Tech Tips:
Customizing Technology
By Andy DunnThere was a time when you didn’t need to stress too much when deciding what equipment you would need for a shoot. For example, good broadcast quality images were shot on BetaSP. The camera was a BetaSP camera, the tapestock was BetaSP tapestock and you were recording a standard 4:3 format with a 60i NTSC refresh rate. Even if you chose not to shoot BetaSP, you still had only the format to choose from. Almost everything else seemed to fall into place by default.
Then came digital formats and a few more options. The Sony DVW-790 records in Digital Beta but still has few additional options. Before going out on a shoot, you may have wanted it already set up in 16:9 format or in the more typical 4:3 format. But you were still recording standard NTSC video, just in a better quality digital recording.
In the last few years, there has been a technology explosion. Digital technology has allowed more options to be packed into today’s equipment. This has made it possible for one piece of equipment to be set up in many different ways so as to be perfect for many different jobs. Now you need to figure out which setup is right for your job and that’s where Rule can help.
If you want to shoot in high definition and need to rent some equipment, the first thing you need to decide is whether to shoot in 1080i or 720p. Do you rent the Sony F900 camcorder or the Panasonic Varicam? Well, that’s pretty straight forward, your customer requires 720p so you order the Varicam. The Rental Agent then asks, “how would you like that set up?” The reason they ask is not to be nosy. In order to make your job as easy as possible on the set, wouldn’t it be nice if when you picked up the camera it was configured for exactly how you intended to use it?
Both the F900 and Varicam capture a 16:9 frame only, not 4:3. But if you intend to shoot for 4:3, then you might ask that a 4:3 mask be turned on in the eyepiece. Do you plan on shooting 24p, 30p or 60I? And after you decided that, you remember that you need to pick up some tape stock. Most people will record HD 720p Varicam footage on DVCPro50 stock but you can use DVCPro 25 stock as well.
And don’t believe that this kind of flexibility is only found in high definition equipment. The Panasonic SDX900, for example, can be set to record in 25Mb/sec DVCPro25 format or 50Mb/sec DVCPro50 format. You can have the camera set up with a 4:3 or 16:9 frame and in 24p, 25p, 30p or 60i frame rate. Did you want the shutter set at 180 degrees or just leave it off for you to play with on the set? At least one thing is set in stone, this camera will only record on a DVCPro small size cassette.
Finally, there is the overall look of the picture. This won’t necessarily be answered over the phone but you still have options. If you have setup files for a camera, send them to us and we will load them onto the camera. If you know what you’re looking for such as a high contrast look or a saturated look, let us know and we can add some customization to the picture. Or come in for a camera check out and work with our engineers to get the look you want.
Cameras are not the only piece of equipment offering multiple options. Thinking about the Sony DSR 1500A video recorder? This deck will record in DV or DVCAM format even though it will play back a tape recorded in these formats as well as one recorded in DVCPro25 format while outputting a DV stream via a IEEE 1394 connector. The Panasonic AJ-SD930 recorder can be preset to record in DVCPro25 or DVCPro50 format. The Sony PDW 1500 Optical Disc Recorder can be setup to record in DVCAM or one of 3 IMX formats. The Panasonic AJ-HD1700 and the AJ-HD1200A recorders are very similar including multiple setup options but, if you require a Firewire output, you will need the 1200A. This is not even an option on the 1700 recorder. You must also change the setting for the 1200A Firewire output depending on whether you want an HD or an SD output.
Today, for really good video, there is more than one format to choose from. There is more than one frame rate, more than one screen ratio, and more than one type of tape stock and all of these may be options on the same piece of equipment. As you can see, things can get complicated pretty fast. Whether you are shooting DVCAM or HD, or you are shooting on an Ikegami camcorder or a Sony XDCAM Optical Disc camera, a little extra information will be beneficial in making your production a smooth one. The staff at Rule, from Rental Agents to Engineers, is there to understand your production needs and to work with you to customize the technology, saving you both time and money.
