Our Blog

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Mic Review

by Simon Monger on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

We recently purchased the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB condenser microphone to do voiceovers and some music/effects recordings in our studio. Priced at just $117.00 (normally $249.00) at Amazon.com, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is on the cheaper end of the spectrum and clearly designed for project studios. But when we gave it a whirl, we were pleasantly surprised.

Here are the out-of-box specifications:

  • Fixed-charge back plate; cardioid polar pattern
  • 20Hz – 16,000Hz frequency; 44,000kHz sample rate
  • Weight of 13.9oz and measurements of 6.38” x 2.05”
  • USB connector and uses USB power (+5VDC)

What’s so great about it? The Audio-Technica AT2020 is build with heavy metal instead of cheap plastic, giving is a durability that’s not usually present in this price range. And the mic comes equipped with a solid metal swivel mount that offers the perfect amount of flexibility without having to deal with a suspended mount, and even a soft travel pouch.

On the quality end, we tested the Audio-Technica AT2020 with everything from vocals to drums and were extremely impressed with the clarity. The mic is also extremely adept at filtering out background noise to isolate just what’s being recorded. In our experience, these attributes help the Audio-Technica AT2020 beat any other USB condenser mics in its category.

Canon T3i: Affordable, Professional IR Videos

by Simon Monger on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Looking to make your own investor relations videos? Before you break out your Apple iPhone or Sony Handycam, consider buying a Canon Rebel T3i DSLR with an 18-55mm lense. The ~$700 camera is a staple among professional digital photographers and videographers, and can be used to shoot very high quality video that rivals a lot of professional equipment.

Click Here: View the Canon Rebel T3i on Amazon

What’s the Big Deal with DSLRs?

The difference between using camcorders and DSLRs is in the sensors. With their large sensors ability to control aperture, DSLRs like the Canon T3i can create high quality narrower depth of field. An example of this is the effect that you see when a shot is focused on an interviewee’s head with the background blurred or when the focus shifts between two objects.

For more information on using DSLRs for video, check out these resources:

So, What’s the Catch?

While they can shoot very professional video, DSLRs like the Canon T3i aren’t exactly designed for it and have some key shortcomings. Many of these problems can be solved with third party components, but this does add significantly to the cost of any setup.

Here are some of the key drawbacks:

  • Small Screen – The small screens on many DSLRs makes it difficult to frame shots and shortens battery life significantly. However, there are some fixed LCDs that can be purchased and attached to the camera to somewhat solve this issue.
  • Poor Audio – DSLRs aren’t designed to record great audio, which is why it’s very important to use third party audio equipment. For example, a Zoom Recorder with some lapel mics or a shotgun mic can help greatly enhance your videos.
  • Storage & Heat – DSLRs are known for their small storage (be sure to bring plenty of SD cards to any shoot) and heating issues that may require that you turn off the camera every couple of hours for a bit to let it cool down.
  • Zooming Stability – Zooming with a DSLR means moving a lense, which can cause some shaking in the video. There are not many easy ways to solve this problem, but in general, it’s a good idea to keep major zooming to a minimum.

Top 3 Stock Market Music Videos

by Simon Monger on Monday, January 9th, 2012

Looking for a new unique marketing idea? Or maybe you’re just bored at work? Either way, check out these three stock market music videos created to promote products or ideas!

Damn It Feels Good to be a Banker

Leveraged Sell-Out created this music video with Portal-A to promote its website and book, “Damn, It Feels Good to Be a Banker”, about the Wall Street lifestyle.

Fear the Boom and Bust

EconStories.TV created a great series of music videos to explore the concepts of Hayek and Keynes economic theories.

Raise the Debt Ceiling

Reason Magazine created a music video to highlight the issues surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling.

How to Make Sharp Video Text Effects

by Simon Monger on Friday, January 6th, 2012

The worst way to start any online video is with a canned text effect. Fading or sliding text into a scene doesn’t cut it anymore. By comparison, sharp and flashy text effects can immediately convince the audience that the video should be taken seriously.

These effects don’t come bundled with many video-editing programs, like Adobe Premiere Pro or iMovie. Instead, these effects are best created in Adobe Flash or Adobe AfterEffects and then imported into video editing programs before rendering it to create a final video.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Message Matching – Match any text effects with the message itself. For instance, if you’re offering a statistic showing how large a trend is, consider using text effects that resemble a chart or counter.
  • Scene Matching – It’s also important to match text effects with the type of scene or video being shot. For example, a tech-styled effect won’t look right in a video being shot in a vintage style.
  • Don’t Overdo It – Too much of anything is bad. Use any text sparingly within a video and be sure to cut it with sufficient b-roll or other video content. In general, it’s a good idea to show text only every other scene.

And here’s where you can learn these effects:

If you’re a public company or investor relations firm looking to get into online video, contact us today to learn how we can help!

The Basic Necessities to Start Shooting IR Videos

by Simon Monger on Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Shooting video has gotten a lot easier in recent years with the advent of smartphones and cheap handheld camcorders. Similarly, video editing has become easier with programs like Apple’s iMovie or equivalent programs in Windows.

Unfortunately, video production has only increased in difficulty. Consumers these days are exposed to complex special effects, high quality web videos and much more. And the expectations for online video are growing every day.

So, what do you need to compete?

Here’s our bare-bones recommendation:

  • DSLR Camera
  • Monopod & Tripod
  • Natural Lights & Diffusers
  • Shotgun Mic
  • Digital Recorder
  • Adobe CS5 Software
  • Fast Mac or PC

And to learn how to use these, here are some resources:

  • Lynda.com – A great source for educational videos covering a wide variety of topics, including DSLR video shooting and editing with Adobe CS5.
  • LearningDSLRVideo.com – An excellent collection of resources compiled by Dave Dugale, ranging from editing to production and more.
  • FStoppers.com – A great resource for professional videographers with some interesting tutorials and a great forum to interact with others.