Okay, so I've been putting together Ep 9 and just realised it's going to be a 2-parter (actually, a 3-parter now). There's so much good material that I can't trim it down to under 10 mins

What that means is.. Ep 9 Part 1 will be posted today, Part 2 or 3 will probably be posted tomorrow, and Ep 10 on tuesday or wednesday

Sorry for the delay

Regards, Cliff

Due to circumstances beyond our control there will be a one-week hiatus for BTB after I post episodes 9 and 10 tomorrow

Cheer up! We'll be back with new episodes Wednesday 9th April with our Wrestlemania 24 Recap 'n Review show, and more!

Stay tuned!

Regards, Cliff

Okay, with the emotional impact of BTB 8 I want to counter that with something funny so BTB 9 is going to be a funny episode. Breaking the format as well. No spoilers so you'll have to check it out when I post it. Hehe

BTB 10 will continue on with our material recorded last Tuesday. It will be the episode where we answer a user submitted question (by craigest1993), as promised, about our opinions on the WWE Championship belt. It's another great episode. One you can't miss!

These should both be up tomorrow (Sunday) as well as Part 12 (2 of 2) of the 2007 SIFE World Cup Trip video series

That's 3 new videos in one day. Woah!
Worth the subscription price alone, right? lolz

Regards, Cliff

A few weeks ago I got myself the student version of Adobe's Master Collection. Quite pricy at about NZ$850 but well worth the money I think if it'll mean better quality material from us and for you

Hopefully, I'll use the software in the future professionally in order to get a return on them but in the mean time I'm really excited about producing future episodes of BTB using Adobe On Location, Premiere, Sound Booth, and After Effects. The ultimate professional video production suite (that I can afford). Woot bar none!

What this'll mean is BTB will have cooler graphics, cleaner sound, and maybe a few new effects. Too bad we can't get a permanent set to record on, but one thing at a time, I guess. Not bad for an amatuer production team of one, eh :)

Let's say Season 2 of BTB (if there's such a thing, lolz) will be in the all-new and improved format! I'll try to maintain certain elements that make the show what it is, but it'll be better. Double woot!

Please note that this won't be for a while though as I continue to wrap my head around using the software :(

For now, I'll continue using my good ol' Ulead Video Studio 10+. Go buy the latest version if you're interested in video editing and are ready to move up from Windows Movie Maker. I've made all my videos so far using it

Regards, Cliff

I'm in the process of uploading BTB Episode 8 and I have to tell you it definitely breaks from the usual format. It's a very controversial and personal episode for me

It has to do with Chris Benoit and whether he should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Last year he was found dead with his family. It was later discovered that he had murdered them and then himself. A tale more tragic than any wrestling angle anyone could think of

For me, I felt quite rattled before filming this episode, you'll see when you watch it since Chris Benoit was one of my favorite all-time wrestlers

The Benoit tribute and change of ending theme song also add to the overall feel of this one. You might notice that it has elements of my SIFE World Cup Trip in there where I'm using music to invoke a powerful emotional response from you. Hopefully, that response isn't boredom :p

Anyways, it's probably my favorite BTB ep yet!

Regards, Cliff

Okay, I've gotten the Rock 2 Wgtn vids out of the way which I'm extremely proud of
Trying to edit 2 hrs of video footage into 20 mins is beyond challenging, I tell ya
However now that they're done it's back to business

It's back to BTB, baby!

With days to go before Wrestlemania 24 I have to post 2 or 3 vids probably by the end of today (eek)

craigest1993, I'll post your user submitted question episode straight after I've uploaded the WM vids. I promise!

Good times and lots of editing ahead

Regards, Cliff

I know I should've posted a new episode of BTB by now (usually wednesdays), but I really want to get the final part (2 of 2) of the Rock 2 Wgtn event vids out of the way first

Sorry for the delay.. just note that there'll be lots of BTB vids coming up possibly almost everyday after thursday because of Wrestlemania 24 (this monday, NZ time). Woot!

Stay tuned!

Regards, Cliff

We filmed a few episodes of BTB last night. One which I felt quite moved by, another answering a submitted question and a few of our own so stayed tuned for them over the next few days

Part One of my footage at Rock 2 Wgtn is up. This was hard to edit because I originally started with over an hour of video. Most of it crappy because I was trying to hide my camera. Trying to get it to under 10 mins was a mission. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it!

Regards, Cliff

Okay, after my trip to Wellywood (Wellington, NZ) and the "Rock 2 Wgtn" concert over Easter weekend I'm really really "super-excited" (where have I heard that before?) to post an all-new vid on this monumental event

With two days of rock and metal! Classic bands and head-bangin' to boot I was there and recorded some of the best moments, despite an eviction threat if I was caught with a camera or recording device. I was.. thus.. very very naughty, oh well, comes with the territory I guess - rebelious rock fella n all ;)

Anyways, I hope the concert organisers won't pull it from YT when I post it because I'd like those who were there to remember how awesome it was and those who could've but didn't come wish they had, so stay tuned

Vid will be posted this week and hopefully stay there for everyone to enjoy until the official DVD comes out! (obligatory plug)

Regards, Cliff

PS: I was hoping to post all my adventures in chronological order starting with the SIFE trip vids, but.. I guess.. doh.. this one's too good not to post asap :p

Alrighty, here's the release schedule for Easter that you've been dying to see:

• Friday: BTB - Ep 5 (1 of 2): User Questions Special
• Sunday: 07 SWCT: Pt 12 (1 of 2) - California Love
• Monday: BTB - Ep 5 (2 of 2): User Questions Special

I'm able to guarandamntee this because they're already up on YT. I uploaded them all last night and today. They've been set to private so you won't be able to see them.. yet

What works about this is even though I'll be in Wellywood all I have to do is jump online somewhere, anywhere, and change the broadcast option from private to public and BAM you've got a new episode! I don't need to take my laptop either. We both win: a regular stream of videos for you and no uploading from Wellywood for me. Woot!

Regards, Cliff

Okay, so with the HQ version of BTB up (episode 4) do you notice any visual and/or audio differences/improvements between this and the older episodes?

I'd like your feedback because it's faster for me to upload the SD (standard) versions and better for you in a way too. As already mentioned an SD version of 9 mins is about 60mb vs an HQ version of 7 mins at 115mb

You be the judge!

Please note: there's a hissing/humming sound in the background of Ep 4. That's my laptop because we tried recording this episode straight to my computer instead of using tapes. I noticed this for later episodes and just moved it but let's say it's cheaper and more efficient doing it this way. DV tapes are expensive and transfering the footage is a 1:1 deal so for example if I recorded 10 mins of footage it would take 10 mins to transfer it, if I recorded 20 mins it would take 20 mins to transfer it, etc. I cannot speed up the time to transfer tape but if I record to my computer the whole thing is recorded in real time. As soon as I press stop I'm ready to edit. Woot!

Regards, Cliff

Okay, so I decided to upload the next episode (4) of BTB in HQ (a higher quality video yet with a much bigger file size) because YT now supports files of up to 1gb, but this thing is taking bloody ages.

I mean, usually I try and get the file sizes around 60mb. That's for a 9-ish minute video at lets say 60% quality. Today, I tried going for 100% quality which made the 7 min video 115mb in size. Now, to me.. that's not much of a jump but it's over 3 hrs now and I'm still waiting. Errr. Usually this takes around 45 mins to 1 hr but this is getting ridiculous

Okay, gripe out of the way. BTB will be up soon. I guarandamntee it!

Regards, Cliff

I've posted a few video megamixes to YT (dedicated to UB40 and Raggamuffin '08) and have been thinking of doing a tutorial on how to do these in the very near future.

In the meantime I can tell you what software I used to make them.

For the music (megamixes and remixes) I use a software application called Mixmeister Fusion. The version without video mixing (although I hadn't done much of this previously which is why I didn't bother upgrading). Anyway, it's a great DJ tool that allows me to precisely line up songs and set cue points where I want them. It supports VST plug-ins and more. There's tutorials already on YT but I guess if you wanna learn how I make mixes stay tuned.

For the video editing I use a software package called Ulead Video Studio 10+. Up until now it has been a great mid-range tool for me. Most people will find it jam packed with powerful tools compared to the humble ol' Windows Movie Maker (WMM). For example in Ulead VS10+, you can do chromakeying. I used this technique with my Maori Dalek video where I took still photos of my toy 5" dalek against a green screen and replaced the green colour with various photos. In any case it's such an improvement to WMM

Anyway, stay tuned for those tutorial vids

Regards, Cliff

Okay, so our recording today went well. We have one episode solely addressing our user submitted questions, and I think 2 or 3 others.

In each case we were severely overtime. Our first one today being over 17 mins, the others weren't much better either so I'll have to edit them down to fit into the 10 min restriction set by YT. My co-hosts would agree that we rambled on in some parts so I'll try to get at the core of our main points. In any case it'll mean a better viewing experience for you the viewer which is our aim.

In other news, I purchased a copy of Adobe Master Collection (Student Edition). Ulead Video Studio 10+ has sort of reached its limits for me in what it can do so I made the decision to cough up some bucks now before I finished my run as a student. You can expect to see better quality material from me and my work although the results will be some time away since I need a new computer to install the software on. Errr :p

That's all for now!
I'll be posting the next episode of BTB tomorrow night (wed)

Regards, Cliff

As already mentioned in an earlier post, but now confirmed, tuesdays are the best day for us (Michael, Lenaire, and I) to catch up and record episodes for Below the Belt (BTB). We're gonna record at least 3 episodes in one go as we did last week

Based on how easy they are to put together I'll be posting these episodes basically every other day unless another incident happens in which case I'll just post the vids early (as before)

With the build up to Wrestlemania coming we've got alot to talk about and we've received some user questions and comments so I'll be adding them into the episodes too. Woooooo!

Expect to see new episodes of BTB this coming Wednesday, Friday, and Monday (give or take a few days because of Easter weekend). This, of course, applies to my SIFE World Cup Trip videos which I upload on Sundays. Pt 12 (especially 2 of 2) is the funniest video of the entire series!

Finally, I created a BTB Group on YT so please go ahead and subscribe! I may upload future videos directly there, we'll see

The link to the BTB YT Group is: http://www.youtube.com/group/belowthebelt

Fun times ahead :)

Regards, Cliff

Hello friends and welcome to my new blog!

I was using another service but this one automatically links in with youtube
Anyways, we'll see how this one goes

In other news..
Michael and Lenaire have agreed to film new episodes of Below the Belt on tuesdays. With a delay of just one day hopefully nothing major will happen like with Jeff Hardy's suspension last week. Errr :p

The good news is my 2007 SIFE World Cup Trip vids aren't affected the same way and will be posted weekly (sunday-ish) as usual

That's all for now folks!

Regards, Cliff