CATEGORY: Video Production

“Metro Musings” video

My latest little experimental video . . .

I got lost in thought one night while riding the Metro in DC.

The music is a piece I composed in my midi studio.

Don’t forget the “record inhibit” tabs . . .

We may indeed be heading toward a tapeless environment sometime down the road, but I assure you, we aren’t there yet.

Our videotape services department is still busy all the time. 

So this is a reminder that when sending us or anyone a source or master video tape, it’s just good practice to be in the habit of setting any record tab to “safe” so as to prevent any accidental recording over.

(Sure, we’re professionals, but hey, why take any chances with your media.) 

Such “record inhibit” tabs vary between tape formats.  On most broadcast formats like BetacamSP, dBeta and HDCAM, it’s a red tab on the underside that gets pushed in. (see photo above) . . .

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The importance of “house reference”

If you’ve played piano, you are proably familiar with the metronome.

Or perhaps you have played in a rock band, you’ve realized first hand the value of a good drummer.

Or maybe you’ve worked on your car.  You are likely well aware of the importance of the timing belt.

In any of those cases,  if you lose the “sync,” things start falling apart.

Same in video . . .

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Two Useful Formulas for Non-Engineers

OK, you are producing a shoot in an office where you are conducting an interview with a high-ranking official of an organization.  She has just exited the office for a bit to allow you and your crew time to set up.

She has left her computer on, and you actually want it to stay on and have it seen in the background of the shot.

As the crew sets up, you overhear that they want to plug in two 600 watt lamps and one 400 watt lamps.  And the question arises, ”Are we going to blow a circuit?”

Uh, a voice goes off in your head crying, “Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!,” as you  recognize, perhaps more than anyone else in the crew (since it was you who spent days setting this shoot up), that being responsible for a black-out in this interviewee’s office  would not be a good thing . . . AT ALL!

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