Question:
I'm in the mental health field and want to make videos that have a professional
look to them. I've read articles on lists and websites, but am left a little
confused still -- ok, maybe a lot confused. I'm hoping I can find something in
the 2K to 4K price range and was even considering purchasing two. I plan on
using a Edirol V-4 Video Mixer.
My confusion is over the difference between digital cameras and tape. From
what I've read, digital doesn't seem as good as HI8 - is this true? I have a
"for home use" Hi8 sony and a digital Panasonic, and the digital seems to have
a brighter picture but the "pixilation" is terrible at times. I don't want to
spend what would be required to go Beta. Would someone inlighten a bit here?
How to differentiate Panasonic Surveillance Camera and the Sony one?
Answer:Well, as you recall, I did say I was confused . Maybe all I need is a good
camera, software, and my computer - I don't know. This is what I want to do,
how I've been playing with at it. I have a Panasonic Quad system used for switching
between surveillance cameras. I plugged my HI8 in one channel, my computer into another,
and a VCR in a third channel. I built a power point presentation of the topic I want to
share. Using this mish mash I swtiched between the "stuff" on my VCR, my
computer (power point presentation) and the HI8 camcorder. It obviously isn't
looking the way I would like it to look, so I want to purchase some "real"
equipment. When I said 2 cameras, I was expecting each , separately, to cost between 2 and
4 thousand. I've only seen the switcher boards online, and was of the
impression you could input from the cameras after recording and then fade from
one source to the other and so on.
I'm wanting to do this myself rather than hire someone because I need to hobby
and this sounds like fun. Other than suggestI take production courses, are
there any suggestions as to the software and equipment I need?
Let me give you an example of what I want to see on a CD or VCR....
A nice title screen and then a face shot of a male or female introducing a
topic - say bipolar disorder. While he's discussing it, the scene switches to
a written list (power point -like) of symptoms. You fade back to the "host"
and then images with background sound of woman working in an office
environment. There would be voice over of how this disordered woman is
expressing her symptoms. More power point, a couple more cut aways to people
in there daily lives and maybe a couple of interviews. Any suggestions
regarding the software and hardware I would need to accomplish these things?
