How can I create an echo effect for an audio clip in Adobe Premiere Pro? I’m quite new to this program, and I can’t quite figure out how to work with sound effects. Thanks.

When I purchased the Canon T2i over the summer, I immediately went out, shot some test footage, and posted the results (along with my initial impressions) here on the blog. Now that I have had an opportunity to work with the camera on client projects, I wanted to come back and post a follow-up article on what it’s like working with a DSLR when shooting video.

• One of the first things I noticed is that if you want to shoot hand-held, it’s a good idea to invest in a lens with image stabilization. Or, you can invest in a DSLR rig that offers camera support. I did some hand-held work with a standard 50mm prime and it was almost impossible to eliminate camera shake.  If you have a lens that does not feature image stabilization, then I recommend using a tripod as much as possible.
• If you need to shoot hand-held and don’t have image stabilization on your lens, I advise moving closer to your subject. Any time you zoom in on your subject from a distance, you increase the level of visible camera shake in your image. However, by physically moving closer to the subject you can keep your lens set at its widest angle and get some very steady hand-held shots.
• A major drawback to the T2i is that there is no “time remaining” indicator as you are shooting. It’s very possible to run out of space on your memory card without any kind of warning. This is bad for anyone shooting events or documentaries.
• There is no way to monitor audio while recording. There are no VU meters and there is no headphone jack. If all you need is some great looking b-roll, then you’ll be fine. However, if audio is crucial, then you will need to record to an external audio device where you can properly monitor the levels.

DSLR’s allow cinematographers to capture incredible HD images and the affordability of the cameras mean that these tools are here to stay. However, like any tool, they do have their limitations. So, adaptation is the name of the game. However, accessories like camera support systems, external monitors, and lens packages provide some excellent work-arounds.

Related articles

• Best Video Setting For The Canon DSLR’s (digital-photography-school.com)
• Tech Review: Canon EOS Rebel T2i DSLR (g4tv.com)
• A Canon Rebel DSLR Buyer’s Guide (brighthub.com)
• Budget DSLR Cameras (go.theregister.com)

Podcasts are a great way to find specific content about a niche subject that interests you. I have several different podcast subscriptions and in an earlier post I shared some of them with you. I wanted to follow up on that original article with some additional recommendations:

1. NEW MEDIA MINUTE – In this video podcast, host Daisy Whitney quickly discusses some of the latest news from the world of online video, online advertising, and online video distribution.
2. THE MOTH PODCAST – The Moth is a great series that features entertaining storytellers sharing their own life experiences with a live audience. If you enjoy great stories, you will love The Moth.
3. THE TOBOLOWSKY FILES – Another great storytelling podcast. In this series, character actor Stephen Tobolowsky talks about life, love and the entertainment industry through the lens of his experiences as a theatre, TV, and film actor.
4. MOVIE B.S. – I’ve listened to several movie podcasts, and this is one of my favorites. Hosts Jeff Bayer and Eric D. Snider discuss some of the latest theatrical releases and give listeners the opportunity to get involved with their “Question of the Week” (or “QOTW” as they like to call it). The back-and-forth between Snider and Bayer is incredibly entertaining.
5. PHOTOSHOP KILLER TIPS – This is a video podcast that gives viewers great little tips about the amazing features within Photoshop.

I encourage you to take the time to investigate each of these podcasts. I’m sure you will find them entertaining and informative. At some point in the future I will post Part 3 of my “Recommended Podcasts” series. Until then, leave your recommendations in the comment section. Enjoy.

The above scene is from Jaws and it takes place right at the moment that Chief Brody gets his first look at the great white shark. It’s then that he realizes that he and his team underestimated just what they are up against. The same problem can occur in any video production. It’s easy to underestimate the scope of your project. What seemed like a simple, straightforward shoot and edit can quickly balloon into something entirely unexpected. The last thing that you, as a video producer, want to do is to go back to your client and say, “We’re going to need a bigger budget.” That’s not a fun conversation. Here’s what needs to happen to ensure that neither you nor your client underestimate the scope of the video project.

1. Everyone (both client and video producer) need to be upfront and honest at the beginning. You as a video producer should never over promise. Be clear on what your capabilities are. And you, the client, should never try to downplay what’s involved in producing the video. If you are working from a script and are not as prepared as you need to be, then you need to tell the video producer, “I’m going to need several takes to get this right.”
2. All decision-makers need to be involved from the very beginning. If the “higher-ups” wait to watch the video after everything has been shot, you may be forced to re-shoot portions of the video if they don’t like what they see. Re-shoots are costly. You as the client can avoid them by making sure that anyone who has to put his/her stamp of approval on the video is present for all important decisions.
3. When it comes to budgeting for post-production, the “less is more” mentality doesn’t work. More is more. In other words, you will always need more money for post-production than you think you do. Many clients (and video producers) underestimate just how much time will be spent editing the video. You may accurately gauge the hours you will spend assembling the edit, but you may neglect to consider time needed for encoding, making approval copies, delivering approval copies, approval meetings, phone calls with the client, making changes to the edit, re-working sections of the script, additional color correction, audio mixing, more encoding, more approval copies, etc. The list can go on and on, so you need to be prepared. Always budget more for post-production.

Video producers and clients need to work together so both parties clearly understand what’s involved in the production of any video. These tips are intended to help you avoid potentially awkward meetings wherein you have to ask for more money, because you simply underestimated what you were up against.

DishyMix is a podcast in which host Susan Bratton interviews well-known media, internet, and marketing executives. The goal is to provide listeners with insights on how to better market themselves and their brands by taking advantage of the philosophies and tools provided by Susan and her guests.

I was listening to episode 137 recently (follow the link to listen or to read the full transcript) and heard a comment that caught my attention. In the episode, Susan interviews Jim Kukral, a speaker, author, consultant, coach on all things business and marketing. He was on the show to promote his book, Attention, This Book Will Make You Money. Read the following segment of the transcript where Jim talks about the topic of motivation (emphasis added):

Jim Kukral: Motivation; well, you know, I’m kind of a different perspective guy. I know that there’s a lot of people who will tell you to go out and do step by step by step stuff, and I’m a big believer in you just have to go out and try and really fail. You really got to go out and fail. And it’s more important than ever in the internet business, is going out and failing as many times as you possibly can.

Susan Bratton: Yeah, fail and optimize, right?

Jim Kukral: Yeah. I mean there’s so much forgiveness out there right now, you know, in the internet marketing space. YouTube, I’ll give you YouTube for example. I mean YouTube has transformed the way that we are okay with videos now. Before YouTube came along everyone had, you thought you had to have this really nice pre-produced, you know, post production video that was very beautiful. Now it’s kind of like, you look at videos like that you’re kind of like “Ugh.”

Susan Bratton: It’s inauthentic now.

Jim Kukral: It is. And, you know, so it’s okay to make poor quality video now. It’s okay to go out and build a website or a blog or do something that’s not completely perfect, and this economy and everything that we’re, the technology that’s coming out is allowing people to be able to go out there and put stuff out there. So if you want to get motivated you got to go out there and actually just really try it.

In its full context, Jim is advocating that entrepreneurs, inventors, small business owners, etc. not be afraid to step out and take risks; that it’s important to try, even if it doesn’t come out quite right; even if it isn’t perfect. He then goes on to say that it’s acceptable to create a poor quality video in today’s market, because it translates into “authenticity.”

So, I’m going to leave this one open for discussion. I would love to hear your thoughts. Here are some things to consider:

• Do you agree or disagree with Jim’s assessment?
• Do you feel that it’s okay for a business to create a poor quality marketing video?
• When you see a brand with a poor quality video, what is your immediate reaction?
• Should companies start creating lesser quality videos because it makes them look more authentic?
• What does this mean long-term for video producers?