Advice please...first project with hvx:

M

Mavoz

Well-known member
Hi,

I´m a `hobbyist film maker´ from Australia (land of PAL) and am in Germany and soon to film my Uncles experiences as a soldier with the German Wehrmacht.

I´m a babe in the wood when it comes to using this shiny new HVX. (previously having used a simple point and shoot Mini DV cam)

I´d appreciate someone to check I´m going down the right track in terms of settings and offer any advice if necessary. Thanks!

I have the HVX, an 8 gigabyte P2 card, a bunch of DV tapes....and a laptop with a little extra HD storage.

I want to film 2 main things:

A longer "head and shoulders" interview with my uncle.

"Filler" footage to be used for intro of video and interspliced between.
(eg. Shots of Uncle playing with grandchildren...walking with wife etc. etc.)

I´m still coming to grips with all the various formats & frame rates the HVX offers...I simply want to stick with some good safe settings. Is this ok?

Longer interview:

Use the Mini DV tape.

Settings: 576i / 25p and
Camera Setup = Letter Box (For 16x9 recording)
Scene file F1 (for normal shooting) and Film Cam option.
Audio 48k 16 bit

The only other options I can find in tape mode seem to be 576i /50i and 4:3 or Squeeze...these are not a good option for me right?

Are there any other settings re: tape format or anything I should know about? (Iie. Is there a setting somewhere for DVCPRO or something instead of just mini DV? Are there any other options in some hidden menu I should be aware of whilst shooting onto DV tape?)

Filler/introFootage:

Use the P2 card.
Settings: Letter box size
720p/25p
Scene file F1 Film Cam


Is it a mistake to shoot a combination of Mini DV and 720p/25p when it comes to editing?

Do these settings look ok?

Sorry for the basic questions....I´m busily trying to devour the manual and get a handle on how all these extra options work!

Thank you for any help at all!
 
All I can say in as kind a way as possible is that you are attempting quite a lot when you really do not know this camera. There is a learning curve involved in any new camera for anyone-- even seasoned professionals. The HVX is a sophisticated piece o equipment and requires familiarity to coax the best image from it.

First, memorize Barry G's book.

Next, the questions... What are you using to edit? While with Edius Broadcast and FCP you can mix formats on a timeline, the difference, particuarly if it is shooting an interview, will be quite obvious.

Why not stream directly to a laptop?

The settings you use are in part a function of the look you want to create.

Then, there is the question of how you choose to light your interview. That is also a factor in "look."

Amateur doesn't mean amateuresque. I know an "amateur" in our community whose work looks 10 times better than some so-called professionals. You can hone some skills and create a magnificent piece with your HVX.

You might consider hiring some help once in Germany... at the very least a lighting person with a good kit.

Otherwise, you understand it is very hard to give you a complete course in HVX and The Art of The Documentary on an internet discussion board.

Good luck

Ned Soltz
 
and you didn't even mention audio - which IMO is more important - use a good quality mic on a shielded cable to the camera input and boom it near the subject, or use a good quality wireless lavalier.

personally, I would get another P2 card, and shoot everything in 720p. you can produce SD output, but you'll always have the HD for future use.

I did this with my uncle several years ago (radio op on a B-24) and was able to find a lot of public domain archived footage for B roll.
 
If you are recording on tape, then DV is the only available recording format.

Another advantage of recording on P2 is that you can record four audio tracks -- you can have the internal mikes plus the lav and/or boom. You can also record DVCPro50, which while it is still SD, looks much nicer than DV.
 
Thanks

Thanks

yeh I realise I´m kind of jumping in the deep end...but hey...there´s nothing like giving something a go!

I certainly have a LOT more to learn about the cam...but I´m in Germany for one more week...and the opportunity is there to film my uncle who is 84...a good plan acted on today is better than an excellent one next week!

To edit I´m using Adobe Premiere with Raylight.


Audio wise I´m confident with this as I´ve tested it with my wired lav mike and headphones...2 channels will be fine...using one for interviewer and one for the ´talent´'

My theory with shooting interview to DV taoe is really that the audio is more important (as regards the interview itself) than the picture....but tje idea of shooting to DVCPRO50 is a good one....possibbly a wiser use of my 8 gigs of P2...perhaps I should indeed just shoot everything with this just to keep things consistent...

at the end of the day I just want to do the best I can with the resources available and learn by doing in the process!

Thanks!
 
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