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My Video and General FAQ
Hi guys, due to the unexpected popularity of my videos I have been a bit overwhelmed by the responses I’ve received, so I thought I would answer some of the most repeated questions here in one post for you. If I have directed you here it is because I do my best to give a relevant, personal answer to all of the messages I have received, but I’ve answered your question previously so you can benefit from what I’ve already written. 
1. Technical Support Questions / Detailed Explanations
2. Video Recording/Editing
3. Hardware/Software/Distribution Info
4. Personal Info/Choices/Linux vs. Windows
1. Technical Support Questions / Detailed Explanations…
I love you guys, I really do, and I so badly want to help each and every one of you, but trying to help everyone troubleshoot their issues or solve problems would be extremely difficult for me, and I couldn’t answer you in a timely manner. So please use one of the support channels available to you that I use at the least, and then point me to the question there – I’ll do my best to try and help out too, but no promises! Some of the places I go first are: #linux and #ubuntu on IRC, or #ffmpeg for ffmpeg questions, #kdenlive for kdenlive, and so on – the folks on IRC are patient and helpful. For those running a variant of Ubuntu, there is no better place than the Ubuntu forums for support, as the community there is absolutely massive, and friendly!
What video camera do you use?
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 – watch my video here for details.
What microphone do you use?
Marshall MXL USB.008 USB Condenser Microphone
What screen capture program do you use?
I use ffmpeg’s -x11grab option to record my desktop, though I have also used gtk-recordmydesktop for a quick and easy GUI front-end (unfortunately it only records in OGG format), and also kdenlive has a screen capture utility. While the option to record audio is available, I do my narration after recording my desktop.
What non-linear editor do you use to edit your videos?
This is one area where dual-booting with Windows helps me. Depending on the video I may use Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas Pro, or kdenlive for my video. Each does things a little differently than the other. I am always looking for good (hopefully open source?) video editors, and am hopeful that lumiera or another Linux program can someday be to me what Final Cut Pro is to Mac users.
3. Hardware/Software/Distribution Info
What theme do you use?
Slickness Black – watch my video here for details.
Where did you get your background picture? Was it made in gimp?
I love fractals, and the majority of the pictures I use are from www.beautifulfractals.com with the Creative Commons license. (You may also have seen pictures of Adriana Lima or Alessandra Abrosio 
What distributions do you use?
I work on a handful of different computers, which have a combination of Ubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Server, Windows Vista, and Windows XP on them at the moment. I don’t currently use other distributions, though I have Debian and 64 Studio and intend on seeing if they will work better for some of the things I’m trying to do, like multimedia production. For the forseeable future my videos will be based on Ubuntu, unless someone can give me compelling reasons I should switch to a different distribution when I’m comfortable with this one.
What animation/effect/setting am I seeing on your desktop?
Watch my Compiz videos here, here, and here for details on my desktop settings, including the animations, zoom effects, and so on.
What computer hardware do you have?
I have several different PCs, and I record from a number of them, so my answer will differ on any given day!
4. Personal Info/Choices/Linux vs. Windows
Why did you use this command/program/shell rather than this other one/do it this way?
One of the best things about Linux is the amazing number of choices you have to do any one task. I try to focus my videos toward newbies to Linux but also introduce them to slightly more advanced concepts, while staying as distribution-neutral as possible. I know there are many other ways to do everything I talk about, and please do keep giving suggestions on how to improve, I love them!
A/S/L/what do you like/who do you like/etc?
Read my About Me page here! <3
Why do you hate Windows/Microsoft?
I don’t hate Windows or Microsoft, I use Windows all the time for playing games and certain tasks I haven’t fully switched over to Linux for yet (like some types of video editing). I think Linux is better for certain things, and Windows for certain things, so I try to use the best tool for the job.
So why did you say this negative thing about Windows/Microsoft/etc?
Microsoft is easy and fun to joke about, but that doesn’t mean I have something against them. I joke about everything, and I like to use satire in my videos/articles. Unfortunately satire and sarcasm don’t always translate well over the internet…
How can I get in touch with you/learn more about you/get to know you better?
My About Me page here is a great place to start. Honestly I am a Twitter addict, so add me on Twitter here and you’ll get to read more than you ever wanted to know about me! Now with frequent TwitPics too!
Related Posts
Hi Nixie,
Thanks for the info! I wasn’t one of the people who requested info, but this post answered most of the questions I didn’t dare to ask. But! I’m interested in your Compiz setup, but the links are missing (is that on the ToDo list?).
Excellent work, it’s always a pleasure to come back and see what you’ve done!
James
Hi, sorry, I fixed it, the links should be working now. I am still having problems with the index, the same-page #links aren’t working correctly. Stupid b2evolution keeps directing the link to my blog skin. Yet another reason I’ll be switching to WordPress soon…
Thanks Nixie, you’re a lifesaver! I’ve been using Linux for over 10 years now, and this just goes to show, you learn something new every day. I love your Compiz settings, and I have shamelessly copied everything.
Take care,
J.
Hi Nixie , There is one more answer I would like to know, What does you name (NixiPixel) mean ?
Cheers,
Free_Programmer
Dont switch to wordpress! Be a true die-hard nix user and go with Drupal! (ok that didnt make sense since both run wonderfully on linux..)
Thanks for the info and your videos, your the coolest.
hi Nixie,
I’m a huge fan of your videos, I mean, I’m not a new user (I’m a certified Red Hat System Administrator…) but I like your style, something really new in tech obsessed linux world (a girl! that speaks in plain English! not in l33t tech slang
This just to inform you that there’s an ubuntu open project called Ubuntu Tutorial CD where I hope you’ll partecipate, ‘cose this’ll be part of official relize, so could be a great occasion for both…
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ScreencastTeam
best regards,
marco
hello Nixie,
)
Great that you constribute tutorials for newbies in the linux community. I have question, do you have any tip how to get WLAN to work painless in Ubuntu? Maybe a future idea for your next video tutorial maybe?
Great video on kdenlive, thanks!
Thanks for jumpstarting my efforts to understand compiz fusion.
hi nixie
is there any way to use different desktop backgrounds without disabling nautilus show desktop option?
@Nixie, any change I could get you to follow me back on Twitter. It’s frustrating reading your funny additions to Twitter without being able to send a reply
PS
Forgive me some spelling and grammar mistakes (i’m dutch)
0-O
I started following you on twitter, although I’m not very active.
–heart flutter– wow a pretty girl who knows Linux and games. Sounds like a dream girl, if you lived in LA, I’d totally ask you out!
Loved your grub video, although I’ve still got problems. So do I give up and just reinstall linux or try to finally understand grub after successfully avoiding that since the end of lilo.
So I finally got GRUB to work. basically I moved the existing /boot/grub directory to /boot/grub.old and then followed the directions here:
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=975 and then copied my old grub.conf from the old directory.
So it seems if you already have grub installed it can be in some inconsistent state and only by removing it can you get back to normal.
This all happened because I repartitioned one of my drives which I didn’t think would have the MBR on it, since it wasn’t the first boot disk. Looks like I know more about GRUB.
One other thing irritating thing is that one more recent fedora versions they show a friendly screen instead of the boot messages even if you edit /etc/inittab and set it to runlevel 3. Sheesh! Does Ubuntu do that also?
I L0VE YOU NixiePixel
broken link:
http://www.beautifulfractals.com
You have the link set to:
http://nixiepixel.com/blog/skins/nifty_corners/www.beautifulfractals.com
คนไทยในต่างแดน อิ.อิ.
lol are you kidding me?
1) You are incredible attractive
2) You like Tech
3) You are obviously extremely smart on the subjects you choose to talk about.
How can it be a surprise to you that your videos became THIS popular?
LoL
I’ve always admired your audio and though it was about time I got myself a decent mic so started wondering what type you’re using. Initially was going to PM you on YouTube, but then remembered the blog! Saying to myself “Nixie would be the type to have a FAQ on her ‘video studio’ setup”. I LoL so hard when I found this page!
One Marshall MXL USB.008 USB Condenser Microphone will be getting purchased shortly!
I would like to know how do we finish faster Final fantasy 13, I have complete the 5 chapters in 3 days when the game was out in stores but then I was stuck at end boss was not able to kill it, so I restart and now Im now in chapter 4 trying to kill the odin of Lightning and I die before is bar can be to half, If you know what is the best thing to do like weapon improvement or role improvement I dont know, is the first time I play final fantasy game, I play Diablo’s series of Blizzard, Guild Wars trilogy + expension from Ncsoft, and Shaiya from Aeria Games. So I’m totally lost is completely different and harder to play final fantasy’s series So I need help for be better at it. Thank you so much before, take care
Hi Nixie
I apologize if I just didnt see it, but what do you suggest as a reference for a Fedora newbie (had to pick that one for class)? Im in an OS Security class so I am interested in the basics and the advanced.
Any help you could give would be great..
Now for the obligatory stroking of the ego.. yours not mine…
My instructor is with the NSA. When I had him for my basic UNIX class he pointed us to your vids on youtube and suggested we all get aquainted with you as you are excellent at getting the point accross to any level.
Have a great day!!
as for me I use Macvide ScreenCap (macvide.com)
The Amanda Kay link is broken under the “Current Crushes” section.
You are one of the best geeks to put the complexity down to an understandable level.
So, how about a video showing how to share a printer connected to a ubuntu rig with a windows 7 pc. HMMMMM? I know you use samba. That is sure. After that, it gets fuzzy.
Thanks a bunch
you very nice geek girl