Video is one of the fastest-growing elements of online communication—YouTube announced it streamed 100 million video clips every day in 2006. We asked David Grossman of PTVMedia, which has worked in Web video consulting since 2003, what managers considering a move into video should keep in mind.
- Don’t invest more than $1,000 in equipment if you’re going into this for the first time. A consumer grade DV camera kit will cost about $300. Make sure it has a microphone input—not all have them. Then you’ll need to buy cables (under $75) and an external microphone ($50). If your computer doesn’t have a Firewire/IEEE 1394 interface, buy an adapter card (under $100). If your computer is less than three years old, you shouldn’t need a new machine.
- Go for MiniDV over MiniDVD. MiniDVD is lower quality, more expensive, and many post-production facilities prefer, or may even require, MiniDV media (or other professional media).
- If you’re filming a speaker and/or doing an interview, the three important things are: framing the subject on the screen, capturing good quality audio using an external microphone, and making sure there’s good light in the room.
