Recommended Equipment List

Here is an equipment list you'll want to have for each workshop along with a few details about each item. We recommend that you bring your own equipment, but it's not required in order to take the course.

Video Camera

You will get the most out of the course if you bring your own video camera. It doesn’t need to be a top-of-the-line camera, but it should be relatively new (less than two years old). We recommend that you get a camera that records high-definition footage, preferably to a hard drive or memory card (as opposed to one that writes to tape or DVD). Likewise, try to get a camera that has a headphone output jack and an external microphone input jack. DSLR cameras that shoot video are also great for the course.

An example of a camera that would be perfect for the course is the Canon VIXIA HF R200 Full HD Camcorder

Headphones

Any headphones will do, but if you have some headphones that cover your ears (as opposed to earbuds), this can help you to better hear audio problems.

External Microphone

It's always better to use a microphone that isn’t attached to your camera, so if you can acquire an external microphone, you will get better audio quality, particularly during interviews.

You can go for a wired lavalier type microphone (cheaper), or a wireless lavalier system (more convenient, but also more expensive). You can also look into ‘shotgun’ style microphones.

Computer

If you are going to work with high definition footage, you will need to make sure that your computer is up to the task (should be a newer model with at least 2 GB of RAM). In our experience, Mac computers are far easier to work with than PC when it comes to editing video.

Editing Software

Mac users can use iMovie, and this will be the package that we use for doing editing demos. If you can update to the latest version (iMovie ’11), you will be happy you did. Students with iMovie ’08 or older should update to at least iMovie ’09.

PC users should acquire a good editing software package, because Windows Movie Maker is not sophisticated enough for the class exercises. I recommend that PC users buy and install Pinnacle Studio HD.

If you have a more professional editing software package (Final Cut, Adobe Premiere, Avid), this is fine too.

Data Storage

You will generate a lot of footage during the course, so you should have an external hard drive available to you, so you don’t fill up your computer hard drive. Likewise, you should get a high capacity data key (8GB or more) to move files around during collaborative class projects.

Further Reading

There is no textbook for the course, but if you are interested in getting some reading done about the course material, we can recommend a few great books on the subject.

If you cannot afford to get this equipment, don’t worry too much. Most of the class exercises and projects are collaborative, so you will be able to work together with other students who have the necessary equipment.

View the Filmmaking for Scientists Workshop main page.