Tue - July 18, 2006
VLOBLIVE has moved!
If you can read this, then you should be aware
that VLOBLIVE has moved.
The new website is here http;//www.vloblive.info
and the new RSS feed is here. http://vloblive.wordpress.com/feed/
You will have to re-subscribe in your RSS news reader.
The new website is here http;//www.vloblive.info
and the new RSS feed is here. http://vloblive.wordpress.com/feed/
You will have to re-subscribe in your RSS news reader.
Read More | other items in category
Thu - July 6, 2006
mixing onstage vs mixing in a control booth
Which is better - mixing onstage where the
action is, or mixing in a control booth?
Read on to see how the two compare...
Read on to see how the two compare...
Read More | other items in category
Tue - May 2, 2006
Is there a place for HDV in low budget live video?
HDV is the new buzz in video circles - it seems
to offer the impossible; High Definition video at the price (and datarate) of
Standard Definition.
Great for low budget video production, but what about VLOBLIVE gigs? Should you care? How can you make use of all those extra pixels?
Read on to consider some of the issues raised by this new video format...
Great for low budget video production, but what about VLOBLIVE gigs? Should you care? How can you make use of all those extra pixels?
Read on to consider some of the issues raised by this new video format...
Read More | other items in category
Fri - March 3, 2006
With IMAG - Remember to tell the artists where to look..and give them
something to look at!
Making eye contact with the audience means
looking into the camera for IMAG, but do your artists know where to look? Here's
some tips...including a REALLY cheap way of faking a tally light on a FOH
camera...read on.
Read More | other items in category
The VLOBLIVE toolbox - what to pack for a video gig?
What items would I always take in my toolbox to a
VLOBLIVE gig? Read on to find out.
Read More | other items in category
Software to help set up projectors
Here is a link to a handy utility for setting up
your projectors or displays
http://www.showsage.com/utilities.html It's free, but they want your name and email address. Seems a reasonable trade to me.
Available for Mac and PC in different resolutions. That's it.
http://www.showsage.com/utilities.html It's free, but they want your name and email address. Seems a reasonable trade to me.
Available for Mac and PC in different resolutions. That's it.
Read More | other items in category
Easy way to work out how close your FOH cameras have to be..measure
it!
One of the eternal questions for VLOBLIVE video
is how close do the FOH cameras need to be to get good shots. The answer, of
course, is ...it depends..read more for details.
Read More | other items in category
Thu - March 2, 2006
Use a cheapo LCD TV to give a better idea what your LCD projectors are
showing.
One way to better ensure that what you see is
what the audience get is to use an LCD TV as your program monitor. ... read
more.
Read More | other items in category
Tue - February 7, 2006
PC based video file player software - part 1
One of my quests is to find inexpensive software
that works well for playing playlists of video files directly from a PC or Mac.
Here's another contender: AV
Player HD from Neuromixer
Read More | other items in category
Thu - January 26, 2006
Free Software to play SWF files in Powerpoint
If you ever have the need to play Flash animation
files (SWF) inside a Powerpoint presentation, then there's a hard way and an
easy way. Here's the easy way - SWF Point
Player from GlobFX . Read more to see how it solved our
problem...
Read More | other items in category
Thu - January 12, 2006
How do deal with the question "can you just record the gig for
us?"
More often than not, someone at every gig will
ask you "hey are you recording this?". What you answer will depend who is
asking, when they are asking, and why they are asking...
Read More | other items in category
how to learn: record your IMAG mixes.
it sounds a bit narcissistic but a good way to
learn how to get better at doing video mixing is to record your own mixes to
tape or via a fixed DV cam, and watch them back later. Here are some suggestions
on how to get the best out of it....
Read More | other items in category
Watch out for cheap analog pro video mixers!
You have maybe seen cheap pro analog video mixers
for sale on ebay or elsewhere for knock-down
prices.
Just be careful that you know what your are bidding for/buying...
Just be careful that you know what your are bidding for/buying...
Read More | other items in category
Choosing cameras to use for IMAG at VLOBLIVE gigs
In the kind of budget range most VLOBLIVE gigs
are operating, your camera choice is going to be limited to pretty much whatever
you can get your hands on. However if you do have some choices, or if you are
looking to invest in purchasing some cameras, here are some pointers to help you
choose.
Read More | other items in category
Tue - January 10, 2006
matrox dualhead-2-go - superwidescreen support for projection.
Here's a great idea - an external box that looks
to your computer like an extra wide display, but in fact it splits the signals
across two displays.
Read More | other items in category
Basecamp - online project collaboration and project tracking tool
Recently we have started using the Basecamp
online project collaboration tool to plan live video events and it has been very
successful. Here are some questions and answers about that product and how it
might fit in to a live video event planning.
Read More | other items in category
Thu - November 17, 2005
New budget analog video mixer from Datavideo
Something of a rarity - a new well featured
analog video mixer that would be ideal for VLOBLIVE gigs. This one is from
Datavideo - the SE500.
Read more for some of it's unique features...
Read more for some of it's unique features...
Read More | other items in category
Sat - October 22, 2005
Tips to consider when using static cameras for IMAG
Static cameras, i.e. cameras set up on a single
fixed shot may seem like an attractive option if you have more cameras than you
have operators. They can be very useful, but they have their drawbacks, some of
which are outlined here...
Read More | other items in category
Tue - October 4, 2005
Split Quicktime Movies over multiple screens on a Mac
Another useful Mac app here- this one is called
MaxiFrame and it lets you play a QT movie across
multiple monitors or projectors from a (fast)
Mac.
READ MORE for how this could be used for VLOBLIVE gigs, and how it could be improved.
READ MORE for how this could be used for VLOBLIVE gigs, and how it could be improved.
Read More | other items in category
Remotely control and sync powerpoint or keynote presentation on a
Mac
Here's an interesting little program that lets
you control or sync multiple keynote or powerpoint presentations over a network
on a Mac:
KeyShowX
READ MORE for some discussion on how this might be useful in a VLOBLIVE gig...
KeyShowX
READ MORE for some discussion on how this might be useful in a VLOBLIVE gig...
Read More | other items in category
Sun - September 25, 2005
New Edirol SD AND HD mixer and upscaler - comparison to Newtek
Tricaster
Just found some info on the Edirol site about
this new combination SD & HD/RGB mixer and upscaler. Some very interesting
features for the VLOBLIVE or church install gig, including 4 channels of SD
mixing, and upscaler and 4 channels of HD or RGB (VGA) mixing in one box.
Read more for more discussion on how this is EXACTLY the product that most of us could really use...(depending on price) and how it compares to the other hot product right now - the Newtek Tricaster.
Read more for more discussion on how this is EXACTLY the product that most of us could really use...(depending on price) and how it compares to the other hot product right now - the Newtek Tricaster.
Read More | other items in category
Sat - September 24, 2005
How important is tape choice when filming in DV or HDV?
There are expensive DV and HDV tapes and there
are cheap ones. Does it make a difference?
Is it worth the risk to buy them in bulk at Costco?
Here are my own suggestions on how to make the right choice.
Read more for details.
Is it worth the risk to buy them in bulk at Costco?
Here are my own suggestions on how to make the right choice.
Read more for details.
Read More | other items in category
Gig Blog: Shooting a wedding service...in widescreen!
This is the post-gig analysis on a 3 camera shoot
of a wedding service that we filmed recently. What did we learn? Mainly...that
we still have stuff to learn! but also widescreen is great, but needs some
thinking through.
Read more for the details...
Read more for the details...
Read More | other items in category
Gig Blog: IMAG for a big Orchestra and Choir - preparation is the
key!
64 piece orchestra, 50 strong choir, IMAG, song
words, and a presentation. A potential nightmare? Forewarned is
forearmed!
What made the difference was preparation. Read my report on this gig.
What made the difference was preparation. Read my report on this gig.
Read More | other items in category
Sun - August 21, 2005
Making a 'play-then-pause' DVD in DVD Studio Pro
Here's a quick 'how-to' provided by Buzz Miller
(who got it from Nick
Fox-Gieg ) on how to design a DVD in Apple's DVD Studio Pro app that
will play one clip then pause on black, then play the next clip and pause etc.
If you're doing a VLOBLIVE event short-handed and need to know that there is NO
WAY to play the wrong thing on the DVD, this is a good
approach.
Thanks Buzz.
Thanks Buzz.
Read More | other items in category
formatting song words for use with IMAG
If you know in advance that you are planning to
overlay words on IMAG live video, then you can help yourself out by formatting
the words in a sensible way. ...
Read More | other items in category
Tips for preparing video for live playback
A lot of the info on this site relates to live
camera work, but playing back video clips is a very common requirement for
VLOBLIVE events, and there are quite a few things you can do to make this work
better...
Read More | other items in category
Debugging S-Video problems
There are some specific tips for debugging
S-Video connections on two separate Co-ax cables (one for luminance (Y) and one
for chrominance (C)). Here they are...
Read More | other items in category
Making a PC usable on a tiny TV monitor
From time to time you may end up having to
operate a PC connected to a scan converter WITHOUT a monitor, i.e. the PC is
connected directly to the scan converter and the only place you can see the
screen contents is on a Video monitor or projector output. This is fine when it
is displayed on a big screen, but when all you have to go on is a tiny 4 inch
preview monitor, it is much harder to
control.
Here's a quick way to make it more visible, using the accesibility settings in Windows.
Here's a quick way to make it more visible, using the accesibility settings in Windows.
Read More | other items in category
Adjusting brightness and contrast...the proper way. (Updated)
Brightness and contrast are among the most
misunderstood controls on most monitors and projectors. Here's a way to ensure
that they are set up properly...
Read More | other items in category
Problems with projector brightness
"This projector is just too bright" - not
something you hear too often at VLOBLIVE gigs! So is there anything you can do,
short of shelling out more cash, to improve the problem of projected live video
being too dark.
Read More | other items in category
buying a non-laptop PC for VLOBLIVE use
Laptops are great for use at a portable VLOBLIVE
gig, If, however you are looking to make a more permanent installation, or you
are using the PC as the video scaler (See this entry for details) then you are pretty
much stuck with a 'desktop' PC (there are very few, if any analogue video
capture cards that work in a PC Card slot in a laptop). Here are some tips for
configuring a portable media PC for VLOBLIVE use...
Read More | other items in category
Mixed VGA and Video - what are the options?
Most VLOBLIVE events require both video sources -
VCRs DVDs cameras etc. and also PC graphics sources. Somehow both of these types
of signals have to end up at the
projector.
Here's a quick lowdown of the main ways to do it and why you might choose each one...
Here's a quick lowdown of the main ways to do it and why you might choose each one...
Read More | other items in category
A note on S-Video connections
S-Video is a great thing for vloblive technicians
– it gives you a lot of the benefit of component video in terms of
quality, without increasing the cable count too much. The big downer of S-Video
is that, invariably it requires connection with those horrible little miniDIN
plugs. Not only are they hard to orient in a hurry, but the pins bend easily and
they have no mechanical locking mechanism. Here's one way around
it...
Read More | other items in category
What is the best kind of connector to use for video interconnect?
If you are using a whole mixture of equipment,
chances are you have a mixture of BNC, phono and maybe even other connector
types for your video interconnect. Which is best and why?...
Read More | other items in category
Projector screen size - bigger is better, right?
Given the option you always want the BIGGEST
screen you can find for projecting onto.... or do you?...
Read More | other items in category
How big a screen do I need and how far away does the projector have to
be?
There are compromises all round when it comes to
screen size, but here are some guidelines...
Read More | other items in category
What do I do if my camera postions turn out to be unusable?
You set up a camera position and discover that
once you see the positions of people and things on stage, your main shots are
being blocked. What do you do?
Read More | other items in category
What is the best order to set up your equipment?
It may seem a bit trivial, but in my experience
the order that you do things in can make a big difference between getting
everything running for a gig in the time available or ending up running around
in a panic at the last minute, or having to run a show without some vital piece
of equipment.
Read More | other items in category
How do I get rid of the horrible screen that flashes up when I switch
inputs to my projector?
my projector puts up a big
blue(black/yellow/whatever) screen every time my switcher switches - can I stop
this happening as it looks very amateurish?
Read More | other items in category
My video is too bright - what's wrong?
Everything is connected OK, but the video is far
too bright - lighter bits of the image are totally white
Read More | other items in category
My video has gone all dim - what's wrong?
Everything is plugged in OK, and I am getting a
picture but it seems much less bright than normal
Read More | other items in category
logical fault finding - ten tips for when things go wrong
When everything works there are no worries, but
when things go wrong where do you start? When you are under pressure and the
screens are black, and everyone is looking at you, it's tough to think straight
and the danger is you just grab stuff and start unplugging, and make things
work. Here are some possible tips.
Read More | other items in category
preview monitors - how many to have?
Preview monitors are the TVs or video monitors
that show you what's happening on the various inputs to your video mixer or
switcher. This ensures that you know what's coming next when you are mixing
video. The question is....how many do you need? As is often the case the easy
answer is the most expensive answer - one per video input, but let's look at
some alternatives.
Read More | other items in category
DVD as a format for live video playback - an analysis.
As more and more computer based video editing
systems gain the ability to burn video to DVD, I can see this becoming the most
common format for the delivery of 'home-made' playback video for live
events.
This has some good consequences and some unexpected side-effects. Read on for how to get the best of the DVD format at a VLOBLIVE event.
This has some good consequences and some unexpected side-effects. Read on for how to get the best of the DVD format at a VLOBLIVE event.
Read More | other items in category
10 things to look for in a DVD player for playback at live events.
Consumer DVD players are SO cheap now, it's very
tempting to make use of them as a playback tool for live events. Some are better
suited to this application than others. Here are 10 specific features to watch
out for when buying a consumer DVD player for use at live events.
Read More | other items in category
Buying, wiring and using an intercom system for camera operators
I've outlined before what you should do with an
intercom system once you have one, but here is some more detail on how the
system itself can be best configured for camops (camera operators) and vision
mixing.
Read More | other items in category
Configuring a computer for graphics presentation
If you have ever had a battery charge dialog box
pop up, or a screensaver kick in during a presentation you will know that there
are some precautionary measures you should take to set up any computer being
used for live graphics display at a VLOBLIVE event... Here are some of
them.
Read More | other items in category
How to cope with non-optimum screen to projector distances?
We've all been there - sometimes there's no time
to recce the venue, and when you get there you find that there just isn't the
option to put the projectors where they need to be.
What to do? Here's some ideas...
What to do? Here's some ideas...
Read More | other items in category
Finally! - a workaround to be able to use MS Powerpoint v.X on dual
screen Macs
One areas where Mac-using VLOBLIVErs are let down
is in running presentations on dual monitor systems. the aesthetically superior
Apple Keynote only displays speaker's notes while running on two monitors, while
Microsoft's Powerpoint v.X is tantalisingly close to being useful, but in fact
is seriously brain-dead, or just broken when it really comes down to it. Here,
however, is an original workaround for making it rather more useful.
Read More | other items in category
Hey you! Do you need a CCU?
The proper way to use a Pro studio camera is with
a big thick (expensive) multicore cable connected to a camera control unit
(CCU). So for VLOBLIVE events you should do this too right? In your dreams
maybe!...
Read More | other items in category
MX50 preview output - It's meant to be like that!
Once you understand why the preview output on the
Panasonic MX50 works that way, it makes sense. Unfortunately it doesn't make it
any more useful for live video!! ...
Read More | other items in category
When to change shot?
The eternal question - when do you go to another
shot when mixing live video? ...
Read More | other items in category
Tips for using intercoms with live camera operators
If you can possibly do it, having wired
intercoms, e.g. RTS, tecpro or Clearcom is a great benefit when you are mixing a
live IMAG show with camera operators.
But what do you say?
Here are some suggestions...
But what do you say?
Here are some suggestions...
Read More | other items in category
Matching colour balance on multiple cameras
Here's a tip for checking colour balance matching
on multiple cameras...
Read More | other items in category
Song words - overlay or not?
The big question about song words is whether you
overlay them on your live video (if you have any) or still images or whether you
keep it all plain and simple. Here is my personal viewpoint...
Read More | other items in category
Overlayed text or song words
Overlaying words to a song etc. over the top of
live video is a very common requirement.
You can use a feature of the downstream key on a Panasonic MX50 video mixer to make overlayed words more legible.
You can use a feature of the downstream key on a Panasonic MX50 video mixer to make overlayed words more legible.
Read More | other items in category
Thu - August 18, 2005
Why write about gigs in the Gig Blog?
Unless you REALLY aren't paying attention, I
imagine that you usually come away from a VLOBLIVE gig thinking something along
the lines "Well that was good, but next time I will remember to ...." The
purpose of the Gig Blog is to record some of those thoughts about what happened
at gigs that I have done - what went well, what went badly, what could be
improved for next time.
Read More | other items in category
Countdown movie file
This is a countdown movie file in motion jpeg
quicktime format
Read More | other items in category
Use an RSS newsreader to keep up to date with VLOBLIVE
It may have escaped your attention but VLOBLIVE
has an RSS feed. Click on the 'Syndicate this site' link on the left to add
VLOBLIVE to your web browser or newsreader RSS list and find out when new
articles are added.
Read More | other items in category
Sat - June 25, 2005
New vloblive domain name registered
we are now at www.vloblive.info
Read More | other items in category
Comments now supported on VLOBLIVE
Now you can add your own comments or pearls of
wisdom to any entries
Read More | other items in category
Fri - May 21, 2004
DVD perils
The advent of DVD burners on many PCs and Macs
used for video editing means that more and more video clips used in live events
are being provided on DVD. It is a convenient, reasonable quality format with
random access for clip selection and a menu system to allow multiple clips to be
put on one DVD disk.
There are, however a few gotchas that can trip up the unwary. Here are some that we have encountered.
There are, however a few gotchas that can trip up the unwary. Here are some that we have encountered.
Read More | other items in category
Sun - December 21, 2003
Safety first - why VLOBLIVE gigs are actually more risky than
others?
It may seem a strange thing to say, but in many
ways a VLOBLIVE type gig is actually at higher risk of a health and safety risk
happening than at a much larger, more complex pro gig. Here's
why...
Read More | other items in category
Thu - November 27, 2003
It's official: Lo Fi video is cool!
Never mind beating ourselves up over having to
make do with low quality gear and less than optimum results, it seems some of
the big boys are falling over themselves to emulate that grungy, edgy, rough at
the edges look...
Read More | other items in category
Wed - October 29, 2003
Need giant graphics AND detailed video...divide and conquer
If you are envious of the groovy picture in
picture modes used by big corporate boys to have a huge graphic backdrop with an
inserted live video then think laterally and achieve a similar effect...sort
of!
Read More | other items in category
Sun - October 26, 2003
The things you wish you'd remembered before it was too late
I now make it a rule to write a 'things still to
do' list as I go through the setup of a show. I didn't always...
Read More | other items in category
faulty gear - avoid the recurring nightmare
Finding a faulty cable or connector or input etc.
is very annoying. Forgetting about it and having to find it over and over again
is even more annoying. Some tips for preventing this...
Read More | other items in category
Hey, you're encouraging low standards in live video!
I guess on one reading of this site I could be
accused of encouraging the 'cheap and cheerful' brigade to say "it's OK to do
live video on the cheap, and to fob off the general public with sub-standard
implementations of inadequate systems". But that would be missing the
point...
Read More | other items in category
Fri - September 12, 2003
The history of VLOBLIVE
Am I the only person trying to do live video on
no money? I doubt it. So when I couldn't find a website that really got into
detail about live video at this level, I decided to do something about it.
...
Read More | other items in category
Thu - September 11, 2003
Where to locate your PPU - it's not as obvious as you think.
If you are setting up for a VLOBLIVE event, one
of the questions you will be asking (preferrably before you actually arrive) is
where to locate command central, a.k.a. your "portable production unit" PPU
a.k.a your pile of gear. I am referring to the place where you (or one of your
crew) will sit to play tapes, mix video, and generally do the biz for the video.
I suggest the best place might not be where you would think.
Read More | other items in category
VLOBLIVE and VJing
If you are a VJ, you are welcome to look around.
A lot of the info here is very relevant. Some of the aesthetics are a bit
different.
Read More | other items in category
Tue - September 9, 2003
Handheld camera work - just say no!
Hey, look at us! We have cameramen wandering
around the stage, just like at
Glastonbury!!
Sorry. Not impressed. ...
Sorry. Not impressed. ...
Read More | other items in category
Mon - September 8, 2003
The curse of the wide shot
Wide shots are for TV. They have no place in true
IMAG ...
Read More | other items in category
Tue - September 2, 2003
Doubling up projectors - but how to control them?
I thought I was being clever doubling up our
Hitachi CPX995s for extra brightness, till I tried to use the
remote...
Read More | other items in category
low level reverse camera angle
Don't assume that the cameras always have to get
the artists from the front...
Read More | other items in category
Video and lighting - an uneasy truce
Good lighting can make good video. Bad lighting
can ruin good video. Good lighting doesn't rescue bad video...
Read More | other items in category
Widescreen video wall on the cheap
Do you eye up those HUGE widescreen walls of
video that are so in vogue at the moment for megabucks corporate gigs? Well,
here's two ways to emulate that style, in a more modest way...
Read More | other items in category
Multipin camera connectors - fiddle at your peril
It may seem tempting to roll your own multi-way
camera cable to plug onto that big fat multiway connector on your studio camera
or camcorder, but beware...
Read More | other items in category
About this site
This site contains my personal views, ideas, tips, tricks and rants about doing live video, IMAG or graphics at live events on a very low budget. They are published as I get time, in a style closely approximating a weblog. Dave C.
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About me
My name is Dave Chalmers and I live in Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. My background is in Electronics, but for 10 years I have been helping to put on live video at events in central Scotland in my spare time. Through the course of these events, nearly all on very constrained budgets, I have learned a few things about what works and what doesn't. While I would not claim to be able to give you all the answers, I can at least help you avoid some of the mistakes.
Disclaimer
Except where otherwise stated, all content on this site is either my own views and opinions, or is collated from my own experience or research. Feel free to use the ideas, but please do not rip off the content without permission. No liability is accepted for it all going horribly wrong if you follow any of this advice!
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