Set up for professional videos (internal use)

[bolidemichael]

We wish to start recording videos for archiving tastings, releasing excerpts for social media platforms and for conducting virtual training sessions and tastings. Of the latter, some will be pre-recorded content and some will be live.

The pre-recorded content will usually be in the daytime, in a room with good quality and a good amount of natural light (large windows on two walls). The live sessions are likely to be at night and we have four fluorescent lights.

I have absolutely no experience in having recorded any content to a good quality beyond the technology available on an iphone - I imagine that a tripod should be on the wish list, perhaps a spotlight (I'm sure that there's a better term for these?), something for recording good quality audio and eliminating echoes and a camcorder of sorts?

I'm happy to find a professional editor for the snips and any social media content, but would like to set up the AV without professional assistance.

[StevieBee]

Image wise, you might find an iPhone sufficient for what you need. Use two. Fix one to a tripod and another hand held on a small gimbal to smooth the motion. The one on your tripod captures the main footage. Use the hand held to move into closer shots when needed.

Without knowledge of how to compensate, you'll struggle with fluorescent lighting. You'll either get a flicker or a green tinge. Use natural light when you can and a reflector to bounce that light into shadows where needed. Three LED photographic lights would be your best bet.

And sound! Invest in a decent Mic. Rode do some decent mics for reasonable money.

I have a professional cohort who provides kits and training for self shooting including editing training. PM me and I'll connect you if you like.

One last observation is that you've mentioned you'd be happy to hire in a professional editor and shoot yourself. I'd do it the other way around. Hire a pro camera operator and learn how to edit yourself. The camera captures the story. Editing tells the story.

[Fordo]

StevieBee said:

One last observation is that you've mentioned you'd be happy to hire in a professional editor and shoot yourself. I'd do it the other way around. Hire a pro camera operator and learn how to edit yourself. The camera captures the story. Editing tells the story.

This is very good advice. - if you're not happy with your edit, you can always change it. But if it's not shot very nicely, with bad lighting or theres a problem with the sound, you wont be able to fix it.

I've setup a few small studios for big corporate clients. Converted office type spaces, where the client wants to record simple talking heads or presentations. The brief is usually - we want a simple setup, where we can just come in and record.

But when you've got a modern office with windows everywhere, you end up with a space where every time, there might need to be some adjustment to the setup - Sun beaming in the side window at 3pm, or the recording needs to be taking place at sunset where ambient lighting will change very quickly, or a recording needs to happen at night. And thats where the skill of a good lighting cameraman comes in.

Do you have any photos of the location?

[bolidemichael]

Hi and thanks for your helpful responses.

This is the space that I have in mind, the windows face SEE (larger windows above the bike) to SSW in the corner window.

The detritus and shelves would be tidied where necessary.

[codenamecueball]

bolidemichael said:

We wish to start recording videos for archiving tastings, releasing excerpts for social media platforms and for conducting virtual training sessions and tastings. Of the latter, some will be pre-recorded content and some will be live.

The pre-recorded content will usually be in the daytime, in a room with good quality and a good amount of natural light (large windows on two walls). The live sessions are likely to be at night and we have four fluorescent lights.

I have absolutely no experience in having recorded any content to a good quality beyond the technology available on an iphone - I imagine that a tripod should be on the wish list, perhaps a spotlight (I'm sure that there's a better term for these?), something for recording good quality audio and eliminating echoes and a camcorder of sorts?

I'm happy to find a professional editor for the snips and any social media content, but would like to set up the AV without professional assistance.

Focus on light and audio and people will forgive the video quality, however -

For audio a system like the RODE wireless go with a lav mic plugged in will get you fairly decent sound, as long as the room isn't too echoy or reflective.

For light you can buy cheapo flourescent softboxes from Amazon which will just about get the job done but that's about it. They're about £50 a pair and probably won't pass a pat test or survive a fall.

For camera any DSLR or Mirrorless camera with face tracking will get the job done, but a Canon M50 or 250D will get you a more than acceptable image, if it's just for a talking head.

If you're doing lives, the RODE wireless go can be attached to a phone with the right cables, and you could go live straight from that with the basic lighting kit and it'll be a fairly enjoyable process for your customers.

Hope that's some use to you!