Video Monster

[Don Schenk]

Don Schenk becomes a video monster.

A white flag… I surrender. A couple weeks ago someone on the WF mentioned the new Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera and the fact that it can take an external microphone. So after much trouble trying to find that camera (finally got it direct from Kodak), I bit the inexpensive bullet and bought one.

Now I have discovered what you folks knew all along – YouTube can send traffic. Whoa – who wudda’ thought!

So here is what that little camera does, even at a low 720p resolution. It can do HD too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PwuyesNGaw

Yes, you can get this same look at home without a lot of expense! The backdrop is a wall I painted a dark shade of red (not as dark as maroon), then daubed black paint in spots with a paint brush, and used a dry rag to rub most of the black away. This is a faux painting process called scumbling. It gives the look of red leather.

The spotlight on the wall can be done with a small spotlight bulb in an inexpensive clip light. It doesn’t need much wattage – about 60watts should be max.

The reflector I show can be done with a piece of white cardboard from you neighborhood art supply store. You can simulate that big softbox light by using another piece of white cardboard and shining a spotlight onto it. Probably a 100 watt bulb.

The hair light near the ceiling can be another small spotlight bulb, or even a standard lightbulb with a cardboard tube to control the light. Don’t let the cardboard get too hot.

:-Don

[Jill Carpenter]

Nicely done! 5 stars.

[Stefan Vee]

What a beautiful professional video!

[zuluranger]

Hi DOn

It looks professional. I like it. Thanks for the tips.

[Kevin AKA Hubcap]

Hey Don,

I like that look.

Do you know a way to make a light box on the cheap?

Kevin

[Aronya]

I've been considering that same camera. Looks like a cheaper AND more flexible alternative to the FLIP. You like it so far, I guess?

[Don Schenk]

Yeah, it gives much better audio than the flip because of the ability to use an external mic. Its angle of view is tighter than the flip, so you won't get that big-nose, fish-eye lens effect you can get with the flip.


@Kevin - use foamcore. You can even get it in black from frame company wholesalers and some art stores. Use a piece of white nylon cloth over the open end. Use a 100W or lower bulb with foamcore.

Photek makes the least expensive pro softboxes I have found. Get them at B&Hphotovideo.

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Don,

Great work!

I like the DIY paint job. Coupled with your professional lighting skills makes for a distinctive presentation.

I think I envy you your studio. In a friendly, non-psycho way, of course.

Elmer

PS. Did I see you're going to be in Raleigh for the Warrior Meetup in a couple weeks?

[John Piteo]

Wow, image stabilization and and an external mic jack and less expensive than the Flip HD. I just bought my flip 2 months ago. Arrrgh!

Thanks for the video ideas by the way.

[Don Schenk]

Hey Elmer,

I wouldn't miss the Warrior Event for all the tea in China. It really was a good time and a very affordable learning experience last year.

Will I see you there?

:-Don

[Matt Maiden]

Great Don. I really enjoyed it.

I think you are a natural.

Matt

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Don,

I'll be the guy under the brown fedora.

I may also be lugging a couple Canon EOS DSLR's.

If that isn't sufficient description I look just like Kevin Riley except, shorter, grayer, older, substantially less hairy and much, much better looking.
(Nuts, that won't help; that describes most of the people we know.)

Anyway, yes, I'll be there unless, as the preacher used to say, "providentially hindered."

Look forward to meeting you.

Elmer

[zapseo]

Pssst....Don is a retired professional photographer.

LOL.

Do you think maybe, just maybe, some of that background might have helped him make great videos?

HMMMMMM?

Oh, and, if you want to find out how to make a lightbox on the cheap -- try Google. I think I've seen articles about doing that.

[ed41143]

Don, like John Piteo, I bought my Flip HD a few months ago and have only used it for family and fun stuff so far, but I will get started taking youtube videos, I will.

Great Post Don and thanks for all the tips, they are a huge help!

Ed

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by zapseo

Pssst....Don is a retired professional photographer.

LOL.

Do you think maybe, just maybe, some of that background might have helped him make great videos?

HMMMMMM?

Oh, and, if you want to find out how to make a lightbox on the cheap -- try Google. I think I've seen articles about doing that.

Ahhhhh, Judy gave away my secret. The word "Photo" means light. Lighting is what creates the look. The type of camera is completely irrelevent.


:-Don

[zapseo]

After spending -- what? 8hr X 52 weeks running a free internet marketing chat I at least got something out of it....LOL.

[Frankie D]

Love It! With Halloween just around the corner, this would be the perfect set-up for a video I plan on doing. Just one question though?

I noticed you have fabric around your softbox, is the frame made from pvc piping?

[Don Schenk]

Frankie,

The entire softbox is made from a cloth material - black on the outside, lined with silver color cloth on the inside. The recessed face diffuser is white, rip-stock nylon.

The frame is made from flexible fiberglass rods just like a modern camping tent.

This particular unit has a second white diffuser inside. It is made for studio strobes which have a modeling light (regular light bulb) inside. They also make these softboxes for high-heat video lights.

I am only using 100 watts inside, the background spot is 60 watts, the hair light is 60 watts. The reflector is silver cloth, but could be a sheet of white cardboard or even aluminium foil.

:-Don

[John Piteo]

Hey Don,

I noticed the sound is only coming out of my left speaker. Can the sound be made to come from both speakers (in mono sound) with a lapel mic such as Audio Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone?

I'm now comparing the zi8 with the Zoom Q3. The Q3 has incredible stereo sound built in with two high quality condenser mics. You don't need an external mic for great sound, but the downside is 640 X480 resolution. I wonder if we really need HD for online marketing videos?

[Handsome J]

Don,

Thanks for the great post. I was also curious about this setup. I wanted to mimic the quality of the Mass Control videos for my own site. Glad to see there is such a cost effective solution to look like the big boys.

[Handsome J]

Originally Posted by John Piteo

Hey Don,

I noticed the sound is only coming out of my left speaker. Can the sound be made to come from both speakers (in mono sound) with a lapel mic such as Audio Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone?

I'm now comparing the zi8 with the Zoom Q3. The Q3 has incredible stereo sound built in with two high quality condenser mics. You don't need an external mic for great sound, but the downside is 640 X480 resolution. I wonder if we really need HD for online marketing videos?

A simple radio shack adapter will fix your mono issue:

YouTube - Improve Your Audio For 30 Bux

[Don Schenk]

Nope, switching to a stereo eigth inch plug won't help on that camera.

The Zi8 only is mono so the signal should be the same for L&R

What I found was the video software I've been using (Corel Video Studio) was putting the sound only on the left channel instead of putting it on L&R like mono should be.

It turns out there is a 5.1 surround sound setting in the Corel software that will let me position the sound in the center - thus covering both L&R.

Either I had not figured that out yet when I made that video, or I forgot to turn on the surround sound in Corel's software.

I assume other video software with handle this correctly, but then we all knows what happens when I assume.

:-Don

[John Piteo]

In case anyone is interested, Amazon has this camcorder on sale right now for $149.00. It's marked down from $179.

[112designs]

Looks great. For a few months now i am trying to find out a good camera that i can use to make good movies. This will help a lot. Thanks.

[James Clark]

Don,

You are my hero! I want to be just like you when I grow up.

Jimmy.

[jimitele]

Originally Posted by Don Schenk

Don Schenk becomes a video monster.
Whoa – who wudda’ thought!:-Don

Good job Don - thx for sharing...

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by James Clark

Don,

You are my hero! I want to be just like you when I grow up.

Jimmy.

To be just like me you will have to never grow up. For years my employees have said I'm a 5 year old inside an old body.

:-Don

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Originally Posted by Don Schenk

To be just like me you will have to never grow up. For years my employees have said I'm a 5 year old inside an old body.

:-Don

Jimmy,

I've had the honor of actually meeting Don Schenk in real life. He is the most precocious 5 year-old I've ever met.

He's also a nice guy and very good photographer.

Elmer

[Dr Dan]

I just bought the new Kodak zi8 and about to go pick it up right now. I found a pretty awesome deal! Check it out on my blog: The Kodak Zi8 Rocks! | maketheworldyourstage.com No affiliate links ;-)

[SimonHarrison]

Really tempted by this but keep hearing horror stories
about trying to edit the audio in the leading video
editing packages.

Anybody using this with Sony Vegas?

[wiseleo]

Why the horror stories...

I personally record audio separately using a better microphone. Technology like the Zi8 was simply not available when I initially got my audio/video studio setup.

But, as long as your video package can parse both the audio and the video track, it works just fine. You simply need the right codecs.

Vegas was initially an audio editor, so it's very advanced in that area.

[SimonHarrison]

Originally Posted by wiseleo

Why the horror stories...

No clue, but the consensus seemed from watching Youtube reviews
that the ZI8's audio output didn't want to talk to Vegas at all.

[Don Schenk]

@wiseleo and @ Simon,

I use an external lav mic with the Zi8, or I record the audio separately if lip sync is not necessary.

With audio from the Zi8 I can edit it fine with a cheap little program from Corel - Video Studio. I can edit out beginning and ends in Camtasia.

With voice-over audio I edit it in some pro equipment I have here. I usually use an Akai
DPS24.

What issues are you having with Vegas?

:-Don

[George Tee]

Awesome video tips! Now I'm trying to compare whether I should get a Sony HDR-XR 150 or Kodak Zi8. Seems like quality of Kodak Zi8 is not bad!

[Chris Grable]

Don,

Do you know if the Zi8 will work as a web cam?

Thanks!

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by Chris Grable

Don,

Do you know if the Zi8 will work as a web cam?

Thanks!

Chris,

I don't think so. It seems to me it doesn't focus that close. I don't remember it having a USB port, but maybe it does. I just pop out the card to transfer files to a computer. Mine is at my office, I'll take a look at the camera when I get into work this morning, and I'll edit this post with an answer.

:-Don

I'm at my office and playing with the Zi8. It does have closeup mode. It looks like in standard mode it will focus down to about 10 inches. In macro it focuses down to about 2 inches.

It has a build in (pop out) USB connector.

I don't have any software on this computer to let it be a computer cam. My laptop does. I'll take the Zi8 home and try it on the laptop.

If it does work, then all you would need is a short USB extension cord (male/female) and some way to prop the camera to point at you.

Hmmm. We'll know in a little while.

:-Don

[Don Schenk]

I just tested it, and it won't work as a web cam. When I plug the Zi8 into the computer the camera goes into "charge" mode to charge the battery from the USB.

I can open recorded files in the camera or drag them to my harddrive, but the camera will not operate while plugged into the USB.

:-Don

[SimonHarrison]

Darn it.

Shame.

So here's one for you Don.

When you're filming yourself with this thing, there's essentially
no way at all to see what you look like until you go back and
play it back ?

I'm looking for something for a lot of of those "at your desk"
type videos, seems like I may just be better of with a really
good HD webcam and an USB mic.

[Chris Grable]

Originally Posted by Don Schenk

I just tested it, and it won't work as a web cam. When I plug the Zi8 into the computer the camera goes into "charge" mode to charge the battery from the USB.

I can open recorded files in the camera or drag them to my harddrive, but the camera will not operate while plugged into the USB.

:-Don

Thanks Don!! You went above and beyond.... Too bad about the web cam thing. I thought this might be to find a one-size-fits-all solution.

Cheers,
chris

[BBCMember]

Hey Don,

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Do you know if you can hook up two wireless mics to one Zi8 camera for filming an interview, for example? If not, how would you film an interview with two wireless mics? Would you need to get a second Zi8 for the second wireless mic, or could you hook up the wireless mic to a digital recorder, for example. Although I'm not sure how much digital recorders go for. Maybe it would make more sense to get another Zi8 if digital recorders are comparable in price.

TIA

[mmixon]

Don,

Awesome video and technique. I thought it gave a very professional effect on the cheap. Thanks much for the ideas!

[BBCMember]

Apparently, the ability to use two wireless mics with a video camera does not depend on the camera. You just need to get an adapter that will allow it to handle two wireless mics. Here is the equipment that was recommended to me for the Zi8 so that I could have two wireless mics working with one Zi8.

There are two mics and one 3 channel mixer.

Azden CAM-3 3-Channel Mixer $48.95
Azden | CAM-3 3-Channel Mic Mixer | CAM3

Audio Technica Pro 88W $170 (need two of these)
Audio Techina | Pro 88W Camera Mountable VHF Lavalier System | W8824830

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by BBCMember

Hey Don,

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Do you know if you can hook up two wireless mics to one Zi8 camera for filming an interview, for example? If not, how would you film an interview with two wireless mics? Would you need to get a second Zi8 for the second wireless mic, or could you hook up the wireless mic to a digital recorder, for example. Although I'm not sure how much digital recorders go for. Maybe it would make more sense to get another Zi8 if digital recorders are comparable in price.

TIA

Yes, Tia. You need a mixer. In theory you could use a "Y" cord, but when you combine two devices in a parallel connection like that, it cuts the impedance in half, which can change the audio tone. I think the Zi8 has a high impedance input, so connecting two high impedance mics with a "Y" cord just might work.

It would not let you adjust the volume level of each mic, but that may not be a problem if both mics are the same make and model.

It looks like the Azden gadgets you mentioned should work fine.

:-Don