I have been asked by our local Museum to investigate the cost of setting up
a video package to record and edit village activities for the Muesum. These
would be kept for the future and they would hope to be able to show them
on a computer screen (how big a computer would we need). Is there any one
out there who could offer some help or advise on what we should be buying
in the way of cameras, editing facilities and display screens.
Many thanks
Anthony Page
Videos
-
Fraught
Re: Videos
If you want cheap? I recently set up a complete video suite (MiniDV Camera,
top spec PC, editing software) for just over £800 for the company that i
work for. Quite happy to give details on how i did this and what i put together.
I guess you can build to your means, how much are you looking to spend?
"A.Page" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
top spec PC, editing software) for just over £800 for the company that i
work for. Quite happy to give details on how i did this and what i put together.
I guess you can build to your means, how much are you looking to spend?
"A.Page" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
I have been asked by our local Museum to investigate the cost of setting
up
a video package to record and edit village activities for the Muesum. These
would be kept for the future and they would hope to be able to show them
on a computer screen (how big a computer would we need). Is there any one
out there who could offer some help or advise on what we should be buying
in the way of cameras, editing facilities and display screens.
Many thanks
Anthony Page
-
Dave Watterson
Re: Videos
A couple of points ... if you have displays driven by computer, which is sensible
because the movies can be on hard disk and set to repeat as required ...
be darned sure no one unauthorised can get at the machine. The same applies
to the monitor - box in the controls so that kids can't switch it to their
favourite cartoon show.
Consider having the films on a DVD instead. You can then use the cheapest
DVD player you can get and ask the person cutting the DVD to set it to repeat
play. Then all you need is a display TV, amplifier and speakers. (The last
two may be combined in sets designed for use with computers.)
There should be a lot of large screens coming on to the market in the next
few years as people move to high-definition tv.
Check your nearest professional supplier - people like Creative Video in
Warwick - as they often get trade-ins and second-hand kit which might be
just what you need at a fraction of the new price.
But as others have said you need not spend a lot.
Do consider NOT making your own movies - invite a local amateur or club to
make them under your guidance. That way you don't have to buy kit you do
not need, learn technical skills you will rarely use, or keep up with the
latest kit. If you must do it yourself consider borrowing or hiring kit from
the same sources ... or at a pinch from a hire firm.
If you do not go the DVD route then to simply store and show the films almost
any modern computer will do. It needs a fast processor and a large hard disk
but that's about all. You might like to get someone to add an extra fan to
it if it is to run nearly 24/7. I'd suggest keeping the computer as cheap
and simple as you can but spending as much as you can afford on the monitor.
Do also consider a small video projector which would give a four or five
foot wide picture easily. To be blunt you will not need the top quality
cinema type. In a museum visitors will be gazing casually at a few minutes
of movie. You can get projectors intended for showing graphs etc in offices
reasonably cheaply. All projectors have high running costs because bulbs
are expensive.
Don't forget to allow for decent sound. That probably means mounting speakers
high, perhaps on the ceiling. Most computer sound systems require powered
speakers - i.e. ones with little amplifiers in them so you need to be able
to plug them in to the mains.
Final thought - loose cables are a menace anywhere near the public. Set
aside some money for fixing cables firmly to walls and ceilings, putting
them in conduits etc.
Dave
because the movies can be on hard disk and set to repeat as required ...
be darned sure no one unauthorised can get at the machine. The same applies
to the monitor - box in the controls so that kids can't switch it to their
favourite cartoon show.
Consider having the films on a DVD instead. You can then use the cheapest
DVD player you can get and ask the person cutting the DVD to set it to repeat
play. Then all you need is a display TV, amplifier and speakers. (The last
two may be combined in sets designed for use with computers.)
There should be a lot of large screens coming on to the market in the next
few years as people move to high-definition tv.
Check your nearest professional supplier - people like Creative Video in
Warwick - as they often get trade-ins and second-hand kit which might be
just what you need at a fraction of the new price.
But as others have said you need not spend a lot.
Do consider NOT making your own movies - invite a local amateur or club to
make them under your guidance. That way you don't have to buy kit you do
not need, learn technical skills you will rarely use, or keep up with the
latest kit. If you must do it yourself consider borrowing or hiring kit from
the same sources ... or at a pinch from a hire firm.
If you do not go the DVD route then to simply store and show the films almost
any modern computer will do. It needs a fast processor and a large hard disk
but that's about all. You might like to get someone to add an extra fan to
it if it is to run nearly 24/7. I'd suggest keeping the computer as cheap
and simple as you can but spending as much as you can afford on the monitor.
Do also consider a small video projector which would give a four or five
foot wide picture easily. To be blunt you will not need the top quality
cinema type. In a museum visitors will be gazing casually at a few minutes
of movie. You can get projectors intended for showing graphs etc in offices
reasonably cheaply. All projectors have high running costs because bulbs
are expensive.
Don't forget to allow for decent sound. That probably means mounting speakers
high, perhaps on the ceiling. Most computer sound systems require powered
speakers - i.e. ones with little amplifiers in them so you need to be able
to plug them in to the mains.
Final thought - loose cables are a menace anywhere near the public. Set
aside some money for fixing cables firmly to walls and ceilings, putting
them in conduits etc.
Dave