Changing from SD to DSLR HD video. The Consequences…?

[Clyde Villegas]

What’s the problem with the audio?

ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus

[Chip Thome]

Welcome Lisa, you are EXACTLY where I was three months ago. I owned 2 DVXs that I never got the hang of, and 3 other Panny consumer GS models we shot with. Instead of beating my brains out any longer with the DVXs, I sold them all and went to Panasonic GH1s. I since have sold those, and have Panasonic GH2s on order. Distribution has begun on the GH2s, albeit slow right now.

Here is what you are going to encounter going to DSLRs.

First, you are going to be shooting in most likely 1080P to get that “look” you want. From the GH1s and 2s, that is editing in AVCHD. I had CS3 and upgraded to Premiere Pro 64 bit CS5 which edits .mts files natively. IF CS4 can not handle that, you always can transcode to a codec/wrapper it can handle.

Audio is going to be a bit different, as a DSLR doesn’t have the audio attenuating and limiting capacities you may be used to. I have gone to using Yamaha Pocketrak CX digital recorders. I picked those from another’s recommendation that they have no drift in the audio. These give me the clean audio, and I use Plural Eyes to sync the Pocketrak clips to the camera’s clips, via syncing the audio.

What is going to be very different going to these, as was said, the body can be the cheapest part of the investment. Lenses are the key, especially to get some of those seriously insanely gorgeous views. Starting out, like you, I am learning as I go. I have the Panasonic 14-140 kit lens and the Panasonic 20mm prime pancake for low light. I find with these two, I am “in the game” at least for now. I have my wish list for more and different, but right now I can shoot something in any light I am given.

If unlike me you came to video from photography, you are way ahead of the game understanding the terminology etc used with DSLRs. Where in video I learned about db and gain, here they talk about ISO and F Stops. This for me has been the greatest challenge.

So to give you a list of what I have bought, to make this change over happen.

i7 64 bit Windows 7 computer with 9 gb ram. (also needed for day job)
Upgraded Premiere Pro and After Effects to 64 bit CS5.
Upgraded Colorista to CS5 compatible version
Yamaha Pocketraks and a couple of Giant Squid lavs
Plural Eyes by Singular Software
GH2s with the 14-140 kit lenses and Panasonic 20mm pancakes to match.

My existing Rode Stereo Videomic and shotgun Videomic I can use with a 3.5mm-2.5mm adapter cable for the cameras ($3.50 Ebay) or just plug right into the Pocketraks.

On another forum I had several people try to talk out of going DSLR and to stick with the DVXs. There was one guy there who supported this move, and so far, I am thrilled to have gotten to know him. Right now I am happy with DSLRs, and even more thrilled I didn’t listen to the nay sayers. There are times I miss the simplicity of a camcorder, but those times are getting fewer and farther between.

Good luck in your decision and if I can be of any help, hit me via PM if you care to.

Chip

[Pete Burger]

Audio with the T2i (and 7D) is a bit tricky for two reasons:

1.) Built-in microphones
2.) Audio gain control

Of course you can plug-in an external mic, but you still don’t have any control over volume because of the AGC unless you use “juicedlink” (I think that’s the name…).
With the T2i you can use the Magic Lantern software, that provides manual control, which is a cool thing, but I personally like to use extrernal sound recording, that’ll give me more control over audio.

The 60D has manual audio control, with the 5D I’m not sure. But there is a Magic Lantern Version available for the 5D

[Lisa Hurley]

I would like to thank all of you for your wisdom and advice 🙂 I didn’t realize several of these posts had been left, and was quite happy when I checked. Thank you all very, very much. I am hoping to be on the path to DSLR soon, if I can find a way to afford it! Thank you all once again!
Lisa