New Video setup

[jhoskinson]

Hello to all! I am a newbie and have been handed a project that I know very little about! Video ministry.

Here are our church specs:

60' X 60' Sanctuary with pyrmid ceiling (old Lutheran Church)
Dark - Poor lighting that we cannot change (renting building)
Peavey sound system - new within a year or so - Peavey FX 16 mixer

Our Pastor wants us to start a video ministry, mainly recording the sermon portion of the service, then moving to the P&W eventually! We are not fancy, Just P&W then preaching, using an overhead projector with transparencies (yes they still make them!) we are ok with that just not sure on where to go with the camera and accessories. Here is what I think, but like I said, I know very little about..

Camera, Tripod, PC for editing and uploading to website, editing software, various cables

We have a fair budget of about $5 - $10,000 but want to be efficient!

1. Camera - 1 is fine in the back, but what kind in low light?
2. Tripod - what is a good kind to get?
3. PC - Laptop or desktop, does it matter?
4. Editing - what software is good for newbies?
5. Cables - XLR to camera from mixer for mic? Firewire to PC?
6. HD - Do we shoot in HD? Is that a given?

Thank you for any and all help, I have done some research, but cannot come to any full conclusions.

jhoskinson

[Natepelzel]

The canon XA10 is phenomenal in low light situations and I would say is in your price range (thats what all the reviews say, I haven't used one yet). That has xlr inputs built in so you'd be good there. What I would do is buy a black magic intensity card and capture the video directly on the pc, that way you save the hassle of importing a 30-45 minute 1080p clip in post.

If you're filming the entire service with one camera, and your pastor walks around a lot, you're gonna want a tripod with a fluid head. I've had good luck with a manfrotto, found here:

vvv.manfrotto.us/product/8709.398.77716.0.0/055XWNB%252C128RC/_/055XWNB_Tripod_%2B_128RC_Micro_Fluid_Head_with_200 PL-14_Plate[/url]

You'll have to change the v's to w's, I cant post links yet. But that tripod will be fine since the camera is kinda small anyway, you won't need a massive tripod.

I would go with an i7 iMac, they're surprisingly powerful and pretty affordable (for macs ) and the new final cut is pretty easy to use for noobs and really powerful at the same time. But if you're not a Mac guy, I'd still say go with a desktop. Having card slots is a big plus in the video field.

I hope that was helpful. I'm always willing to lend my brain for picking, so
If you have any more questions please ask!

Nate

[sempei13]

I have one of the Canon's. Here's my issue. It records avchd which isn't a good format to edit in (okay so some software likes it, but not all). It takes a while to get the information from the camera to the computer. I record our "up front" for our main campus to see. That's about 30 minutes and it takes about 45 minutes to get it in and transcoded so that I can edit it.

I echo the Bogan/Manfrotto tripod. DON'T BUY ANYTHING CHEAPER!!!!

For lights, you can put up light trees in the back and leikos with like a 20 degree lens (one on each side with a 30 degree separation) and get some good light. They would be modular, so you aren't altering the building, just hold the trees down with sandbags. I don't think you have to be satisfied with bad light. A good camera for low light won't give you the results that lighting well will, so I'd try to do what you can to improve where you can.

Paul

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by jhoskinson

Our Pastor wants us to start a video ministry, mainly recording the sermon portion of the service, then moving to the P&W eventually! We are not fancy, Just P&W then preaching, using an overhead projector with transparencies (yes they still make them!) we are ok with that just not sure on where to go with the camera and accessories. Here is what I think, but like I said, I know very little about..

Camera, Tripod, PC for editing and uploading to website, editing software, various cables

What is the end goal? Are you wanting to make archival recordings, to create recordings to sell or send out, to allow people to download video files of past services, to view past services on your website or to stream services 'live' via your website?

Are you planning on shooting just the message/sermon or the entire service including any music or video content?

How do you plan to address audio?

If you record direct to the computer, what distance would it be between the camera and computer?

[jhoskinson]

Ok, so here we go. Thanks for all the responses. We had a meeting Sunday and addressed some of the issues at hand.

We want to record for dvd, and possibly edit for local tv, and eventually stream live to our website. We are trying to address the lighting issue however we learned that all of the outlets in the sanctuary are on one 20 amp breaker! Well all of our sound equip is already putting a load on that. We are working on this issue. Our camera would be about 5-10' from the mixer. So here is what I am looking at:

Cannon XA10
Bogen 503 / Manfrotto tripod (undecided)
Suped up HP for editing and future live streaming (No Mac, too $$$)
Edting software? Looking @ Adobe Premier Pro CS5.5

Do I need a switch? Having one deffered to a dvd recorder and the other to the PC?
What are your thoughts?

jhoskinson

[Gcort49]

I may be wrong, having little Church Media Production experience (Many TV production years though), but I would think if the 'goal' is to stream and DVD production for the ministry and local TV broadcast, a multi camera set-up would be more conducive. Anything less with all that you seem to want to do would not give the end result you seek.

If, at some time you decide on a switcher, look into Data Video. They have some nice inexpensive switchers that are a porta-packs

I am not allow to post the URL since this is my 1st post...so here it is w datavideo dot us

[Natepelzel]

Premiere is a great editing program. I've used it a few times and really like it. I don't think I'd want to burn the live program to a DVD. I think I'd pipe it directly into the pc, then do some editing in post (bumpers, lower thirds, etc) to make it look nice for the DVD.

I think doing a multicam production is a big job that requires a lot of volunteers. I think it's definitely worth it and really speeds up the weekly workflow, but it may be hard to jump into all at once. If you decided to try it, then I'd look into the blackmagic ATEM video switchers. They are cutting edge switchers with an insane amount of inputs for an incredibly low price. The reason they make so cheap is because you actually operate them with a pc via CAT5, instead one of those huge button boards. The nice thing is they have HDMI inputs, and your XA10 has hdmi out

One of the benefits of a live multicam program is that you could burn it to DVD live. And this could even include bumpers and lower thirds as well.

Just some thoughts the wisest thing might be to take a little time to get used to the editing workflow and stuff before you try to edit on the fly.

[jhoskinson]

Thanks for the advice. We are likited with volunteers and money for a second camera now so we will have to go with the one. 2 questions...

What are bumpers and lower thirds?

Do I need a special program or piece of equipment to record and live stream simultaneously?

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by jhoskinson

Do I need a special program or piece of equipment to record and live stream simultaneously?

You are probably going to need to at least need a Distribution Amplifier in order to send the signal to both the recording device and streaming device, but you may also need to think about copyright since recording and streaming involve two additional types of rights that are required if the content includes any copyrighted video, graphics, music, etc.

If you are just recording a single camera then you do not need a switcher unless you want to switch between the camera and some graphics or something like that.

Just FYI, the XA10 is a consumer product and the warranty is expressly limits coverage to non-commercial, consumer use, so this would be a use excluded by the warranty.

[KDW4Him]

Here is a link that will have examples of styles for 7 churches doing video. If you click on the "all folders" drop-down you will see a list of churches. A couple do little to no editing and a few do several hours of editing. One is broadcast live. This will at least give a newbie an idea of the final product and how it will look. Maybe even give you some ideas.

http://mac3-mi.pegcentral.com
http://mac3-mi.pegcentral.com

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by jhoskinson

What are bumpers and lower thirds?

jhoskinson,

Both are video production slang terms for elements withing a video production. "Bumpers" like the bumpers on are car are video/audio elements framing portions of your program. A bumper shot is often used as the shot right before and after a commercial break. For example, the "bumper" into a commercial break at a sporting event may be the arial shot from a blimp showing how crowded the stadium is. Comming back in the from the commercial the "bumper" may be a shot of a fan who painted himself in the home team colors. These allow a more finished, higher production value look/feel then cutting directly from game-play to a commercial, or from a commercial directly into game-play. Bumpers can also be used outside the realm of commercial breaks. For example a church could decide that they would run a 5 second video animation before/after any prepackaged video content they roll on projection sceens. This might serve to standardize the content in and out of I-mag or ProPresenter graphics.It would also help to brand third party bought video packages so they look and feel in-house produced.

"Lower-third" is video slang for text superimposed at the bottom of the screen over live video. Typically lower-thirds would be someone's name or title.