filming a video chat on a computer monitor

F

flean

Active member
I am wondering what would be the best advices in terms of lighting and camera
(DVX100b) settings to film a computer screen where a conversation between 2 people is taking place via online video conferencing or chatting like Skype or ichat?

Filming a webpage or an online video appearing on computer screen can look like crap. Any suggestions?

thanks
 
Thomas Lew said:
camtasia screen recorder. just record the actual screen with the program
Click to expand...

You could do that, and if need be, use something like AfterEffects to 'drop it in' to a screen if the shot was pulled back.

But I thought there was some form of 'sync' option on the DVX100 to over come the scan line beat frequencies...

I've not even experimented with this sort of thing...
 
Or cheat and do it as a Picture-in-Picture in post-production? I.e. the supposed webcam video would simply be your normally recorded DVX footage.

But it depends what else needs to be visible on and around the computer screen.
 
I've done this practical before and you just need to go into the monitors color settings and adjust it to look right, depending on your white balance. (It ends up looking WACKY to the naked eye) Also, you may have to use the camera's "Syncro Scan" settings so the camera is in sync with the monitor's refresh rate.

If you don't have to show anything other than the monitor, I would try to record it from within the computer, as others have suggested.
 
And I presume you're talking about filming a LCD monitor, not a CRT? LCDs are certainly much easier to film.

If you're still getting too much flickering or banding or other weird artefacts onscreen even on a LCD (when viewed from your camera), you may be able to fiddle with the monitor's refresh rate - a faster refresh may reduce any screen funnies
 
A Matrox MXO box would work nicely. The MXO will take a DVI source from your computer and convert it to HDSDI or Analog Component. You can mirror your desktop out to the MXO and then record the output. This is going to be more expensive then a screen grab.. but I've had some very nice results.
 
Hey... If it's not too late here...

White balance on the screen (something white)... screens always appear blue (daylight) unless you balance on them... if you are going to see anything else in the frame... then color corect your lights (or use HMI)
 
Thomas Lew said:
camtasia screen recorder. just record the actual screen with the program
Click to expand...

The problem I've had with screen recording software is the resulting resolution looks TERRIBLE when put on a timeline and displayed on a TV. It's fine for doing PC-base presentations, but I didn't find anything that worked well at all if you're outputing to TV, VHS or DVD.
 
We generally (actually always) try to do that in post as it gives you more control and is very fast/easy.

Check out After effects and if you have CS4 you have even more advanced tools like Mocha bundled in. You can even do handheld and track it in with no problems.
 
Using LCD as the monitor works very well for me and I prefer it over screen capture apps, as you would achieve more realistic look including angles.

As with almost everything, there are many ways to do things, experiment and see what works best for you.
 
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