Recommend Videography Equipment for Seminar/Conference Videography

[Prince Photogenic]

Hi everyone,

I have been transferred to another department that does conferences and seminars. Currently the videography is outsourced and the company wants me to research and recommend on videography equipment to record the seminars and conferences to be uploaded onto the elearning portal.

I'm assuming i need the following equipment:
1. Video camera
2. Mic that records the speaker(s) and links to either the video camera or laptop

Any equipment or software i'm missing out on?

The venue is likely to be dim (typical auditorium setting). I was told I will just need to video the speaker and/or the screen. I'm also assured that necessary training will be provided, should I come across any useful course. I suppose I'll zoom in on the training after I get approval for the equipment.

Would be grateful if any kind soul here can guide me on this.

Thanks
Bryan

 

[daniyal]

You may want to look at :-

1. Canon XA100
2. Zoom H4N or H6 (Audio recording)
3. Tripod
4. Wired lavalier mic

** Just sharing my experience shooting a conference/forum for MUIS in 2011

For your research, you may want to find out more about :-

1. Wireless G3 lavalier Sennheiser
2. LED lights (Just in case)
3. Wireless handheld mic - Sennheiser
4. Tascam DR60D
5. RODE Video mic (Just in case, you need to run and gun)
6. Editing workstation should be Mac (that's what I was told by all my peers in the video corporate world because of its stability)
7. Adobe Premiere Pro or FCP should be your editing software
8. Adobe Soundbooth - to edit the audio recorded
9. Adobe After Effects - for your effects work, kinetic graphics work, etc
10. Monopod Manfrotto 561HDV (Just in case)

I am no expert nor I am an experienced. Just sharing my mistakes and ideas only.

 

[kandinsky]

I think the type of equipment recommended will vary depending on the quality (aka production value) you're aiming for.
Will have if you have examples of what you're hoping to achieve.
E.g., Low budget no-frills style (university lecture) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHYEMFbmZo

Check out this link for a helpful guide:

The principles and practice of location recording of sound and video for educational use.

Introduction

In this paper we discuss requirements and issues to consider when recording events. We look at both sound-only and combined sound-and-vision recording.

Here we will guide you through the various key areas you should address when planning these kinds of location recordings to help ensure a good quality result. We will outline a flexible methodology which can be used in different environments and reproduced with relative ease, to provide a level of consistency in quality and feel. We will also give you an idea of what your priorities should be, depending on the time, equipment, people and budget at your disposal and the desired outcomes of your project.

Our emphasis will be on essential skills, good practice and getting the best from your location, equipment and subjects.

http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/g...uction-recording-lectures-seminars-and-events

 

[Prince Photogenic]

Wow cool. I'll check those out. Thanks

You may want to look at :-

1. Canon XA100
2. Zoom H4N or H6 (Audio recording)
3. Tripod
4. Wired lavalier mic

** Just sharing my experience shooting a conference/forum for MUIS in 2011

For your research, you may want to find out more about :-

1. Wireless G3 lavalier Sennheiser
2. LED lights (Just in case)
3. Wireless handheld mic - Sennheiser
4. Tascam DR60D
5. RODE Video mic (Just in case, you need to run and gun)
6. Editing workstation should be Mac (that's what I was told by all my peers in the video corporate world because of its stability)
7. Adobe Premiere Pro or FCP should be your editing software
8. Adobe Soundbooth - to edit the audio recorded
9. Adobe After Effects - for your effects work, kinetic graphics work, etc
10. Monopod Manfrotto 561HDV (Just in case)

I am no expert nor I am an experienced. Just sharing my mistakes and ideas only.

 

[Prince Photogenic]

I need a better quality than that. Probably a talking head on the main section of the window, and the slides on a smaller window with the slides. Not sure if i'm making sense. lol

I think the type of equipment recommended will vary depending on the quality (aka production value) you're aiming for.
Will have if you have examples of what you're hoping to achieve.
E.g., Low budget no-frills style (university lecture) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHYEMFbmZo

Check out this link for a helpful guide:

 

[Bamboopictures]

Hi everyone,

I have been transferred to another department that does conferences and seminars. Currently the videography is outsourced and the company wants me to research and recommend on videography equipment to record the seminars and conferences to be uploaded onto the elearning portal.

I'm assuming i need the following equipment:
1. Video camera
2. Mic that records the speaker(s) and links to either the video camera or laptop

Any equipment or software i'm missing out on?

The venue is likely to be dim (typical auditorium setting). I was told I will just need to video the speaker and/or the screen. I'm also assured that necessary training will be provided, should I come across any useful course. I suppose I'll zoom in on the training after I get approval for the equipment.

Would be grateful if any kind soul here can guide me on this.

Thanks
Bryan

I hope you have a team to help you or your job title may have to be changed to video editor. To make life easier on yourself, DO NOT enter post-production hell. Try your best to deliver the completed video the moment each lecture wraps up. You can do that by switching camera angles, lecture slides on the fly as the lecture is in-progress and recording everything into a harddrive. These are the minimum tools you will need for a one-man-operated LIVE switching and recording:

HDMI Video Mixer:

The Roland V-4EX allows you the flexibility of putting the powerpoint slides and speaker simultaneously picture-in-picture or toggle between speaker and slide. Simply plug in your HD cameras and the VGA cable from the presenter's computer. The output of the mixer must be recorded in HD if the powerpoint text are to be legible.
http://www.roland.com/products/en/V-4EX/


HDMI Video recorder:

Different recorders will give you different video formats. For production grade Prores file that you can edit easily on Final Cut Pro X record to the
Sound Devices PIX220i
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/pix220i/
ot go with the cheaper Atomos Ninja2 from Hong Kong.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759460-REG/ATOMOS_ATOMNJA003_Ninja_Video_Hard_Disk.html
If you only need a compressed HD MP4 file saved on SDcard, you can use this HDMI recorder instead.
http://www.gefen.com/gefentv/gtvproduct.jsp?prod_id=5269

Alternatively you can simply record the mixer's HDMI output using another lpatop via this inexpensive HDMI converter
http://www.elgato.com/uk/gaming/game-capture-hd

Operating the mixer, deciding the shots to take and checking on the recording will sap up most of your concentration. If you have nobody else to operate the camera you will need:

Pan tilt zoom PTZ camera:
[video=youtube;I18ORK92-EI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I18ORK92-EI[/video]
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/997735-REG/jvc_gvls2we_gv_ls2w_ptz_camera_pal.html

The JVC GV-LS2 (PAL) allows you to pan, tilt and zoom using an ipad or smartphone as a remote control.
However the live feed out is only Standard Def. OK for picture in picture but may be grainy when scaled up to fullHD
If you need HD quality, Datavideo has a range of remote control pan-tilt-zoom cameras.
http://www.datavideo.info/PTZ+Camera+and+Control/PTC-100#tab=description
You must connect the HD-SDI output of the camera to the mixer.

Overhead tripod:

Get the Manfrotto 536 ceiling height tripod which is an event videographer favorite. You do not need a video head if you are using PTZ cameras.

Backup VGA recorder:
if for some reason, you missed a slide during the presentation. A backup VGA recording of the presenter's computer will safe the day:
You will need a second laptop and this device
http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/vga2usb-pro/

Four way VGA spitter cum booster:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10104&cs_id=1010402&p_id=5094&seq=1&format=2
you will need to split the VGA output of the presenter's computer three ways: to mixer, to backup recorder, to projector.
Depending on the distance of the presenters computer to your video mixer, you may need a VGA signal booster between his computer and your mixer.
Finally, you will need a wireless lavalier mic for the preenter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...r_EW_112P_G3_A_EW112_p_G3_Camera_Mount.ht ml
Plug the receiver into the V-4EX's RCA port via an inexpensive 3.5mm to RCA adapter.

IF you want to shoestring all the above:
Use Google Hangout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DLJd4cdVY

BUT if you can push the responsibility of creating training materials to the PRESENTERS themselves:

http://bytescout.com/products/endus..._webcam_video_to_powerpoint_presentation.html
http://download.cnet.com/Virtual-i-Presenter/3000-2051_4-10922191.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCVvgBib9iw

Trust me, unless you are specifically hired to do video editing or can claim overtime pay, do not go proposing editing lectures in-house to your boss. You are looking at hours of ingesting video footage. Synching multi-cameras, transcoding, rendering, and compressing video. Worse if you have to built your own video editing system, install software, wire up raid drives, calibrate monitors and speakers. Ultimately, your boss has to decide whether your time is worth more than the investment in a LIVE video setup.
Good luck!

 

[Prince Photogenic]

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your replies. Does video cameras have changeable lenses like DSLRs? If not, how is the focal length and aperture like?

Bryan

 

[Bamboopictures]

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your replies. Does video cameras have changeable lenses like DSLRs? If not, how is the focal length and aperture like?

Bryan

Consumer camorders come in 2 general sensor classes: sub 1" or large sensor (M43/APS-C/super35/Full Frame)
Sub 1" camcorders can be further divided into single CMOS and 3 CMOS.
Most consumer sub 1" sensor camcorders do not have interchangeable lenses. But many 3CMOS broadcast camcorders can use interchangeable ENG zoom lenses such as those from Fujinon/Canon/Angénieux .
Zoom is controlled by either a zoom lever, zoom rocker or a zoom ring. Range is usually 10 to 23x zoom. In 35mm equivalent, the widest end starts between 26 to 32mm.
Some camcorders have intelligent zoom (sensor cropping without pixelation) of up to 45x
Aperture can start from f1.4 and are mostly controlled via menu, scrollwheel or in larger camcorders - an aperture ring.

Large sensor camcorders such as the Sony VG series, FS series, F series and the Canon C series are designed to work with DSLR lenses.

 

[hamanoshun]

I need a better quality than that. Probably a talking head on the main section of the window, and the slides on a smaller window with the slides. Not sure if i'm making sense. lol

Why don't you post a reference of the work your vendor has done and we can see what's the best/cheapest/simplest method to replicate that, if that's what your bosses want?

 

[Prince Photogenic]

Wow.. cool. How about the ones like Canon XF or XA series? Which category would that come under?

Consumer camorders come in 2 general sensor classes: sub 1" or large sensor (M43/APS-C/super35/Full Frame)
Sub 1" camcorders can be further divided into single CMOS and 3 CMOS.
Most consumer sub 1" sensor camcorders do not have interchangeable lenses. But many 3CMOS broadcast camcorders can use interchangeable ENG zoom lenses such as those from Fujinon/Canon/Angénieux .
Zoom is controlled by either a zoom lever, zoom rocker or a zoom ring. Range is usually 10 to 23x zoom. In 35mm equivalent, the widest end starts between 26 to 32mm.
Some camcorders have intelligent zoom (sensor cropping without pixelation) of up to 45x
Aperture can start from f1.4 and are mostly controlled via menu, scrollwheel or in larger camcorders - an aperture ring.

Large sensor camcorders such as the Sony VG series, FS series, F series and the Canon C series are designed to work with DSLR lenses.

 

[Prince Photogenic]

I can't get my hands on one at the moment but i have clarified - I just need to film the speaker talking and the participants asking the questions during Q&A.

Why don't you post a reference of the work your vendor has done and we can see what's the best/cheapest/simplest method to replicate that, if that's what your bosses want?

 

[Bamboopictures]

Wow.. cool. How about the ones like Canon XF or XA series? Which category would that come under?

XF100 is single 1/3" CMOS XF300 is 3 CMOS, XA10/20/25 are single 1/3" CMOS. XF records Long GOP MPEG2 on CFcards, while XA's record AVHD/MPEG4 on SDcards.
XA20/25 outperforms XF series in low-light. For LIVE switching, XA25 is a better camera than XA20 because it has HD-SDI port to which you can connect easily 100m of cabling without much IQ loss.
HDMI would at most give you 30ft.

You can view a picture in picture video lecture I recorded here:
http://youtu.be/06A-zcz5Iao

 

[hamanoshun]

I can't get my hands on one at the moment but i have clarified - I just need to film the speaker talking and the participants asking the questions during Q&A.

Any live feed involved?

Basically a 2 camera setup, one at speaker one at audience, specifically the person asking questions into mic.

Audio feeds you get either by:

- attaching an audio recorder to the mixer board
- having a wireless pack transmit the signal from the mixer board to your receiver, which will be plugged into your camera
- mixer board direct to camera(which is less likely)