AVForums chooses Panasonic and Sennheiser for video productions

[Phil Hinton]

With plans to produce more reports, news, reviews and interviews from the world of home cinema and consumer electronics, AVForums needs serious equipment for recording on-location video.

For some time now we have been using Sennheiser radio microphones to produce professional quality audio in our videos. And now, in time for the Cedia Expo starting next week, we plan to further improve our production quality with the addition of the Panasonic AG-HVX201AE professional camcorder.

Using the broadcast DVCPRO HD standard and capturing video to P2 memory cards, we can now produce higher quality final video productions for our viewers.

You can view the latest videos by heading over to www.avforums.tv and watch out for the first part of our CEDIA Expo coverage coming soon.

[Shockabuku]

Somebody's got a new toy to play with . Does this mean we'll get higher resolution download versions of future Avforums.tv productions?

[David Mackenzie]

Fun stuff, I'm surprised you've invested in an HD standard for online video though. Can't hurt of course! What have you been using up until now?

[Flimber]

Originally Posted by Lyris

Fun stuff, I'm surprised you've invested in an HD standard for online video though. Can't hurt of course! What have you been using up until now?

1. Who says it's always going be 'just' online ?

2. Howabout some AVForums-produced HD-DVD/Blu-Rays for members to buy ?

[David Mackenzie]

1. Who says it's always goiong be 'just' online ?

Oooh? Do tell!

[Stuart Wright]

Originally Posted by Shockabuku

Does this mean we'll get higher resolution download versions of future Avforums.tv productions?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Lyris

What have you been using up until now?

An HD consumer camcorder. Nice and light and served it's purpose to prove that a) we can make videos and b) people want to see them

Originally Posted by Flimber

2. Howabout some AVForums-produced HD-DVD/Blu-Rays for members to buy ?

If the content justifies a release on Blu-ray we will certainly do that. It's something we have already discussed.

I'm very pleased with the way the videos have come together and we're committed to producing more quality independent editorial on video and this camcorder will bring the picture element up to the existing high quality of the audio element provided by our Sennheiser kit.

There is a lot of peripheral equipment to add such as a tripod, spare batteries and a decent bag.
We decided on this Petrol PCBP-3N Cocoon back pack from TV Cases which will carry the laptop and tripod as well.

Phil is going to get super fit lugging all this kit round the shows!

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by Lyris

Fun stuff, I'm surprised you've invested in an HD standard for online video though. Can't hurt of course! What have you been using up until now?

David, online video is changing fast with HD now being introduced by quite a few sites. We have to keep up and plan for the future, so it made sense from that point of view, as well as an improved work flow for me in post. Our last camera was the multi award winning Canon HV20 HDV camcorder, good for what it does and to get us up and running, but a few things were a pain. Interviews were conducted with the camera 5 feet back just because it had a poor lens, and workflow only started once you had played back hours of HDV tape to be captured. Sound was also a challenge with only one input and no means to monitor live.

In terms of HD online video we have done a couple of recent experiments and you can see the results Here.
That site is like youtube, but it allows HD uploads and playback. Before long others will follow, we just have to find the solution to suit us.
The camera does all the formats, from 576i/p right up to 1080/25, allows for various frame rates, has an improved lens system (which is great for getting people being interviewed close), and the work flow is completely digital.

The downside to using all this great kit to produce our content and future programs like Grand AV Designs, it that it all weighs a ton! Fit, I will be!
Cheers!

[David Mackenzie]

Glad to hear it'll be presented in HD. I'm familiar with Vimeo actually because I've been looking at a ton of sample clips shot with the Canon HV20 on that very site. Incidentally, I just got a ridiculously good deal on the HV30 from America.

It looks like you did a great job working around any sound issues. After seeing a whole bunch of other student films recently, I'm reminded of how lethal that can be!

[ROne]

We've been using the HVX200 for two years with P2 editing based around Edius Broadcast - in our production company.

Absolutely superb camera and edit facility. We've done mobile edits straight from the cards for very fast turnaround. Extremely reliable - have got 8xP2 cards.

If you want any advice or information I am a dab hand with the HVX and matters relating to it.

You just need to be extra careful on that focusing and need a tad more light - Good luck, great purchase.

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by ROne

We've been using the HVX200 for two years with P2 editing based around Edius Broadcast - in our production company.

Absolutely superb camera and edit facility. We've done mobile edits straight from the cards for very fast turnaround. Extremely reliable - have got 8xP2 cards.

If you want any advice or information I am a dab hand with the HVX and matters relating to it.

You just need to be extra careful on that focusing and need a tad more light - Good luck, great purchase.

Thanks for the comments, I may very well call on that offer of help at some point. We have two 32gb cards and I will be taking a Sony Vaio laptop and an external 750gb HDD with me on shoots. I am just trying to get my head around what the workload and workflow will be like with this approach. When filming at something like CEDIA, I will probably get about 13 hours of footage, so I need to be able to dumb the cards contents on the fly, formatting and then re-using the cards.
I also use Sony Vegas Pro 8 as our NLE and have installed Raylight which seems to be working well converting the MXF files to the timeline.
I'm glad I didn't get that used to our old system otherwise the pain I am feeling at the moment in learning a brand new platform may have been too much.
I am very happy with the new camera and everyone I have spoken to who has used one, or uses it, all have nothing but praise so that must be a good sign that we have the best tools available.

[kopchoir]

wow,seems like this is taking off even more lets hope you dont get head hunted anytime soon phil, the gadget show may be calling for you

Must of cost a fair few quid that piece of kit as well, im sure the members here are appreciative of all the videos you are producing at the moment maybe we as members could of helped in some sort of way with regards to the cost of it as it is for all our benefit.
I like flimber`s idea of purchasing content on disk i for one would be happy to purchase these

[ROne]

Originally Posted by Phil Hinton

Thanks for the comments, I may very well call on that offer of help at some point. We have two 32gb cards and I will be taking a Sony Vaio laptop and an external 750gb HDD with me on shoots. I am just trying to get my head around what the workload and workflow will be like with this approach. When filming at something like CEDIA, I will probably get about 13 hours of footage, so I need to be able to dumb the cards contents on the fly, formatting and then re-using the cards.
I also use Sony Vegas Pro 8 as our NLE and have installed Raylight which seems to be working well converting the MXF files to the timeline.
I'm glad I didn't get that used to our old system otherwise the pain I am feeling at the moment in learning a brand new platform may have been too much.
I am very happy with the new camera and everyone I have spoken to who has used one, or uses it, all have nothing but praise so that must be a good sign that we have the best tools available.

Raylight integration is good. We used raylight originally then moved to Edius.

Workflow: we tend to delete stuff on the fly, as it saves space and creates a tidier edit. Just be sure you don't want the shot!

When we shoot hidef we generally go for 720p/25 - 1080p only buys you a bit of extra (real-world) resolution, and is probably the best choice for a film blow up.

The menus appear daunting at first with all those settings, but keep it simple to start with and the usual teccy learning curves apply.

Barry Green's book on the HVX is fantastic and essential purchase.

The camera's standard shooting mode even in DV based P2 is fantastic, and makes up 70% of our ouput (the rest being 720p and progressive.)

My last job was in Ukraine - and flying back I edited a 5 minute programme on the flight and put it to DVD before we touched down!

DVXuser.com is the best place for info but you've probably seen it already.

Have fun!

[Phil Hinton]

ROne,

I have decided to shoot CEDIA footage in the 720/25pn mode as a tester, I did some test footage in 1080 and you are right, for online 720HD is more than enough.
Menus are confusing and the fact the manual is PDF based is annoying as I will have to print off what I might need and take with me for the first few weeks.

I look forward to having some fun!

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by Phil Hinton

With plans to produce more reports, news, reviews and interviews from the world of home cinema and consumer electronics, AVForums needs serious equipment for recording on-location video.

For some time now we have been using Sennheiser radio microphones to produce professional quality audio in our videos. And now, in time for the Cedia Expo starting next week, we plan to further improve our production quality with the addition of the Panasonic AG-HVX201AE professional camcorder.

Using the broadcast DVCPRO HD standard and capturing video to P2 memory cards, we can now produce higher quality final video productions for our viewers.

You can view the latest videos by heading over to www.avforums.tv and watch out for the first part of our CEDIA Expo coverage coming soon.

Great.
Love the video's adds a nice touch to the forum.

[David Mackenzie]

I also use Sony Vegas Pro 8 as our NLE and have installed Raylight which seems to be working well converting the MXF files to the timeline.

I'm a recent Vegas Pro 8 convert and love it after years of Adobe Premiere... it's stupidly good value for money. DVD Architect's interface is genius, too.