What would you buy for video studio?

[John@Bophe]

I need to put together a list of equipment (with prices) for what it would take to offer professional videography services. The purpose of this would be for a corporate setting -- say for example, a person giving lessons on a training DVD for a software program. EXCLUDING the camera, tripod, and editing PC/software, what equipment would be necessary to create such a video (while maintaining high professionalism level)?

My initial list includes the following:

Backdrop
Lights
Boom or shotgun style mic
Mic stand for above
lapel mic(s)
audio mixer (?)
audio recording device
power strips for all above

?????

Am I forgetting something of vital importance? (if so, what?)
Do you have specific product recommendations for the general items in the above list?
This project will not have an unlimited budget, so can you recommend products that may not be TOP of the line but will do a professional job for a reasonable price?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[oakstreetphotovideo]

Should I presume you are getting light stands for your lights?
Depending on what kind of lights you get, you may need one or two umbrellas/softboxes. I also use gels on my background lights to add a little personality to the lighting.
If you don't need more than 2 mics, you don't need a mixer. Most inexpensive mixers only have inputs for 2 XLR microphones, so I think you'd be better served to get two good mics and arrange them for optimal coverage. For a controlled setting without uncontrolled background noise, I wouldn't waste money on wireless gear.
Tungsten lights are inexpensive but they get hot, and your subjects will get hot. You'll want to have a makeup kit to knock down the glare from sweaty skin.

I like to have a monitor attached to my camera so I can watch it, while I arrange lights and such. It's a good idea not to let the people you are shooting see the monitor during the shoot though ... their gaze will follow it, instead of the camera.

For a really professional presentation, it's great if you can run 2 cameras, and edit back and forth between them.
I've gotten a lot of miles out of my Smith-Victor A100 lights, which use standard tungsten bulbs up to 500W. I generally use photogenic 3200K bulbs, but you can use any bulb, in a pinch. I have 6 of those, plus stands, but that's because I do a lot of chroma key work, where you need to light the background, backlight the subject, and front light the subject. You could get by with 3 or 4 lights; especially if you can bounce 2 lights off of a white ceiling for soft overhead lighting, and two front lights for full, even illumination. By having 100W, 250W, and 500W bulbs, you can come get just the right amount of light right where you need it.

If you don't want the heat of incandescent bulbs, then you'll have to spring for more money.

I have a whole lighting kit with nylon line, duct tape, cords, power strips, lots of bulbs, barn doors, gels, reflectors, and a cotton rag for wiping things down and changing hot light bulbs. I also have some green stuff, but that's another matter.

I hope this helps a little.

 

[NicklausLouis]

Am I forgetting something of vital importance? (if so, what?)

Camera?

Seriously, to me, the sound mixer is most important. I'll ask at work for recommended mixers you can get on the cheap.

With the shotgun and lapel mics, will you be needing xlr cables?

Will you be trying a one cam set up or multicam? You might need a simple TD board to make your cuts live (again, I'll ask about this).

Poke