If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
Hi Everyone
Thanks in advance for any help! Here's the deal. I need a mini camcorder for about $500 to create promotional mini cds for bands. I realize that the quality at this price is not going to be the best but I do not have much more than 500 to spend. What I want to do (comments encouraged) is to use the camera for obviously the video but also the audio. So, a mic input (that defeats the internal mic) is imperative. I realize that the mic preamps on cameras of this price will overload easily and will have very little headroom so my plans are to use a mic mixer to feed the mic input (hopefully line input but can do with just mic input). 16 bit audio is good enough but will need firewire output from the camera. I will need to edit the audio on my pc and I have needed software for this – Question regarding audio: Does the firewire output of camcorders have separate audio and video ‘streams' or are they all one? What are the file formats? I would like to have a camera that has manual focus along with auto-focus. (I can live without this) Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance. Garry |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
If at all possible, you want to get into a MiniDV format camera. Almost all
editing software now has DV video support and will work seamlessly through firewire to control the camera and transfer video digitally (note: one of the most-overlooked benefits of this system is the ability to mark multiple clip in-and-out points in the software, and then have it do an automated batch capture of the clips while you go for lunch, instead of having to transfer ALL the footage in one shot, or manually capture separate clips). You should find that most MiniDV cameras have external audio inputs - sometimes separate mic/line, sometimes a single switchable input. Many actually use the same jacks for analog audio/video in and out, the function dictated by the mode of the camera (input when in "camera" mode, output when in "VCR" mode). A better option for the audio, if at all possible, is to try to get a feed from the mixer, as it will tend to be a straight line-level signal, no overloading, with a cleaner mix. Some accomodating house engineers may even give you a separate mix better tuned to recording When transferring via firewire, you're tranferring the complete MiniDV stream, which by spec includes 16-bit, 48kHz stereo PCM audio embedded along with the video - there are no separate audio and video streams. Going firewire means using a digital format, which means either MiniDV or Digital-8. You'll probably find far greater selection, and thus lower costs of both cameras and media, of the former. Also, firewire is a standard interface in nearly every MiniDV camera (I've seen one or two exceptions), while I've not actually seen myself a Digital-8 camera that had firewire (I know they do exist, the ones I've seen are all USB). -- "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." -- Albert Einstein "gman" wrote in message om... Hi Everyone Thanks in advance for any help! Here's the deal. I need a mini camcorder for about $500 to create promotional mini cds for bands. I realize that the quality at this price is not going to be the best but I do not have much more than 500 to spend. What I want to do (comments encouraged) is to use the camera for obviously the video but also the audio. So, a mic input (that defeats the internal mic) is imperative. I realize that the mic preamps on cameras of this price will overload easily and will have very little headroom so my plans are to use a mic mixer to feed the mic input (hopefully line input but can do with just mic input). 16 bit audio is good enough but will need firewire output from the camera. I will need to edit the audio on my pc and I have needed software for this - Question regarding audio: Does the firewire output of camcorders have separate audio and video 'streams' or are they all one? What are the file formats? I would like to have a camera that has manual focus along with auto-focus. (I can live without this) Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance. Garry |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
If at all possible, you want to get into a MiniDV format camera. Almost all
editing software now has DV video support and will work seamlessly through firewire to control the camera and transfer video digitally (note: one of the most-overlooked benefits of this system is the ability to mark multiple clip in-and-out points in the software, and then have it do an automated batch capture of the clips while you go for lunch, instead of having to transfer ALL the footage in one shot, or manually capture separate clips). You should find that most MiniDV cameras have external audio inputs - sometimes separate mic/line, sometimes a single switchable input. Many actually use the same jacks for analog audio/video in and out, the function dictated by the mode of the camera (input when in "camera" mode, output when in "VCR" mode). A better option for the audio, if at all possible, is to try to get a feed from the mixer, as it will tend to be a straight line-level signal, no overloading, with a cleaner mix. Some accomodating house engineers may even give you a separate mix better tuned to recording When transferring via firewire, you're tranferring the complete MiniDV stream, which by spec includes 16-bit, 48kHz stereo PCM audio embedded along with the video - there are no separate audio and video streams. Going firewire means using a digital format, which means either MiniDV or Digital-8. You'll probably find far greater selection, and thus lower costs of both cameras and media, of the former. Also, firewire is a standard interface in nearly every MiniDV camera (I've seen one or two exceptions), while I've not actually seen myself a Digital-8 camera that had firewire (I know they do exist, the ones I've seen are all USB). -- "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." -- Albert Einstein "gman" wrote in message om... Hi Everyone Thanks in advance for any help! Here's the deal. I need a mini camcorder for about $500 to create promotional mini cds for bands. I realize that the quality at this price is not going to be the best but I do not have much more than 500 to spend. What I want to do (comments encouraged) is to use the camera for obviously the video but also the audio. So, a mic input (that defeats the internal mic) is imperative. I realize that the mic preamps on cameras of this price will overload easily and will have very little headroom so my plans are to use a mic mixer to feed the mic input (hopefully line input but can do with just mic input). 16 bit audio is good enough but will need firewire output from the camera. I will need to edit the audio on my pc and I have needed software for this - Question regarding audio: Does the firewire output of camcorders have separate audio and video 'streams' or are they all one? What are the file formats? I would like to have a camera that has manual focus along with auto-focus. (I can live without this) Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance. Garry |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
. I realize that the quality at this
price is not going to be the best but I do not have much more than 500 to spend. Who cares about quality; go for the lo-fi, sorta grungy look. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
. I realize that the quality at this
price is not going to be the best but I do not have much more than 500 to spend. Who cares about quality; go for the lo-fi, sorta grungy look. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
advise on minicam to record bands
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Cameras that record video | dwight | Digital Photography | 2 | August 4th 04 11:29 AM |