Have you ever thought of taking your camcorder on one of your overseas vacations? Have you thought it would be too much of a hassle to consider? Not to worry! Carrying enough gear to make a good travel video is very simple. Having done so myself in more than 20 countries, here are a few good tips I

Summer is in the air, flowers are in bloom, songbirds are returning to the skies, and here come the brides! Perhaps you’re a new camcorder owner who’s just been volunteered to tape a friend’s upcoming nuptials. Or maybe you’re a dedicated prosumer interested in earning some

A heavy-booted Darth Maul strides the steel-plate decking of the Coruscant Docking Bay. When this scene was shot the set floor was vinyl and the actor made almost no sound at all when he walked on it. Your job, as a Foley sound effects technician, is to add those footsteps –and give ’em

Diversity is the Spice of Life Wireless microphone systems are popular with advanced videographers who want a microphone close to the action, but who are working in a situation where running a cable would be either technically difficult, or a faux paux. AKG Acoustics’ WMS 60 Wireless Microphon

A Digital Audio Studio in a Box Getting good audio in video can sometimes be as simple as putting an external microphone next to your subject. However, for all the other times when your video’s single track of audio that you record with just doesn’t cut. When that happens, you can either

I am not a big fan of acronyms. Although these abbreviations may help us communicate complex concepts quickly and easily, frankly I think the world already has too many of them. The consumer electronics industry is littered with acronyms: TV, VCR, CD, DBS, DSS, DVD, VHS, PC and DV are just a few th

Anyone who has tried to "retrofit" a computer for nonlinear editing will tell you that the process can be a frightening one. But, if it’s done right, the payoff is worth it. If you are one of the daring few that decide to pass on a pre-configured, turnkey solution in favor of a do-i

Videomakers are, by definition, visual artists. We communicate with pictures and images. But, in many cases, the images alone may not tell the whole story. That’s where narration fits in. When used well, narration adds depth and harmony to your production. When used poorly, narration can rui

Groovy Baby Acid ($399) Sonic Foundry 754 Williamson St. Madison WI 53791-8062 (800)577-6642 www.sonicfoundry.com With an ever increasing move to computer video, it only makes sense that music would soon follow. While music creation might not be the first thought on a videographer’s mind, Aci

If you’ve watched a movie or music awards telecast, you know that videotaping auditorium shows is a fine art. Seems like 92 cameras capture the action without ever losing sharp focus while jib arm microcams rocket all over the joint. No matter which camera is on-line, the sound is as perfect

The pros call them "flags" or "cubes." They’re the little boxes that TV news reporters have on their microphones to identify what channel they work for. Picture a podium at a major press announcement. Usually there will be at least a dozen mikes bearing flags that represen

Nowadays, it seems like everybody is touting the merits of nonlinear editing systems. And while the control and flexibility of nonlinear editing are wonderful, let’s not forget the countless thousands of excellent programs produced on "old-fashioned" linear editing gear. If your edi

Low-budget, High-quality Sound DR-10 Hypercardioid Dynamic Microphone ($95) Roland Corporation U.S. 7200 Dominion Circle Los Angeles, CA 90040-3696 (323) 685-5141 www.rolandus.com Any videographer who has a camcorder with an external mike jack ought to seriously consider purchasing an external micro

Ever have outdoor audio problems like these? Your dialogue sounds okay except when the Tasmanian Devil seems to be munching on the microphone. Your half-time discussion with the football coach yields an impeccable transcription of the marching band behind him but his own words are quite inaudibl

Keep your record clean by avoiding these common audio crimes. If you just can’t seem to push your videos to the next level of quality, you may be looking too hard and not listening enough. That’s right–one of the keys to making better video is making better audio. If your goal is

How to get good audio from auditoriums, gyms and other sound-hostile environments. As anyone who has tried to record audio in an auditorium can tell you, large enclosed spaces with smooth, reflective surfaces can be a videographer’s worst nightmare. Sounds careen off the hard walls, floor and

Video Production Equipment Needs The use of visualization techniques will help you remember your gear when preparing for any video production. Visualize your camera equipment, then the subject of your production. Talk yourself through every shot. It may seem a bit simplistic, but think through ev

After careful consideration (or perhaps on a whim!), you made the decision to buy a camcorder. Congratulations–you now hold in your hands the power to capture memories on video forever. No more birthdays or anniversaries will be left untold, no more of your daughter’

After weeks of planning, you are finally able to get everyone together on one day to take part in your latest video project – a video scrapbook. One by one, you record stories about your family’s unique history. To your amazement, the day goes without a hitch, and you can’t wait

From the delicate ticking of a timebomb to its gut-wrenching explosion, sound effects are a sure-fire way to grab and hold a viewer’s attention. Hollywood movie moguls wouldn’t invest millions of dollars in a soundtrack if sound effects weren’t vital to the movie’s impact. If