Comment Re:Here's some REAL advice (Score 2, Informative) 18
I work for a public broadcaster in the Netherlands in the Internet department.
A) I don't now much about studio lighting so I wont comment on that.
B) I second the comment about the XL1's we use them, they are very good, only disadvantage we found is the location of the cable connections which cause the cables to get loose occassionely. We also use Sony PD150's these are quite solid as wel. The advantage of the XL1 over the PD150 is the shoulder-rest which makes for steadier shots.
C) Mackie's are reliable mixers, however there usability can use some improvement. For lowend audio we use Behringer stuff it is not to great in quality but it works. We are also quite happy with our Yamaha OV-1 for audiomixing. It might be more expensive but is fully digital and motorized.
4) Sony DSR-25 if you don't need the remote by RS422, DSR-45 if you do. The built in LCD takes care of yet another TV in the heap of equipment.
5) Cleaner stinks. When it works don't change *anything* on the computer or it will break again.
We have found it quite unreliable in quite a number of aspects. The user-interface is very bad as well. It's click hell. We are changing over to a more expensive solution called FlipFactory by Telestream. But that will be above your budget I'm afraid. However it is utterly flexible, it can read/create close to any video compression there is. Including MPEG 4:2:2,Quicktime,Windows Media and Real, and all the 'weird' broadcast specific formats.
A) I don't now much about studio lighting so I wont comment on that.
B) I second the comment about the XL1's we use them, they are very good, only disadvantage we found is the location of the cable connections which cause the cables to get loose occassionely. We also use Sony PD150's these are quite solid as wel. The advantage of the XL1 over the PD150 is the shoulder-rest which makes for steadier shots.
C) Mackie's are reliable mixers, however there usability can use some improvement. For lowend audio we use Behringer stuff it is not to great in quality but it works. We are also quite happy with our Yamaha OV-1 for audiomixing. It might be more expensive but is fully digital and motorized.
4) Sony DSR-25 if you don't need the remote by RS422, DSR-45 if you do. The built in LCD takes care of yet another TV in the heap of equipment.
5) Cleaner stinks. When it works don't change *anything* on the computer or it will break again.
We have found it quite unreliable in quite a number of aspects. The user-interface is very bad as well. It's click hell. We are changing over to a more expensive solution called FlipFactory by Telestream. But that will be above your budget I'm afraid. However it is utterly flexible, it can read/create close to any video compression there is. Including MPEG 4:2:2,Quicktime,Windows Media and Real, and all the 'weird' broadcast specific formats.
