Technical Know How
Posts tagged camera training
What Every Media Student at High School or College Need to Know!
Nov 10th
During the last 25years as a camera technician I have repaired hundreds of cameras with faults, which could have been prevented, if the user would follow a few simple steps during camera handling.
- You don’t have to accept camera repairs as a common expense.
- What is the point of having the right intention to take care of your camera equipment if you don’t know how?
- Sometimes it is a little more than just common sense.
- What about just the one piece of advice, which can make all the difference between no repair, repair or write off!
During my more than 25 years of experience as a camera technician I have seen hundreds of faulty cameras and camcorders which were damaged by self induced faults. Recently I produced a video and booklet, which outlines exactly the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of video camera handling and maintenance.
You can learn how to take care of your own camcorder and camera, and avoid up to 70% of repairs with the help of ALL-CAM’s DIY Camera Care & Protection video.
Learn how to prevent damage and how to spot a quality second-hand purchase. By keeping your camera in top condition, you will experience much less down time and have a better filming experience.
An investment, which potentially can save you hundreds of dollars on repair bills!
Go to www.estudy.net.au download your camera live saver today.
No Frills – Straight to the Point On-line Camera Courses
Oct 7th
Education for Better Video Filming Results!
- Cut years of study and save hundreds of dollars compared to a formal education.
- Enjoy an ongoing support and education with all aspects of camera, film and
Television technology.
Whether you are a home-video maker, an amateur film maker, or an aspiring producer, you can benefit from ALL-CAM’s e-study camera courses. Learn how your camera and equipment works and use it to get results. Complement your existing film knowledge by integrating the technical aspects of filming, and have the base knowledge you need to get the most out of every filming opportunity.
Make your camera work for you, instead of working around it.
ALL-CAM Film and TV Technology offer unique, e-study courses in the following areas:
- Camcorder Technology
- Shooting
- Camera Care
- Damage Protection
- Film & TV Technology
- Television Production
- And more…
Learn online, at your own pace. Learn while you attend film school, or just whenever you want to improve your technical film knowledge.
With ALL-CAM camera courses you can:
- Learn how to maximise camera capabilities and take your skills to a whole new level
- Understand how your camera and equipment works
- Basic trouble shooting
- Spend more time filming
ALL-CAM courses offer:
- Unique Content: Find out how to manage your camera so you can get results – whether you are using it for movies, TV, or your own personal entertainment. Get only the information you need to enhance your skills, instead of having to muddle through filler content to get to the good stuff.
- Several Delivery Methods: Audio visual presentations, videos, podcasts, and e-books cover all the angles in a fun, easy to learn manner. Photos and diagrams help you understand the lessons at hand, and help is available, when you need it.
- Free Updates: become a lifelong learner, and keep abreast of all the new trends in film technology today with a lifetime of free learning updates on any course you purchase.
Start improving your technical filming knowledge and see just how far a great background in camera technology can take you!
About the author and presenter
Thomas is an experienced technician and lecturer with over 25 years of electronic experience and a passion for amateur filming. He designed these courses for the beginner to intermediate camera person, who wants to increase their technical knowledge in order to get more out of their camera. ALL-CAM courses give you a great background in the technical side of camera operations, so you can enhance your camera skills and spend more time making films, instead of wasting time trying to get your camera to work the way you want it to.
Allcam/e-Study camera courses and e-books:
- Camcorder Technology (Audio Visual Presentation, podcast and e-book)
Know your camcorder from the inside out
details - Video like a PRO (Audio Visual Presentation, podcast and e-book)
Take your film making skills to the next level
details - DIY Camera Care & Protection (Video and e-book)
Save on repairs by learning how to keep your camera serviced and clean
details - Camcorder Handbook (e-book + Bonuses)
Save money on repairs, increase confidence and great results!
details - Television Technology (Module 1/3) Audio Visual Presentation, podcast and e-book
From Scene to Screen
details - Chroma Process (Module 2/3) Audio Visual Presentation, podcast and e-book
How colour is added, coded and transmitted from the camera to TV receiver.
details - Television Production (Module 3/3) Audio Visual Presentation, podcast and e-book
Going Pro – from a professional camcorder to a full production set up
details
- Film & TV Technology (e-book and Podcast)
Companion book to the 3 in 1 Film and Television Technology Course
details
Audio – Why is it so difficult to get it right?
Jul 21st
What is the reason, that the audio on our videos sounds often so much different as we have heard it during the recording of our footage? Without getting too technical, I would like to explain the principles of electronic sound recording. Once you understand how a microphone works, you can use it in ways to improve your audio track.
The two main characteristics, which determine the sound, is the polar pattern or directivity of the microphone and the sensitivity (volume), which is controlled by the electronic circuitry.
Capsule design and directivity
A microphone’s directionality or polar pattern indicates, how sensitive it is to sounds arriving at different angles about its central axis. Let’s have a look at a simple microphone device for converting sound into electrical energy. Its basic component is a diaphragm, that responds to the pressure or particle velocity of sound waves.
The inner elements of a microphone are the primary source of differences in directivity. A pressure microphone uses a diaphragm between a fixed internal volume of air and the environment, and responds uniformly to pressure from all directions, so it is said to be omnidirectional. A pressure-gradient microphone uses a diaphragm, that is at least partially open on both sides. The pressure difference between the two sides produces its directional characteristics. Other elements such as the external shape of the microphone and external devices such as interference tubes can also alter a microphone’s directional response. A pure pressure-gradient microphone is equally sensitive to sounds arriving from front or back, but insensitive to sounds arriving from the side, because sound arriving at the front and back at the same time creates no gradient between the two.
The characteristic directional pattern of a pure pressure-gradient microphone is like a figure-8. Other polar patterns are derived by creating a capsule, that combines these two effects in different ways. The cardioid, for instance, features a partially closed backside, so its response is a combination of pressure and pressure-gradient characteristics.
Polar patterns
An electronic circuitry controls the volume and sensitivity of the microphone and sound.
Below are some terminologies as used by professionals. Please keep in mind that any poor sound captured during production can be salvaged during post production.

AGC (Automatic Gain Control) is a circuit to automatically adjust a microphone’s gain (volume) to prevent too high levels, causing distortion or to raise sensitivity to hear quiet noises. It goes as far as an inbuilt camcorder microphone picks up the mechanical noises of a tape or disc drive. In this case it is a good idea to use an external microphone, which is positioned further away from the camera and closer to the action.
Below are some terminologies explained as they are used by professionals.
Audio Jargon
Ambient Sound
Background audio of a given environment. On-camera dialogue might be primary sound; traffic noise and refrigerator hum would be ambient.
Hiss:
Interference in audio recording, result of circuit noise from a playback recorder’s amplifiers or from a tape’s residual magnetism.
Lavalier:
A small microphone, that can be worn around the neck on a cord or clipped to a shirt.
Noise:
Unwanted sound or static in an audio signal.
Pickup Pattern:
Defines a microphone’s response to sounds arriving from various directions or angles.
Sound Bite:
Any short audio segment for use in an edited program – usually a highlight taken from an interview.
On this microphone the pattern can be influenced by turning the knob from “tele to wide”.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N):
Relationship between signal strength and a medium’s inherent noise. Audio S/N specifies amount of background tape hiss present with low or no-volume recordings. Higher figures represent a cleaner signal. Usually cited in decibels (dB).
Wild Sound:
Audio recorded independently of picture i.e. rain on roof or clock.
In the 2nd part of this article I will elaborate, what you can do and how to apply several techniques to enhance audio in your video production and how poor sound captured during production can be salvaged in post production.
Take your holiday memories to the next level! With the help of a little audio device
Jun 7th
If you are like me and want to enjoy the moments and holidays, running around with a camcorder looking for good vantage points and do video filming is just too much. I prefer a small digital still camera, which fits in my shirt pocket and take snap shots and do some video filming with this camera, if I feel like it.
Video filming requires some preparation and is really the way to go, when you want to capture any stage performances, film moving objects and capture the sound, which goes with it.
When you think about it, it is often the sound, which can make a huge difference in a video production. So all we need is a perfect sound, which goes with our snap shots and short video clips.
This is exactly what we will do.
High quality sound Slide Show – Pictures, Video
I will explain, how to add high quality stereo sound to your holiday slide show with the help of a little highly versatile audio recorder. So the next time you take part in a once in a lifetime experience, take your audio device and place it as close to the action as possible to capture the perfect sound and use the camera independently to take as many snap shots from different angles and vantage points as you can. If you want to, use the movie feature of your camera to capture short video clips without worrying about the audio.
At home in post production keep using your favorite slideshow software or video editing program, just add the sound of the audio recorder for a spectacular slide show / movie experience.
Caution!
For any video clips, the audio recorder needs to be synced with the camera or cut and shift the audio timeline to the appropriate video clip in post production.
So how do we put it together?
Now here comes the real advantage of the setup. Let’s start with the part you perhaps thought of already:
- First you open our favorite video editing program and import the pictures and video from the camera and add the relatively poor sound track from the camera onto one of the audio tracks.
- The stereo sound of the audio recorder goes onto the other tracks of the editing program.
- Now here comes the trick, use the sound track of the camera as a reference to synchronize the audio recorder sound tracks of the little video clips. Add the sound of the audio recorder, wherever you think is appropriate. When you are happy with the result, you may remove the camera sound track.
- Once you have completed your fine tuning and editing, you can end up with amazing results in your overall production.
When this is done properly, the audio from the voice recorder gives the impression as it is recorded by the camera.
Brilliant Stereo Recording at a low Budget price!
May 30th



Flexible and Independent!
Almost as good as a wireless microphone
(audio and video needs to be synchronized in post production)
Features
- W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid,
Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns - Built-in USB 2.0 interface
- Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable
Bit Rate (VBR) data formats - Time Stamp and Track Marker functions in Broadcast WAV Format (BWF)
- 512MB SD memory card included
- Accommodates up to 16GB SD memory cards
- Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings
- Auto Start function means you’re always ready to record
- Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise
- On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner










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