[Pat Ford]

Don’t want to go on about the scan converter/PowerPoint issue since this forum ain’t the right place. But I will note that the converter we used was a Sony orginally costing several thousand dollars. It was my camera operator’s gear…maybe it was not set-up properly. Dunno. I have noticed the muddiness both times we have used a scan converter on Power Point.

[Pat Ford]

Remember, one of the great things about being grown-up that separates you from the the twenty-somethings is that you can simply act secure even if you’re not. It works for me…

That is so good David. Yes, one of the few good things about getting old.

By the way: Corporate people always want to hand you a PowerPoint and assume that it’s a simple thing to turn it into video. Scan converters work, but they produce muddy looking video. Had much better luck with Camtasia. It’s a not inexpensive program about $300. However, you can get a fully functioning trial for 30 days. Assuming the safe area is ok and the font size is large enough, you can just run it through.

[Pat Ford]

Google Prelinger Archive

[Pat Ford]

Bob

Thanks for your quick response.I’m sorry I did not make my needs more clear.

The installation is to be a temporary entrance to a building. It will be a substantial exhibit, roughly 23,000 square feet. The exhibit will be in operation for a few months.

Overview of exhibit. There is a welcome/entrance area. This will be followed by four separate ares with each having its own theme. The welcome area will have several screens/displays and each theme area will have 3 to 4. Size of displays is not set. (and is subject to some dispute. heh.)

The project managers want the all screens to be coordinated as an aid to traffic flow. (It is estimated that there will be 5,000 persons per day.) Frankly, I am not so sure each area needs to be coordinated with the others. It would be much simpler to sync just the 3-4 screens is each area. The content will only play several minutes in each area. It seems to me that traffic would take care of itself. But I am not an expert in this regard.

The content will be non-narrative…that is, a story is not being told in the normal sense. There will be only images and music which relate to each of the four areas.

Thanks again.

[Pat Ford]

Bob-

Good point…it’s hard to try to outsmart physics. One of the problems was that we were shooting in a tiny room. Next time I may rent a theater…that might solve several problems. Thanks.

pcf

[Pat Ford]

[Ty Ford] “So the mic had a mini-plug of some sort? The problem was very likely the connection between the mic plug and the female XLR connector on the cable. You must have used some sort of adapter. What kind?
Regards,

Ty”

Ty,

Yes, there was a mini-plug/XLR adapter.

But as I mentioned above in another post, the noise was caused by the dimmer acting on the mini-plug cord.

Thanks for the help. The problem has been solved.

[Pat Ford]

[Ty Ford] “—-We were using XLRs, but the mic was on a mini-plug.—

That in itself could have been the problem.

What mic, what camera, what cable?”

Ty, I mentioned some of this a couple posts back up the thread.

Inexpensive lavalier with minijack > XLR cable > PD150. The minijack cable picked up hum from dimmer. The camera had noise reduction on, which introduced problems of its own.

[Pat Ford]

[Vincent Becquiot] “Did you separate power and “the rest” of the equipment? (I mean on a completely separate breaker?), and did the rest of your equipment have a common ground? Audio on the same circuit as dimmed lighting will almost always hum. Finally, groundlifts (on everything except lighting) can also be a lifesaver.

If you did separate everything, then theorically you should be hum free, even crossing power. If not, you may have a shielding problem on your XLR (assuming that’s what you used).”

Thanks for your advice.

Well, the place was an old building. The floors were out of level…almost like scenes from the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. We could find only one grounded outlet. (!)

We were using XLRs, but the mic was on a mini-plug.

We will try to follow your advice in the future. Thanks again.

[Pat Ford]

Hello Ty,

Our paths have crossed before, on rec.video.production, if memory serves. One of the greatest benefits of the internet is the ability to summon expertise on a specialized subject. I do this all the time on various forums and well as USENET.

Since I first went online in 1994, I can hardly be considered a bumpkin that just fell off the turnip truck in the online world. On USENET and forums, I ask questions without regard to lost pride or possible embarrassment. Most of the time my answers are generously answered. It is really amazing. Typically I will get a range of answers; I will then check out the various answers comport with what I know

[Pat Ford]

If Mr. Wango had read my post he might have noticed that I said:

“So I’m doing a documentary; did an interview last night. I was
sidetracked dealing with the subject until several minutes into the
interview when I noticed that the camera operator did not have his
headphones on. At that point we discovered that we had a significant
buzz. The subject was antsy so we went ahead with the interview.

All of the above was my fault.”

I wanted suggestions for solving the problem. Instead, Mr. Wango demonstrates his eye for the obvious.