Letters to the Editor

Loren Alldrin's Sound Track column, "The Balancing Act" (February 1998) was excellent. I want to add to it one caution to videographers. Most consumer camcorders do not accept balanced input signals. I have seen videographers run a long balanced cable from a piece of pro audio gear, then just before it enters the camcorder they use an adapter to convert it to the right size.

These videographers do not realize they have just lost all benefit to using the XLR-balanced system. The moment they simply adapt the plug end they break the balance and the entire length of the cable becomes unbalanced. Alldrin correctly suggests using a transformer. If you use a transformer, the signal stays balanced and the only unbalanced portion is the short cable run from the transformer to the camcorder jack. Bringing the balanced plug into a quality mixer before going into the camcorder can also correctly transform the signal. This requires a mixer with balanced inputs and an appropriate output to send signals to your camcorder. A mixer has the benefit of allowing you to use several balanced signals, such as when you multi-mike a wedding from different locations.

Bruce Barrett
Internet

I want to take just a minute to pay you a well-deserved compliment. In particular, I want to thank you for not losing your niche.

I subscribe to two other video magazines besides yours and Videomaker is my hands-down favorite. Your competitors have drifted into the home theater thing, the movie review stuff, and a major emphasis on the computer field. Now, don't get me wrong; the computer segment is fine, but not when it dominates the basic objectives of the publication.

Your product reviews and other departments are all in good balance, so I hope you can keep it that way and not drift off. Just keep up the good work and stay in your niche.

Paul R. Gross
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Lauryn Axelrod's Getting Started column "Artistic Vision" tells only half the story. Granted, she gives ideas on how to move the camera, but never explains why. To tilt or pan just to give your video an "artsy look" is like speaking just to make conversation. Tilts, pans, dollies and other camera moves should be used as a visual tool to capture or retain the viewer's interest.

There are so many options open to today's videographers, what with all the different special effects generators and such on the market. While most of what Ms. Axelrod teaches are useful technological tricks, artistic vision is just what the phrase implies. It is a product of creativity, not a by-product of technology. True artistry comes from within. Not out of a box.

Michael Richards
Internet

Every week, the local cable access channel shows a locally produced "reality" program. The show aspires to be a COPS-style program, but fails miserably. The technical shortcomings don't really bother me so much as what appear to be blatant violations of laws protecting personal privacy. I often see suspects and witnesses giving their full names, addresses, social security numbers, even phone numbers, and the producer doesn't even make an effort to edit them out. Occasionally, someone will ask the producer/videographer on-camera why he's recording him or her, and the camera operator says something like, "We like to document these things," making no mention that it will later be shown to the public. There are also people who hold their hands in front of their faces verbally protesting being on camera. Somehow I doubt any of these people signed a release.

The producer also has little regard for copyright laws. He uses footage from the actual COPS program in his promotional spots designed to attract sponsors, and pretends it's his own footage. And for the sponsors he attracts, he makes bad commercials using copyrighted music throughout.

Am I wrong, or is this guy breaking laws left and right?

Tom Rogers
Internet

It is not necessary to obtain releases from the parties involved in a so-called newsworthy event. We can't tell if the videographer has permission to use the copyrighted music; however, it is not difficult to obtain though often costly. If he has violated anyone's privacy or copyright, it is the victim's prerogative to bring legal action against the producer and the cable system operator.

--The Editors