough time for us to answer everyone's questions.

[Castor Troy]

Hey Nic, Can I keep this for the FAQ? It will save me from having to track a chart down.

It isn't actually my diagram, I don't mind if you use it, but I just grabbed it off the 'net.

I will be handing out the creators tickets at the AMV Panel before the contest.
At least thats the impression I am operating under.
-DP

Brad, Tommy and myself will be hosting the AMV 101 Panel on Thursday the 3rd from 2pm to 3pm. DP is welcome to distribute the tickets there, I figure its the best way for me to get mine. ^_^

I sent a request to AX Programing asking if we can increase the time for the panel another 30 minutes. Last year 1 hour just wasn't enough time for us to answer everyone's questions.

I'll be there since I got nothing else to do at the con. Now to buy my one day pass.

How many tickets per creator since I have 2 guests I want to bring. If it's 2 like the past years, I'll probably have to get another ticket the standard way.