Newb Advice for Shooting Videocasts

H

HVXmike

New member
I am completely new to production, though I have editing experience. I need to record some simple videocasts consisting of a couple of people talking in one location, similar to:

http://revision3.com/diggnation/2008-05-29dos/

OR

http://revision3.com/tzdaily/2008-06-10photobooth/

It is going to be streamed on the web and made available for download. I would like to shoot in high quality so I can place higher quality versions on DVD or on the web in the future.

1. I am going to use wireless lavs for the people on camera. Should the lavs be connected directly to the HVX or through a mixer first? I am looking to achieve audio quality similar to what is being done in the links posted above.

2. Can anyone recommend frame rates or other settings to get as close to this simple look as possible?

Thanks in advance!!!!
 
sorry that these are such dumb questions...anyone though on either of the questions? I sincerely appreciate any assistance.
 
I think you could get away with feeding the mics directly into the HVX. However, you may want to run a simple preamp mixer, such as the MixPre from Sound Devices, if you have both a sound op and a camera op. The mixer would allow a sound person to monitor and control levels seperate from the camera --- which at times can be a big benefit. So you may want to consider that.

I think you would be fine shooting at 720 24p in a sit-down situation.
 
It looks like this might realistically be a one man show. One person to control the camera and sound, and that person may be the same person in front of the camera -- me.

Just curious, why you suggested 720 24p rather than 1080 at 30.

Thanks!
 
I shoot a pile of HVX video for the web (site in my Sig line) - usually a one man show, sometimes I'm even cam-op, sound, lighting, and talent.

I run one or two lav's into the cam, no mixer.

The footage is always shot 720p24pn, I just like the way it looks + it takes up less space & since the end result is always compressed down to Flash or QT's anything more is just lost on the home viewer anyway. Also some of the sites that I post to even cross-compress to some other format after you upload, so no matter what you do it comes out looking like a$$.

G.
 
Thanks for your responses!!!

1. Do you use wired or wireless lavs?
2. Any suggestions for getting good sound with the HVX settings or whatever, by plugging in directly to the HVX?

Thanks!!!

heavyG said:
I shoot a pile of HVX video for the web (site in my Sig line) - usually a one man show, sometimes I'm even cam-op, sound, lighting, and talent.

I run one or two lav's into the cam, no mixer.

The footage is always shot 720p24pn, I just like the way it looks + it takes up less space & since the end result is always compressed down to Flash or QT's anything more is just lost on the home viewer anyway. Also some of the sites that I post to even cross-compress to some other format after you upload, so no matter what you do it comes out looking like a$$.

G.
Click to expand...
 
HVXmike said:
Just curious, why you suggested 720 24p rather than 1080 at 30.
Click to expand...

Just to save space and not do overkill, as mentioned. You could actually try both 720 at 24p and 1080 at 30 (or any other variation) and see what look you like better though. I always think it's a good idea to experiment for yourself.


Always use wired over wireless unless wired becomes impractical --- then use wireless if you have to. --- Wireless systems are susceptible to rf interference and are not as reliable on a consistent basis.

Set your levels on the HVX so that average dialog is dancing right around the second mark, which is the -12db mark (the first mark is -20db). The idea is to get a strong signal without going over zero db (clipping), so riding between -12db and -6db gives you some headroom for variations in loudness in dialog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top