Just bought a great Teleprompter

[Jim Brennan]

After a month or so of research and asking around, I decided to go with the Telmax 15, from Zaprompt. This thing kicks ass. It is readily customizable to fit a lot of different cameras, sets up fast and is very well constructed. The software is easy to use, but very versatile and the prompter uses a 15" LCD monitor, which is plenty big enough for most applications.

The best part is that it was only 800 Bucks. The nearest prompters in that price range that I could find were the Prompter People DV-9, which is a hundred bucks more, with only a 9" monitor, or the Ikan PT-2000 which is also a hundred dollars more at 900 dollars, with only an 8 inch monitor. This one is 800 beans for a 15" model (they also make 16" and 17" models for $1000 and $1100 respectively)

The software also has a record function, allowing you to set speed adjustments and pauses into the memory for playback. A handy feature for a one person operation.

My only (trivial) complaints are:

1) The hood is brown, which, as the owner of the company says, sets it apart...but it's still ugly.

2) It's about 19 pounds, so you can't throw this on a Bogen 503

3) Some of the prompters I've used allow you to use a trackball to control the speed of the text, and this doesn't. You can use key commands, a slider on the GUI with the mouse, or buy a dedicated jog controller from the company for about 60 bucks. The key commands work fine for me (speed is a range of -100 to 100, with 0 a dead stop) as you can go in increments of 1, 3 or 5 with the plus key along with the apple and shift keys, but it would be cool to be able to use the trackball. (I plan on trying to use my Contour Shuttle Pro from my edit suite with it, just to see if any jog/shuttle controller will work)

This is a small company that seems to be working hard to put out a great product at a very reasonable price. If you are looking for a teleprompter, I strongly recommend these guys.

 

[Guy_Cochran]

Thanks for the scoop! I was just testing a Prompter People DV-9.

Looks like the bigger and cheaper Telmax model may be worth looking into. Especially if good ole Jim is giving it a :thumbup:

If you're not happy with their software, you might be interested in knowing that our sister company DVcreators has developed prompter software

Check out this vid on PromptDog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqwzeR1SkrE

 

[Jim Brennan]

Yeah, the good thing about the DV-9 is the fact that you get a true production monitor with it, so that can come in handy. But I can't imagine going much smaller than this 15". I've never used a smaller one and the thought of that made me nervous, which is why I kept looking. All you need is one client who doesn't want to wear their glasses for the shoot and you're screwed. :grin:

 

[RJS]

I have a regular gig that I was renting this prompter for http://www.avd-prompt.com/AV12hb.php but after several months I decided that it would be smarter to purchase one...the prompter I was renting was around 5,000 new including case and controller but was more than double what I was willing to spend and was only a 12" although it had a very bright monitor. So I researched and researched but the main problem I ran into was I just didn't like any of the software...jittery scrolling, pain in the butt to edit quickly. Also some of the units didn't stow efficiently...so I ended up getting one of the budget line that avd makes: http://www.1prompter.com/

Once I added a case and controller and upgraded the software I was at around 2500...which was a little over my budget but I really like it...15" screen...risers for different cameras and weighs around 15 pounds...custom fitted wheeled storm case.

I tried the prompt dog software but it was not smooth scrolling and I thought it would be too distracting.

The telmax looked interesting because it looked like you could make adjustments to the height but all those knobs just looked a little too homemade for me.

If I had the chance to look at and test in person all the different prompters/software I may have ended up with something different...but I found it hard to shop on line, I think that is why I ended up with a unit that was similar to what I had been running.

Bob

 

[kenackr]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Kwan]

Thanks for sharing..

 

[Jim Brennan]

If I had the chance to look at and test in person all the different prompters/software I may have ended up with something different...but I found it hard to shop on line, I think that is why I ended up with a unit that was similar to what I had been running.

Bob

I know how you feel. My experience with prompters was rather limited, but I though it was worth the risk. Ironically, my favorite thing about the package is the software. Super smooth.

 

[Guy_Cochran]

I have a regular gig that I was renting this prompter for http://www.avd-prompt.com/AV12hb.php but after several months I decided that it would be smarter to purchase one...the prompter I was renting was around 5,000 new including case and controller but was more than double what I was willing to spend and was only a 12" although it had a very bright monitor. So I researched and researched but the main problem I ran into was I just didn't like any of the software...jittery scrolling, pain in the butt to edit quickly. Also some of the units didn't stow efficiently...so I ended up getting one of the budget line that avd makes: http://www.1prompter.com/

Once I added a case and controller and upgraded the software I was at around 2500...which was a little over my budget but I really like it...15" screen...risers for different cameras and weighs around 15 pounds...custom fitted wheeled storm case.

I tried the prompt dog software but it was not smooth scrolling and I thought it would be too distracting.

The telmax looked interesting because it looked like you could make adjustments to the height but all those knobs just looked a little too homemade for me.

If I had the chance to look at and test in person all the different prompters/software I may have ended up with something different...but I found it hard to shop on line, I think that is why I ended up with a unit that was similar to what I had been running.

Bob

Bob - thanks for sharing. Can you let me know if you're on a Mac or PC and what the system specs are ? I'll let our developers know so we can get it fixed. I'm on the Mac and it scrolls flawlessly. Not to mention that a certain presidential candidate, um I think you can guess who, bought a few licenses

 

[gco]

Jim,
if you stumble across this thread again, are you still happy with your purchase?
any new issues/complaints, anything lacking and would you make the same purchase again knowing what you now know?
thanks,
Gary

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I love my QTV-12.

 

[gco]

Wow, looks really nice and portable....... and about the same amount as what the county confiscates in June.

 

[RonnieMartin]

A couple of NABs ago I bought a prompter from the Prompter People for a special project that needed a prompter. The project fizzled and I never opened the box for about a year from the time I received it. When I finally acquired another project that needed a prompter I opened the box and to my dismay the monitor was a TV monitor. The resolution was so poor that it cold not be read from more than 5-6-feet away. I talked with the Prompter People and they were not very helpful at all. Their answer was to sell me another monitor. As a result, I have never been able to use the prompter for any project where the talent is more than a few feet away. Lately I have been mounting my computer just under the lens and using it when a prompter is needed. I am sure that the company has good products. I was just unlucky enough to purchase the wrong one. Service after the sale is as important as the product. It was a 2k mistake.

Ronnie

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Prompter people has the worst customer service.

I can write 3 paragraphs on my experience on their "5600K" LED500 which was really 4300K.

Buyer beware.

 

[gco]

A couple of NABs ago I bought a prompter from the Prompter People for a special project that needed a prompter. The project fizzled and I never opened the box for about a year from the time I received it. When I finally acquired another project that needed a prompter I opened the box and to my dismay the monitor was a TV monitor. The resolution was so poor that it cold not be read from more than 5-6-feet away. I talked with the Prompter People and they were not very helpful at all. Their answer was to sell me another monitor. As a result, I have never been able to use the prompter for any project where the talent is more than a few feet away. Lately I have been mounting my computer just under the lens and using it when a prompter is needed. I am sure that the company has good products. I was just unlucky enough to purchase the wrong one. Service after the sale is as important as the product. It was a 2k mistake.
Ronnie

Since you already have the hardware, couldn't you just retrofit a higher resolution monitor inside the frame?
On the other hand, I can understand how you might be totally disgusted just looking at the thing after spending that much money and not getting any results out of it. Between you and Matt, there is just no excuse for people being treated like that. At the very least you guys can take some satisfaction in knowing that you are helping others by getting the word out.

 

[Sectaguy]

ProMag

ProMag

I know Jim discussed his TELMAX GS-15, which is now more than $800. Then again, this was before NAB 09

Has someone tried the Proprompter ProMag (the one for the iPhone) and can put some feedback of it here? This idea seems nice considering the weight but I bet you can't read from it standing 15 feet away. Am I wrong?

Linky:
http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/product_promag/

 

[Peter Reynolds]

Anyone use the Proprompter HD?

http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/product_hd/

I don't do a lot of heavy teleprompting work, so it looks terrific. 2.5 pounds,
attaches to the camera directly. No fuss. No muss.

 

[Paul Hudson]

Check out the one we built last week. It holds a 19 inch monitor.

 

[Peter Reynolds]

Very nice Paul.

How is the angled mirror attached to the lens? Is it threaded?

It's a gorgeous DIY. I'd love to see more pics.

 

[panoramarick]

ZaPrompt

ZaPrompt

I just bought a ZaPrompt and can see that it is going to make a huge improvement in work where I need to have someone (like ME) "read" a script and not appear to be reading. I've had a really hard time recording myself for my videos at http://HowToSellYourVideos.com because although I know my material, I get tongue tied on camera. The prompter makes it about 1,000 times easier. Go to http://HowToSellYourVideos.com and watch the video at the top. This is my wife and me after about two rehearsal run throughs. I know that with practice we'll get much better at it.

If you look at the sidebar on that page you'll see my link to the ZaPrompt, and yes, I am an affiliate, only because I really like their products.

 

[Jim Brennan]

Jim,
if you stumble across this thread again, are you still happy with your purchase?
any new issues/complaints, anything lacking and would you make the same purchase again knowing what you now know?
thanks,
Gary

Yep. If I used it more than a half-dozen times a year I might go with something easier to set-up. I had to replace a threaded rod, and added some lock washers to stabilize the splitter, which was a bit tedious. But I still feel it was well worth the money. Every time I have e-mailed the vendor they have gotten right back to me.

It has more than paid for itself.