Is there a video series that goes over all of the node types, operators, expressions ( ugh !) etc and explains functions of each ?

I know the help files have a list but maybe the video series would help new comers.

If not it would be useful to maintain an uptodate repository of video clips that explains all the functionality with a few usage examples.

The clips can be between 1-15 minutes depending upon the complexity of the node/examples etc.

That would require an army of experts. Think of the criptic vops and microsolver dops. I'd sign up for the 10 or 20 basic ones.

You could produce those tutorials along with your path of learning.

I volunteer in this endeavor - do we need to set up a database where video-makers can sign up for a node?

Marc

The journey could start with a table containing all SOPs: http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/nodes/sop/#subtopics [sidefx.com]

well … if 10 video contributors all discuss the “Alembic” node, we may get a library of “Alembic node discussions”, but not much more.
I will jump in as soon as we can find an agreement on how to distribute the work. Whoever commits to doing a video should do that within a specified time, else her commitment should get deleted, so that the node could be discussed by someone else.

If at least 5 cooperators “sign up” here, I also volunteer to create the database and a frontend for that.

Marc

well … if 10 video contributors all discuss the “Alembic” node, we may get a library of “Alembic node discussions”, but not much more.
I will jump in as soon as we can find an agreement on how to distribute the work. Whoever commits to doing a video should do that within a specified time, else her commitment should get deleted, so that the node could be discussed by someone else.

If at least 5 cooperators “sign up” here, I also volunteer to create the database and a frontend for that.

Marc

Wooah, good people. Awesome response. But yeah maybe divvy the nodes video library based on operator types ? Kinda like the Maya tool belt series on YouTube.

so videos walking through the example files available for each node?

> so videos walking through the example files available for each node?

might be a start, but (that's my perspective, open to discussion ) maybe spicing it up with whatever the respective video creator has available.

What I find important with “snippets” is to point out caveats, if present, with specific channels. A trivial example:
I am still working on the VEX version of the “animation creating leg rig” and noticed that, if a solver is set to “cache simulation”, you don't get actual *output* from every frames' execution, but only the accumulated result from simulation start to current frame, which (when debugging) can cost you a bunch of hair …

Marc

arctor
so videos walking through the example files available for each node?

That could be used to explain the usage scenarios of each node.

But we would benefit with a video on the node itself - the help segment of each node could contain the video/s, explaining the different areas in the parameter window, followed by 2-3 examples of its usage. This list can be updated as and when the nodes themselves change or are supplanted by a better version ( moving the deprecated node's video to another section - say “Redundant”)

Linking here a few examples of what I mean:

- http://www.digitaltutors.com/tutorial/246-Maya-Rendering-Nodes-Reference-Library-Surfaces [digitaltutors.com]
- https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/maya-rendering-nodes-reference-library-3d-textures-235 [pluralsight.com]
- https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/maya-rigging-reference-library-constrain-621 [pluralsight.com]
- https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/maya-rigging-reference-library-deformers-392 [pluralsight.com]
- https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/maya-animation-reference-library-animate-609 [pluralsight.com]

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ms0v0VsJhY [youtube.com] ( MODO's Work Plane In-Depth) - an upcoming RFE for such a feature )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQOq8-rLqds&t=1157s [youtube.com] ( MODO Action Centers In-Depth)

Maya Toolbelt
https://www.youtube.com/user/mayatoolbelt/playlists [youtube.com]

I gave it a go and uploaded a first attempt - the idea being that all videos can be done better, improved upon, corrected etc, I would prefer to only use Vimeo (where you can replace videos), but to, maybe, get some more interest, I'm including Youtube as well:



Now … people, join in. I am willing to help, if I can, but I also would love to get feedback on how to make things better/more suitable.

Marc

I see this 1-node-1-video format in other communities. For example, Unreal Engine has this “wtf is…” [youtube.com] series. He covers a single node, talks about the properties, and shows an example file. All good stuff. Sidefx really needs a video library like this.

more is in the works. Making these videos takes A HELL LOT OF TIME (it takes me about one hour per minute in the final video). Any HELP would be highly appreciated, and be it with example scenes or the will to chat via Skype/Email whatever to figure out what the parameters *actually* do (additionally to what is often claimed in the documentation)

Marc

I can only stress: I won't be able to do them all alone. ANY HELP is appreciated.