This document discusses different types of video cameras and recording systems. It covers analog versus digital video cameras, with digital cameras offering benefits like higher resolution, color accuracy, and motion detection. It also provides guidelines for effective video recording, such as using a tripod, external microphones, proper lighting techniques, and framing subjects following the rule of thirds. Finally, it examines various media options for storing recordings, including MiniDV tapes, DVDs, flash memory cards, and internal hard drives, noting the pros and cons of each approach.

1. Video Recording
Dr. Feda Negesse
Experimental Phonetics
Department of Linguistics
Addis Ababa University

2. Types of video camera
Analog video camera
• Manual search
• Requirement to buy videotapes, quality degrades over time.
• Video signal degradation on rerecording or duplication copying video is in real
time.
• Poor image quality.
• Limited monitoring capability.
• No intelligence.
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3. Types of video camera
Digital video camera
• Greater reliability
• Low cost
• Higher resolution
• Greater color accuracy
• Virtue of transferability
• Motion detection, remote notification
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4. Principles of recording
Principles
• Always use a tripod
• Use good microphones and check your audio levels.
• Be aware of lighting and seek more light.
• Use the “rule of thirds” to frame your subject.
This rule divides the frame into nine sections. Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up (or
across) the frame, rather than in the center.
• Don’t shoot directly against a wall.
• Label your recordings immediately.
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5. Tripod
• An inexpensive tripod is markedly better than shooting by hand.
• Use a tripod that is easy to level.
• Use it for every shot.
• Reduce hand muscle strain.
• Moveable to change focus.
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6. Audio component
• Use an external microphone when you are recording.
• Do not use the built-in video recorder microphone.
• Studies have shown that viewers who watch video with poor audio quality will
actually perceive the image as more inferior than it actually is, so good sound is
crucial.
• The camera will automatically disable built-in microphones when you plug in an
external microphone.
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7. Microphone options
Types of microphones
• Omnidirectional
• Unidirectional
• Lavalier
• Handheld
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8. Wired or wireless systems
Pro of wired system
• Hardwired systems are inexpensive and dependable
• Easy to use
Cons of wired system
• Dragging the cord around on the floor causes it to accumulate dirt.
• The dirt could result in equipment damage or signal distortion.
• Hiding the wiring when recording can be problematic.
• You may pick up a low hum if you inadvertently run audio wiring in a parallel path with
electrical wiring.
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9. Wireless systems
Pro of wireless systems
• Wireless systems combat some of the wired system's problems of wired system.
Cons of wireless systems
• They consume battery power very quickly.
• The transmitter can be hard to fasten conveniently and unobtrusively to clothing.
• Radio and/or cell phone interference is occasionally possible.
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10. Tips for lighting
• Your eyes and brain can quickly adapt to mixed lighting .
• Fluorescent lights often cause a greenish cast, while tungsten makes things orangish.
• Use your camcorder's white balance setting to adjust for the dominant light source.
• Turn on as many lights as possible when shooting indoors.
• The image may look decent in the small viewfinder, but dark video is noisy and lacks
detail.
• The darker someone’s complexion, the more light needed to allow the camera to
properly focus and record.
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11. Media: Recording Systems
MiniDV tape
Pros
• Compact and affordable
• Able to preserve original image quality without compression
• Good software to support editing
Cons
• Uses camcorder for playback; winding/rewinding tape eventually degrades quality
• Needs to transfer images to computer with large hard drive for editing
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12. Media
DVDs
Pros
Random access to any clip; easier editing in-camera or on computer.
Rapid duplication of discs for sharing; convenient playback on computer, DVD
players, even play stations.
Cons
• Recording time limited to one hour with single-sided discs, two hours with dual
layer.
• Images are compressed when stored to disc and quality is subtly affected.
• Some discs allow only one use, others rewritable.
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13. Media
Flash memory cards
Pros
• First offered as an extra storage option for still images on both tape and disk
camcorders;
• Now coming into use as primary storage media for video as well as stills.
• This eliminates moving parts, reduces size and increases durability.
Cons
Not yet supported by in-camera editing software;
Requires image compression and less storage than hard drives.
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14. Media
Internal hard drives
Pros
• Capacities up to 60GB, 1TB, internal drives can hold 28 hours of video, far more than
other formats.
• One-button burning of DVDs for easy sharing, transfer, playback.
• In-camera or in-computer editing.
Cons
• Still expensive
• Still require image compression
• What happens to your video if that big hard drive goes down!
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15. Ethics
• Get a consent of the informant /data provider.
• Strictly follow research ethics.
• Observe local norms as well.
• Do not use spying tools to collect data.
• Establish friendly relationship with informants.
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16. End
• Enjoy your video recording !
• Questions
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