http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: interviews - Recent Posts en Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:33:49 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69213 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:08:17 +0000 ophelia 69213@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Thanks Earl - I look forward to seeing the shot you mentioned.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69204 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:19:57 +0000 EarlC 69204@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>"O" here's a link <a href="http://www.videostorytellers.com/VST/VST_Setup_Video.html">"Setting Up for a Video StoryTellers!™ Shoot"</a> that will show you some shots of the wireless in action, but not with the H2 in obvious use. I will work on something soon as I can reflecting the H2 visibly, along with the Sony wireless. All of my funeral productions, where the viewer sees the POV of the podium, show one of my H2 units hiding in plain sight, taped to the side of the podium. In this case the proximity of the unit to the speaker is key to getting some really sweet clean audio of the speakers' narrative. It has also proven effective in picking up a better level of audio from live music or soloists as far away as 10 feet. i occasionally use both directional/angle spreads on the H2, depending on the circumstances. I will also look and see if I have a decent podium shot I can freeze to show just how close I place my H2 there ... probably 12" from the elbow, or to the right side of the speaker, angled toward the speaker position, and maybe 24" or so from the mouth, depending on the height of the person speaking.</p> <p>Bye the way, the narrative on the above video was done using an H2 with the mic stand adapter attached and carefully handheld, me, the typed script and H2 all covered in a light blanket, then the audio taken into Soundtrack Pro (I'm Mac based) to clean it up a bit. FYI</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69203 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:00:18 +0000 ophelia 69203@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> @Earl - Any chance you would post an actual photo of your audio set-up in use?  Right now, I use a Canon shotgun on top of my GL2, and I just got a Zoom to play around with....unfortunately, I have discovered just how sensitive this recorder really is.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69177 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:20:05 +0000 doublehamm 69177@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I honestly do best with my EV interview mic, and it was one of the cheaper ones.  I can sit in a dance hall at a wedding with the music blaring and the audio comes through from the subject crystal clear and the background noise is cut out considerably.  That requires holding a mic of course, but if you want great audio that is my suggestion.  Lav mics are not bad either, but if you conceal them they tend to get muffled a bit and are more prone to scratching from clothes etc.  If you don't conceal them - then why not just use the interview mic?</p> <p>My Rode shotgun mic is okay if you absolutely need to pick something up from a distance with no set-up, but even that mic picks up way more ambient noise than I like.  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69173 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:34:04 +0000 EarlC 69173@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>In my <a href="http://www.videostorytellers.com">Video StoryTellers!™</a> program I've tried a number of ways to get the kind of good, clean, clear and crisp audio I wanted for my storytellers. After using shotguns (cheap &amp; expensive) and a variety of other systems, including wired handheld (which, by the way works extremely well in busy outdoor interview sessions) and wired/wireless lavalieres, my Zoom H2 recorders and even a minidisc recorder with a wired lavaliere feeding to it.</p> <p>I now, almost exclusively use this setup: A Sony wireless system UWP-V6 direct to camcorder (currently continue to shoot with a GL2 and use manual audio adjustment) and a pair of Zoom H2 units in close proximity.</p> <p>My primary audio is the Sony wireless. And I have to say that most of my interviews and Video StoryTellers!™ sessions are single person sessions. When there ARE two and both have something to say without interacting with each other, I'll mic one, get the story, with the second person nodding, smiling, reacting, etc., then mic the second person with the first one doing the same.</p> <p>I've tried boundary or piezo mics but too much weird noise pickup ... clicking pens, rapping knuckles or nails, etc. and the sound simply isn't the nice clear audio I desire.</p> <p>The H2 system is great but it still allows a bit of room ambience and air into the recording, and occasionally picks up unwanted audio. Still, when I take this into my Soundtrack Pro software (I'm Mac based) it cleans up rather well, but is a second step I don't always want to take time with. They are GREAT backups for all interview work, however.</p> <p>I've run a RadioShack wired lavaliere mic to the H2 systems with some great results, so that will get you about the same quality as the wireless Sony system I mentioned (about $900, $750 if you find a sale somewhere) only just a bit more brighter than I care for.</p> <p>If you have multiple interviewees or speakers and have four H2 systems like me, you can hook up each using the $39 (or so) RS wired lavalieres with each feeding into its own H2. Depending on the complexity of your project(s) or the desired end results, this is a great way to isolate, then mix down in post to get what you want.</p> <p>Hope this helps, Earl</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69172 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:32:13 +0000 robGRAUERT 69172@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Lavalier mics should be a last resort used when you can't get a mic close to the subject without it getting in the shot. Decent lavs are expensive and are subject to radio interference.</p> <p>If you're shooting an interview, set up a boom with a shotgun mic and position it in front of the subject above their head. Then connect the mic to something like a Zoom recorder or even to the camera directly if it has XLR connections.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/wireless-lavaliers-or-use-the-field-recorder-1#post-69171 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:35:27 +0000 dhudkins 69171@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>&nbsp;Am building a video business of which part will be interviewing family members. I'm looking at buying UHF wireless lavaliers coupled wired to a dual-input field recorder, either a Zoom or Tascam. Rather than buying two wireless lavaliers would it be better (and cheaper) to just set up the field recorder in front of the subjects?</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks in&nbsp;adv.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dfh&nbsp;</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/why-i-am-a-video-storytellers%e2%84%a2-associate#post-68100 Thu, 19 May 2011 08:55:21 +0000 EarlC 68100@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Jim Nicholson contributed an article to the video production and marketing blog <a href="http://eccomeecgo.blogspot.com">E.C. Come, E.C. Go</a> sharing why he joined the popular global branding and marketing program focused on helping people tell, preserve and share their favorite stories and memories on video. Might be an interesting read from someone actually in the trenches.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67862 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:32:35 +0000 EarlC 67862@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I have to estimate that 80 percent or better of the documentary and/or interview productions I've seen do not worry about "hiding" the mic. Clean dressed mic such as what Don notes usually is accepted.</p> <p>Personally, I don't think the added time in post work, rotoscoping out mic and wire assemblies, is being very efficient or productive and certainly will, all else considered time-wise, probably take ANY documentary project over budget.</p> <p>Until I acquired a white lavaliere mic system (primarily for use with brides and those white dresses) I actually used Liquid Paper to put a temporary white coating on my black ones. As Don notes, I've often used flesh-colored bandage strips and various colors of gaffers tape to attach. I've also often dangled mic systems just out of frame for overheads, etc.</p> <p>However, again, I simply do not think that the vast majority of documentary projects necessitates eliminating the visual presence of mic systems, so long as dangling wires, or messy dressing is avoided in the setup.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67860 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:04:08 +0000 Don 67860@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I find wire under the shirt, and skin toned bandaids and or green painters tape (no residue on clothing) helps a lot with hiding mics. you simply have to be creative.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67859 Tue, 10 May 2011 15:24:56 +0000 grinner 67859@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> You'll do that in post. Dangle as you need to in the field then mask as needed later.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67855 Tue, 10 May 2011 12:55:34 +0000 Bill Steele 67855@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Perhaps the next question, then, is, Does anyone have tips on making lavalier mics invisible?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67643 Tue, 03 May 2011 17:24:13 +0000 EarlC 67643@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Rarely does a single mic solution offer the desired audio quality. PZM mics, those units that sit central on a flat surface, utilizing the surface as a "sort of" speaker, rarely (as Wolcott points out) provide decent quality and are notorious for picking up every pin click, cufflink rattle, fingernail clacking, paper rustling ... you get the idea.</p> <p>The ultimate solution, again as Wolcott notes, is to mic each individually when and where at all possible, use a sound person to ride the mixer, and utilize quality microphones for acquisition. Close groups can be hardwired, while people spread out around a room will require wireless rigs.</p> <p>It has been my experience that I can get better quality sound for less investment by going with hardwired and wireless lavaliere mic systems than trying to utilize shotgun mic systems of high enough quality to ensure the quality of audio I desire in most interview situations. You'll likely spend way more for the level of shotgun mic quality needed to match what those hardwired and wireless mic systems will get you.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67635 Tue, 03 May 2011 14:48:10 +0000 jackwolcott 67635@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Our company regularly records a French speaking doctor and his simultaneous translator, with a mic for a moderator and at least a couple of additional audio sources in the audience. We feed all the mics into an audio mixer, which then goes into one channel on the camera. The second channel is used with a shotgun for ambient sound.</p> <p>To mic a conference table we often use PZMs, which don't provide the same sound quality a shotgun or lavalier mics would give us, but which have excellent pick up characteristics for folks at a table. If higher quality audio is required we use a shotgun on a boom pole or several shotguns on mic stands.</p> <p>For situations where a speaker is addressing an audience in a Q&amp;A situation we use a shotgun on a boom pole. This requires a separate operator but enables us to get a mic "up close and personal" rapidly.</p> <p>Generally speaking, the best quality will be provided by having a lavalier mic on each speaker; a shotgun on a boom is probably next best, followed by PZMs. Everything else being equal, the closer the mic the better the audio.</p> <p>Jack</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/miking-several-people#post-67633 Tue, 03 May 2011 13:55:58 +0000 Bill Steele 67633@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I've just been watching some professional documentaries, and wondering how they are doing sound for interviews, particularly when there are conversations going on. Once in a while I thought I saw a lavalier mike clipped to someone's shirt, but more often not.  Shotgun?  Maybe. But what happens when you have, say, people sitting around a table, or a family in their living room talking to each other? Six shotgun mikes? And does a shotgun really give you the quality I've been hearing?  Case in point: "45365."</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67448 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:31:49 +0000 birdcat 67448@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Play nice kids.</p> <p>When I need to create sub-project files that have good quality that I can edit (read little or no compression) I usually choose AVI for SD and MOV for HD.  </p> <p>For final disc output, for SD (DVD) it's MPG and for HD (BD) it's M2V, with AC3 for audio for both.</p> <p>for the web, I don't render out using H.264 directly but use QuickTime pro to create my videos (MP4 with H.264 for YouTube &amp; Vimeo).</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67444 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:12:23 +0000 Kyalami 67444@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>yeah right? In what container? MPEG2?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67440 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:30:11 +0000 XTR-91 67440@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>h.264</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67437 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 08:38:27 +0000 rs170a 67437@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><em>i can't buy another drive in the time frame for this project...</em></p> <p>Why not?  Do you live in the boonies?</p> <p>Any big box store like Best Buy, Future Shop or Costco has 1 TB. drives for well under $100.</p> <p>The only time I render using a different codec is when I'm getting a project ready for delivery, be it a DVD, the web or something else.</p> <p>Otherwise all files stay in their original format.</p> <p>I know that's not the answer you want to hear but that's always been my philosophy and I see no reason to change it.</p> <p>Mike</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67436 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 08:12:31 +0000 Kyalami 67436@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>which format would be closest to dv avi in terms of quality but as small as possible? i can't buy another drive in the time frame for this project so finding a smaller codec is the answer. </p> <p>i used to shoot on a handheld 3ccd jvc everio which had a hard disk and recorded in MPEG2 dvd; quality wasn't bad. would it be a good format?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67433 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 05:42:51 +0000 rs170a 67433@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I personally wouldn't resize the footage from your Panasonic as you lose the ability to zoom in on it if you want to.</p> <p>I deliver in SD (DVD) but do all my shooting &amp; editing in HD as I love the ability to zoom and pan if I want to without losing quality.</p> <p>Having said all that, if your 720x480 footage is DV-AVI from a miniDV camcorder, that's the format I'd recommend.</p> <p>Mike</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67426 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 04:27:50 +0000 Kyalami 67426@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Agreed, but since I have to downconvert to 720x480 DV Wide anyway, I was looking for the best size/quality codec possible. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67421 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 06:27:12 +0000 rs170a 67421@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Any time you render, you lose quality. For that reason alone, it's always best to stay with the original format. Hard drives are very cheap these days (2 TB. models are under $100) so buy one or more and keep your video quality at it's best.</p> <p>Mike</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-format-for-hours-of-interviews#post-67420 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 04:46:54 +0000 Kyalami 67420@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Im editing a video for a local school's band, and am now in the process of doing interviews with some of its members. I am shooting using a Panasonic AGHMC170 in 1440x1080 HD, then downconverting to 720x480 NTSC DV Widescreen as the rest of the footage is this way. However, NTSC DV Wide takes up too much space, and the interviews are about 20 mins. </p> <p>What high-quality format can I use that's smaller but will still prove easy to edit?I was  thinking maybe MPEG2 DVD, or some sort of MP4? Thanks!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/conference-interview-tips-tricks-good-lighting-practices#post-62300 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:23:56 +0000 Derek Sine 62300@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi Rick,</p> <p>The best solution for shooting field interviews in busy and hectic environments would definitely be an on board camera light specifically the ones made by <a href="http://litepanels.com/">Litepanels</a>. These LED lights run on standard AA batteries and are dimmable for adjusting light for just about any situation you may run into. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/conference-interview-tips-tricks-good-lighting-practices#post-62287 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:07:32 +0000 planewryter 62287@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>Do you have any suggestions, tips and tricks for conducting unscripted, candid &amp; extemporaneous interviews midst the hectic bustle of professional conferences?</p> <p>**Along with your other remarks, of specific interest is: how did you handle lighting?</p> <p>Soon, I’m going to be shooting “field interviews” during a professional conference held at a Conference Center at an upscale property in Silicon Valley.</p> <p>While I’ve viewed Tom Skowronski’s (thanks, Tom, for all the great vids...and best regards in your new role!) vidcasts on <em>Interview Lighting</em> a couple of times, I think the distinction between interviews on a set vs. in a hotel could be important.</p> <p>What's been your experience? And, what do you suggest?</p> <p>**What I envision is grabbing a couch in the corner not too far from a coffee bar...setting up my camera (Canon Vixia HF M300), portable tripod, field mixer, wired lavalier mics and lights.)</p> <p>It’s the lights that have been a problem in the past. I have two <strong>Lowel Pros</strong> (<em>e.g.,</em> <a href="http://www.lowel.com/prolight/">http://www.lowel.com/prolight/</a>) which are nice and portable—except I can’t seem to figure out the best way to use them in the field. Results? Harsh, or washed-out, light. Never just right.</p> <p>Welcome suggestions (<em>e.g.,</em> pointerst to existing articles or vidcasts...or something new) on capturing great field interviews with suitable lighting in venues such as busy, hectic professional conferences.</p> <p>Many thanks in advance...here's to success in one take.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/make-money-producing-video-vignettes#post-42629 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:43:28 +0000 EarlC 42629@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>NB - eccomeecgo is my video marketing blog site; I am in transition, developing and changing content and clips and stuff on my sites. They are in a general state of mess but still kind of acceptable if you are talking about <a href="http://www.corelann.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.corelann.com</a> or <a href="http://www.californiaweddingcinema.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.californiaweddingcinema.com</a> or <a href="http://www.californiamemorialvideo.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.californiamemorialvideo.com</a> or <a href="http://www.waverleychapelweddings.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.waverleychapelweddings.com</a> . There are others, but these will give you an idea of the variety of my company's video production focus. The clips are hosted on my dotmac account and some of them take up to 45 seconds to play in QuickTime because I opted for better quality rather than speedy response. Contrary to the opinion of many real or self-professed web site/clip gurus or experts, it is my experience that a person looking for samples and information will wait a bit if they are promised quality in the experience.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/make-money-producing-video-vignettes#post-42628 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:38:22 +0000 NewBirthProductions 42628@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Earl is that your web site?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/make-money-producing-video-vignettes#post-42605 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:08:20 +0000 daryldrj 42605@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Interesting Hummm Thanks again EarlC more for me to think about </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/make-money-producing-video-vignettes#post-42584 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:36:59 +0000 EarlC 42584@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Something fun to do, relatively easy to produce and market, is Video Vignettes. See the blog at <a href="http://www.eccomeecgo.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.eccomeecgo.blogspot.com</a> and put this puppy in your production war chest for those slow, unfilled hours, days and weeks when nothing else seems to be moving.</p>