If you're planning wide distribution, making a more formal presentation, or simply putting your best foot forward, what are your options for advanced meeting/seminar projects?

1. Additional cameras can be used to provide cutaways to audience interaction
or other presentation elements.
2. Include Power Point slides.
3. Include professional graphics.
4. Add other video or photographic material.
5. Some combination of the above.

Additional Cameras
An unmanned, fixed camera is an economical way to increase production value in a meeting/seminar video. It can be placed to capture audience reaction. It can also work well to capture a screen used to show overheads, slides, or Power Point presentations. This is often a better choice than graphic conversion if the speaker interacts directly with screen images such as with a laser pointer.

If there is considerable audience participation, an additional camera and operator may be desirable to capture audience interaction. For maximum production value, you may wish to use an additional camera and operator to provide a second camera angle on the presenter. This may be an important consideration if the presenter moves around the room to interact with the audience or the presentation is in the round.

Audio Considerations
Our standard setup is to use a wireless lapel mike on the presenter and a shotgun mike on the camera for audience pickup. Some situations require additional audio support. If there are two presenters, a second wireless lapel mike can be provided.

If the presenter interacts extensively with the audience, he could use a wireless hand mike if he mingles with the audience. Otherwise it is best to designate one or two people to carry wireless hand mikes through the audience or have an audience podium and microphone. (Town meeting style) You can always instruct the speaker to repeat any question from the audience, but if the speaker is not a professional, they rarely remember to do so.

If your meeting is a panel discussion, our boundary mike can be very effective. This small device lays flat in the middle of the panel table, using the table as a reflector.

As audio needs increase, it is very likely you will need to budget for an audio technician to control levels and manage equipment.

What about tapping into the "house" system? We try to avoid this option, as we have less control and can encounter ground loops that introduce hum into our equipment.