Video Production Equipment: The Directors Cut
The Video Craze: Affordable Video Production Equipment
Advances in video production equipment technologies combined with the increased emergence of digital video, as an acceptable medium for film has made it possible for almost anyone to become a film director. Currently the cost of film and film equipment is beyond the reach of most starters. However, video production equipment is relatively low cost and can be mastered fairly easily. Even though there is a great deal more to film that just equipment, the ready availability of video production equipment has encouraged many amateurs to give film a try. Understanding the basics of video production equipment is the first step to becoming the next George Lucas.
Filming Video Production Equipment
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As you prepare to make a video it is a good idea to to review what video production equipment is required for filming and make sure you have your requirements. Some common video production equipment products needed for creating a professional looking film include:
- Professional Grade video cameras: These cameras are larger than the standard home machines and include ENG cameras or Studio cameras that are connect to dock recorders that do that tape the video. There are numerous types and variants to choose from.
- Stabilization Equipment: These range from camera dollies tripods, shoulder mounts, and advanced camera cranes. Use of stabilization equipment ensures that the video production is smooth and not shaky. Many amateurs will tend to move the cameras around too much making viewing a chore. Additionally, stabilization video production equipment can help determine the type of camera shot that is available for a production.
- Quality Lighting : Film quality lighting includes grip lighting, reflectors, crate grids for lighting effects and scrims to control different aspects of light diffusion. It goes way beyond just lights.
- Audio System:Creating a professional quality video requires using stand alone audio equipment. Many video cameras contain a microphone to capture sounds but these will generally be inadequate. The equipment includes shotgun microphones, audio mixers and pole audio devices.
Editing Video Production Equipment
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After the video is recorded, extra video production equipment is required for editing and finalizing a video into a finished article. Professional quality editing equipment can give your video the touch that separates it from home video or amateur attempts. These video editing tools include:
- Sound Mixing Equipment This is used by professionals to balance volume levels, add background noise and soundtracks to the video. Sound Mixing can also create stereo effects from a mono recording and add brightness to a dull sounding recording.
- Video Editing Software Unlike film, which must be edited manually, video can be edited directly on a computer. Professional video editing software, allows adding transitions, trimming scenes and completing your end vision without any hitches. The right video editing production equipment is a vital component the the end product, your video.
- Video Duplication Equipment Once the film is finished, video duplication equipment is needed for copying and distributing your film. The copies produced by professional equipment will provide consistent copies keeping the sound and video quality of your master video.
If you decide to go into making your own video production using the right equipment will help you to produce video of a high quality and standard. Who knows eventually you may find a way into the world of film making.
