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Constructive Criticism on Video
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[Brock Burwell] “So the entire video volume is very low and I have no idea what to do to fix that.”
Here’s a simple trick that I’ve had to employ when given footage with very low audio levels: Add one or perhaps more audio tracks. Then copy the audio that’s too low and paste it into the new track being sure to synch it perfectly with the original. Viola, you immediately have doubled the volume. Unfortunately you’ve also doubled the noise, but sometimes that’s acceptable to get intelligible audio.
Mark is right about an external/balanced line mixer. One that comes to mind especially for DSLR use is BeachTech (or is it Tek). Google it and/or look online at B&H Photo Video.
Having good audio levels for “talking heads” video is just one of the many skills you’ll want to develop. And, BTW, your wife is right. The music level is so low that it sounds unintentional or like noise. One simple thing you can do to enable the music to be louder without drowning out voices is to use the equalizer function to dip the music’s frequencies in the 500 to 2,000 hz range. That’s the range where most of the detail we hear in speech is so when you lower that part the lower and higher parts of the music can be mixed louder.
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Brock: been awhile, how’s it going now?
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Hey thanks for inquiring about me!
I sured up the video as much as I could and released it to our facebook page and got great responses! We had over 20 people “share” the video and a lot of people approached me and told me how great it was. While it may be great from their standards, I have a lot of work to do to get better.
I’m currently working on my second video for the church which is going to be filmed tomorrow.
I’m watching a lot of videos and trying to emulate them. I found a couple of people on there who do instructonal videos that are really good and I’ve learned a lot from them. Figured out that I want my next purchase to be a steadicam (or similar) to increase the professionalism of my videos.
Considering purchasing a tutorial on my Canon T3i from a guy I’ve been following on youtube. He is really good and really expalins a lot in a good way. He only shoots with DSLR and has a 3 hour tutorial on my specific camera which would give me a better idea on how to use it to its maximum potential. It’s $39.99, but I think it’ll be worth it.
Anyway, that’s where I’m at right now.
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[Brock Burwell] ” Figured out that I want my next purchase to be a steadicam (or similar) to increase the professionalism of my videos. “
I say put your money into better audio. How many flying shots do you really need? IMO, one of the worst things a newbie can do is buy a steadicam. Instant case of Steadicamitis™. Every single shot is flying, moving, floating, twirling. It’s happening all over again with the new compact gyroscopic rigs like the Movi. It’s distracting and takes away from the story in many cases. You need a good tripod/head combo (which can easily run in the thousands). Beyond that, a shoulder rig is nice for going mobile.
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!Check out my Mormon.org profile.
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Jason’s sage counsel should be taken to heart: you’d do better to beef up your audio tools, better mics, and/or audio recorders, then add to your tools for your lighting. After that, worry about a steadicam, but in your case, I’d suggest instead, getting either a telescoping monopod, or if shooting with a DSLR, get some outrigger grips or make your own “fig rig” like I did. On the monopod front, there’s one that doubles as a steady cam by adding weight and tiny stabilizer feet to the bottom of the monopod, and this has a lot of versatility for “run and gun” work.
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Gotta be honest, that isn’t what I was hoping to hear, but I know coming from both of you that it’s good advice.
I guess I’m probably not ready for the flash of a stabilizer yet. I do need to get better mics to be honest. I do a lot of interviews so getting some good mics will help.
Any suggestions on what a good mic would be for someone on a budget?
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[Jason Jenkins] “IMO, one of the worst things a newbie can do is buy a steadicam. Instant case of Steadicamitis™. Every single shot is flying, moving, floating,… “
Superb example of the adage “When the tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.”
Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.
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Brock.
In reality, mic’s are generally not “good” or “bad” except at a very refined level of technical specification (self noise, sensitivity, etc.)
What they are is appropriate for the use.
There’s no single mic in existence that will do great for a handheld on-camera interview, a dialog scene, and recording a choir.
My advice for your spending is to buy books and start reading. A good place to start is Jay Rose’s excellent Audio for Digital Video book.
Audio is 80% technique and 20% gear. Always has been – always will be.
Bood luck.
Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.
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Just finished my first draft of my second video. I have a few things to clean up, but I was wondering what you guys thought of it and what suggestions you would have. Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn3kTieUB9c
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Not bad, but you’ll want to fix the text at around the 47 second mark, because it’s missing a word, “never”, that belongs near the end of that sentence.
I know, this happens to people all the time when they look at something too many times. One trick to check for things like that is to read it back to front one time.
Try not to cut to exactly the same framing/shot between two people; make it really tighter or wider than the preceding shot. Your media guy talking in a chair, on the same screen side as the pastor, isn’t as dynamic as putting him on the opposite screen side and better yet, holding one of the cameras, or leaning on an editing console, or up against a tripod… you get the idea: show the man accompanied by some of his tools.
Overall, not bad, really. Could always be shorter, faster.
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