How To Make Videos: Camera, Lighting and Microphone In the first installment of How To Make Videos I take a look at the equipment you need including camera, lighting and microphone. A good camera is essential for video making however many people would be surprised that you can get good quality video with cheaper cameras. Smartphones can work well here (for example the iPhone 4) as do ordinary point and shoot cameras and cheap camcorders. Moving on you can use an ordinary camcorder, superzoom or even a professional DSLR for your video but you should look for at least 720p video recording. Lighting is also extremely important when making videos. It can make an average video look much better and more impressive. Just like with a camera you don’t necessarily need to go and buy an expensive lighting kit but it will help the quality of your videos if you turn on all the lights you can and bring in extra lamps for optimal lighting. Audio is one of the most important parts of making a video. When starting out it’s often best to just use the microphone built-in to your camera, camcorder or phone. For the best audio quality though you will need a better microphone and there are several ways you can go. If your camera or camcorder has an external microphone input you can use a vastly better external mic connected to your camera such as a RØDE VideoMic, an external microphone like the Zoom H1 or a USB microphone connected to your computer like an Audio-Technica AT2020.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
what camera would be a good camera that softens the background?
… you’ll probably be able to make like 150$… and you better sell it before the ipod touch 5 comes out or else the value of your ipod touch 4 will go down
@h3nc0
its not hard :0
just split in vegas one point in bothe the audio and video
slide to match them and the rest should fall into place
if it doesnt then somethings not right with the recording equipment because it should record together
@NicoleWongTV Im pretty sure ill be able to make way more then that..look on ebay..
@1sing18go the only reason why those ipod touch 4s are still on ebay are because they arent SOLD yet..
@NicoleWongTV They arent `Sold´´yet beacause they are all scratched and shit…Mine has no scratches at all on the back
good video austin
What editing software do you use? I just bought the vegas movie studio hd 9 and it really just discouraged me. It’s so confusing. I just started making videos. Thanks in advance
If you need good sound outdoors, use a Stick-On WindCutter on your built-in microphone.
thankyou!!
I really don’t understand why is it so difficult for people to sync audio with video. It’s just matching a clap to the actual video. That’s all.
Is it just a coincidence that the camera name has “D3″ in it?
@AllTechIncluded Of course.
how to make videos: get a canon
Can I record sound directly from the ZOOM H1 via the mini USB to USB port cable without the AA battery inside?
ok i have and old computer with windows movie make is and xp computer and i have a nikon l110 and it shoots 720p but it wont find the fine through movie maker and im pissed
Duncan,
When you record with the Sanyo Xacti CG10, does it go blurry? When I upload with my CG20, it goes blurry idk why. Is it because of the lighting? If so, I can show you the video. I am just using regular lighting from my room but it’s like blurry. Please help me thanks.
@antonioreyes1987 I have similar queries too. Just – trial & error. That’s why digital cameras are so good.
@TheWindCutter Better to record sound via a separate audio recorder, closer to the sound source. Various MP3-type players/ recorders are small, cheap plentiful. MP3 “recorders” can be as easy as a 2nd-hand “not-working” mobile phone. So even allow remote corded or cordless microphones. So even allow remote corded or cordless microphones.
@weeweegallegos Freeware & open source everywhere. Linux, Android – easily in their marketplaces. Windows: Majorgeeks_dot com.
@QutaHunter It is extremely RARE for any video sequence “shots” last a fin a movie to last more than a few minutes. Angles change, etc. Watch any music video. Most shots last seconds only. Having 2+ cameras on a scene is best.
Can you please make a tutorial on how to setup a condenser microphone? I need some serious help. Do you really need to buy the thing like Mbox mini?
what microphone you used to do that video, and how much it cost?
would you recommend a couple of flood lights to use as lighting?? i did use my lamp before but now the light bulbs gone :/ so i’ve gotta get a new bulb
nikonist