Posted by Richard Crowley on 12/24/06 23:56

"Brian Huether" wrote ...
>I am looking for a digital video camera that I can use to make
>instructional
> guitar DVDs. I am wondering if there are any for less than $1000 that
> can be
> used to achieve very good results for this purpose.
>
> Also, I am brand new to video production. I am a guitarist with decent
> sound
> enginering skills, but clueless about video. Basically, I am trying to
> create instructional DVDs that are of suitable enough quality to sell
> (and
> guitarists aren't too picky about video quality - they mainly want
> good
> lessons!), but I don't have thousands to spend.
>
> If someone can describe the basic process (camera placement and
> lighting)
> and describe a realistic budget I would be very grateful! Or if you
> can
> point me to a tutorial online that would be great too.

I think the first thing to consider is whether you can
reaslistically do this with a single camera? Assuming
that you want your video to look reasonably professional
and not like home movies.

Normally, one would do this with 2 or even 3 cameras,
where one is a wide shot, including your head/face so
you can address the viewer. And then the other camera(s)
available to "insert" close-up details of what you are doing
with your hands (presumably the prime content of your
instructional videos).

You COULD shoot this "film-style" with one camera where
you shot all the close-up inserts separately and then edited
them together. But I would think that it would be somewhat
problematic (if not outfight difficult) to match the action
between the "master" shot and the close-up inserts. Do you
have any friends with decent camcorders? If you shot two
cameras concurrently, you could "switch" between them in
editing, etc.

Of course, lighting and sound (for both the guitar and for
your voice) are both crucial for professinonal results. And
these are not trivial in cases where you need tight shots
of what your hands are doing without mics in the way,
and without distracting shadows, etc.

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