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Promo Video using T2i/Final Cut X

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TravelsTI
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Just finished up this video for the Woodinvile Whiskey co. using Final Cut X. There was quite a bit of frustration with the new final cut, could not figure out how to pan or zoom into pictures; if anybody knows how I would appreciate some advice. There are some benefits including synchronizing clips with external sound and creating text is a little bit easier as well as adding effects. For sound I used the Zoom h4n with a Rode NTG-2. Was first time using that setup, still need to figure out how to get humming out of it. Filmed with a T2i/Tokina 11-16 2.8/Canon 50mm 1.4. Always love critiques positive or negative.

Jul 18 2011 1:49PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
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You just have to try and get the mic closer. All it is, is noise. Get them to speak up a little more. I didnt watch all of it because I am in a rush this morning, but when I did watch it, they were just not speaking loud enough, so I am guessing you had your gain on high and thats where that noise comes from.

Try to get your mic closer if you can and get them to speak up.

Also were you using a AA in your NTG 2 or trying to use your Zooms power to power it? Try and do it off the battery (I noticed this helps when I use my Tascam, cuz the Tascam really cant power it well enough, although the phantom power on my FS100 does a great job of powering it).
Make sure you battery is new every time you shoot. I noticed this made a difference of about 5db for me.

Good stuff man. Ill check out the entire thing later, but I hope that helps with your audio. External audio is always fun to play with :).
Jul 18 2011 1:54PM
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1337
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you should have used lavs for the interviews. They pick up less of the echo that you hear and are more focused on the actual voice. Sounds usually come out much nicer with those
Jul 18 2011 1:56PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
I did not now it could take batteries, good to know-was my first time using it so I will def try that next time for sure. Thank you sir.
Jul 18 2011 2:03PM
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TravelsTI
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I was considering that, but can you make that work with one H4n and two people being interviewed?
Jul 18 2011 2:03PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
sure you can, you have 4 tracks of audio to work with. either use some XLR lavs (two mono setups, 1 per person) then use the built in mics for channels 3/4, or do two stereo setups.
Jul 18 2011 2:22PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
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I actually didnt know it at first either but then I opened the instruction manual and saw it, haha. I have been trying to read those things more lately.



And to 1337, you would need 2 lavs in order to do that and echo is easy to get rid of if you know the right type of room to shoot in.

Teddy, I would recommend picking up a cheap cardioid (150 or so) or a hyper cardioid if you have the money for indoor interviews. It will help with the echoing as well.
Cardioid and hyper cardioids have a fatter pattern. The pattern they pick up is more of a fat heart shape (hence the word cardioid) then a shotgun (super cardioid) like the NTG-2. The super cardioids are not meant for indoors and they will pick up more sound that you hear further away.


Hypercardioid (similar to a cardioid)
[IMG]voiceover4us.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/600px-polar_pattern_supercardioid.png[/IMG]
supercardioid (shotgun)
Click for larger image

Jul 18 2011 2:26PM
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TravelsTI
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All good stuff guys, I will definitely try that out. I got a camera shop next to me that rents all that equipment so I will do that for the next interview. That one was filmed in a warehouse with a lot of different machinery noises going on in the background. Probably not the best atmosphere. Thanks again, any idea on zooming and panning photos in the new final cut?
Jul 18 2011 2:31PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
Ahh yes that would make things tough to shoot in.

Ill play around with FCP X more to try and find out. Must say I have been playing more with Avid lately then FCP X when I have spare time.
Jul 18 2011 2:48PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
Okay got it...

Double click on the clip you want to do that too in the timeline. Then go to your inspector on the far right (the little i icon), and then go down to "transform" and drop down that menu and your options to do zoom and pan and such are right there....

Click for larger image
Jul 18 2011 2:53PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
Perfect, I must have spent 20 minutes looking there and could not figure it out. Thanks Bentley, would you recommend purchasing the new color or is it kinda broke?
Jul 18 2011 3:20PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
There is no new color sadly :(. And there is no XML support in FCP X (yet), so you cant export to anything to color grade shots. Pretty unfortunately.

I have heard that Motion does work well with FCP X though and I would recommend that. I have not played around with it yet.

The color grading/correcting tools in FCP X are pretty awful. Check out the new motion though. Ive heard good things about it.
Jul 18 2011 3:26PM
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eheath
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IMO the titles with the bars were cheesy as fuck, you could have done without the black bars completely.

Also, next time you do an interview, make sure that the shit behind them is far enough away that you cant read the text. The far left barrel is way too close and is very distracting. Interviewing 101 says to push your subject away from the wall so that the background is not distracting. It can be a pain, but its so worth it to get your subject 10ft+ away from whats behind it, makes for a much better backdrop.
Jul 18 2011 3:43PM
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[~_~]
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Aside from the sound issue I noticed two things:

1. At 2:48 I can see your entire camera rig in the reflection...this could've easily been fixed with a simple polarizer.

2. When interviewing it helps to stand a few feet to the side of the camera and ask questions. Inform them that you don't want them looking into the camera and instead should speak as if having a conversation with you. This eliminates ping pong eyes.
Jul 18 2011 4:15PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
Love those eheath critiques
Jul 18 2011 4:31PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
Good to know, thanks!
Jul 18 2011 4:32PM
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eheath
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forgot to add this, another interviewing 101, you want the audience to feel like its part of the conversation, not being talked to directly. When they look directly at the camera, its like the camera is asking the questions but actually you are and you aren't the camera.
Jul 18 2011 4:51PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Another tip: nobody will ever take you seriously if you don't turn off autoplay.

Also, the shot at 2:20 was great.
Jul 18 2011 5:51PM
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TravelsTI
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Definitely a fail on the autoplay, Vimeo has been putting that on automatically lately.
Jul 18 2011 6:24PM
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BlueSteele
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Are you suggesting that we try color grading in Motion instead of FCP X? I didn't realize Motion had it, guess I need to play with that and see what it's all about.
Jul 19 2011 8:57AM
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BlueSteele
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I've been looking at some of my shots with the same issue, thanks for the tip!
Jul 19 2011 8:58AM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
Yup I am pretty sure thats right.  I dont have Motion yet, but I think I read a guy that was doing that. 
Jul 19 2011 1:07PM
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