Filmmaking Equipment for Beginners Pt 02
With great visual equipment, a filmmaker should then turn their attention to audio and the smaller details that come with production and post-production. To have a better understanding and continue building the ultimate starter kit, here are filmmaking equipment for beginners pt. 02.
External Microphones
Sound makes up for about 50% of film and is the best tool to engage your audience. New filmmakers usually overlook this aspect and create videos with horrible sound. When this happens, the viewer is alienated from the story and the film is borderline useless as the filmmaker has failed to create an experience.
While you have a variety of sound recording devices to select from, external microphones are the best choice. This is because you need more audio clarity than what your video camera offers. These external microphones easily pick up sounds from your subject or surroundings as they are highly sensitive and have the ability to register a broader spectrum of sounds.
They are also great when you are filming a subject that is not very close to the camera and still want to get that crisp sound.
There are two types of external microphones you can choose from.
Directional or shotgun mic
These mics are more popular among professionals as their sound quality is incredibly high. These microphones can be set on top of the camera or hidden under and above the camera frame. Equipment such as ‘boom poles’ comes in handy during wider shots where you cannot get too close to the subject. However, you would need an audio personnel to hold the boom pole.
Lavalier Microphones or Lav Mics
These are the small wireless microphones you see on a number of TV presenters. They are the perfect choice for filmmakers who want portability. With lav mics, one can pick up sound from a certain area and send it wirelessly to a nearby station where it is decoded and recorded.
They easily fit on your actors or subjects and can be hidden. It is also known as a lapel mic, and it may be worn as a piece of jewelry around the neck.
As a beginner, this microphone is advised because they come in a variety of affordable options and do not require a separate personnel to hold the microphone, as seen with directional or shotgun microphone.
Headphones
Though seemingly insignificant, headphones are very vital to audio quality and production. Headphones are able to pick on the noises that your ears alone might not hear. Sounds such as automobiles, distant construction noise, or a bird's cry completely overlapping a critical note.
Editing System or Console
These days, it's generally your PCs or laptops. Non-Linear Editing (NLE) setups may now be done on your high-performance computers. Technology has made it so simple that some people can conduct more basic editing on their cellphones with the help of certain applications.
All you need for a better editing experience is a computer with sufficient processing power, more RAM, a high-speed graphics or video card, and enough storage.
Ideally, a system with at least 8GB of RAM, 2GB of video memory, and preferably an SSD would give large resolutions such as 4k or full HD, faster rendering, and easier post-production in general.
The storage can be external, but make sure you have enough disk space to handle compressed videos for rough editing. Your modifications can always be upgraded on the professional systems later.
Video Software
Once you have got a good system, you would need equally good editing software to edit your videos. With today’s technology, you can edit video footage, add text, adjust audio tracks, apply visual effects, modify the final clip's quality, and color grade it.
You can do a lot with video-editing software even if you are a beginner on a tight budget. With little to no money, you can use the following editing software;
Shotcut: Shotcut is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It is an open-source program so you can get access to all the features without having to pay a dime. 4K HD resolution support and timeline editing are two of Shotcut's most notable features. There are not many free video editors that support 4K resolution. Furthermore, Shotcut does not need you to load your video into the editor, which might save time when working with big video files.
Shotcut is also a good choice for people seeking a 1080p video editor. The software can play 1080p movies at 60 frames per second (frames per second). It also has three lossless export formats, allowing you to transfer videos without sacrificing quality (the only downside is the huge file sizes).
DaVinci Resolve: Also available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, DaVinci Resolve is easily one of the most advanced video editors. It has a lot of professional video features, but the interfaces are still simple. You can master audio and color correction in addition to video slicing and cutting. You may also add 2D and 3D titles to your movie using the program.
If you just want to trim and upload your videos, the rich feature set of DaVinci Resolve may be too extensive. However, if your video project is a little more advanced, the free version of this software is best.
This software offers;
Advanced trimming
Multicam editing
Color correction
Audio mastering
Openshot: Openshot is completely free and open-source, making it one of the greatest video editing programs available.
With its simple drag-and-drop interface, it is a bit similar to iMovie. Openshot, on the other hand, has more functionality than iMovie, such as limitless layers and audio mixing.
This free editor achieves a good combination of complex functionality and a straightforward user interface. When creating transitions between clips, it also allows for real-time previews.
Its features include:
Unlimited tracks/layers
Clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, rotation, and cutting video transitions with real-time previews
Compositing, image overlays, watermarks
Title templates, title creation, subtitles 3D animated titles (and effects)
Advanced Timeline (including drag & drop, scrolling, panning, zooming, and snapping)
However, if you are looking for even more features and total control, you might have to make a small investment. Fortunately, there are a number of powerful budget-friendly software including;
Adobe Premiere Elements: Adobe Premiere Elements is a video editing application for Macs and PCs that come with a variety of features and add-ons to help you produce stunning films.
Filmora: This is a simple-to-use video editor that can produce professional-looking videos. It includes a number of professional features, including the ability to work with proxies (if you don't have a strong computer), in-built effects, and color grading tools.
Sony Vegas Movie Studio: Sony Vegas Movie Studio is a reduced-featured version of Sony Vegas Pro. Although it offers a lot of capabilities for creating excellent videos, you can only edit 10 video and audio tracks at a time (unless you go for the Platinum package, which doubles these numbers). However, that should be sufficient to get you started.
Light Reflectors
Bouncing lights are excellent for softening the pictures and preventing unnaturally strong contrasts on displays. They give the pictures greater clarity and depth. There are several methods for increasing creative lighting by bouncing or reflecting light. In certain situations, the low-cost light reflectors come in helpful.
The dark regions, as well as the nooks and corners of the frame, are filled with these reflectors. They are the most effective instruments for having complete control over the lighting of specific subjects. They may be handled with one hand, clipped to any surface, mounted on stands. Proper utilization would cut lighting costs.
Portable Hard drive
A fantastic addition for individuals who film a lot of movies outside is the portable hard drives.
You can save data from your memory cards on a large hard disk and capture more video footage once your memory cards are free again. When you finally finished your shooting day, you can copy data from your portable hard drive to your computer.
With this storage, you won't need to bring your laptop with you while copying video clips outside.
A fast connection is also required for portable hard drives. So avoid the cheaper routes and invest in a nice one with USB Type C or Thunderbolt 3.0.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used to store video recordings in video cameras. They are available in a variety of storage capacities, including 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and even higher (thanks to technology)
To ensure fast data transfers, high-speed memory cards are essential. A high-speed memory card, for example, might be the difference between downloading a file from your camera to your laptop in 10 minutes or 2 hours.
It is important to note that memory cards with capacities more than 32GB or 64GB should be avoided because you would have to move your clips from memory cards to your computer on a regular basis just to keep them secure. This can quickly become very inconvenient. Think about it. A 512GB memory card, for example, allows you to store 512GB of data on a single memory card. You'll be really disappointed if it becomes corrupted or if you lose it.
Instead, utilize numerous 64GB cards and routinely copy video material.
Batteries and power supplies
This is a no-brainer, as we live in a country where power outages are the natural order of the day. Your studio might have a generator that supplies power, but it is always a good idea to have a backup strategy when filming on locations that are not in your domain.
The lighting and manufacturing equipment use the most energy and the camera and recorders consume just a fraction of the energy that the lighting sources do. Camera batteries are made in-house by larger manufacturers like Sony, Canon, and Panasonic, and each camera generally comes with one. However, purchasing extras is a smart idea.
You may also buy 3rd-party batteries, but be cautious not to buy too cheaply, since they don't always last as long and can even be harmful. Battery chargers are in the same boat.
Be sure to use batteries made by well-known brands.
Small LEDs, on the other hand, are the order of the day for independent filmmakers. As a result, employing generators with low to medium power makes more sense. However, AA or AAA batteries are also compatible with several LED light packages and external microphones. Carry 5-6 batteries in stock for cameras, recorders, and other electrical equipment so you do not run out on a remote location shoot.
Be sure to carry enough batteries in your bag. The worst thing that can happen to you is for your batteries to die and you to be unable to shoot a spectacular video clip.
Don't forget about the power banks. When it comes to charging an electronic gadget, they are quite useful.
Bag
Last on the list is the equipment bag. You would need a good-quality carrying bag if you travel a lot or film movies wherever you go.
There are various options available, some of which are tailored specifically for filmmakers and photographers.
There are bags that can contain a DSLR camera, several lenses, a portable hard drive, and other equipment, for example. These backpacks include pockets to keep your valuable equipment safe while traveling.
A bag for your tripod and/or lighting gear is also an option. This will be a bigger bag with pockets for light stands, light sources, softboxes, and other accessories.
These bags do not only carry your equipment, but they also protect them from elements such as rain, dust, and harsh sunlight.
With a great starter kit, you can build gradually and rent extra equipment when the need arises. There are, of course, extra equipment out there in the market. However, you can shoot some great movies with these necessary equipment.
As you get started and start to hone in on your niche, you would quickly understand where you need to upgrade and what extra pieces of gear you need for the type of production you want to make.
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