[Dpdenver]

Another question…..

I have read several postings on the audio process – and I basically have gone through the clips as follows:
1. Restoration for Clicks, Hiss, and Noise Reduction
2. parametric EQ for a bit of richness
3. Hard Limiter (instead of normalizing)
4. DONE

The hard limiter seems to bring up everything x db’s and limits peaks.

Now my question is I have used a filter before (different program) called leveler – and it seems to bring up the quiet parts to the same level as the louder parts. That seems different than the hard limiter – is there a similar filter such as the leveler that I used with my other program ?

[Dpdenver]

Thanks – I will try that (if I can figure it out -but I think I can). I did try the noise reduction – but lack of knowledge and use of audition didn’t help – so thanks for the detail.

The clicking noise is the fire crackling…… I didn’t notice it as much cause I knew what it was – but good point.

[Dpdenver]

Re-recording is out. Obviously placement of mics is also out at this point. This started out as a just a off the cuff recording – had my cameras (DVC80 and 30) and the panasonic shotgun AG-100(I don’t know what it compares to – but it’s a fairly good shotgun I think). Then these guys perform ( https://vfwtech.com/Liquid/Video/RudeShort-1.wmv ) and there are some great songs – along with fire snaps and crowd talk. It was recorded for fun – but now I want to try to clean it up. I have tried some noise reductions with Audition – not too happy with it yet – but still working on it – I also have Cakewalk and Wavelabs – just not the experience of knowing how to cut the crowd noise and not affect the music in general.

Colorado Liquid User Group meets 3rd Tuesday every month.

[Dpdenver]

Also – check out some of Digital Juice tv shows – like this one –

https://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/segment_detail.asp?sid=97&sortby=&page=3&kwid=0&show=all_videos

There’s several and you may get some additonal ideas.

[Dpdenver]

…my 2 cents – having filmed grade school plays that have sold well and been well received. My comments relate to product that sells for $20/$25. Anything cheaper than that might justify a stationary camera. I generally use a 1 person crew – me.

With all that in mind, I feel that any school that hires a videographer who shoots only a wide overview from the back with only one camera should look for a new videographer. They should find one who uses at least 2 cameras – even if one is stationary. They should look for one who will take the time to come to a rehersal – preferably the dress rehersal.

I agree you don’t want the face when you should be getting the feet. And that parents want to see their kid – not always the person who is performing the most. And that quick pans and fancy camera work is not generally appropriate.

Dress rehersals may add a few more hours to the time – but time well spent. You get a feel for the event, you identify areas where close ups or isolation works, and you learn where best to put your cameras and mics. And you learn what the lighting will be like. And you can get your cutaways – hands on pianos or instruments or props, shots of teachers, fake audience etc.

At the play the stationary gives you overviews and cutaways, and the manned camera gives you the closeups or isolation shots that add quality and interest. I found you don’t need the entire 2 or 3 minutes of an individual’s performance – that beginning and ending 20 seconds or so works or don’t be really tight on the actor- back off a bit so you have a better shot than the overview – but tighter. I have also found you can wander a bit for other mid or cu’s of other kids. Obviously it’s good to keep pans smooth (use a good tripod).

I generally use quick zooms to get to the edit shot, then fix zoom issues in post. I also try to get cu’s of all the kids – even if in a slow pan. Sometimes in post I split the screen so the closeups and the overview are shown. And if possible (seems more for grade schools), right after or just before the play I have the kids line up (takes teacher coorperation) and parade before the camera and smile, say their name, or have a name tag (made up by the teacher’s parent helpers). It makes for a quick edit in the end, but you can have credits with a close up of every kid – and you can get as fancy or simple as you want. Kids love seeing themselves close up. There is always + and -‘s, Darn.

Dave
https://vfwTech.com

[Dpdenver]

Great post – thanks for sharing it. It did generate some great planning ideas. And it rings a familiar tone to me – great opportunity, thoughtful planning and preparation, reasonable if not underbid proposal – limited budget or wanting it free.

After having gone through it before, I always like the upfront question of ” what’s your budget for this ?”. Then you can decide how much time you want to spend planning/proposing/etc. Sometimes I will do things for the experience – or promotion. But it’s nice to pay for my equipment (or some of it) – and nicer to get paid for my time. Still working hard on that one.

[Dpdenver]

I have an Alesis MultiMix8 – needs power but has the 4 xlr’s – seems like very clean sound – got a great review in Videomaker (not sure if that is a plus or not) – it’s firewire into the computer. Just another option.

[Dpdenver]

That is the one I was asking about – I did finally get a picture of it – but no sense in posting now. I am not a mic guy but up until a couple of weeks ago he used mics that wrre suspended from an arm with a wire frame around it that he was constantly adjusting it’s position – so I thought perhaps these were new mics – which they probably are for his show – but looks like they have been around for a while. I am just trying to learn a bt more about mics for my video ventures – I have been recording some musicians and the mics and amps they use are quite old and I do not feel I am getting great audio – or as clean as I would like. So I am trying to learn a bit more about audio recording and had just noticed the change in Imus’s mic and wondered what they were – $400 mics I guess.

Thanks for posting – at least I now know the answer to that question.

[Dpdenver]

I will capture one this week. He’s off the air by 7am my time – so maybe someone will happen to see the show in the next day or so and recognize it – I will post a picture.

[Dpdenver]

Thanks Luke. That is very helpful. I actually have several other questions I wouldn’t mind asking – and I would be glad to call you or email (or even post here. (a call just seems to often save a lot of time) If you send me an email a “dave @ vfwTech . com” we could work out any details.