Elgato low rise Arm

 The Elgato low rise arm is a great way of keeping the microphone out of the way of the camera for better videos when you are trying not to show the microphone.

4000 Subscribers

 Made 4000 subscribers on YouTube today and past that by another 47. 923 in the last 90days

Using the Black Magic Studio Camera

The Blackmagic Studio camera with its large colour screen makes the broadcast and streaming of lessons simplicity itself. This makes it easier for the camera operator to see what is going on.

Lighting the subject

Getting enough light and is the right place is important. For live lessons, getting the right amount of light onto the experiment is the difference between a student seeing and understanding what is going on and not having a clue what is happening.

online Lessons

 Online lessons. Not just about the lesson, and the experiments, but presenting the lesson in its best light using  multiple cameras and a cameraman to show the best view of what is going on at the time.

Lessons are getting more complex

 Teaching is certainly getting more complex. Multiple cameras, visualisers (yes two), sound mixers, Picture in picture, wacom tablets with software, an ATEM and a streamdeck to control it - and the physics kit to experiment with.

New Tags in YouTube

 Getting down to the work of creating thumbnails, The description and all the necessary metadata and tags as well as coping with all the new YouTube descriptors for Education such as the board, level etc

Receiving an organ lesson - the set up

Different situations, different problems. The organ lesson - lighting my face using a ring light from the front whilst illuminating the keyboard from the side to get better depth and videoing from overhead using a jib,  and also using a pedal cam and light on the feet.

In addition since this is all a two way process the situation is mirrored at the other end so the lesson can take place over zoom. The sound needs to be transmitted well with a good two way conversation happening.

Streaming setup

Streaming setup for the Podcast, using the Rodecaster and an ATEM Mini ISO Pro, a couple of Procaster Mics and headphones with a swit monitor so we can view the camera setup.

Updating Software

 After finding things ( like bins) sorting out chaos in the classroom caused by Storm Eunice, today is also about sorting out and updating software to keep up to date.

Making a video about the Pasco weather sensor

So this is Storm Eunice. We managed to record 55mph wind speeds in the Centre of Hemel Hempstead

One of the problems that you don't see is the problems the cameraman often has - you only see the person in front of the camera.

 

Canon R5c

 Taking a first look at the Canon R5c Camera at @ProAV  Simply a must have, its the same price more or less as the Canon C70 which we were going to buy but this gives us a great camera as well.

3 Generations of Olympus Tough

With Storms Dudley and Eunice coming along, these @Olympus_UK cameras are great for getting out in the wet and windy weather and recording the storm. I don't usually have to go far - just step outside the door.

Slider and Maxwell Wheel

Setting up the slider to take some video of Maxwell's Wheel. The slider gives views from the sides as well as the front which gives the students a better idea of what is going on that just looking at an image from one angle.

Vertical Slider

 Created an improvised vertical slider. using a pully with a  G-clamp, some string and equal amount of masses making an Attwood Machine. Once it is balanced then the motor can easily be used but in this case it was controlled by hand

ATEM focus and zoom

Working on making the Atem macros allow for focusing and zooming. It’s a bit of a challenge, but we are making some progress towards getting this working easily. Focusing is quite easy using the ATEM software on the screen or by pressing the button on the ATEM  but trying to do it via the stream deck it’s a little bit more challenging.

Filming Maxwell's wheel

 Filming Maxwell's Wheel using a slider as part of the #makingbettervideo series and showing what we have been up to in teaching. The question I were asked were why can't we learn about this in school, its really interesting.

Monopod Jib

 Attaching this Joby Jib attachment to the Monopod makes and easy to use jib for a light camera like a GoPro or this Olympus Tough camera. Its very quick and easy to use and with a 4K video file  any inaccuracies  can easily be edited out.

NAS Upgrade

 More upgrading with more drives in the @Synology to cater for the growing video files. Our second NAS now sports 4 drives to take the total storage to 30Tb!

Fun with Plates

 Weekly video & Podcast recorded Had fun with a new Manfrotto plate that wouldn't fit on an older Manfrotto tripod head. We use 200PL plates and move the cameras from tripod to tripod to other mount.

Macro Writing

 It's Macro writing day, trying to get the cameras to zoom and autofocus onto the Stream deck. This will then make the controlling of the cameras easier when I am flying solo.

Upgrade Complete

Moved up from an ATEM Mini Pro and an ATEM mini pro ISO to an ATEM Extreme ISO. We have been using both with the stream deck to control them as it makes it much easier for me when I am broadcasting and teaching online

We can now use the hyperdeck although this has given us a lot of grief because we are mostly PC based and the hyperdeck works well with ProRes but not with H.264, which is the format we store everything in. So we can't just import everything. So using third party software we can now write to ProRes using DaVinci and so can now use a library of videos in the broadcasts. I get the feeling that Balck Magic do all their work on Mac's.

Animation figures complete

 The Animation family is now complete. Now with different colours it is easier to identify which colour character is doing what for teaching #makingbettervideo

Upside down Shot

 Love using the @Benro_UK tripod. Useful to to use upside down for those really low shots.

Panasonic UX-180

 Still my Video Camera to "go to" The Panasonic UX-180. It just seems right to use. It works well with the teleprompter, has dual cards, XLR Mics. Its all there and just read to use.

Online Music Lesson

 Getting ready for me to have a music lesson. Jib in place, background up, ATEM ready and three cameras. Good to go.

ATEM Extreme on the Stream Deck

 ATEM extreme and the Elgato Stream  Deck running Companion Software.. Taking time to program the keys to do what I need with ease. Lots of macros to get most aspects of the Super source enabled by a few button presses. So much easier when I am doing a live broadcast then having to present and controlling the ATEM. And having to use the Beta version of companion.

Small lights for small Places

 Videoing lots of experiments we often we encounter the problem of illuminating the inside of something. Getting inside the experiment. This is where these small LED lights are great, so we can see inside the experiment.