How to Easily Transcribe Audio

After a bit of research I've discovered that for me, the best free audio transcription software is Express Scribe by NCH Software, you can download it here.

1. Optimize your playback hotkeys
To get the most out of your experience, I recommend the following hotkey settings (Options > System-Wide Hotkeys):

Having the key-commands so close at hand basically eliminates the need for a foot pedal.

2. Slow down the default playback speed
Also, when playing back your audio, set the playback speed to something like 50%:

3. Automate the time-stamping process
If it's important that you be able to time-stamp your audio, add the "Copy Time" command to your list of hotkeys (details here). This will automatically make a copy of the current timestamp, using the key commands I have listed above you would use "Ctrl + Num 0" followed by "Ctrl + V" to paste in the time stamp.

Also, to change the format of the pasted timestamp, I recommend the following settings:

Note, you can't see it, but after the suffix brace is a space " ".

This makes the finished time code looks like this:

[00:01:23.4] He said this.

Notes for the software developer:

My primary niggle with the program is that I can't use the same command for play and stop. If that was possible, I'd recommend "Ctrl+Space" as the hotkey so that your hands never have to leave the home position.

Also, it would be great if the software could combine "Copy Time" and "Paste" into a single command, but for a free software this is already worlds better than trying to transcribe in MS Word. 

Experiment #2: Isometric Cubism

A quick experiment in digital cubism. Can a subject be defined simultaneously from three angles? Does this reveal or obscure form?

Experiment #2: Isometric Photo-Based Cubism from Donovan Keith on Vimeo.

Experiment #01: Cosmos

In an effort to keep up my chops in between projects I've programmed a random design assignment generator. Today's assignment was "Create a design using only circles."

I initially created the following in Illustrator:

Then translated the concept to C4D and eventually After Effects:

Here's the finished animation:

Experiment #01: Cosmos from Donovan Keith on Vimeo.

CG Lighting Tutorials and Resources

This post mainly exists so that I can compile all of the lighting resources I find into one meaningful location, but hopefully it will be of some use to you as well.

Richard On, whose work really speaks for itself, has compiled a four-part series on lighting:

• The Basics
• Light Direction
• Natural Light
• Artificial and Indoor Light

mister3d has compiled a lively discussion from the CG Talk Lighting & Shaders forum into a useful primer on the science of CG with a focus on the physics of light and how it is typically represented by 3D programs.

Jeremy Birn who currently works as a lighting TD at Pixar has written the book on CG Lighting: "Digital Lighting and Rendering".

Kodak has written a newsletter that is a good introduction to the basics of lighting for film.

Articles & Interviews with working professionals:
Key Tips for Lighting by Cosku Turhan (Sony Pictures Imageworks)
New Trends in CG Lighting Matthias Menz (Weta)