Need Some Rental Advice at DVinfo.net

Vicky Orsini · September 9th, 2011, 02:46 PM

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and videography in general. Just picked up a new HF-G10. :)

I'm very shortly going to be filming my first "somewhat pro" gig...a set of interviews/testimonials for my TKD club, to be loaded to their website. The interviews are going to happen in one of the spare dojangs (workout areas) at the club. So, think ugly industrial lighting, high ceilings, bad sound, lots and lots of background noise (classes going on at the same time in other rooms). The subjects will be individuals or families of 2-4 people, including some young children.

I took my camera to the club the other day and tried out a few test runs with various adjustments to my camera's built-in mics. As you can imagine, the sound was less than optimal. Lots of echo and "tinny" sound, and nothing I did would tone down the sound of kids shouting in the next room. So I'm contemplating a rental of some audio - and possibly lighting - equipment...but I have no idea what the best choices would be.

For sound...would you use a lav in this case? I'll have to continually remove it and attach it to each person who comes in. Would it work to pick up 3 or 4 other people in the immediate area, but limit the amount of back-ground noise it will pick up from the rest of the club? Or would a shotgun mic mounted on a tripod work better?

I'm not sure if I need lighting, but I'm going to guess it would help more than it would hurt. Right now, everything looks "industrial". I'd like to warm the place up a little for these interviews.

Here's the place I'll be renting from. Rentals Headshots rentals pro photography and video

I know nothing about any of these items. Which ones do you think would be my best bet, given the camera I'm using?

Thanks!

Dylan Couper · September 10th, 2011, 02:45 PM

Audio:
Rent a Sennheiser wireless lav mic. Do not use a shotgun on a tripod, it'll sound nearly as bad as your camera.

Lighting:
Keep it simple, rent a Kino Diva light. Sets up fast and makes (almost) anyone look good.

Ask the rental company to give it to you the day before for free so you can try the gear out and get familiar with it.

Vicky Orsini · September 11th, 2011, 02:46 PM

Excellent! Thanks so much Dylan! :)

September 9th, 2011, 02:46 PM	#1
Vicky Orsini New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 14	Need Some Rental Advice Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and videography in general. Just picked up a new HF-G10. :) I'm very shortly going to be filming my first "somewhat pro" gig...a set of interviews/testimonials for my TKD club, to be loaded to their website. The interviews are going to happen in one of the spare dojangs (workout areas) at the club. So, think ugly industrial lighting, high ceilings, bad sound, lots and lots of background noise (classes going on at the same time in other rooms). The subjects will be individuals or families of 2-4 people, including some young children. I took my camera to the club the other day and tried out a few test runs with various adjustments to my camera's built-in mics. As you can imagine, the sound was less than optimal. Lots of echo and "tinny" sound, and nothing I did would tone down the sound of kids shouting in the next room. So I'm contemplating a rental of some audio - and possibly lighting - equipment...but I have no idea what the best choices would be. For sound...would you use a lav in this case? I'll have to continually remove it and attach it to each person who comes in. Would it work to pick up 3 or 4 other people in the immediate area, but limit the amount of back-ground noise it will pick up from the rest of the club? Or would a shotgun mic mounted on a tripod work better? I'm not sure if I need lighting, but I'm going to guess it would help more than it would hurt. Right now, everything looks "industrial". I'd like to warm the place up a little for these interviews. Here's the place I'll be renting from. Rentals Headshots rentals pro photography and video I know nothing about any of these items. Which ones do you think would be my best bet, given the camera I'm using? Thanks!

September 10th, 2011, 02:45 PM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Need Some Rental Advice Audio: Rent a Sennheiser wireless lav mic. Do not use a shotgun on a tripod, it'll sound nearly as bad as your camera. Lighting: Keep it simple, rent a Kino Diva light. Sets up fast and makes (almost) anyone look good. Ask the rental company to give it to you the day before for free so you can try the gear out and get familiar with it. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

September 11th, 2011, 02:46 PM	#3
Vicky Orsini New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 14	Re: Need Some Rental Advice Excellent! Thanks so much Dylan! :)