How do you record a conference?
If it turns out to be technically feasible, we’d like to record the sessions at the Zap Your PRAM conference (audio and video). We’re not too concerned about production quality, as long as you can make out what people are saying, since the goal will be to share the video with those who couldn’t make it to the conference.
We don’t have a big budget, nor do we want one of our humble organizers to have to dedicate their entire weekend to the task to manning equipment.
Does anyone have any experience or advice they could share on how to effectively document the conference? Audio/video tips and equipment suggestions would be particularly helpful – keeping in mind our limited expertise and resources (both financial and our time).
Am I naïve to think we can do this without dedicating someone to it? Is anyone interested in helping out with this?
I favour recording on to a VHS VCR using T160 tape. For the following reasons;
a) You can obtain eight hours of recording
b) There better time read out and control
with video machines, and,
c) even if the final document is audio only, the video cues will help in the assembly.
RECORDING
The basic set it and forget it system.
Let's start with a mid-grade consumer type VHS video camera on a tripod and set on wide angle about 15 feet or so back from the action,
It would have its own own directional mic, and AC power supply. You'll also need an AC extention
cord.
More capacity
Most video cameras that I know cannot use a standard VHS tape, but do have audio and video outputs. These outputs could be plugged into a decent VHS video cassette recorder located under the tripod, set to record on VHS HiFi at SLP speed and using a T160 cassette tape. (8 hours of recording). Use the camera monitor and headphone jack to check the signal being sent to the VCR.
Add a power bar.
Add on "comfort" monitor
It might be good to have a small TV set to monitor recording (under the tripod, onn to of the VCR) with its AV (audio and video inputs) driven by the VCR. Now you can monitor the signal "after" it goes through the VCR. If the TV has a headphone output, then by all means plug a pair of headphones in so as to provide occasional audio monitoring as well.
Better Mics
VERY OFTEN the camera's mic is fine, and is just better to use it. Remember whatever mic you use, turn off the room ventilation fans, and watch out for those other nasty overhead projector or cpu fans.
If you do want to try a mic or mic system, here are three suggestions from the Radio Shack catalogue. Your camera must also be have an external mic input.
a) A Boundary Mic Boundary Mic $89.99 c/w 16' cord which requires one MAXELL LR44 Battery @ $4.89 ea /w six hour battery life
Good if your speaker is using a lecturn and stays close to it.
b) Tie Clip Mic $54.99 c/w 16' cord
which may not require a battery at all.
Good if you're speaker like to move around
a little bit and may need an extension cord.
c) Wireless Tie Clip Mic $199.99
Which requires 4x AAA batteries /w max 10hr battery life
You'll need a patch cord at the receiver end.
POST PRODUCTION
Dump the VCR tape into a fairly modern computer
which has a video card and encode to the format of your choice. An audio recording can be made
from just the audio outputs.
I do hope this helps.
All the best // John
