Metropoulos Forum

I hate my clips. You guys hate my clips. Need digital video cam that I can plug an external mic into that also has a firewire out. Anyone have any ideas??? I'm doing some research as well.

- WOT

There may be better (quick and easier) ways to do it with current gear but I can tell you how I do it with my older tech...this is a very dirty way of doing it but it works. Here's an example setup:

Video:

Sony TRV120 Digital Hi-8 video cam (firewire connection) > Adobe Premiere Pro

Audio:

Guitar > Johnson J-station amp modeler > 20-bit Gina card > Nuendo 2.2 or Soundforge

-or-

Guitar > amp > beta 57 > mackie 1202VLZ > 20-bit Gina card > Nuendo 2.2 or Soundforge

Now obviously, different audio and video packages may react differently but with the above set up, Premiere always has to be the 'active' app to be capturing the video. Fortunately, Soundforge doesn't mind running in the background. So, set your audio levels/settings for the audio recording and make sure your video is capturing the way you want (good idea to match the audio settings in the audio with what it will be in the video project). Start the recording in the audio app first, then bring the video app to the front. Start capturing. Before recording the actual take do some guitar 'chucks' as a countoff...the idea is that you're going to be replacing the video's audio with the real audio later so you want to start it with some things you can sync it up with later. Ok, rock out dude and make your recordings.

After you have everything, you go into a video software, delete the audio from the vid capture file and import the good audio file. Sync it up with the video editor to the frame level so it's exact. Trim off any excess. Output to whatever format you want.

worldoftone wrote:I hate my clips. You guys hate my clips. Need digital video cam that I can plug an external mic into that also has a firewire out. Anyone have any ideas??? I'm doing some research as well.

- WOT

Sheesh, I think that's a little melodramatic. I've heard far, far worse from far better equipment........

That's good to know! I was just a bit frustrated.

- WOT

I don't hate your clips!


Just record audio with whatever can take the db's and line it up with the video later, like Pete suggested.
I use Sony Vegas for this and it works really well. I just do 4 pick clicks on the strings before each section That gives me a nice visual cue.

george

OK sounds cool. A bit more work than I was wanting to do LOL! I'll get the goods to handle the dbs.

- WOT

so, none of the typical video cameras can handle us guitar guys, so we have to record seperately & sync up with some software eh?

The reasoning isn't so much about the SPLs. For the most part, audio and video/film are usually recorded separately and put together in post. That's why on a set you always see some guys with cameras and other guys (gaffer/boom operators) holding the shotgun mics with the big windscreens over them out of frame over the actors' heads. If there are problems with the dialogue, they use a post technique called ADR (Automatic Dialogue Replacement) where an actor goes into the studio and watches parts in need of replacement, then does a bunch of takes, lip-syncing with his/herself on the screen. If it's done well, you can't really tell the difference. If it's done bad...well...think of the Shaw brothers kung-fu movies of the 70s that are dubbed in English. Really prevalent technique with all the CG characters now.

That being said, I'm sure there are higher-end pro vidcams with XLR I/O that would allow you to hook a separate mic to it for better audio capture but seriously, why bother? If you can capture the footage and have the audio running through a good recording chain like a couple of mics > vintage pres > vintage compressors > DAW as a separate signal...allows more control and the end-product should be fairly ripping.

Ross,

Go by Camera Exchange on San Pedro --about a mile or so south of GC on the right hand going south, they have a ton of high end video cameras you can check out......pro stuff not the best buy crap!

Allen

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about those guys! I bought some stuff there in the late 90s. Didn't even think that they would have the video stuff.

- WOT

Check out FlipVideo.
Inexpensive & state o'd' art killer sound !

I used it here with good results...

whatcha think there vern?
prolly good enough for what you want to get across.

...and remember, it's a present for your lady that you'll borrow once & a while