Clip Examples

Demonstration Footage

Microphones

To emphasize the difference between the various microphones available we have kept the lighting the same for all microphone examples. Lighting is standard 1:00 PM natural light.

Clip Description
Setup 1-1 Built-in Camera microphone recorded 14 feet from the subject. No additional equipment used.

The stereo microphone built into digital camcorders can be effective for recording a loud subject such as a musical performance or an amplified speaker in a medium to large room. However as you'll notice here when recording a speaker from a distance of more than 10 feet the camera's ability to pick up the ambience of the room works against you. The reverberations of the speaker's voice from the walls colors and thus diffuses the subject.
Setup 1-2 Shotgun Mic

In contrast to the built-in mic, the shotgun mic does an excellent job of capturing the speaker due to its focused unidirectional nature. The shotgun mic was attached to the camera and recorded 14 feet from the speaker.
Setup 1-3 Handheld Mic

The handheld mic can also produce a favorable result but introduces some potentially problematic elements. The most obvious of which is that it is part of the shot visible at all times. In addition, the handheld microphone can be subject to wind noise, noise created by the rustling of papers or motion of the speaker which you will hear in this example.

Setup 1-4 Lavalier Mic

The lavalier or "clip-on" mic is a favorite among many professionals where discreet high quality recording of a speaker is required. Our lavalier is a wireless system made by Shure. Again care must be taken during recording as the lavalier will pick up rustling of papers or clothing.
   


Lighting Setups

To emphasize the difference in the lighting setups used, we maintained a consistent audio recording process. The speaker was recorded with the camera's built in microphone from a distance of 14 feet.

Clip Description
Setup 2-1 Dome lights

Overhead dome ("flood") lighting produces a dramatic look heavy with shadows.
Setup 2-2 Dome lights with flourescents

Adding the flourescent lights brightened the picture but as flourescents tend to alter skin tones during digital camera recording we noticed some artificial looking results.
Setup 2-3 Key Light and Fill Light

Here we took out the domes and flourescents and used a single key light 20 feet from the speaker and a fill light placed 6 feet to the right of the speaker. Here the shadowing is much better but overall the picture is a little dark.
Setup 2-4 Key Light, Fill Light, and Domes

Now the picture really starts to take shape. The fill light provides and attractive shadow wrap around the speaker's face which is illuminiated by the key light as well. By adding the domes, the background of the speaker comes into view better and three dimensional space is implied.
Setup 2-5 Key Light, Fill Light, Domes, and Flourescents

Adding the flourescents does not improve the picture but adds the above mentioned color distortion to the speakers skin.
Setup 2-6 Key Light, Fill Light, Domes, Flourescents, and natural daylight

Here the natural light enhances the fill light and increases postural shadowing. This can be a very attractive alternative to Setup 2-4. The color distortion caused by the flourescents is lessened by the adding of the natural light but not eliminated. We advise against the use of flourescent lighting when filming.
Setup 2-7 Extreme Backlighting

Extreme backlighting - natural light in our example - can be effective for silhouetting a subject or creating enhanced dramatic effect.