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Home: Video University Forums: Mac Video:
Video/Audio question for DV & Blue screen question

X-Von
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Dec 24, 1999, 3:34 AM

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Video/Audio question for DV & Blue screen question	Can't Post

Wow--what a great resource. I'm writing because I know there are people way ahead of me on the learning curve. My questions are:
1. I have a cannon xl1, and will be shooting a couple scenes of singing (one a gospel choir, the other a night club singer). The gospel choir has a CD and the night club singer a tape. My editing system will most likely be a g4 final cut pro.
If I use the CD or tape (since cleaner/purer recording) as the track to go with the visual shot--will they be in sync? I don't understand all the terminology but I do know XL1 can film at 48 mhz (not sure what it means but they say its CD qaulity). I don't know about tape. Anyway--any advice on shooting or putting it in sync is appreciated.
2. Blue Screen: I've been reading about this technique and think I have good idea how to make it work when on blue screen have a non moving picture. If however, I wanted to have a moving picture on blue screen is this possible.
For example--I get a stock shot of protest in Europe (street filled) and then I put 10 actors in front of screen also protesting and holding signs. The protest is showing people moving, throwing molotov cocktails while actors upfront are shouting directly in camera. Is this possible or is blue screen normally used for stationary objects like a non moving building etc.
Thanks
Von

X-Rob
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Dec 26, 1999, 10:21 PM

Post #2 of 3 (315 views)
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Re: Video/Audio question for DV & Blue screen question	Can't Post

If you are shooting the choir and they are lipsyncing to the same CD you are using then it should work. If they are singing live and you want to use it you better get the sound and the audio at the shoot. The easiest way is to use the onboard mic. A better way would be to get the sound through the mics and mixingboard they are using in the church. If you have the MA-100 XLR adaptor for the XL-1 or the soundboard has RCA outputs you can get better sound synced with your video. If this stuff sounds confusing just use the mic on the camera. Also CD quality is 44.100 khz. (not mhz) 48.000khz is DAT quality. Record at the 44.100 level.
Bluescreen works on moving and non moving images. One of the things that make it look bad or cheap is when you composite actors over footage that was shot handheld. It doesn't matter if it is a riot or a building. If you are building a composition make sure that all of the elements are locked down. Set a tripod and lock it off. Use footage that was shot the same way. If you composite people on shaky footage they will not shake when the background does and it triggers something in our minds that says "fake."
- Rob

X-cynthia_webster
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Jan 30, 2000, 9:47 PM

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Re: Video/Audio question for DV & Blue screen question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear Von,
The whole point of blue-screen - is that it is an automated process; else, one would have to rotoscope a matte manually around the desired object on a frame by frame basis.
Pay attention to blue light reflected back towards your actors from the blue wall behind them. This blue "overspill" can ruin an otherwise perfectly good shoot. A larger blue background, and as much distance between them and your talent is desireable.
Light the blue screen as evenly as possible, (soft diffused light), And if you don't have a large space to do this in, straw or pale yellow gells on a back-light can effectively cancel any stray blue light reflecting back on the actors or objects to be matted. Good Luck! from: Cynthia Webster