Lighting and Audio for Interviews
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- In this episode we look at how to light and capture audio for video interviews. We've covered a lot of these separate topics in other episodes but here we put many of them together. This shoot went reasonably well with a nice, warm, indoor sort of look but we did run into a few mistakes. The room was super "live" or echoey so the audio was not awesome but we have some ideas on how to fix that in the future. Come have a look and learn from my mistakes!
RODE NTG-2 Shotgun Mic:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...
Tascam DR-100mkII Field Recorder:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
ePhoto 4500W 3 Light Softbox Kit:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
Limo Studio 650W Fresnel:
geni.us/noODcP
This episode shot with the following:
Nikon D600 DSLR
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Lens
Canon 60D DSLR
Canon 50mm EF f/1.8 II Lens
Rode NTG-2 Shotgun Microphone
Tascam DR-100 mk II
e-Photo 4500 Watt CFL lighting kit
Clamp light (aluminum clamp light from a hardware store)
650 watt Fresnel light (Chinese knock off of the ARRI 650--about $100 from Julius Studio)
All music copyright Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
Always generous with the details that makes a difference, Curtis
Thanks!
Curtis, these are really great videos. I have just started a digital film course with the Open University in the UK. These videos are just perfect for this course.
Clear, precise, practical and to the point. I like your common sense approach, and the way you are open and invite comments and alternative methods.
Great work, thank you.
I really like what you got here. I think what does it for me is the cookie casting a warm shadowy light on that wood from the book case. The warm light looks right on that wood. It makes her skin warmer looking against it.
Thanks for the demo. I noticed that the light on the bookcase in the background is brighter than the subject, which I found distracting. I learned in my video classes that you need to keep the subject brighter to act as a focal point, so the eye is drawn her, rather than the background.
+Matt Laubach That is a very good point and a lesson learned, thanks!
Excellent production Curtis! For the budget it looks awesome. Keep up the great work sir, you're an inspiration.
Nice video, great tips. Thanks for the info on gear and what you learned from the shoot.
Thank´s Curtis, I am learning a lot of your videos. One more great video. Your channel is awesome! Keep the videos coming.
I like the idea of the 'cookie' cutter lighting. It's all a learning curve with composition and 2 cameras.
Very good information delivered in a very easy to understand way Curtis...I like that it you don't always have to clip a lav to the talent to get good sound.! Thanks
Thanks Kevin.
Thanks Amani! I've been enjoying your videos recently. Keep up the good work!
Very helpful as always, many thanks Curtis.
+Dann Daniel Thanks!
Thanks Michael--really helpful. Good luck on your video journey--I think it has made me a better photographer.
Great feedback--thanks. I'll be sure to do that before I break down the gear next time.
Curtis, always so helpful. I like much here, but especially I like the light emulating sunlight on the bookcase. And the tip that the nose shouldn't protrude past the cheek.
+Erik Olson Thanks Eric.
Good job Curtis. Enjoyed watching.
Thanks for this, I have learnt something. You are real and honest !
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback!
Awesome--thanks! I'll definitely try it out!
Thanks Daniel. That may work out well, depending on the room. The mics on the Zoom will likely pick up a fair bit of room echo (if you're shooting in an echo-y room) unless you can get a pretty tight crop and get that recorder within about 6 or 8 inches of your talent. It may be a good way to start and if the mics on the zoom don't work you, you could save up for a second NTG-2.
Just downloading now--Shot Designer looks amazing! Maybe future episode material.
Great video, man! You've helped me a lot. Thanks!
Helcio Filho Thanks, glad it helped!
Super helpful, thanks for sharing!
+texashammer4 glad it helped!
Thanks Curtis, that really helped! Rob
Hi Curtis, thanks for some very helpful lighting advice. I find lighting one of hardest things to get right.
Thanks Shark!
Awesome, thanks Scott. I'll check in with the ladies in my family and see what they suggest as well. I'm a little embarrassed that I don't even know what a disposable compact is!
Scott, I have to confess, I know nothing about makeup but I think you're right, I should at least know enough to make recommendations to talent before the shoot.
That is good explained this kind of lightning. It is a warm and objective typical american lightning. I would challenge you to make more of these video's with other characteristic lightnings and where it is meant for of course. Because with lightning we can create a mood to make the message more clear and give it more impact. Playing with the fill light to make a Rembrandt lightning for a bit more drama if needed for the item of the interview. Well it are some ideas for you because you can explain it very well. Even i must say that with this principal any one can play and analyse movies and pictures lightning.
Totally agree, and many fluorescent bulbs put out spiky color so even being careful with white balance can still leave you with strange color casts. High CRI (90+) fluorescent bulbs seem to work pretty well.
Thanks for the notes on the fresnel/cookie--it turns out that this knock-off can't focus nearly as much as a genuine Arri fresnel. This will, obviously, be a major "con" in my review coming up in a few weeks.
Wisnu--I'll have to work up to that--haven't done any shoots like that yet. I think the biggest trick for an interview where the two people are facing each other is to have enough lighting and large enough background to work for both (or all three) cameras. I'll get there some day soon.
Well thought-out video. Nice light. You could try backing the fill off a bit to get more of a modeled look. This ratio is good for people with rough/problematic skin. I find this framing a bit too wide and a touch too high (she's a bit low in the shot) but it would be good for someone who moves and gestures a lot.
Next time try lighting people who wear glasses - a whole different ball game, especially thick glasses!
Hey, thanks for the feedback--I appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks! Sylights is the name of the app (for iOS, not sure whether there is an Android version)
Sorry about that, the link is in the description. The online store is called Julius Studio. Good luck!
This helped a lot as a quick refresher.... thx.
marc
mc c Thanks!
Very helpful, thank you!
+TimidsFlicks Thanks!
Thanks Morturn!
trilobit, mostly the decision to use DSLRs in this case is because I'm mainly a photographer so those are the cameras I have. I think a good HD camcorder would work just fine for this kind of interview.
Curtis, your videos are invaluable! I have the new Zoom H6 (successor to the zoom h4n). I was originally planning on getting two at899's for an interview setup -- but I'm not in love with the way it treats the high-end. I'm thinking about, instead, setting up the zoom h6 physically just outside of the frame for interviewee one & using a Rode NTG-2 for interviewee #2 (above or below frame). Do you think this would be good for a two person interview setup and a better choice than the dual AT899's?
Very helpful, thank you
👍
Many thanks.
I did apply a mask to the talent's face and increased the saturation slightly and then increased the global contrast slightly.
The build quality is ok, but they don't actually focus to a spotlight very well, just sort of slightly increase the light concentration. I'll have a full review in the next few weeks but I'd avoid this particular light (650 watt from Julius Studio)
Great video! Very informative. Just wondering, you were talking about this diagramming program.. what's it called exactly?
Great video! If you have a two person interview, like a charlie rose type, would it be better to have two booms, one on each or average in between them, lavs aside, and if two mics, should they be a matched set or does it really matter? Of course this is if you don't have a dedicated boom operator.
Yes, ideally you would have two booms. They don't have to be matched mics. In fact, some of the best sound mixers will figure out which mic sounds best for each person and use that.
thanks Curtis!
may i ask, on this setting, why you didn't use lav mic?
and maybe for the next video, could you show us the setting if we also record the interviewer. for instance the interviewer & interviewee sitting next to each other or facing each other
Curtis - I really enjoy, and look forward to your posts. I too, am a still photographer starting to do a little video, so you're a few steps ahead of me. If I had to suggest anything on how to improve your interview, I would say you meet to up the ratio on the subject just a bit and decrease the background light quite a bit. Also, it looked as though you, as the interviewer, were a little too far off to the side, for my taste, but this is all so subjective... :o) I really do love your posts
Hey Curtis! I tried out Sylights, and it was pretty good! Like you said it's made for photography, but I found an app dedicated to videography and it has way more features. It's also free! It's called Shot Designer if you want to check it out. It feels a little crowded/busy on the iPhone version, but I think on the iPad it would be great!
great video about lighting thank you.
Thanks!
Curtis,
The audio was very good. Would you like to say what types and brand and maybe, model of the mic(s) you were using?
Everton
Everton Oliphant Thanks! Yes, that was a RODE NTG-2 shogun mic and Tascam audio recorder. Link for the shotgun mic is in the description and review of the Tascam DR-60DmkII can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/TRoIMPHS91U/v-deo.html
Hi Curtis. I'm back from my photo/video job when I asked you about keeping track of video clips and separate audio clips.
I ran into a slight problem and was wondering if you could make a suggestion for the future.
I set up the talent with a lav mic going into my Zoom H4n stereo input. (changed mono to stereo in post later)
and also a Rode video mic pro-r into the other inputs of the Zoom.(1+2)
The plan was to have to separate recordings. One for talent and one for the interviewer. Which I basically got but...
The lav mic picked up the interviewer questions in the background and the Rode, interview mic picked up the talents answers.
In FCPx I had to mess and adjust the levels so that after the interviewer question I reduced the audio level.
Where did I go wrong. How should I have set up two mics without getting 'microphone bleed'.
As it happens I am not using the interviewers audio track/questions which worked out ok. Should both people have been much further way? But then I didn't have much space.
Thanks, Laurie.
+MyPhotosForever Hi! Yes, that's pretty typical, you'll almost always get a little bit of bleed. What I would do is in post, duck the bleed audio. It is a manual process but results are usually much better.
During production, when you don't have a lot of space, super-cardioid mics are usually the best choice. But with what you had, you probably did the best you could. :)
ur tha best
Doing the grey card, how did you manage this as a one man band wagon crew? Or did you have someone assisting?
Had the talent hold the grey card for me. That's actually pretty common for my corporate work - often have to ask employees of the company to stand in and do little things like this.
Curtis Judd cool. Thank for getting back to me. I like your practical channel. I’d be curious about your work flow solutions in doing your projects if that something within the ambit of your UA-cam channels coverage?
@@stevegeorge7773 Good idea, I'll see what we can do!
Love the video. She looked very well lit. How far was the key light from her face? Did you have 5600K as your key light? I know its an old video. Thanks for always answering my questions!
Hi Willie, The key was about 5 to 8 feet from her, camera right. Yes, it was a daylight balanced compact fluorescent softbox. It was fun to review this. I don't believe I use any of this lighting gear anymore except every once in a while I pull out the tungsten fresnel which we used on the bookcase here.
great! Which camera & lenses you used this video?
+Susanta Shuvo This was the Nikon D600 and 50mm f/1.8D lens. I have since sold this camera, but it was ok.
Hey there. Great vid thanks. Can you also use a shotgun mic on a small stand on the floor in front of them pointing towards them?
Yes, best to angle the mic at 45 degrees and keep it as close as possible. You can usually get closer from above, but from below works when you don't have other options.
Thanks Curtis. Keep up the great work. Appreciate the work you put into your videos.
Very good
+BH Tutorials thanks!
Thank you for this "learning experience." If you were to reshoot this, would you consider using a bit of makeup on her cheeks and nose? She seemed a little shiny.
If so, what kind of makeup?
Sylights on iPad.
I asked because I've heard that the cheaper fluorescent lights have a distinct green cast. After 35 years we're switching to fluorescents. Electric bills have become too high. Everyone is trying to sell us KinoFlo which cost at least 4x as the competition. We're willing to add a minus green to save money. But we don't want to color correct every shot. Your cookie wasn't in sharp focus & just seemed to be a halo around talent. Sometime try a sharp light thru Venetian blinds on BG.
Perhaps a disposable compact could be brushed over the talent's nose and cheeks. I'll ask my daughter about this (she's a Hollywood type).
During my "television" days, I was made to wear orange-colored pancake makeup under overhead lights. It looked terrible when the lights were off.
Plenty helpful. I'm starting to get into filming for corporate gigs.
Thanks Stanley. Best wishes!
I'm confused on what side of my white balance card to use. You say you use the gray side others say use the white side. Which one is best for correct white balance? Thank you.
Hi Rick, I've generally had better success with the gray side because that will balance the colors in the exposure range where the skin tones will generally be exposed. I would recommend you test with your camera and see which works best. Good luck!
@@curtisjudd
As always, thanks.
Some good info but can I make a suggestion? You talk about some specific equipment like the $100 light and and the mic stand but do not really show them. The whole time you are talking about them I am wondering what they really look like. Next time add some shots of the gear as you are talking about it so the viewer is not left wondering what you are talking about. Thanks for sharing the info
Thanks for the feedback Wayne
First I'm an absolute novice in all this.... I just happen to run a small business and we are making a video at the moment ....so I'm being a bit of a nerd poking my nose into industries I haven't a clue about.... But can I suppose that the frenell light thing could really be used for any time of day.... even night time if you had the right color for moonlight and of course make the bookcase darker....?
MumblingMickey Yes, you can use the fresnel light for just about anything. It is a tungsten light with a color temperature of about 3200k so it will appear quite warm relative to daylight so it is just a matter of deciding what you want it to look like and your camera's white balance setting. You can also put a color gel on the light to change its look.
Inotice you have those Chinese Fresnell Lights? Are they good?
Did you have to correct the color in post?
what program did u use to make the diagram?
I have a standard 14-42 lens . Panasonic g7. How can I get the blurred background effect behind my subject ?
It'll be hard with that combination but your best bet is to move the camera far enough away so that you zoom to 42mm, and set the aperture to f/5.6. You may need to work with a faster lens with a larger maximum aperture such as the 42.5mm f/1.7: amzn.to/29Gr2Kv
Thanks, that was really helpful
fresnell light which website is? i didnt get that u said julius.com?
this isnt the classical 3 point lighting right ?(or a variation from it)why you didnt use it?
+Rafa Kuz I actually pretty much is classic 3 point lighting: A key, a fill, and a hair light. On top of that, we added the light on the bookshelf in the background.
I would've given her a little less headroom and framed out the lamp(at least I think it's a lamp )behind her, but I guess it's a matter of personal preference.
Good points, thanks!
What mic did you use for the interview?
Ande Taylor We used the RODE NTG-2: amzn.to/1txmjfm
BTW Curtis where did you buy your background?
Hi Reggie, that bookcase is the real deal! No background needed. :)
Ahhh!!! No wonder it looks so real, lol.
Any chance you could share the link the the interview as I am into Dino's. :)
Did you shoot 24p or 30p?
24p. I prefer the look of 24 over 30 for most non-action pieces.
err, Duck the bleed audio ? sorry, please explain lol
+MyPhotosForever In Audition, for example, highlight the audio that bled through on the mic and reduce the gain so that you essentially get rid of the bleed. Here's an example of highlighting and adjusting a small section of an audio clip (except that you will want to reduce it): ua-cam.com/video/L1FLali0xLk/v-deo.html
I disagree with you on your framing review. Moving her further towards to the 1st 3rd (right vertical on a rule of thirds grid) would have been visually too awkward with so much background in the left of the frame. Decreasing the headroom would have been OK to do, but I don't think it would be necessary in this case. Said another way your framing worked well for this footage.
Thanks Lawrence.
the light on the bookshelves is way too strong leaving dark corners which are far from flattering....just saying
Maybe so, it helped out on the hair separation on top
Agreed, too hot. I've since bought a lower wattage bulb for the fresnel light so we can light the background with a little more subtlety. Thanks!
Curtis Judd ;love your videos...some great tips ...cheers!
I think, much more interesting for us, could be, if you show us the set, part, by part by yourself. You, walking on set and pointing things, to show us, how it looks in REAL life. Not on scheme.
It's always next time...next video....and on...nothing here.
Ok, thank you, feedback received.
very bad video.....not explaining anything...I did not understand anything.
Thanks for the feedback.
Bookcase is way over exposed. Should have also used split tone lighting with the bookcase being more cool in temp. As it is your subject and background are the same exposure level and color tone so there is no depth or interest in the scene. Rookie stuff - keep at it kid!
What a condescending way to end an otherwise valid and helpful comment.
Exactly!!