Danny Grizzle
Forum Replies Created
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Somebody needs to tell how the cow ate the cabbage when it comes to DSLR support systems.
Does low budget indie DSLR have to mean the cheapest head in the Manfrotto catalog? Ugh…
How about special techniques like sliders, dollies, and jibs.
Besides discussing the minimums, also cover gear that working professionals can live with. I’m talking about the stuff where the designer things beyond simply perfecting the function, but also the practice – which means transport cases, design finesse like captive screws and no lost parts on location, plus ease of setup and speed of use. There are too many garage project dollies based on skateboard wheels that are simply too cumbersome for day-in-day-out use.
Gadgets are no good if they are too much trouble to use.
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A survey of audio production devices and techniques.
It would be nice to pull in some seasoned audio guys like Ty Ford as a guest.
If it is impractical to have Ty in person, then do it VoIP or POTS. Oh yeah, report on how you do it! I personally use a JK Audio Broadcast Host Digital Hybrid.
What is Ty Ford’s take on Zoom H4n and Tascam DR100?
Ask Ty about limitations of the shooter doubling as wannabe audio guy. Ty seems very low key, but this bit could get animated and colorful.
Talk microphones, including built-in on Zoom and Tascam above because they are pervasive to amateur and event videographer-level DSLR production, but also discuss real production mics plugged into XLRs of those devices.
What standard of audio production balances the quality level people are seeking from DSLRs?
Discuss using 2-channel (aka stereo) recorders to capture mono audio, with differing levels. What devices support this technique?
Is using cheap digital audio recorders as planted devices a viable technique?
What about conventional mic preamps and mixers?
Do a feature on mid-side stereo mic technique, including production recording, equipment, and processing in post.
Frankly, anything less than XLR inputs with real mics, I think Ty is going to dismiss as toys. This includes all the Beachtek type adapters and Rode camera mics.
Tips on using wired lavaliers with typical DSLR recording equipment like Zoom H4n and Tascam DR-100.
Is using a boom operator with a wireless transmitter to throw audio to the recorder a bad idea? How about to camera audio input?
Cover multi-track audio recorders like Tascam DR-680, Tascam HS-P82, Sound Devices 7-Series. Advantages of discrete channel recording in situations like interviews where more than 2 people are involved.
Discuss wild audio, using non-sync sound. These forgotten techniques were once standard practice in the era of 16mm production.
Define some “next steps” for audio quality with DSLR. Including higher end recorders like Sound Devices, etc.
Address audio in post, the pain of poor source, handling stereo, problems of summing prosumer audio to mono, phase cancellation issues , etc.
Double system sound, PluralEyes, etc.
Get heavy duty with PluralEyes, discuss time code, and lack thereof, compensation techniques, limitations of PluralEyes.
Sum up DSLR audio beginning, “If you love your editor, make absolutely sure of these things…”
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Special techniques unique to DSLR.
I’m thinking tilt-shift lenses because I use them for stills. But you could get into all kinds of creative possibilities afforded by cross-over from still optics – things that simply have never been part of conventional video or film production.
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Take a cue from the show “What not to wear.”
An episode detailing how DSLR is not the answer for every problem.
Situations to avoid and conventional techniques that don’t work with DSLR.
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DSLR Steadicam might be a good topic. I bought a Merlin after watching a guy balance a 5D on YouTube.
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Postscript:
The spring kit arrived from Amazon today, and I am tickled pink. My G1380 head was factory outfitted with the #10 spring – heaviest in the range. It was setup wrong for the big DSR-500 ENG style camera for which it was originally purchased, and unusable for DSLR.
It is unbelievably difficult in backwater markets to correctly specify tripods and heads. The equipment selectors on manufacturer websites are invariably out of date.
With springs repaced in my G1380, it is like having a whole new tripod, and I am thrilled that Gitzo designed a head that can be refitted to new purposes.
At the same time, I will note that most of my complaints are entirely warranted. It comes down to doing what you say you are going to do. If the web form promises a response, then respond. If you put people into voice mail and promise a call back, then call back. It has been 10 or 14 days since my initial contact with Gitzo, and there has been no response.
The website is also silent on how to obtain parts and service kits. The only human I was able to reach at Gitzo was a guy in the parts department who said the spring kit was not sold through his department.
Production gear is not car parts, but manufacturers should keep a decent parts inventory in North America and take care of us next day with FedEx.
Gitzo customer service is unacceptable, but at least there’s a happy ending. Behringer, on the other hand, I’ve been waiting a year for a cheap replacement batteries only available from China. There are no alternates from any US vendor. This is a little lead acid battery in a device that could have easily been designed to accept common batteries that power emergency exit signs in buildings. For the lack of parts, and also disgust with Behringer’s lies, attitude, and forgotten promises, I’m ready to turn and burn, and toss all their equipment into the dumpster. It is worthless without routine maintenance parts!
Sorry so long. Too much bandwidth, but a cautionary tale about management and company quality.
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David, the Amazon thing is amazing. Problem solved. Thanks!
Who would have thought Amazon would have such an obscure thing in stock? I’ve already ordered!
This part is actually sold by Amazon, too, not one of their obscure retail partners.
Many, many thanks.
If manufacturers want to use Amazon as a parts depot, and are diligent about keeping inventory on hand, I can’t complain.
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I know this is not a car. But we should still have next day parts, given the power of FedEx.
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You can’t tell me B&H is going to get too motivated over a $150 service part special order. Or that they will be any less enthusiastic, or even bother, to look up whether I bought the tripod from them originally.
And I’d bet I’m a fairly good customer to them, on the scale of individuals.
At any rate, maybe that’s what I need to do, place a special order through B&H. Which still stinks by any real standard of service, considering production equipment not being operable for many days or weeks.
After Sony consolidated their broadcast service centers, I was left hanging for 3 months while they sent a board out of my camera to Japan for repair. Yes, the camera was over 36 months old, but so what?
What we are facing are management theories which forget the customer. Going forward, I’m going to be more careful to exclude this type of vendor and forget these companies.
My opinion, if you are going to sole source the entire United States to a single service center and a single parts depot, fine. But you better not keep cutting corners, running too lean an inventory, or grinding down employees with poor internal management practices. That’s getting complacent, and festers staff attitude typically seen in government bureaucrats. Because the psychology of anything that gets over concentrated and removed absolutely from any need to hustle — owing to the fact there is no where else to turn — this acts to offset any perceived efficiencies achieved by flashy management and instead corrupt the reputation and value of the brand.
If I were a financial analyst, this is exactly the type stunt I would be watching for, indicating ownership or management pumping short term results and valuation by doing a supernova trick with the stock. And maybe I should pay more attention to my own investments to be alert to the type activist investors and their proxy board members who ruin companies this way.
I realize I didn’t buy the Gitzo tripod locally, and didn’t even bother to patronize resellers in Texas. The fact is, I’m not an auto mechanic, and the stuff I use is not common as Chevrolet parts. Even if I were to waste time shopping in Dallas or Houston, both of which are overnight trips for me, I would more than likely be bothered by the retail channel. Forty years in the business, the more typical scenario is I educate the retail employee, who outside major media markets like LA, Chicago, or NYC are not always very savvy. No retailers in my part of the country don’t stock much, except the stuff used by schools and churches.
Gitzo has a long history of standing behind the products they make, and supplying parts for many years. That’s why I buy Gitzo. Even today, Gitzo publishes exploded diagrams and parts information on their website. But I fear they are a company in transition, and not for the better.
There are a lot of crafty management practices that may manipulate short term results. That’s not unlike anything else — you can run anything faster and hotter if you are willing to sacrifice longevity and burnout the company.
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I’ve already bought ProPrompter — no big deal for $10. Software looks very nice. I’m excited to find yet another fantastically practical use for my iPad.
The thing I am really wondering about is ProPromter HDi hardware. They offer a very nice looking kit that sells for $895 at B&H. This shoots through the glass like a conventional teleprompter.
As an alternate, they sell a stand mount holder for the iPad, to be positioned beside the lens at just over $100.
How did you actually shoot with ProPrompter?