Posted by Richard Crowley on 11/19/07 18:35

"Pre-Meltdown" wrote ...
> Well, I had given up the webcam idea after your first response!
> My second response was intended along the lines of multiple camcorders.
> And, by "permanent", I didn't mean "bolted down to the floor", just that
> all the filming/production would be in one studio space, not going from
> location to location.
>
> After to talking to B&H this morning, the multiple camcorder idea does
> seem to be impractical.
> Don't really understand *why* it's so impractical, but I'm in no position
> to be a maverick here. :)

Because there is more to making "watchable" video than simply
pointing a camera. Just as there is more to doing NC machine
work than buying a machine, chucking a random piece of metal
in it and feeding it some codes.

Because spreading your $$$ out over a bunch of cheap cameras
will make everything look cheap. But the same $$$ for one good
camera will make everything look great with the proper lighting
(and blocking and framing, etc.)

You can pretty much figure that the more "natural" something looks
(and sounds), the more work went into selecting exactly the right
equipment and having people behind that equipment who know
how to make it look easy.

> B&H basically said, if you have $10K, go pro (and stay traditional!).
> If you want to get by for well under $5K, go consumer. But still use
> mini-DV tape, as you suggested.
>
> So, they recommended a $500 Sony that is good in low light,

Low light performance is great to have for shooting home movies,
and for some event videography where you have no control over
the lighting. But I'd rather have a camera that requires a lot of
light to produce a nice picture than a camera that is good in low
light. Lousy lighting is the very first thing anyone notices about
amateur video. Most people can tell even if they can't articulate
what it is about the picture that makes it look "amateurish".

> maybe an $800 Panasonic, that would give nice results for what I need
> right now.
> Any specific camera recs/comments here would be appreciated.

If I were starting today, I would try to find a Sony TRV-900 (which
is not made anymore). On the advice of many people here I was
fortunate enough to buy one before Sony realized that they had
accidentially produced a (relatively) inexpensive camera that was
eating into sales of their professional products.

> Any user-friendly editing systems, for basic stuff?
> AVSmedia claims their editing package is super-user friendly, and offer a
> "super-bundle" of products at http://www.avsmedia.com/.
> Good bundle? Good way to get started? Other suggestions?

I would think that you could likely do everything you need with
Adobe Premiere Elements which is available packaged with a
Firewire card in many places for <$100 You are far more likely
to get help in a forum like this if you are using a mainstream
product like Premiere or Vegas, et.al.

> Oh, btw, my little operation here is a bit more than "hand machining in a
> basement".
> The equipment I have (both CNC and manual), in about 1200 sq ft, is more
> than capable of putting out 100's of units a week, altho I'm the first to
> admit that this proly isn't the smartest way to go.
> But I will have no choice but to do the first few hundred myself, before I
> farm it out to professional production shops.
>
> In the same vein, I need to set up a basic video operation, to get the
> overall "direction" correct, and then I'd be more than happy to let
> professionals set up an efficient studio and produce a professional
> product. I'm hoping the 5-600 sq ft studio space, which will house the
> editing operation as well (altho that could be moved), will be sufficient.

Feels a bit cramped to me. Especialy if you have only conventional
domestic ceiling heights. But good work has been done in less
space if you plan wisely and have some experience blocking and
lighting, etc.

> Right now, I'm producing beta versions of the unit, but which still need
> dvds, as the method of using the hardware/apparatus is as important as the
> apparatus itself.
> No looming deadline, just the sooner the better.
>
> It will indeed be ongoing video production, as the apparatus has so many
> extensive uses, which vary with the niche: Professional/ballet dancers,
> athletes, simple fitness/weightloss (which actually is not so simple,
> mis-infomercials notwithstanding), joint rehab, back rehab,
> sports-specific applications, etc.
>
> Looking forward to getting the video part up and running. Appreciate the
> feedback and guidance.

If you are starting from scratch, it is no place to try to pioneer new
production methodologies. Your first priority is producing video
to promote and instruct users of your product.

There are some great lighting resources available online. One
of my favorites is the stuff that Walter Graff has made available
on his website: http://bluesky-web.com
If I were starting where you are (and in the NYC vicinity) I would
contact Walter to at least consult on how to get started. If you
need a professional DVD on a budget and on a schedule I would
consider hiring someone like him to produce it. You could spend
hundreds (thousands?) of $$$ and many months getting up to
speed producing video.

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