serious XDCAM-mixed project - seeking advice

megabit wrote on 4/22/2008, 2:16 AM

I'm preparing for an important project, recording live chamber music in the Polish kings' castle in Krakow. Apart from my EX1, two XDCAM HD machines will be used, and the sound will be recorded by a sound engineer. I'm going to cut it myself using Vegas.

Considering it's going to be my first project using both XDCAM EX and XDCAM HD material, I am open to every single piece of advice from our more experienced members here. On Friday, I will be test shooting with the lighting setup (provide by Philips Poland, who is one of the sponsors for this series of events). Anything particular I should pay attention to, and perhaps ask the lighting engineers for?

Also, which format to use? Shooting with just one cam, I've been using HQ 1080/25p almost exclusively; but considering the bigger XDCAM machines don't use 1920, should I sacrifice the HQ mode in order to inter-cut better?

Also worth mentioning that although I'll edit in HD to create HD master, for the time being we'll be making SD DVDs only.

I'll appreciate any input :)

Comments

farss wrote on 4/22/2008, 3:10 AM

My biggest concerns would be the lighting. Shoot some footage and check how it looks. Hopefully you will not have any problems. Just keep your eye open for any flicker problems The EX1's rolling shutter can make them look really bad. I only mention this because castles can be lit with discharge lamps and if they're using iron ballasts not running off the mains or the mains frequency drifts then you'll have problems. My problems seemed to have been caused by fluro lights running off some strange kind of dimmers. Even though they were mains powered the flicker turned to waves of light.

I wouldn't worry about the 1920 V 1440 thing at all, I assume you'll be shooting interlaced?
The bigger XDCAMs will probably have better lenses, so they'll suck in more light. Using HQ in the EX1 might close the gap. Still I don't see that as the main concern to getting all shots to match, getting all the setups the same and matching WB would be the bigger issue.

Personally I thing the 'matching' thing to be a bit overdone in general. In some situations it's vital but for events it shouldn't be overly critical.

As the bigger XDCAMs will not be able to record the whole show as 1 clip your cam will have to record the master track. Hope you've got enough 16GB cards. I'd leave it locked off on the wide shot. If you can get TC from your camera into the other so they all sync might help. At least get them all in sync before you roll. Not vital but helps in the edit.

Make certain whatever the sound guy is recording you can read.

If you can organise a proper comms system it really helps in a multicam shoot. Having a director who can see what every cam is covering and can issue orders helps too.

Once you've tested everything DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING on the night no matter how trivial it seems. If there's a technical rehearsal be there, make certain everything you'll be using is on and in use. Trust me on all of this. I've heard some real horror stories. RF comms breaking though into wireless mic systems, changing TC setup making footage uneditable. I've had 10 cameras at one event and not one got the shots we needed etc.

And last but not least, have a good time. Congrats on getting the job.

Bob.

megabit wrote on 4/22/2008, 3:41 AM

Thanks Bob for your invaluable hints.

It seems it's obvious to you we'd be shooting interlaced - why? Considering the static nature of all 3 cameras's framings, I've been planning to go progressive...

And yes - the lighting is crucial; fortunately enough the rehearsal is well before the actual event, so I'll have the opprtunity to influenece how it's going to be lit.

farss wrote on 4/22/2008, 5:32 AM

Only reason I asked about the interlaced thing was if you're shooting P then you're going to be using HQ mode and therefore 1920x1080.
Unless you're thinking about shooting 720p but I think only the EX1 does 720p.

Bob.

megabit wrote on 4/22/2008, 6:01 AM

Oh, of course - but if you say there is no real, editing-related reason to limit my EX1 to the common 1440x1080 resolution with the other XDCAM's, than - using HQ - I will be shooting progressive, as I have always been.

Another question, Bob:

- would you take the line input from the mixer's console, or record the "independent" audio using the Edirol CS-50 (or the Rode NT4 that I'm considering)?

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/22/2008, 6:44 AM

I'd record both mixed and wild audio, using one for ending ambience, and the other for primary mix. You may find you need them both. One from room perspective and the other from stage perspective.
I'd shoot progressive, likely 25p, given your camera models. Vegas will deal very well with the 1920 and 1440 on the same timeline.

farss wrote on 4/22/2008, 7:38 AM

Just to add to what Spot is saying.
As you've said you'll be laying in a recording from the desk into your project if possible record the feed from the desk into your master camera i.e. the one that's going to be recording continuosly. That'll give you a matching wavefrom on the T/L which will make any syncing issues way easier to deal with.

You'd also be wise to also do your own recording using a good stereo mic. I've been caught out twice and never again by what wasn't in a feed from a desk. 1) The MC's mic. 2) The drums, "they were loud enough anyway".

If they're mixing for recording then you'll likely be OK, if they're mixing for reinforcement be warned, it'll probably not sound like it did sitting in the venue.

Bob.

megabit wrote on 4/22/2008, 8:15 AM

Bob and Douglas - Thanks.

I guess whatever the quality of the mixed sound, it'll always be safe to have the spare version - especially with some ambiance added. I'd be best if I had 4 audio channels - I could feed the two mixed stereo lines, plus my own mic.

Frankly, my dilemma now is whether to use my IR-cutting 486 filter or not... Considering the greenish cast at the extremities, it's only viable with considerably zoomed-in framing; on the other hand - since the F320/350 do not suffer the IR pollution, my own colours could differ dramatically on the performers' clothes...

PS. Oh, and Spot - just bought your book, "Vegas Pro 8 Editing Workshop" - loaded with stuff, excellent!