Comprehensive Equipment List
 

Hi!

I am getting a business up and running that will do promotional multimedia and graphic design, specializing in promotional video (Standard Def). I am wondering what you all would suggest for equipment. My budget is as much as is needed to get good equipment (within reason) - more money simply means that I have to save longer, but I am willing to do that.

Here is what I already have:

Computer: Unit I built myself. It is built on a Tyan Tempest i5000XT motherboard and has one Intel 5130 Woodcrest 2.0GHz dual-core CPU (I intend to add a second CPU in the near future), 2gb of ram, a Quadro FX 3450 graphics card, 1 250gb primary HDD and 2 250gb HDDs for storage (I will add a 400gb HDD in the near future).

Software/NLE Adobe Production Suite Premium CS2

Camera: Sony DCR VX2000 w/ ProVista tripod with fluid head.

Audio: Gitzo G-556 Boompole, Audio-Technica AT835B Shotgun, and Rolls MX34 mixer.

Now for the equipment I'm considering purchasing:

Camera: Canon XL2 body, 16x manual lens, FU 1000 viewfinder, Anton Bauer battery adapter and a couple bricks, and a small field monitor (CRT? LCD? Recommendations would be appreciated).

Audio: I think what I have already should be adequate except for the mixer. I'd like to get one with xlr and TRS inputs and switchable line/mic XLR outputs. Suggestions for specific model? Also, should I consider a separate audio recorder?

Lighting: This would be for interviews primarily, but also to light promo shooting in general. I am considering Arri Arrilite 2000 Tungsten 2 Light Kit and appropriate soft-boxes with eggcrate grids, and Smith-Victor 600 Watt Hairlight Kit. Would this be good for a starting light kit?

Computer: My computer is quite adequate, but I need to add audio monitors (JBL LSR4326P) and two computer monitors. I would like to go with the Sony GDM FW900 except it doesn't have DVI input. My graphics card only has DVI output (DVI-D or -A). Recommendations?

Whew! Is there anything I missed? Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks a ton for helping!

Dale

Audio Mixer: Sound Devices 302 or 442, perhaps also a SD MixPre for run-and-gun situations.

Computer: Don't forget a decent multichannel audio interface. Motherboard sound or "blaster" type soundcards won't cut it.

Thanks, Steve. I'm just curious - what is the difference between a good sound card and motherboard sound? Especially since I will be using coaxial (which my motherboard provides).

Motherboard sound is notoriously awful, the cheapest and fewest components the manufacturers can manage. At some point you're going to need to get analog in or out of the system. Let's say you need to record some voice over or narration - you wouldn't send that to the camera and record to tape then capture the tape tossing the blank picture - you'd send it direct to recording software in the PC. A good interface will provide cleaner A/D converters with better noise figures and remove the analog circuitry from the electrically noisy environment inside the computer.

Ah, that makes sense. But what about when sending digital SPDIF signal via coaxial to the monitors. Would that mean that the A/D conversion is happening at the monitors instead of in the computer? I am convinced about the need for a good sound card, I'm just curious.

Dale