Doug Graham
Forum Replies Created
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Your current method (wireless mic)is certainly not “clunky”. It’s the standard.
The iRiver is a great alternative or backup device. Low cost, and acceptable audio quality. However, you bought the wrong model. ONLY the iFP-7xx and -8xx series models have the ability to accept a mic level signal at their external jack. The T series devices cannot do this, and are unacceptable for our purposes.
There are a few other MP3 recorders on the market that have a mic in capability, but they are considerably more expensive than the iRivers. The models I mentioned above are the ONLY consumer MP3 recorders I know of that have the needed capability.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
Dell’s widescreen monitors can often be found on special. Their 24″ model is frequently on sale for a bit under $800, and gives a lot of screen real estate for editing. Two of their 20″ monitors would give even more timeline space.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
B&H offers this camera a $2,499 (you have to ask for that price via email; listed price is $2,699).
In addition, as of Jan 15, B&H tells me that Sony will have a $500 mail-in rebate on the camera, making your final price $1,999. That’s probably the best legitimate deal you’ll find.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
I think #1 is based more on your personal taste and desires; I still LIKE that sort of thing, if it’s well done. Not saying you’re wrong, Peter, but just saying that tastes differ, and I haven’t seen the trend that you posit.
I’d modify #5 somewhat. Not only will there be more photographers getting into video (with HDV camcorders, I suspect), but there will be a lot more of us videographers getting into photography. The two fields are merging, and eventually I think we will all be “visual media recordists” or some such.
I think #6 is interesting, since I’m one of the moderators on the VU forum. You could be right, but I have no inside knowledge either way. 4EG has their own forums, but there is plenty of overlap between 4EG, VU membership, and EventDV magazine.
#7. More use of HDD field recorders, to get around the limitations of tape.
#8. I think (or hope, maybe) that we’ll start to see some videographers incorporating surround sound into their products. It’s a logical companion to HD.
#9. (Dark prediction here). The RIAA will file suit against some poor wedding videographer for the use of copyrighted music. I’ll make this one for a three-year period, since it might not happen in 2006. But I think it WILL happen eventually.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
I think most folks offer this as an additional service, not as the only thing they do. But that’s no reason not to give it a shot.
Do some research…search using “photo montage”, “video scrapbook”, or “video photo album” here at the COW and on other event video forums. You’ll get an idea of what folks are charging for this sort of product.
A lot depends on how much effort you plan to put into your projects. Some folks just put photos on a table and take ten seconds of video using a VHS camcorder. When all the photos have been recorded, the finished tape is handed to the customer. The price can be low, because so little time is required.
At the other end, some people take the original photos, scan them at high resolution, then touch them up in Photoshop to correct bad exposure, poor framing, and to remove dust, scratches, and age damage. Then they assemble them in After Effects or in a video editing program, adding motion, backgrounds, blurs, and many other effects, with the whole thing set to music. There may even be voiceover from the client, or video clips included. This sort of “Ken Burns style” documentary takes a lot more work, and the price is accordingly higher.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
The “Home Improvement” wipe can be either cheesy or not, depending on the images you choose.
The basic technique: A graphic image on a transparent background. When centered directly over the screen, the graphic object must completely cover the viewing area. In your NLE, place the graphic in a compositing track above the main video. Pan the graphic image across the viewing area. At the point where the graphic completely obscures the underlying video, cut to the next video clip. As the graphic completes its pan, the new clip is revealed.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
The iRiver will record either in stereo or in mono. You get twice the recording time in mono. However, the iRiver has a quirk: with most devices, when you plug in a mono mic, the signal goes to the right channel of the device. With the iRiver, it looks for a mono signal on the LEFT channel. So if you plug a “normal” mono mic into it and set it to mono mode, it’s looking for audio on the left channel and seeing none, while the mic is sending the signal to the unwatched channel. You can get around this problem by leaving the iRiver in stereo mode; you then get audio on the left channel, and a blank track on the right…but you lose all that extra recording time.
The Giant Squid mic has a connector that is set up the way the iRiver is; the audio goes to the left channel. So you can use mono mode with the GS mic. (You can also wire up an adapter to do this with any mic, of course).
Now, about stereo recording: With any two-channel device, you can treat the channels as a stereo pair, and record using a stereo mic (two mic elements built in) or two mono mics rigged to capture a stereo sound field (usually a pair of cardioid mics arranged in an “X” configuration). OR, you can think of the two channels as two independent mono tracks, and record signals from two different mics and locations (e.g., one mic on the reader’s podium, and one at the altar rail.) You can then mix the tracks in post, or just use one or the other…whatever meets your needs.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
Any of the iFP-700 or 800 series will work for you. The difference between the two model series is only cosmetic. The last two digits of the model number depend on the amount of memory. Even the smallest one gives you enough recording time to cover a ceremony, and the larger ones can be used all day and then some.
The newer T-10/T-30 models do NOT have an external microphone-in capability, so stay away from those. Pretty much any lavalier mic will work, but Giant Squid has one wired up especially for the iRiver that allows you to use mono recording mode, doubling your recording time.
Look for the 700 and 800 models at the iRiver site, https://www.iriveramerica.com or on eBay. If you can’t buy one, M-Audio has a new recorder out that’s a good bit better than the iRivers, but more expensive (around $400).
Regards,
Doug Graham -
The only cold-weather problem I’ve had was while shooting on a ski slope one dark chilly morning. Temp was around 15-18 F. Camera was a Sony TRV-900. After a while, it started giving a real messed-up picture, just colored hash, and stopped responding to control inputs (zoom, iris, focus, etc). It wasn’t the battery getting cold and giving out, it was the electronics that didn’t like the temp. Cleared up again once the camera got a bit warmer.
As long as it only comes out for short periods, a fanny pack or camera bag slung INSIDE your parka may keep it warm enough.
Regards,
Doug Graham -
We’re in agreement, then! 🙂
Regards,
Doug Graham