I support Steven Allison-Bunnell's recommendations but would also add my own
conservative note that in addition to a video camera I would also like to
have a separate audio recording. There are numerous good digital formats
available including a new digital Marantz and a whole bunch of mini-disk
machines.

I would also like to suggest a possible alternative to buying a DVCam. Oral
history recordings with a single camera are notoriously boring and can only
be tolerated by most folks as edited snippets in a larger work. I would
therefore suggest that if there is a three-camera public access studio or a
three-camera high school studio available in your community that you try to
gain access to those facilities. Using these existing facilities would
preclude the necessity of buying equipment and could render a superior
product. An added advantage to using these facilities is that your museum
might more easily find the volunteer personnel to run the equipment. A
three-camera in-house setup with necessary lights and editing equipment is a
major commitment.
nburlakoff

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Steven Allison-Bunnell
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 2:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Audio Visual equipment.

A prosumer miniDV or pro DVCam camcorder on a tripod with a good-quality
lavaliere microphone on both the interviewer and the subject can capture
both the audio and video at CD quality sound. (Use a simple Y splitter to
plug the 2 mics into the stereo input of the camera, or use an outboard
mixer box to put both mics on both channels.)

Shoot onto a high quality DVCam tape ($10/hour) and then you have what
passes for archival quality in digital media. The sound can be put on CD for
later listening and/or transcription. Video and sound can be dubbed from the
camera onto VHS for viewing. You can also make a DVD with the video for
viewing, but this is NOT an archival copy (DVD is a lossy format).

The interviews can be edited to remove pauses, interruptions, etc., and
rendered back to DV tape without any loss if desired.

Throw in a portable light with a diffuser to make sure your footage doesn't
have blah color.

Total cost for camera setup, depending on camera (Canon and Panasonic are
two very good brands):
Under $3000

Editing and processing can be done on a $2000 iMac with the software that
comes with it.


On 2/12/04 12:17 PM, "Susan English" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Our museum is embarking on a project to preserve the stories of our local
> residents.  Although we are calling it the Oral History project, we are
> looking for easy to use equipment which we can document the interview both
> orally and visually.  We are a medium sized institution so cost is a
> concern, but also we do not want to produce the interviews on obsolete
> techniology.  Any suggestions from more technology savvy colleagues would
be
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> Susan English
>
> Executive Director
>
> Joliet Area Historical Museum
>
> Joliet, Illinois
>
>
>
>
>
>
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