L.A. boy looking to learn at DVinfo.net

February 27th, 2003, 12:53 AM

Hey everyone. My name's Daniel and I live in Alhambra, CA. Looking to learn the DV filmmaking process. I own a Mac, have Final Draft. Eventually, I'll get my hands on a DV camera after I learn some things. I've been writing. Hoping to direct some shorts soon. Anyone who wouldn't mind some help during shoots, please feel free to contact me.
Also, I work at a post production house in Burbank. Anyone needing miniDV or DVCam dubs or stock, VHS screeners, etc. let me know.

Thanks for listening,
Daniel

Rob Lohman · February 27th, 2003, 06:32 PM

Welcome aboard Daniel! Can you tell us a bit more what you do
at a post-production house? Any inside details or tips that you
guys have on processing DV material?

John Locke · February 27th, 2003, 06:36 PM

Welcome to the boards, Daniel!

Does the post-production house have a web site? If so, let us know.

February 27th, 2003, 09:33 PM

Hey Everyone,

Website is www.point360.com.

We have alot of film students come in wanting to transfer their 16mm film or miniDV/DVCams to VHS screeners for various film festivals or screenings. Some of it actually quite good. We work with other video formats including D1, D2, D3, D5 (standard def and hi def), betacam sp, digital betacam, DCT, HDCam...
We also get alot of clients using the miniDV/DVCam format for their various b-roll footage during film shoots, interviews, etc.

Hope this is informative.

Rob Lohman · February 28th, 2003, 02:27 PM

Thanks for posting that, Daniel!

So any tips for us? What to do or not to do with DV footage if
we plan to use it for festivals or converting it to 16/35 mm?

Cheers!

I see they have a job opening for a Computer Software Engineer,
hmm... That is my profession. Do they hire from across? :)

February 28th, 2003, 03:40 PM

Some things I've learned:

1) Never recycle stock. This should be obvious but re-using stock will cause numerous intermittent video and/or audio dropouts. Sometimes it won't even play back at all.

2) Always rewind your tapes. If you have to eject your tape, do it at the head or tail of your tapes. Ejecting it in the middle of program or footage may cause concealment errors (tape stretch, edge damage, etc) which will affect video/audio playback.

3) Watch your audio levels. Most if not all miniDV and/or DVCam camera masters have hot audio levels which peak in reds which causes audio distortion, which is enchanced when bumped to an analog format (VHS. 3/4", betacam sp). We run it through an audio limited @+12db which usually fixes that.

4) Video luminance, chrominance and black levels. Camera masters and/or final masters usually have high luminance and chrominance levels and/or raised or crushed black levels; sometimes causing video tearing or breakup and loss of detail respectively. Make sure it is clipped or legalized to broadcast standards especially if this will be your dubmaster and/or protection master (back up copy).

Those come to mind. Hope this helps.

Rob Lohman · February 28th, 2003, 04:16 PM

Thanks for sharing that! Much appreciated.

Mark Argerake · March 3rd, 2003, 07:41 AM

Welcome Dan - thanks for sharing what you've learned. Definitly smething to cut and paste and add to my personal FAQ reference.

February 27th, 2003, 12:53 AM	#1
Daniel Ng Posts: n/a	L.A. boy looking to learn Hey everyone. My name's Daniel and I live in Alhambra, CA. Looking to learn the DV filmmaking process. I own a Mac, have Final Draft. Eventually, I'll get my hands on a DV camera after I learn some things. I've been writing. Hoping to direct some shorts soon. Anyone who wouldn't mind some help during shoots, please feel free to contact me. Also, I work at a post production house in Burbank. Anyone needing miniDV or DVCam dubs or stock, VHS screeners, etc. let me know. Thanks for listening, Daniel

February 27th, 2003, 06:32 PM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Welcome aboard Daniel! Can you tell us a bit more what you do at a post-production house? Any inside details or tips that you guys have on processing DV material? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 27th, 2003, 06:36 PM	#3
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Welcome to the boards, Daniel! Does the post-production house have a web site? If so, let us know. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

February 27th, 2003, 09:33 PM	#4
Daniel Ng Posts: n/a	Post Production House Hey Everyone, Website is www.point360.com. We have alot of film students come in wanting to transfer their 16mm film or miniDV/DVCams to VHS screeners for various film festivals or screenings. Some of it actually quite good. We work with other video formats including D1, D2, D3, D5 (standard def and hi def), betacam sp, digital betacam, DCT, HDCam... We also get alot of clients using the miniDV/DVCam format for their various b-roll footage during film shoots, interviews, etc. Hope this is informative.

February 28th, 2003, 02:27 PM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thanks for posting that, Daniel! So any tips for us? What to do or not to do with DV footage if we plan to use it for festivals or converting it to 16/35 mm? Cheers! I see they have a job opening for a Computer Software Engineer, hmm... That is my profession. Do they hire from across? :) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 28th, 2003, 03:40 PM	#6
Daniel Ng Posts: n/a	miniDV and DVCam experience Some things I've learned: 1) Never recycle stock. This should be obvious but re-using stock will cause numerous intermittent video and/or audio dropouts. Sometimes it won't even play back at all. 2) Always rewind your tapes. If you have to eject your tape, do it at the head or tail of your tapes. Ejecting it in the middle of program or footage may cause concealment errors (tape stretch, edge damage, etc) which will affect video/audio playback. 3) Watch your audio levels. Most if not all miniDV and/or DVCam camera masters have hot audio levels which peak in reds which causes audio distortion, which is enchanced when bumped to an analog format (VHS. 3/4", betacam sp). We run it through an audio limited @+12db which usually fixes that. 4) Video luminance, chrominance and black levels. Camera masters and/or final masters usually have high luminance and chrominance levels and/or raised or crushed black levels; sometimes causing video tearing or breakup and loss of detail respectively. Make sure it is clipped or legalized to broadcast standards especially if this will be your dubmaster and/or protection master (back up copy). Those come to mind. Hope this helps.

February 28th, 2003, 04:16 PM	#7
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thanks for sharing that! Much appreciated. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 3rd, 2003, 07:41 AM	#8
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	Welcome Dan - thanks for sharing what you've learned. Definitly smething to cut and paste and add to my personal FAQ reference.