Advise and Questions about low light and audio at DVinfo.net

Kajito Nagib · September 28th, 2011, 11:51 AM

I will be filming a simple one man staged reading at a local Theater next month. The performance will be 70 minutes long. I'm a little concern about how the camera will perform in a low light situation. I was told that camera set up would have to be behind the last row. I have no idea what the lighting situation will be and I won't have access to the Theater until the day of the shoot. How much gain should I apply without introducing too much noise? Also how should I setup audio? I have a Rode NTG1 and a Zoom H4n. Place it on stage, leave it on the camera or run a through a mixer? I've never done any theater work before so any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

cheers,

-kaj

Ervin Farkas · September 29th, 2011, 08:39 PM

It really depends what "too much noise" means to you. Some people go up to 9dB and say there is no visible noise, others see noise even at 0dB in low light situations. If it comes down to seeing or not seeing the talent, you really have no choice, bump up the gain to have an acceptable image, then clean the video in post with something like Neat Video... but you might actually be happy as it comes out. One thing that always helps me in low light is black stretch bumped up to +3.

I would contact the theater to check if they use a mic on the talent; if they do, see if they are willing to give you a feed from their audio board. If not, I would place the shotgun close to the stage, but find out if the talent is moving around or not - with the limited angle of a shotgun, if he moves, the level will change dramatically.

Your best option for audio would be a wireless lapel on one channel and a cardioid on the other channel for the audience.

I would only use the Zoom as backup.

Kajito Nagib · September 29th, 2011, 10:58 PM

thanks Ervin:-)

Claude Mangold · October 2nd, 2011, 11:53 PM

Here's a thread about cam settings for theater :
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...tock-lens.html

Mariusz Szynkiewicz · January 13th, 2012, 05:39 AM

You can use "Low light" scene file recipe from Tim Dashwood.
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachments/jvc-gy-hd-series-camera-systems/3015d1178154950-hd200-series-scene-file-recipes-hd200_scene_files.pdf

September 28th, 2011, 11:51 AM	#1
Kajito Nagib Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 432	Advise and Questions about low light and audio I will be filming a simple one man staged reading at a local Theater next month. The performance will be 70 minutes long. I'm a little concern about how the camera will perform in a low light situation. I was told that camera set up would have to be behind the last row. I have no idea what the lighting situation will be and I won't have access to the Theater until the day of the shoot. How much gain should I apply without introducing too much noise? Also how should I setup audio? I have a Rode NTG1 and a Zoom H4n. Place it on stage, leave it on the camera or run a through a mixer? I've never done any theater work before so any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. cheers, -kaj __________________ -kAj http://www.sweetproductionmedia.com/

September 29th, 2011, 08:39 PM	#2
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Re: Advise and Questions about low light and audio It really depends what "too much noise" means to you. Some people go up to 9dB and say there is no visible noise, others see noise even at 0dB in low light situations. If it comes down to seeing or not seeing the talent, you really have no choice, bump up the gain to have an acceptable image, then clean the video in post with something like Neat Video... but you might actually be happy as it comes out. One thing that always helps me in low light is black stretch bumped up to +3. I would contact the theater to check if they use a mic on the talent; if they do, see if they are willing to give you a feed from their audio board. If not, I would place the shotgun close to the stage, but find out if the talent is moving around or not - with the limited angle of a shotgun, if he moves, the level will change dramatically. Your best option for audio would be a wireless lapel on one channel and a cardioid on the other channel for the audience. I would only use the Zoom as backup. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

September 29th, 2011, 10:58 PM	#3
Kajito Nagib Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 432	Re: Advise and Questions about low light and audio thanks Ervin:-) __________________ -kAj http://www.sweetproductionmedia.com/

October 2nd, 2011, 11:53 PM	#4
Claude Mangold Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Berlin and Geneva Posts: 259	Re: Advise and Questions about low light and audio Here's a thread about cam settings for theater : http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...tock-lens.html

January 13th, 2012, 05:39 AM	#5
Mariusz Szynkiewicz Tourist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warsaw (POLAND) Posts: 3	Re: Advise and Questions about low light and audio You can use "Low light" scene file recipe from Tim Dashwood. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachments/jvc-gy-hd-series-camera-systems/3015d1178154950-hd200-series-scene-file-recipes-hd200_scene_files.pdf __________________ OnyksFilm.pl -----> Filmy promocyjne i reklamowe - Filmowanie Warszawa Płock Włocławek Toruń