Video Editing Computers, and More
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 Sony HVR Z5U HDV High Definition Handheld Camcorder  TurnKey TV Studio in a Box Welcome to this issue of the Hi-Tech Trader. This week's article: "Microphone Guide" By Hal Robertson (April 2009)Videomaker Magazine Specials: Sony DVS-7350, Sony DVS-8000 Video Switcher Systems Bargain Bin HOT SUMMER Coupon Specials Stump the TECH Panasonic MX70 Customer SpotLight Comtec TV If you have an interesting story, case study, tip or trick. Send it to us at: Editor. If we publish it in The Hi-Tech Trader, we will give full recognition to you and/or your company.  SEE how easy it is for you to be up and running on your new Tricaster, Tricaster PRO, Studio or the NEW Tricaster Broadcast contact us toll free 888-354-2508  Make sure you check out our every day low prices on used video gear. Go to: Hot List Inventory  Contact Us: Hi-Tech Enterprises, Inc. 4400 118th Avenue North Suite 203 Clearwater, FL 33762 Phone (727)-573-9600 Toll Free (888)-354-2508 Fax (727)-573-9606 Technical Support (727)-573-9600 ext. 227 Video Equipment Sales (727)-573-9600 ext. 224 Video Editing Computer Sales (727)-573-9600 ext. 222 Training (727)-573-9600 ext. 222 Suggestion Box In an on going effort to produce a quality newsletter, always feel free to send your comments and suggestions to mike@videoequipment.com 
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Microphone Guide By Hal Robertson (April 2009)Videomaker Magazine Modern editing software offers all the editing power of an old-school tape-based editing suite, but it also provides effects, titles, still store and a full toolbox of audio goodies. From a practical standpoint, you can carry an entire production suite in your laptop computer and take it with you anywhere. One of the nifty, if often overlooked, audio features is the ability to record directly to the timeline. That's right, you don't have to open a dedicated audio program to record, edit and finish audio for your projects. This month, we'll spend some time investigating this hidden feature and learn how to leverage it in your next production. A Little History Back in olden times, when videographers shot, edited and delivered all video on tape, producing a custom soundtrack was a bit of a challenge. There were two approaches: cheat with the independent audio tracks on the edit deck, or produce on multitrack audio equipment and synchronize with timecode. Neither option was great, but that's how we got the work done. Big, chunky edit decks often had two or three independently-accessible audio tracks, meaning you could record and play back on any or all of them. First, you edited the video, using one audio track for your natural sound. After locking the edit, you recorded music and sound effects to another track and, finally, your voiceover occupied the final track. During playback, all three channels played in sync, but the mix was determined by the level you recorded. If it was wrong, you did it again. What a pain! The other option was to print timecode to one of the tracks and synchronize it with external audio equipment - a dicey proposition at best. You mixed audio from the edited video with other elements in an audio studio. This offered a great deal of control, but getting it all back to the videotape was a bit messy. It was common to lose sync with one or both decks, and the mix was performed by an audio engineer - no automation here. And, as before, if you got it wrong, you did it again 'til everything worked. Today, by contrast, everything lives inside the computer. Multiple audio tracks are standard, synchronization is automatic and it's easy to fine-tune the project until everything is perfect. Stereo and even surround-sound audio are common, and you can save the whole project and pick up where you left off tomorrow, next week or next month. As much as we appreciate the tedious work of days gone by, the next time you begin to edit, be thankful you're not dealing with the production equipment of the past. The Setup Every NLE is different, but most of the big boys - and even a few of the consumer applications - offer audio recording to the timeline. This great feature can simplify your project and keep everything in one program. Step one is determining what you want to record and where it goes in the project. A common application is recording voiceovers, but there is a small amount of housekeeping before you hit the Record button.
First, find the preferences section of your NLE, go to the audio section and pick the audio input source for recording. This can be your built-in sound card, an external audio interface, USB microphone or anything your computer recognizes as an audio input. You need to monitor the video playback along with the recording, so find the audio output section and set it to a device that can accept headphones. Again, your standard soundcard or other audio interface is fine. Finally, locate the setting that determines where the recorded files go and change it to your project directory. That should do it. Back in your editing software, create a new audio track, and get it ready for recording. In Sony's Vegas; this is as simple as clicking the Record button on the timeline. In Premiere Pro, you need to go to the audio mixer and click on the microphone icon. Most software apps that allow you to record directly will set up recording in either of these two ways. Now, settle back, grab your microphone, headphones and script, and settle in for some recording. Next , place the cursor ahead of your first recording point, and hit the Record button. You will see and hear the video play back as usual, but this time, your recording will magically appear on the new track. You can record in sections or do the whole thing in one pass. Delete clips that aren't working, and record them again until it's exactly what you want. With video playback as a reference, it's easy to get in and out at the right times. Repeat this process for every audio element you need - voiceovers, sound effects, dialog replacement, anything. Cleanup Pass Dedicated audio programs excel at recording, editing and cleaning up recordings, but your NLE has some powerful tools too. Trimming the beginning and end of an audio clip is exactly like editing video and uses the same tools. Ripple delete, razor tools, fades... it's all there, and you already know how to use it, so trim the clips accordingly. Next, you may want to apply some effects - EQ, compression or other processing - to your freshly-recorded tracks. This also differs from program to program, but it's still easy to do. Some programs apply effects to the track as a whole, others apply to individual clips and still others do both. Once you've figured out how this works on your NLE, find the audio effects section and select the type of effect you want to apply. They may not look exactly like the plug-ins in your audio editing program, but they do the same things. On a voiceover track, you probably want a high-pass filter to minimize any rumble, some simple equalization to spice things up and a compressor to even out the volume of the track. Apply and adjust each as needed, and play the results until you're confident with the settings. If your program offers effects only on a per-clip basis, it's possible to copy the settings from your first clip to all other clips on the timeline. Bonus Software The ability to record, edit and process audio directly on the timeline is like getting an audio editing program for free. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a dedicated package, the convenience is priceless. It's also easy to view the video as you record, making it possible to do Foley work and dialog replacement right inside your NLE. Mastering the process still takes time and dedication, but, as a self-contained video producer, you have all the tools at your disposal, piece by piece. It's up to you to use them. end Hal Robertson is a digital media producer and technology consultant. Article from videomaker.com April 2009 Customer Spotlight Your success is our success! The purpose of the Customer Spotlight portion of this newsletter is to provide a small promotional over view of you, your company, or services. We invite you to submit with our new Customer Spotlight Form. We will randomly select one submission per issue. See Yourself Here! It's quick easy and beneficial to you and it is FREE.  Roberto Perez Monterrey, Mexico http://comtec.tv/ Purchased a pair of CANON J45X9.5B IE 2/3 Box lenses Bargain Bin
Also Check Out other Hi-Tech inventory lists: Used Video Equipment, Outside Inventory, and Hot List Availability subject to change, first come first served. Always feel free to contact us when searching for video equipment (toll free 888-354-2508). We appreciate your business. The Staff at Hi-Tech Enterprises Inc. Stump the Tech We are challenging every one to stump our highly experienced techs with questions in video editing and equipment. These questions and answers will be posted with full recognition. The postings will only be edited for improper usage. This is being done for fun in an effort to share knowledge about our industry. Dave, Q"My question is regarding the audio inputs on the MX70. I read that this 8 input video switcher allows audio inputs on the channel 5 through 8, I don't see these inputs on photos of therear of the unit, I am missing something on this?" AThe 4 audio inputs can be mapped to a corresponding video input through the LCD software interface located at the top center of the MX70. If you have the manual this procedure is fairly straight forward. Past Newsletter Issues More to come in our Next issue. Advertising with the Hi-Tech Trader or link swap? Click here We will never give, sell or loan your information to anyone for any purpose WHATSOEVER! Believe me - we HATE spam! Feel confident that you can be removed from our Newsletter list anytime easily if you so desire. |
Sony DVS-8000
