Item list for my first time project

M

midknight

Member
Hi guys. I'm going to be coming into some available funds soon. Not a lot to get everything on my list, but at least a few things to start off with. What should be my top three priorities from this list.

Five hour battery for camcorder $155.00
cheap Panasonic mini dv camcorder $200.00 (For importing my footage.)
Digital voice recorder $166.00
Microphone $50.00
ILIFE software $70.00
Tiger OS for Mac $110.00
Three halogen lamps $126.00
Midi Keyboard $100.00
Movie Magic screenwriting software $170.00
Poor man's Steadycam $50.00
 
start off by telling us what you have, that might help...

just from the list you have, I guess I would go with the battery and the microphone so far, but I don't know what kind of mic you can get for $50
 
Zack Attack said:
start off by telling us what you have, that might help...

just from the list you have, I guess I would go with the battery and the microphone so far, but I don't know what kind of mic you can get for $50
Click to expand...

Well, I have a dvx100a of course. A cheap-ass tripod I use. And of course my mac. I was looking at microphones through radio shack. Something that could pick up good dialogue and is affordable. And I really don't want to record the audio through XLRs through the camcorder as I have thought it through. I need a sound recorder so I can move about freely with out cables.
 
First off, I'd go with the DVXuser battery. It's a great battery and about half the price of the one you're looking at.

Make sure that sound recorder you're looking at can record in a format that you will be able to sync up with a 24p video file. To be honest, I'd just pick up an Oktava and record straight into the DVX (unless you can budget for a mixer). Are you really going to be moving the camera that much that having an XLR cable attached is going to be a pain?
 
And as for the scripting software, unless it has something you can't live without, there is always Celtix for free. Take that $170, and put it towards a better mic.
 
HorseFilms said:
First off, I'd go with the DVXuser battery. It's a great battery and about half the price of the one you're looking at.

Make sure that sound recorder you're looking at can record in a format that you will be able to sync up with a 24p video file. To be honest, I'd just pick up an Oktava and record straight into the DVX (unless you can budget for a mixer). Are you really going to be moving the camera that much that having an XLR cable attached is going to be a pain?
Click to expand...

I have a few scenes where someone is looking out a window and they speak. The camera is outside. So how do I get the xlr in the house with the mic. A seperate sound source needs to in an area the camera can't be in at the same time. How can I find out if a digital voice recorder can sync up with 24p? I've been looking at this recorder form Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BJ3BRO/ref=s9_asin_image_1/104-7616147-2061542
 
Capt Quirk said:
And as for the scripting software, unless it has something you can't live without, there is always Celtix for free. Take that $170, and put it towards a better mic.
Click to expand...
I agree. I love Movie Magic, but you can write in notepad if you have to. You can get the Octava from soundroom for about 180, then get your BBG from evsonline for about 140.
 
midknight said:
I have a few scenes where someone is looking out a window and they speak. The camera is outside. So how do I get the xlr in the house with the mic. A seperate sound source needs to in an area the camera can't be in at the same time. How can I find out if a digital voice recorder can sync up with 24p? I've been looking at this recorder form Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BJ3BRO/ref=s9_asin_image_1/104-7616147-2061542
Click to expand...

You could always use a wireless mic system, boom mic into a recorder, or drill a hole through the wall for your cable... that is a last resort ;)
 
Cryogenic Filmworks said:
I agree. I love Movie Magic, but you can write in notepad if you have to. You can get the Octava from soundroom for about 180, then get your BBG from evsonline for about 140.
Click to expand...

BBG?
 
Baby Ball Gag:
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?

The Oktava is a great mic for it's price, but you really do need alot of extra wind protection. The best combo is the BBG and the Rycote Wind Jammer:
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=021801

What are you planning on using that digital voice recorder for? It seems useless.

One way to do the shot you plan on doing. Record the shot through the window MOS (without sound.) Then set up the mic in a quiet room and have your actor re-do his lines. It might take a bit of practice, but that seems the best option. The DVX has very capable sound for its price and I suggest you take advantage of that.

As the others said, nix the screenwriting software. There are plenty of free programs on the net.

So If I were you, my list would look like this:

Dvx user battery for camcorder $79
cheap Panasonic mini dv camcorder $150 (Search EBAY!)
Oktave Mk012 Microphone $180.00
BBG + Wind Jammer: $210.00
ILIFE software $70.00
Tiger OS for Mac $110.00
Midi Keyboard $100.00
XLR cable: $25
2 tapes: $10.00

Your list totals $1197, my list totals $934

That gives you (If you have around $1200 to spend) around $270 to put aside for some lighting equipment (which won't get you much, but a couple hundred more can get a cheap kit that will do the job.)
 
Another thing you can do with the window scene (if your framing allows this) is to run the XLR cable through the corner of the window (pop the screen off just enough to get the cable through. That way you don't have to worry about ADR later.
 
midknight said:
ILIFE software $70.00
Click to expand...

No one mentioned this. Final Cut Express is only $375 from the Apple Store and it's a gigantic step up from iLife. You could take the iLife money and the $270 left over from Slimothy's list and get FCE, an enormous improvement from iMovie.
 
I agree with everyone. I would ditch the screen writing software and if you have to just use note pad. Now I wouldn't skimp on the mic I would get the best possible. As for your lighting have you looked into any colleges or schools around you that have a film department or just a theater department. Allot of times as long as you can convince one of their students to help on your project you might be able to get more lights then you need for your 270
 
-zach- said:
No one mentioned this. Final Cut Express is only $375 from the Apple Store and it's a gigantic step up from iLife. You could take the iLife money and the $270 left over from Slimothy's list and get FCE, an enormous improvement from iMovie.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about Final Cut Express, but I've been reading around that it actually it has a rather steep learning curve. I wanted Ilife, because I need to update my software. Plus, I don't have any version Garageband and wanted a user-friendly application to introduce me into mixing.

What kind of effects does Final Cut Express have? Is their a good website which explains its features in quicktime?

By the way, I don't know if my system would run the current version well. I have a 1ghz. PowerPC G4 with 512mb ram. I read that if you want render, it would slow to a crawl at that rate.
 
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