If you already have a web cam or camcorder connected to your PC then this choice is pretty simple. However, you may still want to review the information in this section to become familiar with the different camera options available and their relative advantages and disadvantages.
It's also important to point out that you don't have to use a video camera with Vlog It! You can create shows consisting entirely of pictures, titles, graphics and pre-recorded video clips. However, to explore all the cool things that Vlog It! can do, you should still try it with a camera at least once.
There are two basic types of cameras you can use with Vlog It!: webcams and camcorders.
Webcams have been very popular little cameras and are readily available at most computer stores. They usually stay connected to PCs and sit on top of the monitor or nearby. Early webcams were sphere or "egg" shaped but today they come in many different shapes and sizes. Some PCs even come with a webcam.
The earliest webcams were black and white and had fairly low resolution which often meant fairly poor image quality. Fortunately, webcams have improved greatly over the years and today most possess image quality that's quite good. When shopping for a webcam, keep in mind that with webcams you generally get what you pay for. In other words, a webcam that costs $99 usually has better image quality than one costing $49.
More recent models tend to have better quality as well as better software drivers. Another indication of quality is the resolution on the webcam's packaging. Some cameras claim 320 x 240 resolution and others claim 640 x 480. In general, the higher resolution webcams produce better images.
While most webcams connect to your PC through a standard USB port, there are some models that connect through higher speed ports. One type connects to a FireWire port. Other cameras connect to a USB 2.0 port (also called HiSpeed USB). Both of these new types of webcams generally feature better quality than USB 1.0 webcams. Due to the higher speed interface they use, these webcams do not have to compress the image to transfer it into your computer. The trade-off here is that not all PCs have FireWire or USB 2.0 ports. If you wish to use this kind of webcam, FireWire or USB 2.0 ports can be added to your PC by installing an internal interface card into an open slot.
Other names for FireWire - Depending on your particular camera, FireWire is also known as IEEE 1394, i.Link, DV In/Out or DV Terminal.
If you'd like to get very high quality results, consider using a camcorder combined with a video capture card in your computer. In general, camcorders produce much better image quality than webcams and they have become relatively inexpensive over the last few years. Camcorders capture much better quality video than web cams because of their higher resolution imaging chips and better lenses.
An additional advantage is that a camcorder usually has a zoom lens. This enables you to position your camera behind your PC rather than on top of it as web cams require. A zoom lens also gives you greater control over framing your shot.
If you have a camcorder that has both a FireWire and analog input connector, you can use the analog input to connect devices like your VCR or old 8 mm. camcorder and capture footage from VHS videotape. Record the VHS footage onto a DV tape in your camcorder. Then use Vlog It! to capture the footage from the DV tape.
If you have a web cam or a camcorder that uses an analog connection, you'll need a software driver that is compatible with Microsoft's DirectShow (WDM driver). Almost all web cams now come with such a driver. Some older web cams do not, however. Most manufacturers make updated software drivers available on their web sites for free download. Almost any WDM driver-compatible analog or Firewire inputs connected to your computer can be used with Vlog It!
Even if your camera is new, we recommend visiting the web site of your camera manufacturer to verify that you have the latest version.
If you have a web cam, install the latest driver for your camera and connect it to your computer using the USB, analog or Firewire cable that came with it. Then turn the camera on if needed.
With a camcorder, you can use either an S-Video cable (analog) or FireWire (digital) to connect to your computer. Which one you choose may depend on what kind of camcorder you have because some have only one type of connection. VHS and 8 mm camcorders have analog connections. DV and Digital8 camcorders usually have both analog and FireWire connections. If you aren't sure which connection you have, refer to your camcorder's manual. If you have both, it doesn't matter much which you choose; both types of connection will give you about the same results in Vlog It! One nice advantage of using Firewire is that it's designed to be "plug and play," so you should be able to simply plug it in and begin to use it without having to install a driver.
If
you will be using an S-Video cable and your computer does not have that kind of input, you can get either an
analog capture card, most of which have both composite and S-Video connections, or a graphics card with
an S-Video port.
To
connect your camcorder via FireWire, install a FireWire (IEEE 1394) capture card in your PC.
Once your camera is connected, we suggest that you test it out using the viewing software that came with your web cam or capture card. When the camera is working with the software that it came with, exit that software and launch Vlog It!
Position your webcam or camcorder securely on top of your monitor, centered directly above the Teleprompter window on Vlog It!'s main interface. You want the lens of your camera to be as close to the top of the Teleprompter window as possible so that your eyes will appear to be looking at the camera while you are actually looking at the Teleprompter just below.
Some
web cams have a base or stand that is quite tall and raises the web cam above your monitor. We suggest that you
not use such a base because it will raise the camera too far above the monitor. Instead, just secure the camera
to the top of the monitor with some tape. If you can position the camera forward enough so that it can hang down
in front of the monitor's bezel just a bit, this is ideal.
Camcorders offer additional positioning options because they have zoom lenses that allow you to place them further back on your monitor or even on a tripod behind your monitor. If you have a flat LCD monitors, camera positioning will be even easier.
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To
configure your camera,
Clicking the Properties button displays your camera's properties panel, which will allow you to make any adjustments provided by the device's manufacturer. Click Properties now and try experimenting with the different settings.
Automatic Settings are the Enemy: We suggest that you turn off any of your camera's automatic settings (such as Auto Gain, Auto Iris, Auto White Balance).
Camera keep shutting itself off?!?! Many camcorders will turn off automatically after being on for a few minutes if a tape is inserted. Removing the tape should allow the camcorder to stay on indefinitely. In general, it's not good for your camcorder to be left on continuously for days at a time, so remember to turn the camcorder off when it's not being used.
The quality of your microphone has a big impact on the quality of your shows. While Vlog It! will work with the microphone that's built into many models of web cams and camcorders, those mikes will typically give poor results because they pick up all sorts of ambient noise. External microphones, particularly lapel mikes that clip to your shirt, generally produce far superior audio. Even an inexpensive lapel mike is preferable to using the built-in mike. A variety of this type of microphone should be available at computer and electronics stores.
The ideal position for a lapel mike is actually about 3 inches below the collar, not on the lapel itself. Experiment with the mike's position to find the best sound.
In
most cases, you will want to plug the microphone into your computer's Microphone jack. It usually has a microphone
icon similar to that shown here. If you have a sound card installed, be sure to use it rather than the one on the
motherboard.
If you are having any trouble with audio coming in through the sound card or motherboard, and if your camera has an audio input jack, then try plugging your mike into the camera to see if it resolves the problem.
Once the microphone is connected, we suggest that you test it out using either the software that came with your sound card or the Windows Sound Recorder program (located in the Programs: Accessories folder of the Windows Start Menu). When the microphone is working in Windows or with the software that came with your audio card, then exit that software and launch Vlog It!
To
configure your microphone and test your audio levels in Vlog It!:
Unwanted feedback? Reducing speaker volume can help prevent echo or feedback while recording your shows. That loud, obnoxious sound may be caused by your speakers being heard through the microphone. Another way to reduce feedback is to point your speakers at an angle away from your microphone, or simply turn your speakers down or off when you're ready to record.
If you wish to use the audio from two different microphones in your video, such as a lapel microphone on each person, make sure that they are connected through the same device (a device being a camcorder or sound card). This allows the device to control and synchronize the audio from both microphones and keeps them in sync.
If
your camera or sound card has only one input for an external microphone, you'll need a Y adapter like this that
combines two microphones to one mic jack. These adapters can be found at most electronics stores; at Radio Shack,
the catalog number is 274-310.
Alternatively, you can use an audio mixer to combine the microphones for input to one device. If you have a sound card that supports more than one audio input, you can use the additional inputs for extra microphones. If your camcorder supports two inputs (such as Channel 1 / Channel 2), you can plug one microphone into each channel.
Troubleshooting Audio problems. What? Trouble in paradise? If you are experiencing problems with the quality of your sound, your microphone, recording or playing back sound, we have lots of suggestions. Please see Problems with Audio.
Lighting is the single most important factor in making the video from your camera look as good as possible. In general, video shot with a webcam needs a lot of light to look its best.
The best way to determine whether you have enough lighting is with your own eyes. Look at the video of the camera subject on your monitor. Is the subject's face evenly lit or does it have dark shadows? Is the subject over lit and washed out or under lit, flat and gray?
Many rooms set up for computer use are laid out so that the computer is on a desk against a wall with the light coming from somewhere behind the person's chair. This is not a good lighting situation for shooting video.
If you have not turned off the automatic settings on your camera, a bright background behind the subject can cause the camera's auto mode feature to darken the overall image and leave the subject's face in the dark. To avoid this, turn the auto settings off or make sure that the light shining on the face of your subject is brighter than the light behind the subject. The best way to eliminate this problem is to bounce light off of a nearby wall or the ceiling.
Bounced light can also even out hot spots and fill in dark areas. It's also good to have a fair amount of overall ambient light in the area that will be visible on camera. Experiment by moving your lights around and keep checking the image on your monitor to see what each change does to the quality of your camera image.
If you are having trouble getting enough light out of your existing fixtures, several inexpensive solutions are as close as your local hardware store. A "torchiere" style halogen light can throw 300 watts of light on your ceiling or wall at a reasonable cost. Another option is using 500 watt portable halogen work lights. These can also be quite inexpensive and there are a variety of models that come with their own stands or handy clamps.
Our caring lawyers would like to remind you to always use such lights carefully and only according to the directions. Never leave them on when unattended.
Cinematographers refer to their craft as "painting with light" and that's a good way to think of lighting. Here we give you a few quick pointers on how good lighting is done. One important aspect of lighting is the absence of light; shadows. While shadows are generally considered bad, you still need some shadows because they give an image its depth. A person's nose should cast a shadow on their face or they will look pretty strange on camera!
The trick is to make sure that your shadows are `good' shadows and not `bad' shadows. Bad shadows are shadows that are too sharp or dark. Good shadows have two characteristics; they are soft-edged and they are not completely dark. A good way to get soft-edged shadows is to diffuse light by bouncing it off of a wall. Direct lighting can cause harsh shadows. A good way to make partial shadows that aren't completely dark is to use what's called a `fill' light. Good lighting usually involves three primary lights. The lights themselves can be of the same type. What's important is which direction they are coming from.
These are the basics of what is called "three-point lighting." Every time you see someone being interviewed in a TV studio, some variation of this lighting technique is being used.
You don't have to do three-point lighting to get good looking images from your camera but it can really help in problem lighting situations.
You don't even need to have a bunch of professional lights to do good lighting. You can make great three-point lighting out of an ordinary floor lamp, a desk lamp and a piece of white poster board. The poster board can be used to bounce light and can replace the need for a separate fill light. Try experimenting while you watch the results on your monitor.
If you read this help system very attentively from virtual cover to virtual cover, you'll find a crack about how nobody notices or cares what shoes you wear. While that may actually be true if you confine yourself to footwear, your attire is important in at least two regards. However, it doesn't quite rate it's own page, so although your wardrobe goes several healthy strides outside the boundaries of setting up your studio, here it is. (If you think it would be more fitting elsewhere, we're accepting nominations.)
What you wear in front of the camera should be consistent with the type of overall impression you are trying to make. Thus, your on-camera appearance will depend greatly on the topic of your show or presentation. A professional appearance on camera will tell your audience that you are serious about the message you are delivering, and in turn they will tend to pay closer attention. While a business suit is appropriate for a show on investment strategy, blue jeans would do better for a rock 'n roll vlog. Newscasters like Brian Williams or Jon Stewart wear a coat and tie when they're the studio but a field jacket and khaki slacks when they're doing a story from a war-torn city street (or in Stewart's case, from in front of a blue screen five feet from his anchor desk). With Vlog It! and its V-Screen, you have the same easy geographical freedom as Jon Stewartbe sure to plan your wardrobe appropriately.
From a technical point of view, you should avoid wearing fabrics with small patterns, like herringbone tweeds, hounds tooth, or small checkered patterns. These tend to drive most video cameras a little crazy. In general it's a good idea to wear neutral colors and to avoid solid blacks or whites. Of course if you're using V-Screen, you'll also want to avoid the color you've chosen for your backdrop.