AV
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Tell us about Video Projection, please!
Live video feeds can add a lot to a show. Here are 3 rules to getting it
right:1. Know thy camera.
* You will want a camera that has a video output (Composite or
S-Video).
* The camera should be suited to the lighting available.
* Small lens = less light = more grainy images.
* Remember to charge the batteries.
* Mains power is even better - with battery for backup.
* REMOVE the videotape. When good cameras do not have a tape in they
revert to live mode and DO NOT switch themselves off after a few
minutes of inactivity.
* Auto focus will result in loss of focus and the camera hunting to
find it again every time the lights go out - so use manual focus.
* White ballance - If you leave this on auto it will ruin every
thing the LD is trying to do with colour as it will try to make it
all look like a bright summer's day (wrecking the colours). Chose
a white before the show and leave it alone.
* Using a tripod will produce best results. If hand held use is
required, make the actor practise. Use 2 hands.
* Keep the camera away from water, sand, set, and if possible, actors.2. Control thy feed.
* Cabling should be RG59 coaxial cable (or similar). (basically 75
ohm cabling). Audio cable is not suitable.
* CPC (www.cpc.co.uk are a reliable source of cheap cabling)
* Cable runs should be only as long as they need to be.
* Although tis nigh on impossible in a theatre, avoid running with
the lighting/power cabling
* A vision mixer will proveide a safety net should anything go wrong
(i.e. vision mixer can provide a black background)
* Vision mixers can output a constant black signal regardless of
what you just did to break your camera - running straight from
camera to projector will result in a "NO SIGNAL" message on the
projector
* Projectors should always be properly set up - set the background
colour to black (not blue), and switch messages/OSD (on screen
display) to OFF.
* OFS people: 15m will get you from lighting desk to hung projector.
25m will easily get you to balcony above alcove (going round
edge). Prism AV will do a projector for £200
* Keeble O'Reilly people: Your projector is already rigged. You may
wish to do some cunning re-patching to be able to use one of the
stage video inputs with a vision mixer in the tech box. (See Gwyn)
* OPH people: Make use of the pre-existing BNC video tielines (ask
them when you go for a meeting). These will save you cabling
hassles. OPH has a projector available for hire.3. Love thy Lighting Designer.
* Light is good for the camera but will cause problems for the projector
* Projectors are not as bright as theatrical lanterns
* Projectors never give a true black (leaving a dark grey rectangle
on your screen/set)
* Projection works best in low light
* Cameras work best when there is much light
* The LD controls the lights - the LD is your key to success.
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