Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (
More info?)
thanks again
--
xx
"Steve King" <steve@REMOVETHISSPAMBLOCKsteveking.net> wrote in message
news
7SdnS8j8ZMB3XXdRVn-tw@comcast.com...
> "Tsotsi" <anyone_at_all@anywhere_at_all.com> wrote in message
> news:tqVFc.1207$WM5.80711@news20.bellglobal.com...
> >
> > > > I would like some advice and pointers re: a detailed shopping list
to
> > > setup
> > > > a small desktop video
> > > > production operation. I would like to create small special interest
> > > programs
> > > > and hopefully market them to cable and/or other tv stations and also
> > > > distribute them on dvd. What would I need (other than energy,
> enthusiasm
> > &
> > > > perseverence
? Has anyone put together a list/plan like this
and
> a
> > > > ballpark costiing ?
> > > >
> > > > I already have a basic PC and basic NLE editing package (Vegas 4). A
> > > camera
> > > > and accesories can be rented until I can shell out for a decent
Canon
> or
> > > > Sony miniDV. There must be so many details (software, hardware,
> > tools....)
> > > > that a newbie like me cant even think of.........?
> > > >
> > >
> > > If your Vegas 4.0 is on a relatively fast PC with adequate hard
drives,
> at
> > > least two, the software is capable of doing most anything really
> necessary
> > > to produce professional quality video. However, the old saw, "garbage
> > > in/garbage out" applies. "Energy, enthusiasm & perseverance" aren't
> worth
> > a
> > > whit without knowledge. At this stage of your preparation to produce
> > > professional quality programs you might devote time to study of
> lighting,
> > > sound acquisition (the on-camera mic is considered useless by
> > professionals
> > > for all but ambience recording and not very good for that), picture
> > > composition, etc. Here are some links to start your preparation:
> > >
> > > http://www.videobusinessadvisor.com/
> > >
http://www.bluesky-web.com/instruction.html
> > >
http://www.vidpro.org/contents.shtm
> > > http://www.videouniversity.com/
> > >
> > > ... and there are many more that a Google search on video or film
> > production
> > > will uncover.
> > >
> > > Really, the hardware side of producing an engaging and watchable video
> > > program is the easy part. The story-telling part. The organizational
> > > part... who, what, where, how to shoot the story. And, the choices
you
> > must
> > > make of when to move the camera, when to use a tri-pod (most of the
> time),
> > > when a hand-held shot is appropriate, etc., etc., etc. will be your
real
> > > challenge.
> > >
> > > Hands-on learning is important in video production. Volunteer at your
> > local
> > > cable access channel, where you can learn the basics. If you are in a
> > > larger city, there will be video making clubs and other resources.
Get
> > with
> > > people who do what you want to do. Take a course at the local
community
> > > college. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is an unmarketable production
> and
> > > an empty bank account.
> > >
> > > With the ready availability of inexpensive video equipment capable of
> > > producing professional results, when in skilled hands, thousands of
> > people,
> > > maybe tens of thousands, have the same idea you do. Of those who
> actually
> > > try to produce their dream program, instead of just fantasize about
it,
> > the
> > > vast majority will fail. Only a very small percentage are willing to
> > > educate themselves sufficiently to have a chance at success. Get to
> work.
> > > Get reading. Borrow any old video camera to try out what you read
> about.
> > > Start networking. And, you'll have a real chance to market those
> special
> > > interest programs.
> > >
> > > Another thought: why is it that nowadays everyone thinks that the way
> to
> > > get into video production is to learn to be a one-man-band: writer,
> > > producer, camera operator, lighting expert, sound recordist, editor,
> etc?
> > > If your program idea is a good one, commercially speaking, the few
> > thousand
> > > dollars you spend hiring real professionals will be insignificant over
> the
> > > long haul. And, there is no better way to learn than to watch experts
> do
> > > their jobs. If your real goal is to produce the special interest
videos
> > and
> > > sell them at a profit, consider spending your time on a business plan
> > before
> > > you spend your time learning to be a one-person video production crew.
> > >
> > > Steve King
> > >
> > Steve,
> > Thanks for the reply. These are all wise words and I don't disagree with
> > anything. I should have clarified in my original post that i do have a
> > little experience with cameras, lighting & sound. Albeit from a long
time
> > ago.
> > I wholeheartedly agree with you that it all about the content - and
making
> > the right selections, choices, decisions. About having knowledge &
> > creativity and an understanding of the struvcture of a film.
> >
> > I agree that the idea of a 'one man band' is not necessarily the road
to
> a
> > better production - probably the opposite is true. To draw on the skills
> of
> > a team is almost certainly better every time. However if one has 'no
> money'
> > then at least doing a 'one man band' gig makes a production 'possible'.
> >
> > I am not 'up to speed' with the digital revolution and want to catch
up.
> > Hence my original post. I have 2 hard drives - a 40 & a 120GB. and 768MB
> > RAM. I'm still on Win98SE so I can run Vegas 4. I may upgrade to Win2k
or
> XP
> > so I can use one of the newer packages, but not right away if not
> necessary.
>
> Okay. Your situation is different than I imagined. Maybe someone else
will
> benefit from my demi-rant ;-)
>
> I think that you will find that Vegas 4.0 will do just about anything you
> need to do for the type of programming I imagine you are preparing for.
> Your computer, as configured, will work just fine until you just can't
bear
> to wait for renders and such and want to speed things up... nice, but not
> necessary. Just remember that your system is just as capable as the early
> Avids, which turned out a lot of great video.
>
> > Your suggestion of a business plan is also right on and in different
words
> > this is what I was trying to cover. For example someone just told me to
> > allow for a video format converter package.
>
> Well, those considerations are not really what I was thinking about, when
I
> mentioned a business plan. I was talking about money: potential rewards
> versus the sales, marketing, and production cost allocations that would
keep
> you in the black. Those answers will tell you what you can spend on video
> production hardware (or outside services). I suspect that, once again,
you
> may have already considered these things.
>
> >And another suggested that my
> > firewire pci card will be ok for importing mini dv, but that I should
also
> > allow for purchasing a capture card for bringing in analog footage..and
so
> > on.....these are the kind of details I need for my plan and it's cost
> > estimatinging that i will not know about myself.......
> > thanks again
>
> I think that I might disagree with the need for an analogue capture card.
> If you want to digitize VHS, Hi-8, or other analogue formats, I would
choose
> a MiniDV camera with 'pass-through', which means that you can run the
video
> and audio from an analogue source to the video and audio line inputs of
the
> camera. Then, take the fire-wire output of the camera to your computer.
> The advantage of that is that you don't have to add a card to your
computer,
> saving the cost of the card and the possibility of upsetting your
computer.
> Beware that some cameras do not provide 'pass-through' capabilities.
Here's
> an idea that may fit with your consideration of renting your camera.
> Instead of a capture care, buy a Canopus ADVC100 analogue to digital (and
> vice-versa) conversion box. It is relatively cheap at about $200. Feed
the
> analogue source in via the composite 9analogue) inputs and take the
> fire-wire output to your computer. You can also route the Preview Window
in
> Vegas 4.0 out through the computer's fire-wire port, into the Canopus
> fire-wire input, and out to a NTSC video monitor. That gives you a much
> better idea of what your video will look like in the real world than what
> you see on your computer monitor. (Of course, you can use a camera with
> pass-through for this, too.)
>
> The links that I provided earlier have a lot of the equipment answers
you're
> looking for.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Steve King
>
>
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram