Bottom of Page

   The Links on this Page are no longer available through Dropbox, as their permitted public usage for downloads has been changed.

This is the page on which I intend to upload anything that I find, that might be of interest to people making Audio Visual sequences (AVs).

Before I add anything more, I have to state right away that I am not in any way an 'expert' in making AV sequences. I have limited technical expertise and no competition winner's medals although I have 'dipped my toe' in the competitions water a couple of times! The AVs that I make are for my own pleasure and, often, the challenge of just 'seeing how it works'. If anyone else finds it interesting or helpful then that is a bonus.

When constructing my own sequences I use 'Pictures to Exe' software for putting the AV together and 'Audacity' for editing the background narrative and music track. You'll find links to both of these excellent products on the Links page of this site. 'PtoE' can be purchased for a modest cost (and is worth its weight in gold!) and Audacity can be downloaded freely, but a donation is appreciated (again, an excellent programme). Visit the PtoE forum for news of updates, help with problems, 'how-to' advice, and new AV sequences etc.

On this page, you'll find my own AV sequences with which I'm personally satisfied and also Project files that can be used as very basic templates to get you started with your own 3D animations etc.
All are hosted on the 'Dropbox' website (see Links page) for easy download onto your own computer.

The Audio Visual Sequences are .exe files which will run on a computer without any additional software. Once downloaded onto your hard-drive the file can be saved for viewing at any time. It can be activated by double-clicking on the file icon with the left-button of the mouse.

If you don't wish to download a sequence as a .exe file, but would still like to watch it, some of them have been uploaded to Youtube and a link to those is also included. However, although these are uploaded as HD video files the quality, especially with the animation or video, is still not as good as the .exe file download.

The Project Files can only be run in an up to date version of Pictures to Exe (at present I am using 6.5 for most of my sequences but in the near future will start making them in version 7). These consist of a zipped folder which contains the project file and the images used in it. By opening this project in PtoE and then going into 'Objects and Animations', you will be able to see how I constructed the animation with the keyframes, and then recreate it with your own images. Occasionally there will also be a .rtf file with further instructions. These projects are not 'fine-tuned' to perfection! They are fairly 'rough and ready' and just designed to help you get started. As with most things, though, there is always more than one way of achieving a particular effect and this is just my own way.

Update (July 2011): The latest sequence, CATS! has a short video clip included and was made in PtoE 7 beta 13. All future sequences and projects will be made in version 7

If you're new to all this, but want to get started, I've put together some 'How to .....' files, the first of which is called, 'Getting Started with PtoE and Audacity'. It doesn't, however, set out to be a manual on these two programmes. What I've tried to do is to set down the ways in which I, myself, approach making an audio-visual sequence. It's a step-by-step guide to setting up the basic project and creating a basic background track; plus there are also some personal observations on how we should think about planning the sequence and links to other websites that may be useful. I've not covered everything that there is to be found, in either programme, but limited myself to just the features that really need to be considered when first starting out.
Experience will open the doors to other, more sophisticated options.

The file can be downloaded, either as a .rtf file or as an OpenOffice, .odt file:

Getting Started with Pictures to Exe & Audacity as .rtf click HERE

Getting Started with Pictures to Exe & Audacity as .odt click HERE

The second' file is called 'Getting Started with Objects and Animation in PtoE'. It introduces you to the Objects and Animations window and takes you through the various settings, using keyframes and the timeline. There are also step-by-step instructions to create a basic, 2D animation with a background and 3 animated objects, together with a mini-project file to illustrate the instructions.
It can be downloaded, either as a .rtf file or as an OpenOffice, .odt file, and the project as a zip file:

'Getting Started with Objects and Animation in PtoE'. as .rtf click HERE 'Getting Started with Objects and Animation in PtoE'. as .odt click HERE Demo-Project as .zip (file size 109 kb) click HERE

(Note .... Your anti-virus software might warn you that .exe files can be harmful to your computer but these .exe files are clean, without any 'nasties'!)

List of Audio Visual Sequences: Click on title to see images and link to AVs: CATS! Showtime! Saddleworth Morris Men and Rushcart 2 A Victorian in Egypt An Introduction to the Peak Forest Canal Hail Smiling Morn! A Grand Day Out!

List of Project zip folders with accompanying demo Audio Visual Sequences: Click on title to see images and link to AVs: 3D Tetrahedron - triangle based pyramid 3D Pyramid - square based 3D Cube 3D Cuboid 3D Cube from a flat 'net' Opening a book, turning the pages and closing it

Audio Visual Sequence: CATS! by Sheila Goodyear (July 2011)

This sequence is the first I've made with PtoE7 (beta13) and contains a short video clip.............. hence the comparatively large file size for a short sequence.

Audio Visual Sequence: Showtime! by Sheila Goodyear (June 2011)

This sequence was made just so that I could use as many cube and pyramid 3D animations as I could fit into the time! Consequently it's a little manic but I had fun making it!
The background Image : Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1672, courtesy of NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, is from the Hubble Website.
No narrative but a great background music track by Kevin MacLeod.

Audio Visual Sequence: Saddleworth Morris Men and Rushcart 2 by Sheila Goodyear

(For returning visitors - this AV replaces the one originally included here)
This updated version of the first AV retains much of the basic sequence and effects, ie., that I wanted to play with framing the images and intoduce some of the 3D animation found in PtoE to change the pace and, hopefully, add interest. In addition I have added 2 short video clips and the background soundtrack is now one that was recorded by myself at the 2011 festival.
The video camera (which has fairly low spec) had some difficulties recording faster movement which made playback very 'fragmented'. I wanted to keep the 'feel' of this clip so, to try to get round this, I extracted a number of 'stills' from the clip, made them look more 'impressionistic' and added them back into the clip at approximately 1 frame per second. It works for me although I know that it won't work for everyone. I hope it does for you

AV Sequence
This AV has a file size of 87 4MB
Run time: 5 mins 35secs
Aspect ratio is 16:10
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE
Also viewable on YouTube (in HD; resolution 1280 x 720; aspect ratio 16:9) :   HERE

Audio Visual Sequence: A Victorian in Egypt by Sheila Goodyear (May 2011)

This AV is entirely created from the pages of a mid 19th century publication in my possession. It gave me the opportunity to incorporate the page turning effect in the 3D animations in PtoE. Turning every page might have been a bit too much so it has only been used in the opening and closing frames. It has a background track of music and a narrative using the original author's own words.

AV Sequence
This AV has a file size of 29.9MB
Run time: 7mins 48 seconds
Aspect ratio is 16:10
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file:  HERE
Also viewable on YouTube (in HD; resolution 1280 x 720; aspect ratio 16:9) :   HERE

Audio Visual Sequence: An Introduction to the Peak Forest Canal by Sheila Goodyear (2010)

This AV was made in 2010.
It consists of a sequence of photographs along the Peak Forest Canal, which are set against a background music track and continuous narrative. It aims to introduce the viewer to a very brief history of this canal and its present use.

Audio Visual Sequence: Hail Smiling Morn by Sheila Goodyear

This is a sequence, with music and narrative, made about 2008 using photos, taken over several years, of the Whit Friday Walks and Band Contest in Saddleworth.
The title is taken from that of the piece of music that is, traditonally, played first by the bands on that day.

Audio Visual Sequence: A Grand Day Out! by Sheila Goodyear

This AV was first made about 2006
It consists of a sequence of photographs taken on a day out at Crich Tramway Museum in Derbyshire. It was a special event, Edwardian Day.
There is a background track of music with some added narrative.

Audio Visual Project File for making a tetrahedron (pyramid based on a triangular base) rotate in space. (June 2011)
There is also an AV Sequence, .exe file, to enable you to see the animation if you don't have PtoE.

This Project has a file size of 4.86MB
Aspect ratio is 4:3
The link for the Project download is to a Dropbox file: HERE

AV Sequence has a file size of 6.65MB
Run time : 55 secs.
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE.

Two Audio Visual Project Files for making a Pyramid on a square base rotate in all directions in space. (June 2011)
The second Project file has the construction for a pyramid which will open out, at the apex. The centres of rotation, of the faces, is placed on the base line of each face.
There are also Audio Visual Sequences, .exe file, to enable you to see the animations if you don't have PtoE.

This Project has a file size of 811KB
Aspect ratio is 4:3
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE

AV Sequence has a file size of 1.35MB
Run time : 35 secs.
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE.

...................................................................................................................................................................................................

Some of the images from the second AV and Project:

Return to top

This Project has a file size of 212KB
Aspect ratio is 16:10
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE

AV Sequence has a file size of 728KB
Run time : 1min 8secs.
The link for the download is to a Dropbox file: HERE.

Audio Visual Project File for making a 3D cube rotate in all directions in space. (June 2011)
There is also an Audio Visual Sequence, .exe file, to enable you to see the animation if you don't have PtoE.

Audio Visual Project File for making a 3D cuboids, with sides of 4:3 ratio; 2:1 ratio; and 4:1 ratio, rotate in all directions in space. (June 2011)
Made in PtoE version 7 Beta 11, it should, however, run perfectly well in version 6.5.

Audio Visual Project File for making a 3D cube which opens out as a 'net' and then closes again, inside out. (June 2011)

Audio Visual Project File for opening a book, turning the pages and then closing the book. Any number of pages can be added. (June 2011)