VX1000 General Discussion (gear/set-ups, filming/editing, tips/advice, etc.)

[suckmadeck]

Hey I need some help...

Got a new VX1000 and haven't done much with it yet. Put about 3 tapes in it. 2 recorded well, the 3rd tape is half solid and half glitched audio (sounds like a static jackhammer throughout the clips).

When I try to test it out with a new tape it still has that static jackhammer sound over the footage. Pretty much bummed. I filmed 3 tapes and logged 2 on it as well. But considering it was in mint condition and hardly used, I figure that wouldn't be enough to completely destroy it.... Any tips here guys?

Where did ya get it from?

[shredslap]

I got it from Japan. It worked perfectly for the first month or so. Yahoo Auctions to be exact.

Honestly, it's the freshed VX I've ever seen...

[mattchew]

Hey I need some help...

Got a new VX1000 and haven't done much with it yet. Put about 3 tapes in it. 2 recorded well, the 3rd tape is half solid and half glitched audio (sounds like a static jackhammer throughout the clips).

When I try to test it out with a new tape it still has that static jackhammer sound over the footage. Pretty much bummed. I filmed 3 tapes and logged 2 on it as well. But considering it was in mint condition and hardly used, I figure that wouldn't be enough to completely destroy it.... Any tips here guys?

Don’t have an answer for you but you should never log tapes straight off your VX, get a shitty cap cam.

[TomCruz]

I got it from Japan. It worked perfectly for the first month or so. Yahoo Auctions to be exact.

Honestly, it's the freshed VX I've ever seen...

Just remember these cameras are 25 years old.  Just like a old car they can break down over time.  Just because it looks nice, it can still have problems.  Get it repaired and hopefully it last you a long time.   

[CHONGO]

Hey I need some help...

Got a new VX1000 and haven't done much with it yet. Put about 3 tapes in it. 2 recorded well, the 3rd tape is half solid and half glitched audio (sounds like a static jackhammer throughout the clips).

When I try to test it out with a new tape it still has that static jackhammer sound over the footage. Pretty much bummed. I filmed 3 tapes and logged 2 on it as well. But considering it was in mint condition and hardly used, I figure that wouldn't be enough to completely destroy it.... Any tips here guys?

If you captured off the vx itself. That's the problem... Gotta get a capture cam so you don't blow out the heads on the VX

[Allen.]

Sorry for the potentially dumb question


Do MK1 vigs always sit slightly askew for the VX2000?



I know, I know, VX2000s are ass. This is a backup camera. One of my VX1s wouldn't playback a head cleaning tape when we got to the spot so I didn't even risk it.

[CHONGO]

Sorry for the potentially dumb question


Do MK1 vigs always sit slightly askew for the VX2000?



I know, I know, VX2000s are ass. This is a backup camera. One of my VX1s wouldn't playback a head cleaning tape when we got to the spot so I didn't even risk it.

You ain't ever going to get "perfect" vig.. I mean maybe if you get a fresh vx that was tucked away for years on years. But I think I remember reading about the 3CCD's and how they are aligned to make the perfect vig. Tell you what. After many many boards hitting my camera my shit isn't perfect.

[Jordan Wiens]

Sorry for the potentially dumb question

Do MK1 vigs always sit slightly askew for the VX2000?

I know, I know, VX2000s are ass. This is a backup camera. One of my VX1s wouldn't playback a head cleaning tape when we got to the spot so I didn't even risk it.

every camera is slightly different because the sensor could be placed even a half of a millimeter off. if you want perfect vig just zoom and pan it over in post. also if you dont use manual audio yet, it helps a lot. you set it to manual in the menu, then press in the back scroll wheel and go down three levels. doing this from memory, but the 3 levels down i know is the golden setting.



used a little curves adjustment to take the reds out too. pretty close to vx1

[Allen.]

Thanks for the answers yall. Much appreciated, especially the manual mic level advice.

And yeah, fucking with the curves is a godsend. I just grabbed a frame to show the vig.

[lydius]

Expand Quote

Sorry for the potentially dumb question

Do MK1 vigs always sit slightly askew for the VX2000?

I know, I know, VX2000s are ass. This is a backup camera. One of my VX1s wouldn't playback a head cleaning tape when we got to the spot so I didn't even risk it.

[close]

every camera is slightly different because the sensor could be placed even a half of a millimeter off. if you want perfect vig just zoom and pan it over in post. also if you dont use manual audio yet, it helps a lot. you set it to manual in the menu, then press in the back scroll wheel and go down three levels. doing this from memory, but the 3 levels down i know is the golden setting.



used a little curves adjustment to take the reds out too. pretty close to vx1

Jordan, thanks for the knowledge. I really enjoyed the last VX video you put out, thought it was really well done. You have any tips or good resources for learning the basics of color correction?

[Jordan Wiens]

yo thanks lydius

try and learn what curves do to the image, in terms of the luma and rgb. most of the time i just use subtle tweaks in lumetri color inside of premiere pro to do the trick, but most of it is done in-camera through white balance and the cp settings. you could download a video you like, bring it into premiere alongside your own clips and then try to match it. try and look for what its doing in the highlights, mids and shadows (mids are the hardest to see, but thinks greys and skintones). a warmer clip might have orangey shadows and yellow-green highlights. in terms of a correction, try matching two clips from different days together. if you cant get one to look like the other completely, find some sort of middle ground and correct both to that.

[upsidedownboardslide]

Hey guys, my fellow filmer friend ran into a problem with his cap cam. He's able to play back tapes just fine on his vx, but on the cap cam it has grey bars, as you can see in the image.  I recommended he use a cleaning tape but he lost his sony one. I have a panasonic cleaning tape he could use, but would that create more problems? Is the tape lube for the panasonic cleaning tape different from sony premiums lube?

Thanks!

[mattchew]

Hey guys, my fellow filmer friend ran into a problem with his cap cam. He's able to play back tapes just fine on his vx, but on the cap cam it has grey bars, as you can see in the image.  I recommended he use a cleaning tape but he lost his sony one. I have a panasonic cleaning tape he could use, but would that create more problems? Is the tape lube for the panasonic cleaning tape different from sony premiums lube?

Thanks!

That’s definitely a jammed head on the cap cam. Ive heard not to switch brands for regular tapes, but never for cleaning tapes.

[CHONGO]

Expand Quote

Hey guys, my fellow filmer friend ran into a problem with his cap cam. He's able to play back tapes just fine on his vx, but on the cap cam it has grey bars, as you can see in the image.  I recommended he use a cleaning tape but he lost his sony one. I have a panasonic cleaning tape he could use, but would that create more problems? Is the tape lube for the panasonic cleaning tape different from sony premiums lube?

Thanks!

[close]

That’s definitely a jammed head on the cap cam. Ive heard not to switch brands for regular tapes, but never for cleaning tapes.

I think at one time I used several different types of cleaning head tapes.. But that was like 7 years ago.. Maybe try and order a sony one off ebay.

[ArnoCartable]

Hi !
Sorry if the question was already asked before but I'm currently struggling with lowlight and night filming with my VX1000. Either it looks way too dark or it looks way too grainy. Does any of you have typical settings you use in the evening/at night.
I'm kinda new to all the cinematography terms (ISO/dB/exposure/shutterspeed/etc). It would be very kind to explain those to me.

Thank y'all

[Olympus Mons]

Hi !
Sorry if the question was already asked before but I'm currently struggling with lowlight and night filming with my VX1000. Either it looks way too dark or it looks way too grainy. Does any of you have typical settings you use in the evening/at night.
I'm kinda new to all the cinematography terms (ISO/dB/exposure/shutterspeed/etc). It would be very kind to explain those to me.

Thank y'all

I'm not a night filming expert by any means. But I would recommend never going below 2.0 for the exposure or else everything becomes grainy. I'll set shutter speed to 100, f2.0, and get close with the fisheye where the light really brightens things up.

I have a few night clips at the end of this little edit for reference:

[bataaard]

Hi !
Sorry if the question was already asked before but I'm currently struggling with lowlight and night filming with my VX1000. Either it looks way too dark or it looks way too grainy. Does any of you have typical settings you use in the evening/at night.
I'm kinda new to all the cinematography terms (ISO/dB/exposure/shutterspeed/etc). It would be very kind to explain those to me.

Thank y'all

i try to go to 6db max, and shutter of 1/100 minimum, which add grain but not that much.
But on specific cases, I had to go to 1/50 and 18db. Super grainy but it's better to see something grainy than having to guess what's going on.
Setting multiple lights help seeing a bit more of the run up / landing too

[Allen.]

Hi !
Sorry if the question was already asked before but I'm currently struggling with lowlight and night filming with my VX1000. Either it looks way too dark or it looks way too grainy. Does any of you have typical settings you use in the evening/at night.
I'm kinda new to all the cinematography terms (ISO/dB/exposure/shutterspeed/etc). It would be very kind to explain those to me.

Thank y'all

If you legitimately see yourself spending a lot (maybe more than 25%) of your time filming after the sun goes down I'd sincerely advise buying another camera as low light is the biggest weakness of the VX1000.

As far as what camera I'd suggest, VX2000, as despite it's mic being ass (set it to manual and drop it roughly 2 notches for filming fish), it should be much easier to come across a cheaper VX2 than a vx1, and it's so much better at night.

[Jordan Wiens]

settings wont help dark/grainy footage. more light will. get a better on cam light and light up spots if you can.

[pedro_mayn]

I've spent a bunch of time filming at night, since it's the only time we can skate par on weekends..anyways;

Decent 160led light for the top, set shutter speed to 1/100 (lowest 1/75, if it's really dark) and set exposure to 9db at lowest, but I try to stay at 6db. I've never really had any times where I thought it was really bad, mainly because the light is pretty good.

I second the notion of a VX2, or a 21 which I always find for good prices as well. Par some shaky and orange clips in this (since this was the year I first started using my camera) this was filmed on a VX21 and was mainly at night;


Genuinely really like how VX21 looks if you soften the image a bit sometimes. Oh and the camera seems more reliable, since they are newer.

[nickpaolucci]

what lights do you guys recommend? I have a Neewer 160led, but I am sure there is something better. maybe another Neewer w/ one on top of the camera and another in hand?

[pedro_mayn]

what lights do you guys recommend? I have a Neewer 160led, but I am sure there is something better. maybe another Neewer w/ one on top of the camera and another in hand?

That's what I use and does well for what I do. I used to use a 140led and it definitely fairs better than that.

[OnSlapAtWork]

I have this one for VX or HVX and it works really well:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/884129-REG/genaray_led_7100t_312_lamp_variable_clr.html

Edit: It also uses VX batteries and you can use the slimmer batteries that come with light in your VX.  These batteries tend to last longer than the standard full size VX batteries.

The adjustable light color feature is really nice, perfect for using the light when it is not totally dark out to match 5600K a bit closer without filters (which produce less light from the LED).

[nickpaolucci]

I have this one for VX or HVX and it works really well:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/884129-REG/genaray_led_7100t_312_lamp_variable_clr.html

Edit: It also uses VX batteries and you can use the slimmer batteries that come with light in your VX.  These batteries tend to last longer than the standard full size VX batteries.

The adjustable light color feature is really nice, perfect for using the light when it is not totally dark out to match 5600K a bit closer without filters (which produce less light from the LED).

nice! thanks for the suggestion. the battery thing does help justify the price a bit

[Jordan Wiens]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1545481-REG/lupo_700_smartpanel_dual_color_led.html

by far one of the brightest small form factor lights you can get because of the lenses in front of the LEDs. on sale right now too. uses VX batteries

[ArnoCartable]

Okay thanks y'all for your answer. I got a godox led500c wich is f'ing powerfull and I'll try your settings during the next nightsess.
 

[sn00p]

Okay thanks y'all for your answer. I got a godox led500c wich is f'ing powerfull and I'll try your settings during the next nightsess.
 

That looks like a solid choice. The only other thing I might recommend is if you’re mounting it on camera, you may want to invest in a better cold shoe adapter. I have the genaray light mentioned above and the one that came with it is just cheap plastic that sits too high.

[ArnoCartable]

Expand Quote

Okay thanks y'all for your answer. I got a godox led500c wich is f'ing powerfull and I'll try your settings during the next nightsess.
 

[close]

That looks like a solid choice. The only other thing I might recommend is if you’re mounting it on camera, you may want to invest in a better cold shoe adapter. I have the genaray light mentioned above and the one that came with it is just cheap plastic that sits too high.

The light I mentioned is not a light I'll mount on my camera. For that I have two little led lights.
For now I'll mount one on my camera and hold the other one in my hand for filming lines and I'll set the big godox one for single trick filming.
 

[concerned_parent]

i'm sure it's been discussed on here but since we've been dealing with it recently:

capture cam is firewire 400. i have to capture on an old laptop with a FW400 port and would like to get rid of all the extra dongles. what adapters are compatible to step it up to more modern hardware (i.e. imac 2014, 21.5" screen /2.9QC/2X4GB/1TB/GT750M or newer PC w/ USB-C)?

[pj chad]

Your iMac 2014 should have thunderbolt connections. I have been using the following:

thunderbolt to firewire-800 adapter
firewire-800 to firewire-400 6 pin adapter
firewire-400 6pin to 4 pin cable

Since you likely already have the 6pin to 4pin cable, you should be able to search second hand sites like eBay/Mercari and get those first two adapters for ~$30ish

(my picture below shows a 6-pin to 6-pin firewire cable, but obviously a 6-pin to 4-pin would work the same)