CAIRO: Here’s variations on a theme to illustrate what can be produced out in the field with a portable pro audio recorder and a hybrid point and shoot camera.
No Flash coding. No ‘Soundslides’ and no Final Cut Pro - just squeezing maximum technique out of low-tech field tools and free, built-in software.
1) Podcast - audio only
2) Slideshow - Podcast audio plus still frame only slideshow
3) Videoslide - Podcast audio plus still frames intermixed with short video clips
Podcast
This first file is the audio-only podcast - recorded on a Sampson H4 four-track unit using two, small condensor lav microphones purchased for $10 each in Cape Town. These mics clip to the lapel and are foolproof. Tarek’s car was a hostile audio environment as the road was bumpy, the windows were down and we were surrounded by motorcycles and motor cars moving six lanes across in a space designed only for three.
Slideshow
The same audio illustrated with a strong picture-edit of still frames only.
Videoslides
Now we mix in moving pictures intercut with the still frames to add another layer. For this step we moved to iMovie to manage the assets.
This last style is the most flexible and natural for me. It allowed, for example, to mix in some live performance music I had recorded one night and to add a little funny video ender to the piece. For a twenty-minute piece like this I wish I had a few more video clips. Obviously there is a great range of stories that could be told in this ‘Videoslide’ style
