[Craig Alan]

https://slugfilm.ucsc.edu/production_support/?page_id=1093

or google

flip camera mp4 to apple prores using compressor tutorial

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]

The echo may be from the pick up pattern of the shotgun.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Polar_pattern_directional.png

If you are five feet above your talking heads, the mic is most likely picking up sound off the ceiling.

I have also read discussions that carpeting is not always preferred in that it can isolate the talent too much creating a dead sound environment with no natural sounding reflections.

Certainly get closer (within 3 feet is a very general rule for maximum distance from talent’s mouth) and consider asking Ty for advice on the best mic for your application. He has links to files of tests he has run and is very generous with this type of info.

If you have a decent budget, consider hiring a pro to help balance your studio for sound acquisition.

Also consider uploading some sound samples for the pros to hear what you are talking about.

Can’t tell from pics. Do you have space behind talent? Lots of reasons not to place them against the backdrop.

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.squarebox.co.uk/standalone.html

raves from media content pros

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’d start over. Turn off virus scans and other background stuff and auto sleep and let it cook overnight.

here’s one link that talks you through hdv to dvd. very detailed. not sure what you started with. But it covers a lot of steps even for other types. and as mentioned do a search.

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/hdv_to_sd_dvd.html

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.hippasus.com/resources/viscomp/RuleThirds.html

You’ll find many many hits from a google search for “rule of thirds” This one shows some lead and nose room examples. It’s not a hard rule of composition, but is a pretty good place to start.

Also do a search for headroom and nose room and lead room.

An interesting experiment is to place your subject at perfect rule of thirds with the camera at eye level with the subject. Then move the camera off this plane and see what happens to the subject’s relation to the rule of thirds. If you shoot up at a subject, you are giving the subject a position of power where as if you shoot down at a subject you are, well, looking down at them. To gain an excellent understanding of when to adhere and when to break rule of thirds, just mentally superimpose the tic-tac toe pattern over well-composed footage, photos, paintings, and graphic art. Measure your monitor/TV and place eight marks on the frame at the rule of thirds. Self-stick labels work well for this. You can then just watch TV and movies and your mind will see the composition’s relation to rule of thirds.

Be careful though, with all the different formats, sometimes, the composition has been unfortunately changed from the original.

Check out the skilled camera work of some of the sports videographers. Watch while they try to keep good lead room while following wide receivers or skaters or what ever. You don’t want your talent sailing off the edge of the screen. As TV sets get bigger, directors are allowing for wider shots which I feel gives a better experience in terms of understanding athletic ability. If you stay too close you’re not getting a feel for the athletes relationship to time and space.

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]

So that’s why it’s silent between phrases?

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]

Seems to be picking up a lot of subtle but unwanted vocal sounds of the actor. Have him angle the mike more, back off a little. Add a pop screen. Sounds a little thin. B.G. seems quiet. I don’t hear hum or hiss. Between phrases, it goes quiet. While he is talking, there is a vibration, as if his breath is vibrating the snare of a snare drum. A couple of times it sounded like some handling noise, like the mike or mount was being moved or bumped. I would have the actor standing for better breath control and delivery, the copy placed on a music stand covered with carpet. The mike postioned well and rock steady. Experiment while monitoring with good quality pro headphones until you hear what you like. You might consider adding a sound track of appropriate music and/or sound effects.

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]

Although I agree with the “avoid zooms” aesthetic, I thought once the zoom was engaged, because it was pretty close to matching the speed of the students coming towards us, it wasn’t bad. But the initial start of the zoom is jarring and calls attention to itself. Probably due to the stepped zoom mechanism. I do see how it was imitating a dolly out. Maybe edit out the initial step or apply a dissolve to the beginning of the zoom to disguise the abrupt start. Generally, avoiding it altogether is good advice.

Although zooms are out, ‘they’ are in love with rack focus. Sometimes back and forth and back again. Very unnatural looking too. For a while, panning quickly back and forth for dialog was in fashion. Takes good skill to ill effect. That said, I love how Boston Legal broke all these rules and by using rhythm and humor enhanced the show with it all. I think the key is to make the audience feel that that is how your characters/talent are seeing their reality even if it is unnatural.

Overall, the quality of your shoot is very good compared to most education setting videos. Shooting CUs of people with imperfect complexions distracts from the message. So I would soften things up due to this. I know TV camera operators are using filters on their cameras due to the revealing nature of HD. I’d try more MCUs or even MSs.
Rule of thirds applies to both horizontal and vertical space. But just think about nose room or lead room when framing shots.

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://itunes.apple.com/podcast/dv-gear-talk-video-podcast/id80616768
#13

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]

Zane,

Isn’t fat32 already cross platform?

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.