Basic Video Camera Use

1. Basic Video Camera Use Formats: Mini-DV Mini-DV is “Digital Video” on very small videotapes. Because they record a digital signal, the signal may be downloaded, or “Captured,” for editing on computers. Lock/Unlock SD Memory Cards “Digital Video” stored on memory cards. SDHD, SDXD. Class ratings = higher the better in terms of speed (by twos, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

2. Video Connectors and Signal Cable Types • (best to worst) • Digital • HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) • Combines Audio and Video • IEEE 1394 Digital Cable (Combines Audio and Vid) • Firewire (Apple) - I.Link (Sony) - DV (Panasonic) • Analog • S-Video (Separate Video – Video only) • RCA (Composite Video - Audio and Video • split from same cable) • Yellow: Video, White: L Stereo, Red: R Stereo • Coaxial (Audio and Video– cable TV) • BNC (Coax w/ twist connector) Basic Video Camera Use BNC Connectors are the most common connector used in professional studios

3. Other Cables • Audio • 1/8 in and ¼ in • Standard single pin jacks • XLR • High Quality Audio Cable • File Transferring/Display • USB (Universal Serial Bus) • Standard usb connectors (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) • RGB • Standard computer display connector Basic Video Camera Use

4. Basic Video Camera Use • Video Capturing from Tape • Connect IEEE 1394 Digital Cable from Camera or Tape Deck to Computer

5. Basic Video Camera Use • Video Capturing From Tape • If using a camera, power on camera to VCR mode

6. Video Capturing From Tape • Follow these steps: • Using your source (deck or camera), cue tape to the footage you want and press stop • Start Editing Software • Go to: “File > Log and Capture” • Final Cut 6, 7 • Final Cut X • Adobe Premiere • Click capture and watch your footage. Click stop at the end of the piece you want • Give each clip a descriptive name and save it in your own folder and sub-folders on the portable drives (use sub-folders to organize clips by type) Basic Video Camera Use

7. Video Capturing • *Notes: • Don’t try to capture too much footage into one file or it will get too big to deal with. • When videotaping, keep your clips short. Don’t let the camera run while you’re doing other things between shots and delete unwanted clips right after you take them. • Make sure you log your captured video on paper listing as much info as you can so you can find it later. Record the name of the file, the location, and the computer for future reference • Make backup copies of your clips on *flash drives • *Flash Drives and SD Cards are required for all students Basic Video Camera Use

8. Basic Video Camera Use • Video Recording • Camera Support • To fully minimize camera shake, always use a Tripod when videotaping • IF YOU MUST, BUT YOU SHOULDN’T: When handholding a camera, keep your elbows in against your body, support the camera with both hands, and keep your hands close against your chest for stabilization. Camera Shake is the most common mistake made that can ruin your footage

9. Basic Video Camera Use • Video Recording • Videotaping Basics • Leader (Head and Tail) • Anytime you videotape ANYTHING, include at least 5 full seconds of static footage at the beginning and end of your recording. • This allows room for editing later, ensuring that needed words or footage aren’t cut off

10. Video Recording Videotaping Basics “B” Roll “B” Roll is video footage pertinent to your story that runs while the narrator or reporter’s voice is heard. Always film more “B” Roll than you think you’ll need to be sure you have a good variety to choose from when editing. Also, film the same “B” Roll scene from several different angles. Basic Video Camera Use

11. Video Recording Composing the Shot Rule of Thirds The most interesting part (center of interest or subject and in this case, the eyes) of the shot should be off centered by dividing the frame into thirds Basic Video Camera Use

12. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Head Room: Make sure your subject fills the viewfinder, with one finger width between the border and the top of the head Basic Video Camera Use

13. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame: Safe Areas Over Scan: What you see in the viewfinder of your camera will be slightly cut off all around when it is converted to a television screen Basic Video Camera Use

14. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Long Shot: Full Body shot, Feet to Top of Head. Do not cut feet or tops of heads off in a long shot Basic Video Camera Use Amputation Rule: Never cut people off at the joints – it looks strange, as if they are amputated

15. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Medium Shot: Waist or Lower Chest to Top of Head (most common shot for reports) Basic Video Camera Use

16. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Close-up: Shoulders to Top of Head. *Note: Never film a “floating head” shot where you see a person’s entire head, but not their neck and shoulders Basic Video Camera Use

17. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Extreme Close-up: Close-in on just a body part. Basic Video Camera Use Use Rarely to Never: Extreme close-ups are ok for some “B” Roll but generally not to be used on people.

18. Video Recording Composing the Shot Filling The Frame Nose Room or “Rule of Motion”: Leaving more space in the direction the subject is looking or moving Basic Video Camera Use

19. Video Recording Composing the Shot Backlighting/Background: Never film with bright light behind the subject. Particularly, the sun outdoors or a window indoors. Also do not film against a solid white wall. Basic Video Camera Use

20. Video Recording Composing the Shot Interviewing: For our purposes, do not film interviews with the reporter in the shot. Ask interview questions off, or behind camera, and film the interviewee talking with a Medium Shot, partial profile. Interviews are used for adding personal detail to information already presented by the reporter/narrator – not a series of questions and answers. Basic Video Camera Use

21. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Power: Battery Pack or Direct Power Basic Video Camera Use

22. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Basic Video Camera Use Tape Loading: The protective, outer door is separate from the tape loading slot. After inserting tape into loading slot, “push” on the slot and the slot will close and load the tape. Then, close the outer cover.

23. Video Recording Videotaping Filming Basics Camera Operation Tape Loading: *Note: The camera must be removed from the Tripod “Shoe” to load/unload a video tape. Basic Video Camera Use

24. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Mode: Camera or VCR Recording Media: Card or Tape Basic Video Camera Use

25. So: Avoid playing back in-camera and wait until you capture to see footage you intend to use Note: Tapes have a life of about 9 scans. This includes playback, rewind, f-forward, etc. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Playback: Switch mode from “Camera” to “VCR” and use the controls on the top of the camera to view recorded footage. Basic Video Camera Use

26. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Microphones: Connect microphones properly and be careful that cables are not pulled while connected Basic Video Camera Use

27. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation Zoom: Use zoom SPARINGLY or not at all. Lens zoom is unnatural and more often than not is a distraction from the message of your video Basic Video Camera Use

28. Video Recording • Videotaping Basics • Camera Operation- Microphones: • Lapel Mics (Lavaliers, or Lavs for short, should be placed as close to the throat as possible but not rubbing against cloth or skin. • Handheld Mics should be held at the bottom with your thumb against your sternum Basic Video Camera Use

29. Video Recording Videotaping Basics Camera Operation- Microphones: Basic Video Camera Use Shotgun Mics should point as directly at the face of the subject as possible. Shotguns can also use a boom

30. Video Recording • Videotaping Basics • Camera Operation • Headphones: • Always monitor sound in-camera while recording if the camera accepts headphones Basic Video Camera Use

31. Video Recording • Videotaping Basics • Camera Operation • Headphones: • Note: Our smaller cameras do not allow simultaneous headphone/microphone use, hence the need to pre-record a sound test prior to recording Basic Video Camera Use

32. Video Recording • Videotaping Basics • Camera Operation • Playback: • For all cameras, always record a brief (5-10 seconds) sound test before recording a clip. After recording with the sound equipment hooked up, replay your test, in-camera, to ensure that the sound worked properly. Basic Video Camera Use

33. Video Recording • News Filming Basics • Camera Operation • Equipment Care/Archiving: • Sign out ALL equipment you are using on sign out sheets • NEVER let students NOT IN THIS CLASS handle equipment. Students will be held financially accountable for damaged/lost equipment • Return all equipment when finished and plug batteries in for recharging Basic Video Camera Use

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