Low-budget interview for web setup: please advise!

M

Michael Webb

New member
Hi,

I'm relatively new to filming and I'd really appreciate some recommendations and advice on this.

I'm looking to recording interviews for the web, as cheaply as possible.

Here's what I think I need:

- Two camcorders
One wide on both people, one close-up on interviewee.
Ideally I'd want to create video of this quality (with HD turned on).
- Two lapel microphones
I don't know what these plug into - presumably not the camcorder. I wouldn't want to splash out on some pro-quality mics and mixer, just something good enough for web.
Also, I suppose non-wireless ones are cheaper.
- A lighting setup
How important is this? Most interviews will be indoors, but some may be outside.

My budget for all of the above is $1,000(!). I realise this is tiny compared to what most of you guys have to work with. So I guess the question is what's the best equipment I can get for the money?

On a separate budget, I am getting a Mac Pro. I'll wait for the new one that I guess is coming out in January, but how much should I upgrade the basic model? What's the minimum amount of RAM I should get, and do I need to improve the graphics card?

I'm really excited to hear what you suggest, and I'll be very grateful for any advice!

Michael
 
Ok, thanks for your advice - so what's the best I can get for $1,000? Which aspects are the most important? (i.e. do I really need to invest in lighting?)
 
it depends on how professional you want it to look. If you want something like the clip you showed, you wont need much for lighting, you could pick up a low priced kit on B&H for 2 or 300$. If you want HD though, you will pay at least $3000 per camera (and that is HDV).

Audio is very important and you could probably getaway with a couple of cheap lavs for $200 bucks a piece, but they won't sound very good.

It all depends on what you are doing, but if you are serious about it and want it to look and sound professional, plan on spending at least $8000.

What are you using it for? It might help you find a better answer. Also, do some research on this forum and sites like B&H photo video where you can learn about pricing, etc.
 
Ok, thanks again for the advice.

I'm a student at Oxford in the UK, and the interviews are for an online magazine I'm involved in setting up (website design & content cross between the New Yorker and The Economist, planning on lots of podcasts & video).

Obviously I'd like the videos to look as professional as possible, but I am limited to that budget.

You say $3000+ for an HD camera: there are lots of HD camcorders for about $500. Are they a different sort of HD?

Being in the UK I can't use B&H. Are there online/real equivalents over there that anyone can suggest?

I'm also after equipment portable enough to be lugged around by one person.

Really grateful for your help!
 
I think http://www.mitcorp.com/public/index.php is a good one. I guess I have never seen an HD camera for $500, maybe a consumer one, but that would be difficult to control, your focus, exposure, etc would probably be buried in menus if manual at all. you may be able to buy used HDV prosumer cameras for around 500 BP...

If I were you I would do a bunch of research on these cameras that you see for cheap and make sure they look good, watch videos of them on Vimeo and other sites that support HD and also seek out examples of lower priced audio gear and even lighting. if you find that the lowest price of each item will work together for you to accomplish what you want, with the idea that your website will eventually make money and you can upgrade later, than that could be what works for you :)

I myself tried to cut corners while purchasing gear when I used to freelance and I found that I needed to do more research, that was actually how I found out about this forum, so I hope you can learn all you need to know about gear before you buy, don't make the mistake I did where now I have a light kit just wasting space in my house because it was crap.

Actually now that I think about it, most probably wont agree with me, but if ALL you are doing is interview type stuff, spend less on a Mac (ie, get an iMac instead of a Mac Pro) and spend more on lighting and audio.
 
Michael,

Being a student at University, aren't there resources there for some of this gear? Barring that, is there a way to share expenses with others who might be looking into filming?

Let's look at your basics.

1. Camera. Forget doing 2 cameras. You'll have to make do with one. Film the interview with just the two people. Then when the subject is gone, film just the interviewer (you) alone in closeup. Combine the footage when editing.

2. Audio. You're not going to be able to afford two lapel mics. Get two cheaper mics and stands. I bought a second-hand stand for $15, and you can find cheaper mics for $50-75 each. No, it won't be professional, but it'll work just fine for the internet.

3. Lighting. Head to the local Machine Mart and purchase two worklight fixtures. Then go to the office store or art store and purchase a couple pieces of white foam core. Set up one light as a key light. About 45 degrees left or right of the camera, and about 6ft high. Place the foamcore near the talent's face/torso on the exact opposite side until you get a pleasing effect. Place the second light behind the subject, on the same side as the foam core board but about twice as far away as the key light. Aim it at the talent's shoulder/head. Look through the camera, and make adjustments as necessary. There are plenty of tips out there for doing 3-point lighting. Use them to learn. And practice really helps.

You're problem here is that you are asking to obtain professional results, with what is essentially rather poor gear and with no experience. A VERY experienced person might be able to get passable (professional) results with the gear listed here, but you lack the experience necessary to do the same.

Quite honestly, My newest microphone cost more than your entire budget, and I am nowhere near a professional at this yet. A good amateur HD camera will retail in the US$3000-$7000 range, and professional units are easily 4 times that price if not more. A professional audio setup for interview (mics, mixer, recorder) is easily US$5000. And the lighting may well be just as much.

I've certainly made do with much less, but it was always difficult and the results were never truly professional. And much of my resultant work ends up on the internet. You simply cannot make a Renault Clio into a Porsche. :)

As to the $500 vs $3000 camera, is there a difference? You BET there is a difference, and most of it has to do with the piece of glass at the front of the camera. The piece of glass in front of the camera dictates everything that happens afterward. And you can certainly bet that there is a VAST difference between the glass on the $500 HD camera, and the $3k one.

-P

Michael Webb said:
Ok, thanks again for the advice.

I'm a student at Oxford in the UK, and the interviews are for an online magazine I'm involved in setting up (website design & content cross between the New Yorker and The Economist, planning on lots of podcasts & video).

Obviously I'd like the videos to look as professional as possible, but I am limited to that budget.

You say $3000+ for an HD camera: there are lots of HD camcorders for about $500. Are they a different sort of HD?

Being in the UK I can't use B&H. Are there online/real equivalents over there that anyone can suggest?

I'm also after equipment portable enough to be lugged around by one person.

Really grateful for your help!
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