DigitalVideoSolutions.com
"New Englands' Premiere Video Design Studio"
Toll Free: 877-227-6281 - Local: 774-202-3512
|
From: Larry Johnson
Hello, and welcome to Digital Video Solutions!
As you may or may not know, Digital Video Solutions is routinely listed in video editing trade magazines as a top manufacturer of turnkey video editing & DVD authoring computer systems alongside industry giants: Apple, Dell, Gateway, HP & Sony!
However it was you found this site, I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why I know so much about editing video on a computer, and how Digital Video Solutions came to be so well known throughout the world as an top industry leader.
In a nutshell the story goes like this. I took five years off back in the late 80's and early 90's to teach myself how to build computer systems. I started looking for video capture devices, which were hard to find because few computer store owners had ever heard of them. Once I located a source, I started buying any and every video capture hardware device I could get my hands on.
There were no manuals available telling you how to compress the video files to all the available codecs and formats known to the computer world. Nothing about reducing frame rates, frame resolutions, data rates or anything like that. There was absolutely nothing! The only way to learn was by actually creating new target files from original video files and making notes of the what I found. Today it's taught, in one form or another, to students in schools across the country everyday. Later, I bought the domain name of digitalvideosolutions.com without any knowledge of how to write webpages. So, I taught myself HTML. Remember, these subjects were not mainstream college courses at the time. You couldn't just take a night class in HTML at the local university, or community college. Once I had the website I began to post my findings, and now here we are! Seriously, I would like for you know more about Digital Video Solutions and its' webmaster - me, Larry Johnson. In return for your taking the time to get to know me, I would like to help you better understand how editing video on a computer works, and how to easily share your finished videos with others. The History of Becoming a Webmaster It actually all began before I was born. My father was on the team of technicians that developed the NTSC color standard we use today. As I was growing up there were always new gadgets around to explore. At first I played with 16mm, 8mm and Super8 movie cameras. Then the Super8 Sound camera came along. Finally, home movies with sound! I had a great time with that. But, with film there was always that wait for the film to be developed. Not to mention the expense. Then before long dad brought home the latest in home movie gadgets - a video camera! That was the ultimate rush for me. Moving pictures with instant gratification! Plus, the tape was re-usable - up to a point!!
Over the next year I demonstrated my invention to every drum company owner & president in America. Finally I accepted the best offer and licensed the rights to CBS Musical Instruments - Rogers Drum Company. See the Rogers Dual-Matic Hi-Hat Clutch up close. Mr. Johnson Goes to Hollywood
Once in Hollywood I walked around seeing the sites, like any tourist would. Like anyone, I walked down Hollywood Blvd. reading all the stars in the sidewalk along the way, thinking about all the famous people that had done the very same thing before they were famous. After walking for awhile I sat down on a bus stop bench at the corner of Hollywood & Vine, facing the Capitol Records building. A little while later a fellow sat down at the other end of the bench and bummed a cigarrette from me. As I gave him a light he asked if I was a musician. When I answered that I was, he told me about a place on Sunset Blvd. where famous musicians rehearsed before going out on tour. He described the place as "the Largest Music Talent Service Center Worldwide", with offices located in New York, Chicago, Nashville and San Francisco, as well. I later found out there isn't a single production company, television studio, recording studio, or professional touring band that has not acquired the services of this company at one time or another. I found out because I got a job there later that afternoon. How did I know there was a job opening? Tony, the fellow I was talking to, had just gotten fired from there just before he walked up and sat down on that bench. I Have Achieved More by Accident Than Many Have Done on Purpose! There may have been a job opening, but the way I got the job is really the interesting part. I didn't get the job simply because Tony had been fired. I got the job because I happened to be in the right place, witnessing the right situation, at the right time. The general manager of the company was the fellow I had to interview with. His name was Steve Bauer. Just as I had entered his office and taken the seat in front of his desk, this guy with really long hair entered the room, in a panic. His name was Joe Brown. Apparently, Joe had been taking care of Linda Ronstadt and other famous peoples' piano's since the beginning of time. At least, that's what I was told within the first minute of his walking in that door.
He went on to say, "The problem is, Jay isn't sure if Ludwig would approve of his drums being rented out. He's afraid it will harm his endorsement rights. Also, the drums haven't been shipped yet, they're on stand-by at the Ludwig Drum, Co. in Chicago." Steve pondered for a moment, "Maybe we should get Ludwig on the phone and see what we can work out. Get their number for me". As soon as Steve said those words, I rattled off the phone number of the Ludwig Drum, Co. like it was my own name. After all, I had only dialed it about a million times talking to William F. Ludwig, Jr. - the owner of the company, about the possibilities of my invention. Bauer looked at me with a stunned look on his face, "Are you sure?" "Positive. Ask for William F. Ludwig, Jr. Tell him Larry Johnson is on the line," and I sat back proudly in my seat. As I sat there quite happy with myself, listening, the rest of the conversation went something like this.
"It seems that the Osmonds don't have enough room at their television studios to store all those drum sets." (pause again) "Right, we're S.I.R. and the Osmonds have done a lot of business with us in the past. We service all the network studios and recording companies here in Hollywood. Jay was thinking we could store the new drums here at our facility, and maybe along with a storage fee we could send them out on other television appearances - on other network's besides the one the Osmond's are on. I can fax you a full list if you want. Yes, it will definitely give Ludwig a lot of television exposure." (pauses) "Yes, Larry will be the one looking after Jay's drums. That's correct, sir. Thank you, thank you very much", and he hangs up the phone. "You're hired! You're the new head of our percussion department. Welcome aboard!" So, after only a few days in Hollywood I was being paid to go backstage on nearly evey major television show for every major television network everyday of the week. In the beginning I worked out of the Hollywood office which was located on Sunset Blvd. just off of Gower Street. In the 1910's this block located at the corner of Gower Street and Sunset Blvd., which is now occupied by the Sunset Gower Studios, was populated by fledgling production companies whose lack of capital led to the area being dubbed "Poverty Row". Across Gower Street was "Gower Gulch", the hangout for movie cowboys in search of work. Amid this hotbed of hustle Harry Cohn opened the West Coast production arm of the New York film distribution company, Cohn-Brandt-Cohn. Columbia Pictures was born. Cohn's autocratic rule made for tempestuous times at the Gower lot, with many feuds between Harry and his top stars and directors, including the studios principal assets, Frank Capra and Rita Hayworth.
As I said before, today those studios are known as the Sunset-Gower Studios. Perhaps you have seen the name in the credits of some of your favorite televisions shows. I think ER was the last one I saw with the name in its' credits. Anyway, today the studios are rented to independent producers, although the indies who work there today are not so cash poor as when the block was known as "Poverty Row". The entrance shown above right actually faces Sunset Blvd. and was where I entered for work each day. In the days when I worked on this lot the studios were rented to all the most famous rock bands for rehearsals before going out on tour. Each of these old studios is very large. The arched ceilings are very high, and the room is huge. There is more than enough room to set up a touring stage complete with concert sound system and lighting rigs in the exact positions used on the road.
During that same time period I started a little side business called "Green Diamond Productions" creating stage designs and props for various television shows and specials. After all, I was standing right there and just happened to have a natural aptitude for graphic design. Two of the most notable one's were for a Dean Martin "Gold Diggers" Special on NBC, and the "Doctor Buzzard's Original Savannah Bands'" performance on the Tony Orlando & Dawn Show on CBS. Examples of my work on that particular Tony Orlando & Dawn Show can still be seen on an episode of VH-1's "Behind the Music" series about "Doctor Buzzard's Original Savannah Band".
And finally, last but not least, I got to meet and become friends with every drummers all time idol. Mr. Buddy Rich, the worlds' most famous drummer. Buddy and I remained friends until his death in April 1987. For more information on Buddy Rich check out his Wikipedia page.
Take a look at the companies and personalities named on this page. These are just a few of my clients, customers, and close friends. I would like to be able to include you in this list as well.
I am sure you have all had a technical support issue at one time or another, and if you had to call more than once there was a long waiting time before your call was answered. To top it off each time a tech answered you were virtually forced into repeating the entire situation to that person, the same things you had told the other tech less than an hour ago. AND, if you had to call back again you had to go through the whole process again. Pretty frustrating isn't it! At Digital Video Solutions the phone is answered by someone who remembers your name, and remembers everything there is to know about the equipment you have. There's no need to keep repeating the problem over and over and over again to countless techs. At Digital Video Solutions this is a thing of the past, and will remain that way no matter how many customers we have, or even how long it's been since we have been in contact with a particular customer. You are never forgotten. Two of the very first four custom built NLE systems from the Digital Video Solutions website were purchased by NetRoadShow for the purpose of providing rich audio and video content and services to the investment banking community through a scalable digital distribution network. Soon after the company was purchased by the CBS Television Network, then sold to Broadcast.com, and is now owned and operated by Yahoo! under the name Yahoo! NetRoadShow. The other two of the four system went to the Adams State College Computer Sciences Department in Colorado where they are still in use to teach students non-linear video editing and multimedia production. Our military is able to educate our soldiers through distance learning programs designed and executed by General Dynamics using a custom built non-linear video editing system from Digital Video Solutions. And, the National Imagery and Mapping Association utilizes a custom built NLE system in support of national security objectives. As Harry Stamper said in the movie Armageddon, "I am the best only because I have worked with the best". Digital Video Solutions is the best because we have worked with the best. Let us work for you. Signed - Larry Johnson
|
Thank you for visiting my website, and for taking time to read these articles!
I personally tested each one of them. I even built special computer systems when necessary. I literally spent nearly $100,000.00 in my pursuit. Day after day I captured, compressed and viewed the results. Back then you were lucky to be able to capture video at resolutions greater than 160x120 at 15fps. I remember how excited I was to find a card that would capture 320x240 at 30fps!
My teenage mind went wild with new ideas! I had been playing drums since age three so, most of the time I video taped either me playing drums, or my latest garage band. Who would have thought that some years later I would produce a music video of one of my bands for MTV?
After high school graduation I invented a piece of drum hardware designed with the double-bass drummer in mind. The problem with using two bass drums is there are three pedals - one for each bass drum, and one for the hi-hat.
The hi-hat is the device with two cymbals, one above and one below facing each other. The top cymbal is attached to a shaft which is operated by a foot pedal. When the pedal is pushed the two cymbals open and close making a nice accent sound, or with them closed can be struck with a drumstick for yet another rhythmic sound - one commonly used by all drummers.
My invention was a device which enabled the drummer to hit a specially designed hook holding the top cymbal on the hi-hat shaft, dropping it on top of the other - with the cymbals closed the drummer is then free to use both bass drum pedals while keeping a beat on the closed hi-hat cymbals. Then with the push of the pedal the action is reversed for normal hi-hat use.
Sometime back in the 70's I left home for Hollywood, California without a plan for when I got there, whatsoever. I just simply headed that way, like I actually knew what I was doing. I didn't know anyone in the area, but somehow I knew there was something out there waiting for me. So, I hopped on a train and headed for Los Angeles.
Anyway, Joe announces that Jay Osmond, the drummer child of the Osmond Family, was getting a bunch of new drum sets through his endorsement with Ludwig Drums, and the problem at hand was they had no room to store these new drums at the Osmonds' studios. What Jay wanted to know was whether or not the new drums could be stored at S.I.R., and in trade they possibly could be rented out to the other television studios. At least the drums he isn't using on that weeks' Donnie & Marie Show.
"Hello, Mr. Ludwig? No, this isn't Larry. Although, he is sitting right here with me. My name is Steve Bauer out in Hollywood, and I'm calling you concerning the new drums you have for Jay Osmond." (pause listening)
In one single day I saw Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Beatle Mania, Dave Mason, and Mac Davis playing with full concert stage and sound set up. Out of that I'm proud to say that I once had lunch with Ozzy Osborne across the street at the A&B Cafe!
A short time later the Doobie Brothers came to the studios for rehearsals, and I had the privilege of meeting their drummers. Although I interacted with both Michael Hosack and Keith Knudsen, Keith and I soon became friends. We remained close friends until his death in February 2005. For more information about 
I also hired myself out as a "Percussive Technician", which is industry speak for "the guy who tunes the drums for you". Having been a drummer since age three, I had a knack for knowing when a drum set was properly tuned to the best sound for a recording session. This afforded me the luxury of providing services to 
Today, without benefit of expensive advertising Digital Video Solutions has a client list of some of the most prestigious businesses in the United States. Businesses like .jpg)
