Well, I have been trying the last couple of days to get more video done but nothing has gone right.
To set the seen I use an HP point and shoot that also does video, yea it's not the best but gets the job done. For audio I have a hand held MP3 player that also does FM, so I just place the headphones around the camera when recording, again not the best but usually turns out OK. Last year all worked great, since it is a lot of flashing and such I usually try to video in a small window of time early in the morning or just as the sun is going down.
If it could go wrong this morning it did. The previous night I left all my controller hardware on so it would be nice and warm and ready to go. I queued up Vixen with three sequences that I wanted to video. Told the wife to bring up test channels turn all on for a couple of seconds between sequence so I could stop and start the recording and split them up.
I then set off out side around 6:30 A.M. to stand in the neighbors front walk way across the street. (I have to get that far back to get the the show in the shot). Problem one noticed the replacement FM receiver I bought, (Last year one died) did not like my old headset, this new one wants to use the headset wire as an antenna and at first only wanted to be happy with the ear buds it came with. Earbuds do not hold to a camera well. After a little bit of playing with the headset jack I found that if I do not put the jack in all the way that it worked OK. So I was setup and ready, test channels was up all lights on, I centered up with the Tripod and gave the signal to start the first sequence. I started recording and see all channels go off and the sequence starts.
Problem two: About 10 seconds into it, I start to hear a bunch of static, (Crap I think, I readjust the headset jack and back in business). I continue to let this record, I wont use this one anyway because of the static but get ready for the second sequence. During this one, I also noticed that the FM receiver was a little touchy as to how I was standing (Again it's using the headset wire as the antenna). After a bit I figured out the gymnast pose I need to be in for good reception.
Problem three: OK, so the first video is a bust, but I'm thinking no big deal I can still get two done. Per Que I see the first sequence end and all channels come on again, this is my signal to get ready. I stop and restart the record. This is great I think, I have good audio and I am about 1 minute into this video. Then it happened, I lost my custom headset jack position and lost my audio. (Crap again I say, this time loudly). Since this was a short sequence I fixed the headset jack, (Also yelled at the FM receiver) and got ready for sequence number three. But while getting ready for number three problem four announced itself. Just as this recording was ending "LOW Battery". (What the %^&* I just put a fresh set in).
Problem four: OK, I have fixed the headset jack, found a good place to stand, and quickly got ready for sequence number three. Since I had low battery, I did stop sequence two from recording anymore and waited for "Test Channels" to signal the start again. I went into this one knowing I had Low Battery but I came this far and needed to get at least one video done. As soon as I saw the glory that was all channels on I pushed record, and then quickly got back into the guminst pose for best audio. As the sequence ran, my heart raced, it was half way through and I was hopeful. But then it happened, "Batteries to low for pictures" and the video stopped recording.
At this point I gabbed everything and went back to the house. I threw the FM receiver across the living room and it landed in the kitchen, I took the batteries out of the camera and threw them too. I thought to myself that will teach them. But then I thought, NO! they will not get off that easy. I picked up the FM receiver, put fresh batteries in the camera and queded up Vixen with just one sequence and went out side to once again stand on the neighboors walkway.
So, I now have fresh set of batteries, the now battle hardened FM receiver and I am ready to record. I give the signal to my son so he could relay the request to open test channels and turn all lights on so I can line up the shot. Just as I see the channels come on, I start to line up the shot an then, just as quick as they went on they went off and I was not ready. This was because what my son heard was "Start the sequence" instead of "Open test channels only".
When the sequences start we close the front door of the house so you do not see the open door. So I then loose communication. Since I could not say Hold Up, Hold on, or Wait a minute, I collected my things and went back inside. At this point I lost my morning time window, as it was now too light outside to try again.
So I have made a decision, Yes the HP Point and Shoot that also does video has worked for many a video but it's time for a camcorder of some type. Yes I know that this purchase is based on frustration about today's attempts but I do not at this point care.
So I ask this question, what types of video recorders do you use? I am looking for something that will do WideAngle (My hope is to not have to keep standing on my neighbors walkway), and have it save out to a AVI or MPEG file. Any ideals?
As for audio I know that I can overlay to sound track with an editor, but never had much luck with this. My hope if that the camcorder will have an audio input that I can use.
Bill
