I'm currently going through the build stage on my first puppet production.  In the next couple of months I hope to filming and I'm shopping around for camcorders now.  So far the JVC Evirio GZ-hm200 is what I'm probably gonna get.  I plan on airing the project on the web, both youtube and a private site.  Its a decent hd camcorder, and seems like It will grow with me for a while(fingers crossed).  If anyone else out there does web production or even tv or direct to dvd puppetry.....or anything you record....what are you using to record with and why?   

Hi OttoVonGlumm, for me I went out and perchased the most expensive camera I could afford at the time. Big mistake! As the mic on it is totally terrible. It could be what I am doing it could be the wrong mic for what I am doing. But the best advice I would give some one starting out is look at three things.
1. Lighting. (I use cheap hellogen lamps and are totally happy with the lighting.)
2. Microphone. (Depending on what you are going to be doing, with me it's just me and I should have got a camera that supports a lapel mic) (Next time.)
3. Camera. (Don't neglect the first 2 points over the camera as I believe I have listed them in importance to the task at hand.)

Make sure you look at all three points when looking at recording puppetry for any type of film media.

I hope it helps, heaps of people told me this when I was starting out, if only I had of listened.

I wish I could input about the camcorder part, but I have just a cheap one. But I do completely agree with Henry's placement of lighting at the top of the list. A couple of clip workshop lights can increase the video quality on pretty much any recording device.

Yes lighting is paramount....the difference between a quality production and an amateur one....I use shop halogens bounced off of large sheets of drywall attach to the ceiling of my garage(about 12 ft. high) painted with flat white(the flat paint diffuses the light as opposed to a satin or gloss which reflect)....it creates a wonderful diffuse lighting...along with a few overheads and various stick lighting as needed.  I think it's better to go a little to bright and fix in post rather than try to fudge grainy film(unnghhhh!)  I went to art school for computer animation and their are entire classes dedicated to lighting theory....while you have to cheat a lot in 3d programs but their is a lot that carries over.

bounced off of large sheets of drywall

diffuse lighting

I just wanted to highlight those two things.  I think this is the "big secret"  that folks often miss. In a regular tv studio they often use gels (transparent color plastic sheets) to diffuse the lighting.  Out on location they often bounce light off of a huge white piece of fabric. Ever seen a photographer set up at a local store taking kid pictures with umbrellas attached to his lights?  If you really look, you'll notice that he is bouncing his flash of of them.  

I use the JVC Everio GO 60. I can set the white balance, manual focus, etc, and it is easy to use as well as being reasonably priced. I used it for the commercials I made for my church. Check them out, nothing fancy but I filmed against a green screen and these are my first attempts. I use halogen shop lights to light my screen and the puppet. Still learning what to do and I am going to try adding dimension to my stage with other scenery next.

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I would steer you more in the direction of a Sony camera they are still one of the leading brands when it comes to camcorders....there lens alone is of high quality and they have many nice--grow into--features on them....

Just my 2 cents.....

All the best on your production and hope you post something on here to show us.....

Daryl H

Actually stik the Konica Minolta HD lenses used in the new JVC camcorders(it is a 20x optical zoom) along with CMOS blows away the sony's consumer grade lenses......plus sony is real big on hdd....solid state camcorders deteriorate at a faster rate than flash based media, especially when you have the camera running for extended periods of time, you run the risk of bricking you cam.  I ended up buying the everio gz-hm200 with dual flash cards(got 2 class 6 for smooth data transfer on full hd records).  I spent the day recording my daughter and just generally around the house and it really hurts the feelings of anything sony has to offer in even a close price range(I think sony is still trying to offset losses from their latest Playstation debacle)...plus the fact that sony uses propietary technology for storage(i.e.memory sticks) they are useless in my nikon and gobble up funds that could be better allocated.  You also gotta watch sony and the small print.....The JVC is full HD 1920x1080, when sony says full HD that can mean anything from 1440x1080i on up......I dont like deception....but i digress....

Jomama cheers to you.....jumping right in and doing some greeny screeny.....yay!  In this upcoming production I am going to adapt the old disney multiplane camera filming method Only bringing it back vertically using layers to create a great depth of field effect, with the puppeteers "sandwiched" in the middle layer(Im thinking maybe 7 layers)  and my green screen in the very back layer....Along with a layer or two of foreground? Maybe? I don't know its still a pinball in my head.

Btw Jo what editing software do you use?

Hiya Henry didnt forget about you!  You know the greatest thing about filming puppets.....you can dub the sound from a nice booth session and no one will ever know!  Unless they can read puppet lips :'(

I use Pinnacle studio 12 plus. I've been using Pinnacle for about 8 years now and have kept upgrading. I find it is easy to use and has a lot of nice features. I'm going to be needing a new computer within the next year and thought about going to a MAC and getting Final Cut Pro, but I'm not sure I will be up to learning the software. What editing software do you use?

The audio on my commercials was straight into the camera. Since that time I have been given a Eurodesk soundboard with 24 channels. I just need to get my mics to do decent recording. I'd sure love an effects processor as well. My hubby is a sound tech at church so he does all my sound stuff.

Sue

I'm currently using After Effects 6.5, which I liked up until now because I was comfortable with it.  Unfortunately AE and .MTS(the new hd format file extension based off the Mpeg4 codecs) will not play together.  So I'm toying with some conversion software in hopes of finding a happy "medium"....

As for sound....I'm a big fan of software over hardware.  I use an older program called cool edit pro, Which has since been bought by adobe(isn't everyone) and turned into Adobe Audition.  I can't vouch for the latter but cool edit is a very competent program.