[Jeff Carpenter]

Well, good luck to you.

If it helps, I hope you know that there are some of us out here who not only agree with your criticisms but are trying to make our way in the wedding-world while still avoiding each and every sin you listed. I like to think I’m doing a pretty good job at it so far. (Except for the 3-chip thing…wedding magazines still sometimes tell brides to ask that…I gotta follow the industry here and brag about what THEY say is important!)

I do wonder if I’m only able to avoid most of them only BECUASE weddings are my part time job. I can pursue the type of shooting that I want to do. The brides who like what I do find me and those that want something else go elsewhere. If I had to find enough weddings to live on I might find all those shortcuts you listed more tempting, but for now I can avoid them all. It’s not easy (the music-thing is tough to explain to clients) but it’s possible.

I never wanted to go full-time because I was afraid I might end up where you are now; tired and sick of it all. I’m sorry you got in too deep!

[Jeff Carpenter]

Yes, we require them where I work and they’re very important. Even if the company didn’t require them I can’t imagine hiring someone without one.

The format doesn’t matter as long as it’s something we can view. DVD is safest for any company as I can’t imagine anyone who can’t play that somewhere.

The most important thing is that it’s made clear as to WHAT the person did in what we’re seeing. Many people have different skills and may have lit on project but edited another. There should never be any confusion over what they did at any given moment I’m watching.

After that, I mainly use reels as “proof” that the resume is correct. Anyone can write “lighting skills” on a resume, but I want to see that what THEY think of as “skills” match what I think “skills” are. Once I see that they do, I’m good to go.

Given that, their videos don’t have to match what we do. I’m looking for ability and technique. Not projects that are the same as mine.

The main lesson here is that the resume still matters most. I check demo reels AFTER I look at resumes, not the other way around.

[Jeff Carpenter]

“T” during startup does firewire boot mode (also known as Target Disk Mode)

more…

https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459

[Jeff Carpenter]

What codec are you using? DV? HDV? Something else? Not every video signal has square pixels, I assume this is the problem. Try setting it to something like Animation or Motion JPEG as the sequence setting.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Well, first go into the ‘Photo Booth’ menu and check ‘About’

Make sure you have version 2.0. That should have been installed with Leopard, but best to check that first.

If it is, click “Effects” which is a button right on the Photobooth window pane. You have to click the right-arrow to slide over to the other effects. There’s more windows of effects to scroll through.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I doubt it will handle 24p, but how does the camera work? Can it add pull-down on playback? If it can output a 29.97 file with the 24 fps footage within that, you can just edit a video that way. Is there any reason you need to keep it 24 fps? The same look will be preserved.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I moved from PD-170s to HDV V1Us. Are they less light sensitive? Yes. Are they better than the Panasonic Supercams I used 10 years ago? Also yes.

So although I’m using a bit more light than I did last year, it’s still far less than I’ve used in the past. I think it’s a fair tradeoff for HD footage.

And as for the HD…I’m about to go to a wedding show this month with my new plan for clients:
* Widescreen SD DVD copies
* HDV Master Tape
* HD computer file (on DVD-R) for computer viewing or use with AppleTV or other networked device

Is this going to work? We’ll find out! As far as I can tell, far more people have HD-quality computer screens than have Blu-Ray or HD-DVD players. I’m hoping they’ll find the computer file appealing.

I think it’s a nice compromise but I’ll have to wait and see if the consumer likes the idea. I’ll report back once I know more.

[Jeff Carpenter]

Stay away from HDV. You can always buy more hard drive space later.

As an alternative, check out Apple’s Intermediate Codec. You can also capture to it live from firewire. It’s essentially the same as HDV but all i-frames, so it’s easier to work with.

It’s not quite as nice as Pro-res, but the size is a little bit better. You should at least try some tests and compare it to Pro-Res and see how the results compare.

[Jeff Carpenter]

iLife came with your Mac. Use the original installation discs that came with the computer to re-install them. You can choose which programs you want to load and which you don’t.

iLife ’08 is much better than the old one, but if you’re determined to stick with what you’re used to, you can get the old versions back this way.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I haven’t used that exact model, but I have experience with other Azden mics that are similar to that one.

Short answer: Yes, the reviews are correct. It’s not a great mic. Imagine taking a consumer DV camcoer and holding it up about 1 foot away from someone who’s talking. That’s pretty much the same kind of audio you should expect.

I mean, it’s not unusable, but it’s not what I’d call great audio. I have an old one and I use it in extreme situations. For example, I might have a wedding where I have my 3 good wireless systems on the groom, the priest, and a scripture reader. In a church, that’s fine. I pick up the organ on all my mics just fine. But let’s say I’m outdoors and there’s a small string quartet way off to the back of the field. In that case I’ll throw my little Azden over there and I get the intro and exit music from it. In that case it’s supposed to sound “outdoors-ey” and the audio is far better than using a camera mic. It’s not ideal, but I just don’t have the money to keep a 4th $700 wireless system around when I know I won’t be using it very often. In those situations it’s nice to have a cheap alternative to help me get everything.

So, if you’re getting it for a rarely-used backup, it might be ok. Just be very aware that it won’t be the same as the system it replaces assuming you have a decent mic setup to begin with. I use mine as a 4th-string backup, which is what I consider it to be “ok” for.