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Syncing DV to DAT

Do you need to use a light meter with modern cameras?
I read in a book that you should always use a light meter when shooting video. I asked a guy at the local photography store and he said I didn't have to worry about it. Which one is right?
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What digital video camera should I buy?
What digital video camera should I buy?
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Contributed by Glen Berry

Is it true that digital video(Canon XL-1 Mini DV) runs at a different speed than DAT recordings, making the task of synching up the sound to the video very difficult? And if so, any suggestions on doing this?

The most important thing to remember is that the "speed" (sample or frame rate) of your audio recording device is unimportant as long as it is constant (crystal or electronically controlled). If you're recording a shot that is 5 seconds long in real time, it will be five seconds long on video and five seconds long on your DAT, so you can sync it.

Where you run into problems is if you change the relationships between pix and sound when digitizing, compressing, transferring or editing.

Berry is the founder of the Northwest Film School and the creator of Film Underground, a popular and successful network of Moviemaking web sites that includes Cyber Film School.

A former member of the Whatcom Film Association Board of Directors, he also has twice served as the director of the Northwest Projections Film Festival. An award-winning filmmaker, Berry specializes in post production and is currently employed as an editor and post production supervisor on professional independent productions. Berry has written for “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Filmmaking,” “MovieMaker Magazine,” Cyberfilmschool.com and Filmfestivals.com. He also has served as an expert source for international newspaper and radio media outlets.

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