[Craig Alan]

There are pvc pipes that are more rigid, but yes they all bend and no they are no where near as good as a real boom pole. There are DIY solutions for low cost video projects. They do not work as well most of the time as buying professional gear. There is a growing need for many people to produce their own videos. It is becoming another form of literacy. At each price point people need to decide what will give them the most bang for the buck. If I had no gear, I’d start with a good mike and cables. I’ve used $200 boom poles and learned why people spend more. Opening and closing can be a wrestling match and it starts feeling heavy pretty fast. Would I use one over a painter’s pole or pvc? Yeah, of course.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

While I have never regretted spending money on good better best gear, I have solved a lot of problems with velcro
https://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
and gaffer’s tape
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/353363-REG/Permacel_Shurtape_Pro_Gaffer_Tape_2.html.

You can always do a search for audio recorder on the cow to get the feedback on cost and options. That would mean one that you can use an external mike with and know how to sync in post. Leaves you a lot less for a good mike and the rest. But the sound will be way better. But I’d save for a sound devices 302 first.

You could also use a length of pvc cut at home store and gaffer tape your shock mount to it. It would be light and cheap. However, it will not fold up. Also if outside, if you are using a painter’s pole or pvc they are both more reflective than a black boom pole. So watch for reflections.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

< or = $500 is hard. but improvement over on board mike is possible. maybe. Does your camera have a miniplug in for an external mike? If it does:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/367747-REG/Rode_NTG_2_NTG_2_Battery_or_Phantom.html

(uses battery in place of phantom power)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/319988-REG/K_Tek_KE_89CC_KE_89CC_Avalon_Series_Aluminum.html

(low end boom — yes you get what you pay for. weight plus how well it opens and closes etc.)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589872-REG/Pearstone_8111240_LMT100_Low_to.html

(velcro this to camera strap to take strain off mini-plug)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Canare+CXLRP-XLRJ-15B-G+Star-Quad+%28L-4E6S%29+Microphone+Cable+15%27+%284.57+m%29&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

(this is only 15′. get the size you think you need.)

270 + 175 + 20 + 25 = 490 + shipping, no tax if not in NY.

Now with all this you have no way of monitoring the sound or adjusting on the fly. So it will require practice to get the results you want. You could use a painters pole and some gaffers tape instead of the boom pole. If your cam has headphone out as well as mike in add a set of headphones. The one Ty rec. is industry standard and should be about $80-90 at BH. It will still require rehearsal though.

Sound is way harder than picture on a low budget. For talking heads it’s easier. A $50 handheld mike and a cord. Remember you want the mike aimed at the mouth of the speaker and within 3 feet.

You might want to record the talent walking in the park and then record the voices as a voice over with cut aways of what they are talking about. Then you can get by with hand held mikes.

We see them coming towards us talking. They pass by. We follow. Cut aways and back to park as we hear the voice overs.

Save up for the stuff Ty mentioned above. They are solid and you’ll use them long after you buy your next camera.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

1080p in what codec? i get those kind of text artifacts in hdv timeline. i now use prores 422.

another possibility is there are lots of possible conversions in compressor. Did you check all of them to make sure it wasn’t changing some or all of your settings? Like to interlaced? TRy previewing in compressor? Does it have these problems? Did you monitor in FC on a broadcast monitor? Same question. All that said I really hate going to a SD DVD after my whole workflow was in HD. This too shall pass.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Make sure polarity of battery is correct. Try a different battery. Make sure compartment is screwed tightly shut. Test again with cam. Try different cable.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

According to specs at BH that mike does not accept phantom power. But you tried with both. Perhaps it is defective? Adding a mixer is a great investment. Much easier to ride the levels and monitor and get good clean preamp. The sound devices 302 is a steal at $1300. If you are shooting with multiple mikes it is also great to have another hand riding the levels so the cam operator can concentrate on framing and exposure.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Mikes need to be placed within 3 feet of the actors mouths and aimed toward them. If they are being amplified through powered speakers you could aim a mike at the speaker but the quality won’t be great. You really need to give the forum more detals. How many actors? What are the sound conditions? What resources do you have? How is the play blocked? One shot gun for most plays won’t cut it.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

I know this is an old thread but thought I’d add: I keep old original apple ram in a safe place in a static free bag. If I get serious (possibly hardware related) problems like frequent kernal panics, I can trouble shoot by removing third party ram, replacing with original ram and see if all is well. I can also bring Mac in for repairs this way. Just a good thing to keep.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

https://www.digitalrebellion.com/webapps/video_calc.html

You can figure out what the file sizes should be with this link.

Can your graphics card handle 4 streams? Can your media drive?

You can edit in prores proxy if that would help.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

system preferences (os x not fc)> accounts>your account>login items.

if this got added without your knowing, I’d repair permissions.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.