adding a video suite?

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2003 11:10 am

Lets start with, I know nothing about video other than the dv camera that I have Smile

. This summer I would like to be able to offer a music video in addition to the audio recording. I think I want the room and gear to be seperate from my current control room (unless told otherwise). I know it's a broad question but how much will I be spending to get a decent entry level setup?

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2003 9:36 pm

A computer with firewire, NTSC monitor, and a DV editing app.

An app like Avid Express DV, Final Cut Pro, and Primiere can control your camera transport. You can input/output footage from the app.

The biggest cost is the time needed to learn the associated apps, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and After Effects.
Smile

After Effects $699 Premiere $549
Digital Video Collection(Premiere, After Effects,
Photoshop, and Illustrator) $1249

That's a start.
:c:

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2003 6:26 am

Thanks G, is the Pinnacle stuff crap? Just wondering. I expect a learning curve, it seems I learn something new every time I use Logic Smile

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2003 9:31 pm

Pinnacle has some good bundles, may be a good place to start.

The apps previously mentioned are industry workhorses.
Better chance of getting a job, if you have knowledge of the apps. Wink

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2003 6:52 am

Let me just jump in and say from the front lines on this one that G-Dub is right about the Adobe bundle. We have two edit suites where I work (one Avid, one Premiere). I know that when we interview folks one of the big points we look for is whether they know Adobe products or not. That's huge. In the Premiere suite we do use a Pinnacle card for video capture.

Just a quick $.02.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 8:24 pm

What about Vegas Video?

Very Happy

Peace,
Brad

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 8:05 pm

I thank all for the comments and I wisk I knew more about this animal. I've got an awful lot of homework to do. I don't want to make mistakes like I did on the audio side of the studio and end up with a bunch of shit I wouldn't even do a live gig with Smile

Thanks again and if anyone has any links for the novice that would be wonderful!

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2003 7:31 am

It's a great idea to offer a music video production facility to your clients, but...

It's a very expensive and time consuming proposition. First of all, it takes between five and eight hours to edit one minute of video. Secondly, your DV camera will not do the trick. Music videos are digitally edited on video suites using programs like AVID, Final Cut Pro, etc., that much is true. However, despite the name "music video" the source material for professional videos is not video, but film. If you shoot a music video with an actual video camera the final product looks like a well-edited home movie. In the end you will spend a lot of time and money on a product that won't be very useful in the music video market.

The good news...

A video shot on a video camera and edited on your computer will be quite acceptable for inclusion on a CD-ROM. You can do things like interviews, and capture the making of the album within your studio, and then offer the edited video as an extra service to your clients.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:38 am

Stewdio wrote:

If you shoot a music video with an actual video camera the final product looks like a well-edited home movie. In the end you will spend a lot of time and money on a product that won't be very useful in the music video market.

That's actually not true. If you have a three chip camera - one that has a separate chip controling each of the three primary colors - you will get awesome video. The other important, MOST IMPORTANT thing, is lighting. I guarantee I can light a subject in such a way that 99% of people will swear it's shot on film.

I also used to be a firm believer that film was "warmer" than video. Then I went to work with a gentleman who graduated from film school at USC. He fooled us all - laymen, and pros alike - with his lighting techniques. It's all about placement, color, brightness, and cheating your white balance on the camera. Instead of white balancing on a white sheet of paper, use a faded pair of blue jeans. You won't believe the difference! So many tricks to learn! Don't believe for a minute that you have to use film - it just isn't true!

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2003 12:02 pm

This thread has taken a bit of a turn...

I love film!! check this, http://www.pro8mm.com/us/cam_frm.htm

Yes, video can be used, lighting is key in both video and film. The CCD is not as forgiving as film, but there are plenty of work arounds. Some have been mentioned, others include filters, lens tricks, choosing backdrops, and time, time, time.

You also need to be creative, and have the time to be. Will it turn a dollar? Is it worth it? Will a client be willing to pay the additional costs involved? Or do you just want to roll video at a session, and turn out a short documentary, this is no problem, and won't take long to make.

If you want to make a video with effects, with different locations, themes, costumes, make-up, lighting, motion, additional rental gear like jibs, booms, trolly's, etc. it is going to take a bunch of time and money. :d:

It gets to the point where it may be better to sub-contract that portion, load the media into your video workstation, and produce from there.

If this is what you want to do, and you have the time, energy, and creativity, DO IT NOW, while you have the energy, with film, video, or both. :tu:

--Rick

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2003 12:15 pm

Very well put, Rick. Video/film is so much like audio concerning the time it takes to make a good product. Poop in = poop out. You can polish a turd, but it's still wreaks of poop. You've mentioned some great points.

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2003 8:58 am

As far as the camera goes, I was hoping that todays technology would give me a decent result.This will be an entry level system and the fee will reflect that but as with everything else I do,once I'm bitten I'll sink everything I can into it to get "the nicer stuff". I don't have a problem dedicating the time to get into this but the beginning budget is around the 3 or 4 thousand range. Nobody in my area is offering this sort of thing and there may not even be a market for it but I'm gonna have fun with it and I'm looking forward to learning. Thanks again for the input.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 1:08 pm

A lot of freelance videographers rent their cameras and light kits. If you are not a full-time video business, it's hard to get return on investment when the camcorder is collecting dust.

Then you are not on the hook, for repairs, accesories and upgrades.

From my experience a video shoot is not a one man show. You need a crew.Multiple cameras may be needed for a live shoot.

If the video has a plot, pre-production will be needed.

Here in the Seattle area there is a non-profit media arts center. They give classes on video and offer discounted rates on equipment rental.

It also takes time to learn an app like After Effects or Final Cut Pro. They are big complex apps. Smile

Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 10:35 pm

Saturday is going to be released The first 35mm movie/film I did the recording, dubs, soundtrack, edits and pre mix. A bigger facilty took my PT 5.1.1 session and mixed to Dolby/DTs.

It was a very nice experience. All my job was based on a quick time movie provided by the client.

BTW.. which video card would you recomend me to put inmy G4 800 so as to have a better/bigger separated monitor for the Qt reference? I do not need zillions of colours and Hollywood quality to track the few actors.
Thanks

Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 1:27 pm

G-Dub"Here in the Seattle area there is a non-profit media arts center. They give classes on video and offer discounted rates on equipment rental."

Where is it?

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