Edirol V-4, Video Effects Similar to the Big Shows
Video Effects similar to the big shows Article written by Arny Bailey Back to Cover
About 5 years ago, I was ________
watching KTBS Public Television. Yes, I’m officially old. That said, it was a Three Dog Night concert (that was supposed to make me sound young and hip but I realized once I said it, I was just proving the “old” statement). During one of my favorite numbers, Out in the Country, they projected picturesque video segments of mountain streams on a screen adjacent to the band. It was a great visual effect. I recall thinking, “Hey, I could run a video on my laptop and project the image on a screen using my company’s laptop projector and achieve the same effect!” Wow, that was going to be cheap and easy! Of course, anything I have ever thought to be “cheap and easy” ends up costing me way more money and time than I had ever anticipated.
OK, things I need: a laptop, check; laptop projector, check. DVD of what I wanted to show…OK, need to pick up something like that. Projection screen….hmmm, don’t have one of those but I suppose I can use a bed sheet supported by…uh…well, better _
think about that one. So, I need a screen….and a DVD…and oh yeah, a person to run it. Maybe my sound man can do it? If he does, then how do I get the video out of my laptop (with the sound man) and up to the projector which will have to be with the band? Can I run this through the snake? You know, as long as I’m sending video up there, I might as well see if there’s a way to hook up video cameras focused on the band, and mix these images up there too…..Now you see where the insanity is taking me.
Well here it is, about 5 years after the original idea and I have invested nearly $3,500 in the entire video set up (uh oh, is my wife reading this?). Of course, that doesn’t even include my laptop and projector or even the snake which I already owned!!! The final effect is pretty cool and something I haven’t seen any other cover band offer. It is very reminiscent of the larger concert venues with 4 live video cameras mixed with imagery and video from my laptop and projected up on to a large screen.
Let’s start with where the images begin…at the cameras. Cameras can be super cheap to thousands of dollars each. A low resolution black and white security camera costs less than $40 off ebay but who wants fuzzy black and white pictures. Super high resolution low light live cameras with auto focus and wide angle lenses can run thousands. For the purpose of what I was doing (smaller shows on a smaller budget), I found a nice high resolution low light color security camera with an acceptable lens to be in the neighborhood of $140 to $240 each. This price range will give you good low level light abilities (measured in lux), good resolution (measured in Lines – shoot for 500) and a decent manual lens. Note: when buying cameras, that the base price does not include the lens, power connection, mounting device, and cabling. Also, be mindful that unless you purchase expensive cameras, the word “color” is somewhat subjective depending on light levels. As the light level decreases, the cameras revert to infrared so even in medium light the colors may be a bit ‘grayed out’.
Since there was a back order on the power supply, I decided to visit the local Radio Shack and buy my own. Looking back, I wish I had put in the order for the power supply from the camera manufacturer as they had a single plug and transformer with 4 connectors for power cabling. This would have been much easier and ____
Cameras collect images of a HiWatt performance.Notice the one over the top of the drummer.
cheaper than buying 4 separate systems (one for each camera) and would have taken up less space on stage.
So, that’s the cameras and how they’re powered….of course, this doesn’t get them mounted. For this, I used two existing PA stands I had ___
laying around and figured I could mount the other two to a light stand or screen riser (see screen later). To mount them to these stands, I also bought 4 light clamps and used two “L” brackets connected to each other and then to the camera to allow for up/down – side/side adjustment (see photo). I typically mount one camera on me (of course), one on the light stand shooting the entire band and one over the top of the drummer (my personal favorite because it looks so cool and always goes along with the beat of the music) and one on the dance floor.
Now I have all the cameras mounted and powered but how do I get the signal back to the video mixer which is located at the sound table? Well, the best way to do this was to use the snake. So, I ordered custom cables with BNC connectors on the camera side and male XLR’s on the other end for connection to the snake. On the other end of the snake, I had to use XLR female to RCA to get the signal from the snake into the video mixer.
So, now we’ve got the live video feed to the brain of the entire system, the Edirol V-4 Video Mixer.
The Edirol V-4 Video Mixer
I looked around. I was initially searching for a hardware interface for my laptop and software to control live video cameras and laptop imagery. Although I did find such animals out there, they were typically way more money than I wanted to pay and required a more robust laptop than I had. I also have an issue with software that typically requires frequent updates and the eventual acquisition of upgraded hardware. In doing some research, I finally landed __
on the Edirol V-4 Video Mixer. Street cost, about $1,000. You can pick up other units on ebay by Panasonic and other brands that have similar features but I decided to go with the V-4 as it seemed the most user friendly and easy to operate/understand. I have no regrets.
This little unit takes video from 4 sources via RCA or S-Video connections and sends it to two RCA outs broadcasting the same signal. You could also use the “Preview Out” as a third source if you wanted but that would not be controlled with the fader. You control the fades/wipes between cameras with the fader going from one side of the unit to the other. Since I wanted to add some imagery and video from the laptop, I needed to come up with a way to allow me to switch between one camera and my laptop. To accomplish this, I ran 3 cameras directly to the V-4 and the 4th camera feed into video switch. I then ran the imagery from my laptop to a digital – analog converter, then to the switch. This now allows me to have 5 feeds to the mixer but the 4th camera __
and the laptop cannot be viewed simultaneously.
Having this 5th source from the laptop, allows me to run still imagery or video from the laptop during the show. During a recent Halloween performance, we ran clips of a classic horror film throughout the show. You can also run stills of classic boxing matches while your lead vocalist sings “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and can even double expose these images with the live video of the performer creating a really cool effect to our performances.
In addition to several wipe/transition effects moving from one camera to the other, the V-4 offers some cool effects. Colorization brings in a 1960’s LSD trip effect and Negative Image makes even the whitest of singers look like Stevie Wonder with Edgar Winter’s hair. There are lots of other effects to employ to add interesting visual effects to your show like mirror, multiple image, and picture in picture. You also have the capability to time the transition effects to the beat by ______
merely tapping an integral pad on the V-4 Mixer.
To get the mixed signal from the mixer back up front to the projection system, I also had to reverse the cable process with one additional cable to send back up to the camera through the snake. When I first hooked all this up, I was not completely sure if there would be enough signal from the cameras and then from the mixer without providing some sort of in-line amplifier. This was a scary moment because the investment in the gear had already been made. However, when I set it up for its maiden voyage, it worked like a champ and this was through a 100’ snake!
Now, how to get these cool images in front of people? There are 2 ways. First, most clubs have closed circuit TV (CCTV). If they do, you can usually find a connection point, and simply pipe it right in. This works good but you need to make sure you’re not blocking out specific sports events that may be showing at the time. Also, it’s not as dramatic as a larger screen.
Since we didn’t have a screen, I decided to make one. We first purchased two large risers and a 10’ truss system from Musicians Friend. Cost - $150. I then hopped on ebay and found some outdoor screen material which worked like a charm. It’s perforated so in outdoor situation it doesn’t act like a sail and allows for a front projected image or rear projected (with VERY little degradation of image). I cut the material down and the wife showed me how to operate a sewing machine so I could fabricate the edges (insert picture of me on Project Runway here). I put some brass grommets in the edges and support this to the frame with zip-ties.
One obstacle that has really caused me some angst is the distance from the projector to the screen that needs to be maintained to get the proper “throw” (the distance needed to achieve the desired width). My projector is pretty old and was a lower budget model, even back then. I’m sure the newer more expensive models work with less distance but I was working with what I had.
I have a stand that I made for the projector that is at my back and in front of the drummer when projecting from the front, or behind the screen when projecting from the rear (preferred). In the front configuration, there’s so much stuff on stage anyway that no one really notices one more thing but it isn’t ideal. The best gigs we’ve played have been situations where I can put the screen behind the drummer and have enough room behind to put the projector (rear projection). This gets the projector out of the way and makes for a much cleaner effect.
The entire set up only takes about 45 minutes to set up but does take someone (VJ) in addition to the sound man to run it during the show but the results are worth the extra time and additional body. I have used this set up not only for ABOUT FACE shows but have also VJ’d at Hi-Watt gigs and a show for Groovehouse! Donn Garrett who was on the drums for Hi-Watt one night said, “I don’t think I can play again without that set up!”
The Edirol V-8Video Mixer
The Edirol V-4 is a great addition to the visual effects of lights, fog, lasers and whatever else blows your mind (and pocket book) but I was just notified that Edirol has now introduced the V-8 allowing 8 video inputs!!! Hey, if I had the V-8, I could use four more video camera shots of the band…of course, then I’ll need 2x as much cabling….and while I’m at it, I could get a bigger screen….and….WHEN DOES THE INSANITY STOP!!!!?
Arny Bailey
MEET THE WRITER - ARNY BAILEY
President of In Form, Inc. Media Design and Chief Editor of Weekend Musician is a licensed architect practicing in the Pacific Northwest and weekend musician currently fronting ABOUT FACE, a classic rock cover band and The Grand Delusion a Tribute to the music of Styx and Journey.