I’ve been doing a lot of video product stuff lately and have gotten multiple questions about what gear (camcorders, mics) I use and what software programs I use to edit, so I’m going to list what I use and recommend.
Camcorders
I’ve just upgraded to the Canon HF S100 for HD video:
Canon VIXIA HF S100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Here’s what I like about it:
- Tapeless, so I don’t have to capture video from tape to computer, which always seems like a hassle.
- Also, with my last video camera the tape created a “buzz” sound that got picked up by the internal audio which was annoying. Since this is tapeless, there’s no tape buzz noise.
- Very high-def HD at maximum settings. I’ve got a good video-editing computer to handle these large files. For slower computers, it can take awhile to work with large video files.
Keep in mind expense-wise that if you get a flash memory-based camcorder like that you’re either going to need to get a 16 GB Flash Memory Card minimum (around $40) or a 32 GB Flash Memory Card 
If you’d rather use a camcorder that uses tapes, I recommend:
Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
I was using the older version (HV20) until it broke recently. If it hadn’t broken, I’d still be using it. Benefits of the HV40:
- It records to tape, and tape is cheap to archive (ie, store the full tape and you’ve always got a backup)
- Video isn’t compressed like it is with flash drives. Some people think the video quality is slightly higher.
One thing to be aware of: With the above 2 camcorders, they’re recording in HD and you can’t just burn them to DVD, you need to use software to convert them to the smaller DVD format. That’s fine when I’m using it to create my training videos and I want to have the highest quality possible.
However, if I’m recording family events or personal stuff, recording in HD is too much trouble. Non-HD camcorders still do a very nice quality job. For a non-HD (tapeless) camcorder, I recommend:
Sony DCR-SR45 30GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom
- The file sizes are much smaller
- Records in standard 720×480 so it’s easier to burn to DVD
- Easier to edit video on slower computers
Microphones For Camcorders
Built-in microphones for camcorders are OK, but they’re not great. If you have one of the above Canon Camcorders, the easiest upgrade is to get
Rode VideoMic Directional Shotgun Mic w/Mount
…It’s just a mic that mounts on the top of your video camera, and it significantly improves audio quality.
- Good for recording multiple people talking
- Improves audio quality and comes with a direct attachment so you don’t need any other hardware to mount it on your video camera.
When I’m recording myself speaking into the camera, I use a “Lavalier Mic”, those are the little lapel clip-on mics that you see people wearing on talk shows. I spent a lot of time checking out the audio quality versus price of different lavalier mics, and I decided on:
Audio-Technica AT899 – Wireless microphone
It does a really nice job, very impressive. You need a microphone XLR-to-3.5mm adapter if you want to connect it to the lavalier mic to your camcorder, just a little adapter like this:
3.5mm (M) – XLR(F), (wired for stereo mics.), 1 ft.
Video Editing Software
I’ve always stuck with the Sony Vegas software for video editing, I’ve found it much easier to learn and more intuitive than Adobe Premiere and other products. I went all-out and bought the full video editing package last year:
Sony Vegas Pro 9 Professional Video, Audio and Blu-ray Disc Creation Software for Windows – Slip Sleeve Version
However, it is a little pricey. There’s a simpler version that I also purchased first (I own version 8, it’s virtually the same), it limits the number of audio and video tracks you can add to your products, but in practicality you don’t usually need more tracks than it provides anyway.
Considering it only costs about 25% of the above pro version, it’s an extremely good bargain:Â Â Â Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack
If you’re trying to make decisions on video production gear and software, I hope the above recommendations are helpful. The above products have worked very well for me, and I spent a lot of time researching each of them before I purchased.
P.S. -Be very cautious about buying electronics from websites with crazy-low prices that you’ll find listed in those “shopper/comparison” type websites. Those comparison-type sites will show 5-star or 4-star ratings for questionable companies because they make commisions when you buy, but if you want accurate feedback on websites selling electronics gear check somewhere like reseller ratings.
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About Tim Gross Tim Gross is an online marketing consultant, direct response copywriter, author, and video training developer. For the latest free training videos, free advice, and additional resources, subscribe now at http://InternetMarketingCourse.com or at his blog http://TimGross.com |
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vunner
714 days ago
for croping video I like Vidcrop PRO