talkmagic.co.uk

THE DESIRE

I was working today on a new cut and restored rope routine for me. As I’m still pretty new to rope magic, I was looking for sources to get information. I have to admit that I underestimated the impact of rope magic on lay audiences completely. I always felt that it’s sort of old fashioned and no longer up to date. This changed when Alexander De Cova persuaded me to try his routine Robing a short and very practical rope routine. Suddenly this was the trick I was asked most of the time after a show.

OK – I’m still able to learn. As I was not completely happy with Robing I was looking for additional sources. My starting point was the rope DVD from Pat Page a bargain as you get a wealth of fundamental rope knowledge together with the great thinking of one of the greatest Magicians of our time. (I will post more on this DVD another time)

After watching this DVD (yes I know books should be the better source, but I always had problems to follow a rope trick in print) I was really exited but I was missing a longer rope routine. I did a quick research in The Magic Café and got the tip to have look on the rope DVD in L&L’s World Greatest Magic Series. Good idea I thought but I want it NOW!

Knowing that L&L offers several of their titles as instant download I gave it a try. And yes you get all titles of this DVD series as Video on Demand.
IT’S A STONY WAY TO VIDEO ON DEMAND HEAVEN

Buying your magic DVD by downloading is a clever idea in principle but there are several obstacles that have to be overcome. L&L doesn’t provide this service on their own, but the use the service of a company called Grapeflix.

1. Registering at Grapeflix is annoying due to a really bad spam captcha. Sometimes I believe they are not against spammers but to prevent companies from potential customers. Lucky they were that I really wanted that Video NOW.

2. The price is the same as the DVD but without shipping. Fine. But you only can buy it if you use MS Internet Explorer, because they use Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) as copy protection system. Additionally you need the newest version of Media Player 11 eventually as in my case with an additionally security update. Without that DRM does not work and it won’t let you download the movie.

3. After setting it all up correctly I really was able to download a Windows Media File (WMF) of about 640MB which took me about an hour. Still better than to wait a week here in Germany.

4. The biggest drawback compared with the DVD is that you don’t have instant access to the single chapters as on a DVD. You have to view the video from the beginning to the and. Welcome back in the age of VHS.

5. As the file is protected by DRM I was also not able to load it into my Video Editing Software to create the chapters on my own, but I’m working on that.

THE END

After watching the video I have sort of mixed feelings to this way of purchasing magic videos. On the upside there is without doubt the possibility to instant access to a video when you need it. The downside is the missing instant access to individual chapters, DRM and you have to watch it on your computer. For a DVD that cheap this is acceptable.

For a premium title I still would go for the real DVD as you can view it on your DVD-Player and it makes a much better impression on your friends in your DVD shelf

Best
Tom

Thanks. I'll never buy a temporary licence to watch video that uses DRM, requires Microsoft products and an Internet connection, when I can buy a physical instance that I have legal title to.

Not even if it it was Mr Berglas giving me a tutorial on how to perform ACAAN. Well, maybe for that.

Oh, not that you missunderstood me, I wasn't a temporary licence, just a personal one.

Best
Tom

Thank you very much for your review Escamoteur.

I looked at that media before but did not purchase because I suspected there were a few too many complicated techie things to manage ......... i.e. limitations for me, since I am not quite up to speed with these things.

If I understand you well, it is not possible to buy the download, burn it onto a DVD and play it on a normal (non-PC) DVD player?

Ref. rope routine, I have Richard Sanders' Fiber Optics. It has good reviews here:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic16854.php

Cheers
LP

As far as I know yet, yes you can't just burn it on a DVD without additonal Softwaretools that remove the DRM.

Quite Annoying.
If I find a good solution I will post it here

Tom

P.S.: Fibre Optics: I watched it. I'm not sure if it's not too complex for lay audience as too much is going on too fast. I think a good cut and restored rope routine plays better.

Thanks for the review. I'd be up for buying DVD's as downloads if they were cheaper than the physical copy, but...not with DRM

As far as I know, by using a tool to remove or bypass DRM you are almost certainly breaching their licensing. I'd check with L&L's terms and conditions. If they've gone to the trouble of adding DRM, I'd be surprised if they don't use that to restrict what you can do with the media.

I strongly disagree with the way DRM is implemented and peddled. I've had a nice cathartic rant about it in another thread and won't repeat my moaning here , but I will not buy any product with DRM attached. Especially if it forces me to use/install software as in this case with Internet Exploder and Media Player 11, not to mention Microsoft's DRM management addon. I never use these applications for anything else and am not going to be pushed into that just because L&L give me no other option. It's a disgrace. Presumably anyone who uses Linux is by definition excluded from purchasing this.

Sorry, I'm off my soapbox again now.

If you are not keen on Richard Sander's routine I have also seen two routines which I enjoyed, on the following DVDs:

In the Trenches, by Paul Green

and

World's greatest magic, Magic with everyday object: Jeff Sheridan's cut and restored string.

I particularly like the second one, the restoration happens in two spectators' hands when they pull at both ends of the string.

Hope this helps.

LP

L&L's rope routines DVD is OK and some routines will stand out more than others. Probably the same with all of L&L's Worlds Greatest Magic series.

One of the best resources for rope magic on DVD is Daryls Expert Rope Magic made easy which is a 3 DVD set and contains just about everything that you'll ever need and a bit more.

Others that I recommend are:

Flips Truly Magical Rope Magic (2 DVD set if I remember correctly and also an L&L)
Jahn Gallos ring and rope routine
Francis Tabery (2 disc rope act and magic with knots and more)

Once you've seen these you won't want to bother with Paul Green and in the trenches if you're just interested in rope routines.

If you're after the written word, and there's something very gratifying when you learn from a book, then the Encyclopedia of Rope Magic is recommended. Also look out for Karl Fulves self working rope magic bgook which is great value.

Thanks a lot for this pointers. I already had a look at Daryl's DVDs but I feel that's too much for the moment. It's almost an Encyclopedia.

But I think I found what I need. For me was more important to share my experiences with buying a video by download.

Best
Tom

P.S.: Still looking for feedback for my development of a Booking Management Software. Please give me your opinion here

I'm a big fan of Tabary's rope magic DVD, there are some brilliant routines on there that are well worth watching.

Thanks. I think I have now a good idea how my routine will look like.

Best
Tom

I think the best thing any of us could do is refrain from buying DRM-crippled media. It doesn't do anybody any good and the DVD is just as good.

I would, however, make an exception if L&L's DRM downloads came with a feature to turn off the audience's "quips".

Yes, but still take into account, that DVDs take some time to arive in germany or they are much more expensive. That was my reason.

Best
Tom