Setting up the studio, because fuck sleep.

[Dredgy]

So I've done a couple of tech reviews on Youtube, nearly a year ago now, and now that I have a more professional camera setup I thought I'd revisit the idea.

 

One of the big problems I had was having to film before I went to work, and not having anywhere to film. This resulted in me having to take my computer off of my desk, moving the desk in front of me, getting framing right, filming in one take and then going to work by 5AM and having to reset everything when I got home.

 

So I've created a more permanent set in my studio/workshop/bedroom-for-the-summer-because-its-my-only-room-with-airconditioning so I can just sit down and shoot a video whenever I have time.

 

Equipment:

Manfrotto 509HD Head

Manfrotto 545 Legs

Canon EOS 550D

Kamerar TK-3 Cage

Lanpart Rig

Sennheiser 112 Lav Mic (not pictured)

Prompt-it Teleprompter w/ iPad 4 (not pictured).

Crappy softbox lighting.

 

I don't have plans to make tech reviewing a full time thing, since so many people do it well, I do plan to have another set or two in the room for some more unique ideas, but I enjoyed the challenge of framing and lighting in such a confined space.

 

 

I wanted something made with spare parts - to look very DIYey, but still also be clean and professional.

 

 

And the final result:

 

 

The only thing that really annoys me is the glare on the monitor, but I can't really fix that with the lighting I have, so my plan is to replace it in post with either B-Roll footage or an in-joke. I will also likely shoot with a macro lens for a shallower depth of field, also here's a random tag for @ShadowCaptain.

 

Just thought I'd share, cause I'm having a lot of fun getting into this videography thing

[ShadowCaptain]

An idea for the monitor is cut out a piece of green muslin, tape it over the screen, and then key it out and replace it with video

 

Then it looks like the video is playing on the monitor 

 

EDIT: thanks for the tag, I beat you to it by commenting before you even tagged me haha

[Wauthar]

An idea for the monitor is cut out a piece of green muslin, tape it over the screen, and then key it out and replace it with video

 

Then it looks like the video is playing on the monitor 

 

EDIT: thanks for the tag, I beat you to it by commenting before you even tagged me haha

On a completely unrelated note, you need 5 more posts for 12,345!

 

OT: looks good, actually quite professional!

[awesomes8wc3]

Hook up something to the monitor and play something, like your intro sequence if you have one, or product shots.

Play around with the angle of the monitor too.

[Dredgy]

Hook up something to the monitor and play something, like your intro sequence if you have one, or product shots.

Play around with the angle of the monitor too.

 

Monitor doesn't actually work, and not sure if I have a VGA cable anyway. I will simulate it though.

And play around with the angle of course, it's on the stand of a VG248QE so I have lots of flexibility there

 

 

An idea for the monitor is cut out a piece of green muslin, tape it over the screen, and then key it out and replace it with video

 

Then it looks like the video is playing on the monitor 

 

EDIT: thanks for the tag, I beat you to it by commenting before you even tagged me haha

 

Yea it was up for 10 seconds and you hadn't commented, so I thought I'd better tag you

 

And as for the muslin, that's....pretty genius. I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to get something to work with the black  

Now I get to play with scissors!  :rolleyes:

 

 

OT: looks good, actually quite professional!

 

Thank you

[ShadowCaptain]

Now I get to play with scissors!  :rolleyes:

 

Dont run with them

[Dredgy]

Dont run with them

Made a right hash of this. Gonna see it through to completion, but think a better idea might be to actual take apart the monitor and have the green screen inside the bezel.

[ShadowCaptain]

Made a right hash of this. Gonna see it through to completion, but think a better idea might be to actual take apart the monitor and have the green screen inside the bezel.

 

oh if the monitor is broken yeah just remove the front bezel and pin it behind

[Dredgy]

oh if the monitor is broken yeah just remove the front bezel and pin it behind

Industrial superglue seems to have done the job, though not sure how square it is. Got a 16:10 as backup, but this looks like it could work.

[ShadowCaptain]

Industrial superglue seems to have done the job, though not sure how square it is. Got a 16:10 as backup, but this looks like it could work.

 

no problem, please send 10% of your revenue to me kthanks

[Dredgy]

@ShadowCaptain Will Do.

 

 

So a bit rough around the edges, but worked surprisingly well. Might still de-bezel though for a cleaner effect, but haven't played around to see what I can do with what I have.

This is an unblended, simple key, will play around more tomorrow, but I think that's useable if I get the edges right.

 

[Bsmith]

looking sweet, keep the work going dude and beat linus of its throne.

or just enjoy it as a hobby

[Dredgy]

looking sweet, keep the work going dude and beat linus of its throne.

or just enjoy it as a hobby

Thanks. Will just be a hobby, unless I figure out a way to make my content better/different than everyone else.

[the pokemon kid]

That is a very big rig for that camera, stability to the max!

 

I like the idea of the green screen on the screen. Have you thought about taking the bezel of the screen off, attaching the green paper under it and then re-applying the bezel? Or is that what you have done?

[Dredgy]

@the pokemon kidThought about it. That particular monitor didn't look easy to pull apart though. So had my grandmother fit it and super glued it on.

It's much neater now than in the picture above, and works really well, even shooting on an iPad with a live chroma key app works really really well.

[Dredgy]

That is a very big rig for that camera, stability to the max!

Also pointing out I have a 7kg BlackMagic URSA on order and use the tripod for commercial work as well, it can hold the RED rigs we hire.

[the pokemon kid]

@the pokemon kidThought about it. That particular monitor didn't look easy to pull apart though. So had my grandmother fit it and super glued it on.

It's much neater now than in the picture above, and works really well, even shooting on an iPad with a live chroma key app works really really well.

 

 

Also pointing out I have a 7kg BlackMagic URSA on order and use the tripod for commercial work as well, it can hold the RED rigs we hire.

 

Ye, to be honest. I don't think anyone would notice the un refined edge if you were playing moving content anyways. Its only with the block colour you can sort of see it...

 

Ahhh I see, well stability is always good