Online Instructional Videos

[jahbie]

Have any of you purchased these Maxcast videos, and if so what do you think of them?

The first one I bought was Hip Philosophy by Leyla Najma, a while ago when it first came out, and it had teething problems. No chaptering, a very slow fast forward and a very small picture. If you wanted to see a certain section you had to watch the whole thing until you got to it. Anyway I corresponded with the man who produced it and he put chapters in and made it so that you could have it full screen.

A few months ago Amaya put out some of her Dvds in this format and I was suprised to find that there were just the same problems. To her credit Amaya worked very hard and put chapters in them, very quickly, but in both Leyla's and Amaya's the full screen function isn't full screen, it's still only small. They've now added a "Jump forward" function to all these dvds, but the fast forward still ticks over frame by frame.

When I bought these, the attraction was that you don't have to wait for delivery, you get them as soon as you've paid for them, and of course there is no shipping charge which is a big plus for international customers.

But.. you can only watch them on your computer, which might be OK on a laptop but not if your computer is somewhere with no space in front to dance or fling a veil. And even on a laptop it needs to be full screen to be able to see it properly from a distance . Besides that, you can't watch them if you can't get the internet for some reason.

So, on balance, I think I would have been better off buying the discs, because although they would have cost more I would have been able to watch them in another room, and also I would be able to sell them when I'd finished with them.

However, having said all that, it's only my opinion and experience with them.
There's a conversation on Shira's video group which says that Leyla Najma is now offering a personalised video coaching service, and some people seem to be very happy with that. So maybe this format is going to become more popular in the future.

[anala]

I have subscribed before..and I agree with you. The constraint of the computer screen is a real draw back. I would actually rather have this idea translated into a video podcast.

[NajlaHalem]

bummer. I've been reading the thread on the yahoo vid group about this. I wondered if there was any way to save the video on your computer and then burn it to a disk.

[stardancer711]

I've also had problems with the Maxcast videos - pic to small etc. No, NajlaHalem you cannot save them and burn to disc, because they are always 'streamed'. Hence the lower price. You also need a fast Internet connection.
DVDs although initially more expensive are a much better buy in my opinion.

[NajlaHalem]

funny, just now there was a link in my email box to a second free video. I can enlarge it to see it full screen. I'd have to use it in my sewing studio, where my computer is, which is a drawback for me.
but, the idea that you can request something to cover specifically for you is something that I find intriguing.

[jahbie]

I moved house a couple of months ago, and in fairness I was still able to access them even though I have had to change my email address and server, I don't quite know how that works. But, due to the ineptitude of British Telecom I was off the internet for five weeks. So I couldn't watch them then, and that's one of the disadvantages. The videos I have are just the online version of discs that were already on sale, I don't know anything about the personalised ones other than what I read on the other group, maybe they are formatted differently.

[jahbie]

I thought I'd just look at mine again, to see if it's now possible to see them full screen. Guess what? I can't watch any of them because all I get is a message saying "Channel unavailable" Now that I do mind. I'll wait a bit to see if it clears up, if not I shall email them.

[vron]

Aubre has a couple of instructional videos out through this method. I really like her teaching method and have been thinking about doing it, but it concerns me that I can only watch em on my computer.

[NajlaHalem]

really? I just went to her site and don't see them. I might be interested in those.

[vron]

I copied this from her tribe page:

-------------------

I have four different bellydance lessons available to download on www.fugu.com including:

Introduction to Bellydance
Bellydance Technique (covers all our hipwork)
Ultimate Undulations (That's right. Finally a video covering all undulation exercises and techniques.)
Layering Technique

So if you are itching to practise at home, these are perfect tools for you.

Here's a sample clip:

YouTube - How To Do A Bellydance Hip Raise

[Lisa Michelle]

I much prefer DVD's. My computer is just not in an area where I have much room to move around.

Lisa