Communicating between camera positions at DVinfo.net

Mark Richman · March 15th, 2003, 06:09 PM

I plan to start shooting event videography. Deciding on the PD150 was the easy part now I need to know about what audio system to use. Leaning towards a senheiser evolution for my lav's.

However, I am hoping to be able to communicate to my other camera persons. Kinda like, "hey get a tight shot of the dad", "am I good to move?", "are you rolling?". Get the picture? Does or has anyone used a good communication system while still listening to audio being recorded by the microphones? And what about using headphones to listen and headphones to communicate?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Mike Rehmus · March 15th, 2003, 06:25 PM

I cannot tell you what works for me because I don't use radios to communicate with because they tend to interfere with whatever I'm working on. And they are something else to carry/power/fail.

I do know that some of the videographers that bleong to WEVA report good results with headphone style radio communications.

I rely on pre-event assignments for myself and my other camera people. Each are responsible for getting footage of assigned people and events. Everyone also goes for the opportunity shots.

You do have to be careful with radio transmitters around the PD150. If you use them, turn off the steadyshot. Or you wil probably have a jumping picture whenever you key the transmitter.

Don Berube · March 15th, 2003, 07:32 PM

I have used the RTS wireless system before on some shoots with very good results.
http://www.rts-direct.com/Products_RW.html

Also:
http://www.clearcom.com/products/wireless/wireless.html

This is something you could always rent if you need it only occasionally.

- don

Garret Ambrosio · March 27th, 2003, 11:47 AM

This sounds like a good idea, but how do you filter out your comments and instructions from the production?

Mike Rehmus · March 27th, 2003, 02:20 PM

You cannot. That's why studios only allow the camerapersons to listen, not talk during a take. The person talking has to be certain that whatever they are taping either has the microphone located away from the camera or they shut up.

That said, the way experienced camerapersons communicate is with a puff code. That is they blow gently over the microphone on the radio. A simple morse code can be worked out that will suffice.

Mark Richman · March 27th, 2003, 02:25 PM

guess I better work some signals out for the other cameras.

March 15th, 2003, 06:09 PM	#1
Mark Richman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sarasota Posts: 79	Communicating between camera positions I plan to start shooting event videography. Deciding on the PD150 was the easy part now I need to know about what audio system to use. Leaning towards a senheiser evolution for my lav's. However, I am hoping to be able to communicate to my other camera persons. Kinda like, "hey get a tight shot of the dad", "am I good to move?", "are you rolling?". Get the picture? Does or has anyone used a good communication system while still listening to audio being recorded by the microphones? And what about using headphones to listen and headphones to communicate? Thanks in advance, Mark __________________ Green Novice turning Yellow Pro Soon to be Ripe - So stand back!

March 15th, 2003, 06:25 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I cannot tell you what works for me because I don't use radios to communicate with because they tend to interfere with whatever I'm working on. And they are something else to carry/power/fail. I do know that some of the videographers that bleong to WEVA report good results with headphone style radio communications. I rely on pre-event assignments for myself and my other camera people. Each are responsible for getting footage of assigned people and events. Everyone also goes for the opportunity shots. You do have to be careful with radio transmitters around the PD150. If you use them, turn off the steadyshot. Or you wil probably have a jumping picture whenever you key the transmitter. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

March 15th, 2003, 07:32 PM	#3
Don Berube Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Boston, MA (travel frequently) Posts: 837	I have used the RTS wireless system before on some shoots with very good results. http://www.rts-direct.com/Products_RW.html Also: http://www.clearcom.com/products/wireless/wireless.html This is something you could always rent if you need it only occasionally. - don __________________ DONALD BERUBE - noisybrain. Productions, LLC Director Of Photography/ Producer/ Consultant http://noisybrain.com/donbio.html CREATE and NETWORK with http://www.bosfcpug.org and also http://fcpugnetwork.org

March 27th, 2003, 11:47 AM	#4
Garret Ambrosio Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 263	This sounds like a good idea, but how do you filter out your comments and instructions from the production? __________________ "USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population." -David Letterman

March 27th, 2003, 02:20 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	You cannot. That's why studios only allow the camerapersons to listen, not talk during a take. The person talking has to be certain that whatever they are taping either has the microphone located away from the camera or they shut up. That said, the way experienced camerapersons communicate is with a puff code. That is they blow gently over the microphone on the radio. A simple morse code can be worked out that will suffice. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

March 27th, 2003, 02:25 PM	#6
Mark Richman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sarasota Posts: 79	I see your point guess I better work some signals out for the other cameras. __________________ Green Novice turning Yellow Pro Soon to be Ripe - So stand back!