Checklist for Video Setup

Make sure you have twice as many tapes as you need for each hour of recording (2 tapes for 1 hour, 4 tapes for 2 hours, etc).

Verify that you have at two spare sets of batteries for each wireless microphone system. The transmitters for both wireless microphones use 9-volt batteries, which would mean that you should have 4 9-volt batteries, plus the two batteries that are in the transmitters. The Azden wireless receiver uses 4 AA batteries, which would mean that you should have 8 spare AA batteries.

If you are not sure whether a battery in a transmitter is good or not, pull it out and replace it with a fresh one. Having an excess number of spares will mean that you can do this, and still have a back up for each microphone for extended shoots.

Get Print Out of Power Point Slides from Instructor.

Ask Instructor whether they need one or two microphones.

Set up Camera on tripod and connect power. Do not run it from battery, but from A/C adapter.

Put a fresh DV tape in the camcorder. If the event is more than 1 hour, go ahead and unwrap the second tape so as to not disturb.

There are two microphone systems. There is a handheld system, and a lavaliere system. Both are connected to a small mixer.

Plug both receivers into their A/C adapters, and plug

Plug both receivers into the mixer. It is suggested that you plug one receiver into channel one, the other into channel two. Use the two XLR cables provided. These are cables with large connectors (about eh size of your thumb) with three holes on the end.

Output connectors on the mixer are 1/4 phone plugs. Plug in two 1/4 to RCA adapters, and plug into the adapters a RCA to a mini-stereo (looks like the connector for a pair of headphones) cable. Plug this into a microphone input connector on the side of the camcorder.

Turn on each microphone, and check audio levels and audio quality by plugging in a pair of headphones to the headphone connector on the camera, and having someone speak into each microphone (with the other microphone off) from a distance of 10 feet or more. Carefully evaluate sound quality using a pair of closed headphones, and the sound meters on the camera. If you do not have a closed pair of headphones, cup your hands over your ears to block out ambient sound.

If you hear hum in the back ground, check the following:

• Check to make sure all connectors are fully pushed in
• Check cables for outward damage, crimps, cuts, etc. Replace cables that are suspect.
• Move transmitters and receivers away from other audio/video/computer equipment or power sources. Keep audio cables away from power adapters. Do not plug audio equipment into the same power circuit that has a light dimmer.
• Try sequentially unplugging equipment until the problem goes away to isolate the problem.

Tape 15 seconds of video to ensure that the camera is working properly.

Help the Instructor with the microphone. The lavaliere microphone should be worn within the area of the chest cavity. If time permits, perform a second audio check with the instructor with both microphones.

If the instructor is using Powerpoint, note the time (using the camcorder's counter) when the instructor changes each slide, and mark that on the PowerPoint printout.

When taping events longer than 1 hour, look for a logical break to exchange tapes before the tape runs out. It is okay to use more than two tapes to cover a two hour event.

When done, make sure all tapes are labelled and the record inhibit tab is push in on the side of the DV tape.