that's a'morae!
..... wait a sec that's not Morae?!
Ahh there we go that's Morae!
Ok so i've been using Morae lately on yet another usability video gig. Overall I like Morae alot. It truly solves the nightmare involving usability video, its perfect, yet, it needs some improvements. I'm currently using the 1.1.1 version, btw and its dandy, some new things in there, especially the video rendering codec which seems much faster is great, but the Manager end of the product overall needs some help.
Traditionally I would of shot dv video of the process, and edited it all on the Avid, thats the world i'm coming from and I would argue that 80% of user base using Morae is in that situation as well. People have been using the Norman Wilcox dv capture system or working with just straight dv for for a bit now, when it comes to the product end of it, avid or some like product, is and will be involved.
As a user I cling to what works for me. And so I want Morae to cater to that, since its new to the field really, having said that, lets talk about my improvements Morae needs in the next version.
- multiple storyboard saves | Why?
Often when creating the highlights reel the client will come back and want a second version, even more hard hitting or just shorter for the limited time to make a case for x issue engagement. So what can Morae do presently? Well there is no multiple storyboard save mode, so you have to copy the entire project, and we're talking 12 90 min sessions so massive amount of space has to be duplicated. Why? Cause I need to have both copies of the storyboard on hand just in case changes hit me, and they always do. So if my original save directory for the project is 4gigs, I need another 4gigs for a shorter storyboard version of the same project. Thats silly and a massive oversight for TechSmith, come on gang, we're talkin pointer files here kids. Its really simple and makes Morae's Manager even more powerful.
- audio tools & filters | Why?
Morae needs audio signal processing tools. Raise the volume, lower the volume, filter for x better voiceness, or something, get rid of clanking sounds, get rid of distant voices, etc. Being stuck with what you got is never a place an editor likes to be. In the Avid I can tweak it, and I want that ability in Morae. Start simple, give me basic audio control, then give me sweetening type tools to improve various audio situations, think of the context, what is happening, what are the common scenarios, give me tools to make my reels sound better.
- larger view of the storyboard | Why?
Right now I have a 25min reel on a storyboard timeline that is long, many clips. Moving clips from the end of the reel to the beginning is difficult, you have to really remember that clips name and slowly leap frog it over and over to get it to the area you want it in. Painfully slow and is another obvious cue to the editor that TechSmith doesn't know enough about its current user base. In the world of video, this feature of being able to see the whole timeline or to give the user an alternate view of the entire storyboard is highly needed. Again simple feature request, do it.
- import graphics in the title tool | Why?
Every basic title tool on the planet can import graphics, why can't Manager? Maybe this one requires some serious coding on TechSmiths part, I dont know. I just know I'd like to drop a logo in now and then.
- spell checker in the title tool | Why?
I can't spell. There I admit it.
- keyboard shorts and sets | Why?
Again most Morae users are coming from old school methods using entry to mid level editing gear to get results. So that means they know how to edit and they love to use the editor short cuts when available. In fact for me, Avid like editing shortcuts are a must have. I blow thru an edit damn fast on the Avid, and shortcuts and keyboard assignments make that possible. Basic keyboard key maps should be available in Morae. Heck the basic In and Out are overly complicated CTRL-BUTTON keys, this is not acceptable. They should be keymapped to more standardized tools. Morae wants a part of the video scene, i'll give you that, but you need to give me what I need.
- export all clips to video | Why?
12 participants, 35 some clips, boy it'd be nice just to say "export all clips to video". Damn that'd be spiffy. Batchness. Batch abilities are missing from Morae and they are sorely missed. Video production is often entangled in time, we want accelerators to escape, free me up from tedious tasks. The client wanted to pick and choose the list of clips, so to do that, guess what, i had to export each clip seperately. Gah what a waste of time to do that by hand. Again, simple features pay off big. In fact on the high end of video, I wouldnt consider a video production tool to be good for me if it didnt have some factor of batchness to it.
- print that clip list | Why?
Give me a print out of all the data here. Client wants to know what I got, so I want a print out of the clip, the reference image of it (first frame or settable in prefences (say 20 frame etc), when it was recorded, whatever meta data is with it. That shot list on print out makes the meetings regarding video more substantial, its not just me the editor on the stand. I have clippage proof! Empower me! Defend my honor Morae! Another basic wowness feature that'd I use often. What was really funny about this one was that once I exported all the clips out, and it ended up being 72 clips overall, I then wanted to print a directory and that was a pain to do in XP, hilarious. I can't do it here either. Next up I searched online to find ways to print a frickin directory in XP, i shouldnt have to go to google to get basic functionality hints for my operating system. In the end I tried one make shift batch file creation experiment, that failed and I opted to trick it completely! HA! I zipped them all, then used winzip to print the list, then printed that to file, then copied it to clipboard then pasted in excel and then printed my list. See piece of cake! No problem. I wonder does TechSmith realize the hurdles involved in such a simple user request?
- add meta data to recording | Why?
Morae recorder needs to be more nosey. It should ask the recorder more questions, ok and sure it should be clickable on or off, personally I'd want it on. I want to know: participant, location, name, time, project, etc and I'd want a few i could make up myself. This meta data is saved with the recording, along with time, setup, what resolution, name of computer, user logged in at the time etc. When I print my contact sheet all this info is included. I gives me structure, gives me more control.
No analyzer comments i've yet to use the analyzer portion of the application. I will say I attempted to use it the other day and couldn't get it going. I may pass it to our IT guy to figure out so I can get back to editing.
Today I end my Morae editing experience, reel complete, client happy, and move on to traditional video editing on the Avid for another project. Keep on truckin kidz!