1. The ability to have a two camera studio setup with online mixer and downstream character generator.
2. An entry and intermediate level non linear editing video systems.

Production Methods

Purchasing Summary

• Live Studio A typical studio setup includes several video cameras, multiple microphones, controlled lighting, a video and audio mixer, title generator, video tape players and recorder, etc. A live studio session requires a number of specialist operators to make a successful production. This includes the following people in the control room:
  • Director
  • Technical Director
  • Audio Engineer
  • CG operator
  • Stage Lighting Controller
  • Video Engineer
  • VTR Engineer

Some of these jobs can be preformed by a single person, but it is not recommended for beginners. Additional personal are required on the sound stage:

• Floor Director
• Camera Operators
• Sound Boom Handler
• Makeup
• Wardrobe.

• In Field On location or in-the-field productions are generally much little on equipment and personal. The best model is similar to what a typical news gathering effort. A single camera person and audio engineer and one on screen 'news' person. The host, interviewees and related b-roll footage is captured for later post production editing.
• Post Production Modern consumer and professional approach to editing is in the use of digital non-linear systems. That is the video and audio are captured into a digital format, transferred to a hard drive, and edited in a non sequential fashion. The primary advantages are: speed and quality.

Planned Production Methods

Busic Studio Production

Equipment

Studio Audio Options

Basic Field Production

Equipment

Planned NLE

Equipment

Sylvia Massy Shivy? has agreed to purchase the Avid editing system.

Updates

Picking a camera on a very low budget is not an easy task giving the variety available from all the major manufacturers.

For studio work, we are looking for a cameras that can supply a high quality image via a svideo cable in a studio with good lighting. The recording format, audio handling and enhanced video effects features are not that important. Many consumer cameras in the market place are loaded with features that are useless for any serious production work. These features include low quality digital effects ( fades & wipes ), picture effects ( Negative, Solar, Poster etc ), titles and digital still images in more recent digital video camera. These extras increase the cost of the camera without improving it's video performance. In other words and entry level cameras with limited extras often perform just as well as a much higher costing cameras with many bells and whistles. The big problem is finding the good from the bad.

Are 3chip cameras that much better then 1chip? Logic and group consensus would say yes, but technological improvements over the last 10 years has greatly lessened the difference in picture quality and in price. For example JVC has introduced the first affordable HD Camcorder for $2400 and it only has a single chip. Panasonic has now a 3chip PV-DV953 camera for around $1000. Both cameras are reported to have excellent picture quality.

Camera, Cameras and more Cameras !

• JVC GR-SXM250 is a single chip S-VHS-C camcorder with S Video? output for $240 from B&H This camera dispite it's low cost might do the job in our studio environment.
• JVC GR-DV500 is a single chip minDV camcorder for $500 from B&H
• Panasonic PV-DV953 is a 3chip miniDV for $1022 from BuyDig Read a number of very positive reviews here
• Panasonic AG-DVC7 is a single chip miniDV with a 'Professional' look for $1,025 from B&H
• JVC DV300U is a 3chip mini camcorder for $2400 at B&H This camera is the only one here to have XLR audio inputs.
• Cannon GL 2? is a 3chip miniDV camorder for $2250 at eCost

• Prepare summary and recommendations for next board meeting. Still gathering information.
• Refine the equipment list. The list below has been updated with suggestions from our tech head meeting.
• Check for video edit preview on the Videonics Personal Title Maker character generator. Does not have video preview and therefore is unsuitable for our live production needs. To Do?: Remove from list or find a replacement part
• Investigate the Videonics MX Pro? switcher for color correction and video pass-thru. The switcher can not color correction on both the selected channels at the same time. This makes it necessary to color correct the signal before it enters the switcher. To Do?: Find a proc amp units for color correction. The switcher does not have video pass thru for any of it's 4 input channels. This makes the color quad adapter to single monitor setup invalid. The switcher can preview all the input channels on it's preview monitor, but the spatial & temporal resolution are poor. To Do?: Remove Quad Color and connected monitor from equipment list
• Investigate the use of the Firewire hard drives on the PC. Untested, should work without problems after they are formatted. To Do?: Test the drives on PC
• Invite comment from C.O.S. ( Ray Berry )I have so far been unable to meet up with Ray. I'll be get back from Portland on the weekend and plan to meet with him early next week. To Do?: Talk with Ray -John Cumming

Comments & Suggestions

I figure we need no less than 4 more Svhs vcr's. One(1) more for Shasta broadcast, and two(2) more for weed broadcast (for a total of three each in shasta & weed) and one (1) more for dubbing, so we can leave the JVC DV/Svhs at home where it belongs! This arrangement would also require three IR blaster cables. According to hear-say, the vcr's could be $100 each (x4=$400) and the IR cables are more expensive than the vcr's, $150 each - we only need three for this setup (x3=$450) so the grand total is $850 - woah, that *is* alot! but we do NEED them! I would suggest this is currently more urgent than more studio gear, as we seem to be broadcasting way more than what is being produced in this (as yet to exist) studio...

Two more Svhs vcr's (with blaster cables) would be nice too, one at Mt. Shasta to record the daily broadcast of Democracy Now! and one in Weed to playback the tape. However these wouldn't be important until I move to the area (or we can find someone to transport the tape every day, but we've already discussed the problems with that scenario) and start pulling a paycheck. Warren Masterson

Hi John- some miscellaneous items we also need - the prices are from the Markertek Summer/Fall 2003 catalog, and the mixer bag can be found at http://www.mackiegear.com

Looks really good, John! It would be great if you could print out the two "current setup" (studio & field) diagrams, that would be great to have those available for the volunteers. I've got some plastic sleeves to help with their longevity.
Actually if we add a second (and third) camera and a video mixer to what your calling the Current Studio Production, that would make for a good Remote Studio Production setup.
Also, in your Basic Field Production setup, what's the plan for mixing the video from the two cameras - Post-production editing? ~Warren Masterson''