Clesh

Clesh offers an online video editing tool for consumers and web communities. It is based on the same technology as FORscene (used in the professional market) and functions as a stand-alone platform or as a tool to enable other websites to offer their own video services independently.

The Clesh platform sits on the Cloud and video, audio, and still content can be uploaded via a standard web browser or client based software (for Firewire DV capture). The hosted material can then be reviewed, edited, and published entirely online from any location in the world using a Java enabled web browser.

Clesh supports storyboard shot selection, frame-accurate editing, transitions and various other controls such as; pan, zoom, colour and light correction, and audio levels. Content can be published in an array of formats such as a Podcast, Mpeg2, or in a format supported by all popular web browsers. All content is protected by personalised login and all content rights remain with the author.

Clesh may also be embedded as a component of other websites to provide tools for the management, editing, and publication of video content for a website's members and administrators alike. In this context Clesh provides additional support such as; re-branding for a consistent look and feel, seamless logon integration, and a moderation facility.

Features

The service offers many advanced features including:

• Real-time video rendering (including effects and transitions)
• Multiple audio tracks
• Secured log-on
• Authors retain all rights to their footage
• Frame accurate editing
• Storyboard facility (annotate selected areas of video footage, assemble with drag-and-drop)
• Import & hosting of media from DV tape and various video, audio, and still image format files
• Publish to podcast (MPEG-4), MPEG-2, web (Java Applet), Flash, Ogg, and JPEG
• Chatrooms (chat with other Clesh users and get product support)
• Showreel (videos can be published to a public gallery)
• Moderation (review of videos by a 3rd party prior to publication)

Technology

Clesh is based on the same technology as FORscene. An array of servers on the internet backbone hides functionality such as of storage, security, access and delivery from users accessing Clesh via a web browser.

User Interface

Access to Clesh is via a rich user interface. For example it supports drag and drop functionality. Assistance is provide via dynamic tool tips and the right mouse button is often used to access more advanced functions.

History

Date	Event / Significant features
Jan 2006	Launch: First public release of Clesh. Tiscali: ISP adopts Clesh to deliver video editing via its own website.
May 2006	Podcast: Publication of videos as podcasts (mpeg-4 format) now supported.
Jun 2006	Mr Paparazzi: Adoption of Clesh to deliver video editing / publishing for a website. Moderation: Mechanism added to (optionally) have videos vetted prior to publication.
Jul 2006	Showreel: Videos can be made public by publishing them to the showreel.
Sep 2006	Chat: Provision of real-time chat facility with other users and platform support staff.
Dec 2006	Electronic Payment: Support added for electronic payment. Storyboard: Means to create, label, select and reorder shots.
May 2007	Storyboard: Simpler storyboard gives more guidance making Clesh easier for novices.
Jun 2007	Clesh Moderation: Websites which make Clesh available to their users have a moderation option. Visitors can edit video in Clesh, drop edited video into the Clesh moderation bin, and managers can check (and further edit) before releasing them for publishing. Mr Paparazzi: The Mr Paparazzi site works with Clesh to allow users to easily upload video footage and pictures to their website, edit them, and submit them for publishing.
Jul 2007	Showreel: Main page shows a selection of the top 100 videos, and the most recently published videos; viewers can also click through to see videos by their favourite authors. Forbidden's Java player rates videos automatically.
Aug 2007	Progress Bar: For videos published on the web mousing over the video during playback shows a novel progress bar, which indicates not only position in the video, but also hints at the video and audio content throughout the video. Graphics: Graphics can be uploaded through the web interface and directly incorporated into the video track.
Nov 2007	Java Web Start: Sun's Java Web Start technology is available to all FORscene and Clesh users: the full performance is now available without configuration.
Dec 2007	Codec Upgrade: Clesh is upgraded to use the latest Blackbird 5 video compression. Web uploaded videos and images are now clearer with better texture, and the most active videos take less data when published using Clesh's integrated web publishing.
Jan 2008	Subscription Options: New subscription options are available. New users can open a free time-limited trial account, and customers can choose between the standard package or the premium service.
Feb 2008	Audio publishing: Audio quality in Clesh web publishing is improved. The previous maximum quality is now the lowest quality, with new medium and high quality options. TrueTube: Education video site TrueTube deploys web-based video editing platform Clesh for use in schools and higher education. Saturation: Right dragging horizontally in the video window sets the saturation, complementing the vertical control of black and white levels.
Mar 2008	New wipes: In addition to fades, dissolves, saturation control, brightness / contrast, and fast / slow motion, Clesh has 17 new real time wipe effects. TrueTube award: TrueTube, which makes Clesh available to give children a voice in video, wins an at the Education Resources Awards. User Interface Upgrade: Simpler experience for users new to video editing. Experienced users still have easy access to the full functionality.
Jul 2008	White Balance: Match up scenes shot in different light conditions. JPEG Export: Publish and host stills from video footage.
Aug 2008	Colour Wheel/Fades: Fades can be achieved to/from any colour via the colour wheel and by picking colours direct from video frames.
Oct 2008	Titles: In addition to importing graphics additional built-in capabilities provide subtitle controls for foreground / background colours and transparency, fades in/out, justification and layout.

See also

• Jaycut
• Jumpcut

References

• Undergraduate thesis: Preservation Services for Audio Visual Media Material (references Clesh alongside self-generated content sites MySpace, and YouTube/Google Video)
• Academic report discussing theory and technology of moving image indexing (case studies Clesh and four other well known services including YouTube)
• Talks about a real life Clesh workflow
• Analysis of the video sharing sector
• Walkthrough of adding video to websites (one section dedicated to Clesh)
• Discusses media trends and directions including process and tooling (references Clesh under tools)
• Summary of video sharing sites (picks out Clesh as one of the few sites offering online web editing)
• Advice to school teachers on how to exploit Clesh
• Clesh based on award winning technology
• New Clesh site at ISP (helps put in context the consumer focus of Clesh, as opposed to FORScene for PROs)
• New Clesh site for teaching (details how Clesh will help deal with ethical, moral, political and religious issues in teaching)
• Sets out what is at stake for Clesh within the industry
• Demonstrates the portability of Clesh (Clesh is one of five editing services listed for the Mac - inc iMovie)

• Commentary on the adoption of Clesh by ISP Tiscali (focus on the fact that editing is on a par with PRO systems)
• Discussion of the use of Clesh at Guelph University for teaching purposes
• Presentation at Guelph University
• Comprehensive comparison of video editing software for the Pro / Consumer (including the likes of Avid, FCP, Premiere etc. alongside Clesh, as well as FORscene)
• Clesh is discussed at Net Conference in San Jose
• Comprehensive listing of video sharing sites including those with editing capability

• Video sharing and editing discussion (reference to Clesh)

• Clesh launch here and here
• Article discussing Clesh and implications for user generated content.
• Discussion of Clesh (includes a contrast with FORscene and competing services such as Final Cut Pro)
• Clesh in context

(non-English)

• http://www.digitalproduction.com/dp/shop_artikel.asp?ID=2637&NS=1

External links

• Technical overview of clesh (leaflet from San Jose conference Spring 2007)
• Review of Clesh (in Polish)
• Further Review of Clesh (also in Polish)

Currently Known Clesh Installations

• http://video.truetube.co.uk/login
• http://clesh.com/
• http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/login.aspx?action=edit