RetouchPRO LIVE on YouTube (beta)

[Doug Nelson]

YouTube has accepted RetouchPRO into its "YouTube Rentals" beta program. This is a very early and still rough beta, but it could provide the "on-demand" option I get several requests for per day. As a test, I've uploaded a selection of RetouchPRO LIVE shows for anyone that wants to "rent" them.

This is only a test.

They're all available in HD (if your broadband is fast enough), and you can pause, skip forward and backwards, and watch however many times you like over the 3 day period. However, even at 1080p it's not quite as sharp as the live shows or even the rebroadcasts, but that is due to transcoding and generational loss and will be the same for any on-demand solution (the live shows are actually higher than HD). But they still look very good at 1080p, and are perfectly legible even at 480.

YouTube is more expensive than I'd like, but that's a function of scale (as I've mentioned in many posts already). If this proves to be as popular as the rebroadcasts I can move to another streaming provider and cut the price by a few dollars.

Since it is a beta program, it's currently limited to US viewers (that is expected to be lifted after it leaves beta). Since this is only a test, it will not interfere with the regular rebroadcasts.

Also, YouTube is handling all the streaming and billing, I have no control over any of that part. So use their technical support if you have streaming or billing problems. There is absolutely no crossover between this and the live shows. Different server companies, different billing companies. Please do not ask me for credits or refunds, that's out of my hands.

This is only a test, so do not assume the rest of the shows will appear anytime soon (it takes nearly 3 days just to post one, assuming nothing goes wrong, and during much of that time my computer is pretty much useless for anything else, especially RP LIVE shows). Once I get some feedback and can see how much interest there is, I'll decide whether or not to upload more shows.

This is only a test, so please do not request specific shows for "next". It is still very much open as to whether there will even be a next.

Ok, as long as it is perfectly clear that this is only a test, I invite you to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/retouchpro

You are welcome to tell others about this (even encouraged), but please give them the link to this post (so they can read the above) and not the direct YouTube link.

Did I mention this is only a test?

[Illusionmaker]

glad to see you're looking into other possibilities of making the videos more accessible, looking forward to it!

[crazyfly1]

Looks good Doug, but with our RP colors.

[Doug Nelson]

Not a bad idea. Controls are limited, but I gave it a go.

[crazyfly1]

Nice! much more like home.

[SymbolPhoto]

Fantastic... !

[JMB]

That's just great Doug! I'm really interested in this idea and hope that the program is no longer beta so I can watch in my country.

[Doug Nelson]

I wouldn't want anyone to try this just as part of the test, but if anyone has viewed one or more of these RP LIVE shows via YouTube I'd appreciate some feedback about the viewing experience here (not about the show content, necessarily, that might be more useful in the actual show's thread). Since I'm still on "probation" they withhold all viewing info for 10 days, so I have no idea if anyone is even watching these yet. And as the uploader, my interface and viewer is different than a "renter" would see.

[Nmarques]

It says this content is not available in my country (Uk) for copyright reasons.

[Doug Nelson]

Well, not strictly copyright. As I said in the OP, the beta is limited to US viewers, but that will change after it's out of beta.

[catatonik]

Great idea! I'd love to watch the shows anytime - never available usually. Hope to see them soon in Australia!

[Phup]

Cool! Now I can learn even more retouch techniques! =)

[pinetreefolio]

Not available in Portugal?

[fotogen]

Such a great idea. I am looking forward to renting some of these.

[gamedonechanged]

Originally Posted by pinetreefolio

Not available in Portugal?

It's only available to US customers whilst in Beta.

Doug this is a great idea thank you for doing this.

[CJ Swartz]

I've spent a lot of time watching Steve Caplin's "Selections and Pen Tool" - stopping/starting while practicing on an image in Photoshop while I'm learning. This is what a lot of people have asked for, and having a 3-day rental period gives us the time we want to practice enough to actually become comfortable in a technique. The audio problems that are always present in the UK/US transmissions detract but don't interfere with the learning curve.

NOTE:
If you use CS3 or CS4 while working with a tutorial AND watch YouTube videos in fullscreen mode, you may find that your tools "lock-up" and only show the hand tool. Never fear, simply press your space bar and you will be able to use your tools again. (answer and probable problem cause were both found at Adobe Forums - thanks, eZen)

[Doug Nelson]

Thank you for the feedback and the useful advice. I was beginning to worry that after all those requests no one was actually watching these (I won't get my first report from youtube for at least a couple of weeks).

[dmeadows]

This is something I've been hoping for for a while now, thanks Doug. Looks like tomorrow morning is fully booked with old webinars.

edit: And I've just read the 'US only' part. This means I might actually have to do some work.

[Doug Nelson]

Sorry about that. I'm trying to get youtube to guestimate how long it will be until non-US viewers can access the shows. So far they've been optimistically uncooperative.

[crazyfly1]

Not sure how this would work for youtube but... it is possible to use a proxy server to change your ip address to make it look as though you are in the US. Worth a try google "change ip address".

[dmeadows]

Originally Posted by crazyfly1

Not sure how this would work for youtube but... it is possible to use a proxy server to change your ip address to make it look as though you are in the US. Worth a try google "change ip address".

Web based proxies tend to seriously limit your bandwidth and could prove unstable for the length of time its likely to take to buffer each video. It's a fair few bucks to vanish to test a 'maybe' but if anyone here is able to throw money away let us know if it works and I'll jump right on it

[Doug Nelson]

Plus you have to register with youtube and google checkout, so I suspect they'd be able to tell where you are via that.

If anyone does test it, please use one of the 99-cent rentals (maybe a nice travelog) to try it on. Click on "Videos" then "More..." to see the option to display all rentals from everyone.

[Amanda_Lauren]

The rental price not gonna lie is a little steep.. the tutorials themselves are only 10 bucks..why is the rental price 20 bucks?

[Doug Nelson]

The difference is all youtube. But you'll have to admit there's some added value (pausing, replay as many times as you like over the 3-day period, etc.). Of course it's not live, so there's value in both versions, but different.

Even while I'm working with youtube I'm still looking for less expensive alternatives. But even the least expensive option I've ever seen would only make a few dollars difference.

[BitG]

Very cool. I've been looking forward to this for a while, as I can never make the live shows due to their time. I am watching one tonight and will let you know how it goes.

Grant

[zogdart]

What about the system that Clavin Hollywood uses...I bought is tutorial and it work's fine... If you have a chance to ask him it could be interesting... The resolution is o.k. and once you log in you have acces to the content that you paid for.

[Doug Nelson]

I just added (sounds a bit ridiculous, considering it took days) 3 more shows:

Uwe Steinmueller on HDR
Mikkel Aaland on raw basics
Amy Dresser's 2nd show (the first will need heavy editing)

[ApWizard]

That's awesome, looking forward for Europe access

[MKStudio]

Doug, plan to rent one this week-end.
Brilliant idea!!! Hope you do them all.

Such a perfect solution to finding the right "time".
Best,
Mara Kurtz

[Jose Urena]

Thank you for listening and trying out ways to offer on-demand viewing, which is something I was looking forward to. Yet, in my opinion, the cost could go as high as $15, but, in my very humble opinion, and for me, $19.98 is a little on the too-high end... In any case, I hope it works for as many people as possible. The proof will be on the number of viewers.