The microphones used to capture sound for video productions are a pretty deep topic, however, the basics are fairly simple, and that’s what I’m going to cover in this blog post. If you’re not in the mood to read, I also cover all of this information in the following video:
I’ve written about on-camera microphones a lot on my blog, however, for the most part, they’re not very good tools for sound capture in video. Continue reading “The Basics of Video Microphones”
The unauthorized and unoffificial firmware hack of the Panasonic GH2 was one of the main motivating factors that led to me buying the camera. In case you’re not familiar, the hack fully exploits the GH2’s video capabilities, improving image quality, and making various custom modifications possible. It had yet to be successfully implemented when I first purchased the camera, however, there was so much momentum behind the movement that it seemed inevitable. When the code was finally cracked, I dove right into it.
Comparing the Sennheiser MKH 8060 to the Rode NTG-3 is similar to racing a Porche Boxster against a Volkswagon Golf R. Even if the the VW performs impressively against the Porche, it won’t sway the decision making of the people who buy these cars. These microphones are for two very different kinds of users. Generally, the people who buy the Rode NTG-3 are looking for the best sound you can get for under $1000, and the people who buy the MKH 8060 are willing to pay a premium for premium sound.
Continue reading “Shotgun Shootout: Sennheiser MKH 8060 vs. Rode NTG-3”
A commercially available Hummer isn’t considered a recreational assault vehicle, however, according to politicians in Oregon, an unmanned aircraft with a camera mounted on it is considered a “drone,” and if Senate Bill 71 passes, they will be illegal. To put this in perspective, during the same time period that this legislation was drafted, a group of 7th graders at the Cornerstone Christian School equipped a weather balloon with several GoPro HERO cameras, and successfully launched Hello Kitty into space. If Senate Bill 71 were enforced, these kids would face up to 20 years in prison, on top of fines of up to $375,000.00.
Continue reading “Oregon to Ban Scientific Educational & Filmmaking Tools”
Internet memes come and go with the wind. One minute it’s photobombing, the next it’s McKayla Is Not Impressed. The latest one is called The Harlem Shake, and it’s been so popular that even if you try to ignore silly stuff like this, you’ve likely seen that name bandied around everywhere you look. What is The Harlem Shake, exactly? The simplest explanation is to watch this video:
Continue reading “Harlem Shake Meme Gets the Masses into Video Production”
If you need a portable digital recorder that features XLR inputs, and you don’t have lots of cash to spend, there are two options that stand out: the Zoom H4n and the Tascam DR-40. I created this post to help you clearly understand the differences between the two, and to share my opinion as to which is the better choice.
Continue reading “Tascam DR-40 vs. Zoom H4n”When you challenge the New Jersey Turnpike to a duel, it may be worth it to risk the sanctity of the paint job on a ’98 Toyota Camry, however, when the stakes involve the integrity of a journalistic institution and the future of an American electric vehicle startup, you’re asking for trouble. These are precisely the victims of this week’s press debacle involving the New York Times and Tesla Motors.
Continue reading “NJ Turnpike Devours NY Times’ Credibility & US Automaker’s Dream”
Vine is the latest craze in the world of smartphone apps, social media and online video, however, the aspect that makes it intriguing isn’t how it acts as “the Twitter of video clips,” but rather, how it transforms amateur video montages into rhythmic musical loops. In the act of creating a short video sequence, the user inadvertently compiles a strangely catchy collage of found sounds. Lazily chopped together jump cuts of people making smoothies never sounded so good.
Continue reading “Vine: Incidental Music is the Killer Feature”
People regularly ask me how to adjust the settings on their audio equipment so they can record the best sound on their productions. It’s a perfectly reasonable question, however, I can never supply the answer they want. I can’t instruct them to turn the gain on their audio recorder to 7, and set the camera input level to 3. Why? The variables will often be different, and where they need to be set will change. There is no short and sweet answer. What’s needed is real instruction, so, instead of authoring a paid eBook on the topic, I’m going to spell it all out in this blog post using language that camera people can easily understand.
Continue reading “How to Set Audio Levels”Continue reading “Headphone Recommendation for Marco Arment”
