Joel Servetz
Forum Replies Created
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Are you interested in buying two more Lowel Softlight 2s, because I have 2 available. E-mail me at videobyjoel@aol.com for details.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
How long are you expecting this video to be. I’d keep it under 10 minutes. And keep it simple. From your brief comments I have the impression this will be a very low budget production. First step is to have your subjects write out in exacting detail the entire process of applying the camouflage. From this you can develop both a script and a shot list. Even though they prefer not to speak on camera. record them and any sounds associated with the work for possible use later. If they’re uncomfortable with their own voices, perhaps they, or you know of someone else who can read the script for the v.o. Will you be adding a music bed? There are plenty of inexpensive royalty free music collections available. Do not let them talk you into using anything that is copyrighted, unless they’re willing to pay for the rights (not likely).
I’m guessing this is a single camera production, so make sure you plan your shots to cover every step in the process from multiple angles. Don’t be shy about directing your subjects to get exactly what you need. Remember to shoot for the edit, thinking about each shot in terms of how it will cut together later. Make sure you spell out in your contract that you retain copyright to the raw material and can use it for promotional and competition use in the future without any compensation to anyone, and be sure to get model releases from anyone who appears on-camera. Make sure your contract spells out payment terms.Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
An intermittent problem as you described, especially where video comes and goes depending on how far along the tape is suggests to me a transport issue. I would get that camera serviced asap. The transport may not be holding the tape at the correct tension against the heads, causing the problems you described. I wouldn’t believe that story about some type of coating that only affects non-Sony cameras, that’s ridiculous.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
That being the case, you should be ok with those mics. The only reason I mentioned a wireless send from the mixer was so that you could easily record the same audio simultaneously in all three camcorcers, with each one having a receiver tuned to the single transmitter’s channel. I’ve done this many times successfully. If you only need to record sound to one camcorder and can take a wired feed, then by all means do that. If you’re feeding all three, be sure to slate each shot, even if it’s just by somone claping loudly once, so that you can more easily sync up during editing.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
You can’t have the 9 wireless transmitters on the same channel because they’ll cancel each other out. If you want to go all wireless you’ll need 9 wireless transmitters and receivers, all on different channels and a mixer with at least as many mic. inputs. You’ll need a 10th. wireless kit to take the output of the mixer and send it to the camera. That can be done using either a plug-on transmitter or beltpack with the appropriate cable and set to either mic or line level, depending on the mixer output. So, you’ll need a wireless system that is capable of operating at least 10 sets simultaneously in the same space. Not all can do that so check carefully. I presume you’ll need to rent this equipment. It’ll get expensive. You’ll also need to be sure there are no other users in the area on any of the frequencies you intend to use. That info is esily available on the website of whichever system you intend to use. I’ve actually done excatly what I’ve decribed here on numerous occasions, but it takes a lot of planning and preparation.
You’re best bet is closer to what I originally described since by it’s very nature, the dynamics of a courtroom dictate that everyone except the lawyers are sitting in fixed locations all the time, so fixed, wired mics in those locations is the way to go, whether boundary layer mics or simply regular handheld mics in tabletop stands. The beauty of the boundary layer mics is that you don’t have to have someone speaking directly into them in order to be recorded well. They are also easily concealed so that they don’t stand out in the shot. That just leaves two wireless lavs for the lawyers. At the mixer, a third wireless set is used to send the output to one or more camcorders. You can have one transmitter sending to an infinite number of receivers set to the same frequency, just not the other way around. So, using this method all three cameras can receive the same audio, making editing easier. Be sure to slate each shot to give each tape the same starting point. Someone will have to run the mixer to monitor and adjust levels as needed.
This job is right up my alley. Where is this happening and are you interested in working with an associate? See my website, rgbmediaservices.com for my contact info.Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
Is this being shot in an actual courtroom or just some other room that is substituting for a courtroom? Most modern courtrooms have microphones at all the important positions. If so, you may be able to take a feed from the court’s own house system, with maybe a couple of wireless mics for attornies who may tend to walk around. If you’re doing this from scratch, I’d probably put a boundary layer mic on each fixed position (2 attorney’s tables, judge’s bench, witness box, any other fixed positions) and a wireless lav on each attorney, as they will likely move around, all fed to a mixer which sends to either the main camera, or all three, depending on what you need, and a backup audio recorder. Since the other two cameras are presumably for cutaway shots, it’s probably only necessary to record audio on the main camera and the backup audio recorder. If you need to move around with all cameras, what I’ve done many times is to send a wireless feed to all cameras. It’s simple and works every time.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
Like you, I’m considering my next camcorder move, and the tape/tapeless decision is one issue. I’m holding off until I see some reviews on the new Canon XF300/305.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
If it won’t power up at all you may have:
1. A bad power supply (I had to replace one)
2. Bad/dirty/loose battery contacts
3. A bad main circuit board from either age, condensation or both. I had to have one replaced.The problem here is that Canon no longer supports the original XL-1. Some independent shops may be able to fix it, or at least recover your tape. Good luck.
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
I always credit myself as: my name, my company name, phone number, website
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com -
I’m interested in the responses as Im thinking along the same lines, especially since a recent job had me going to a remote site and editing news segments for a quick turnaround, and my existing dual-processor laptop barely huffed and puffed it’s way through. And that was for sd. What’s the maximum ram on that computer?
Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com