405 line advice required!

[steevjg]

I work at a University specialising in Film and TV production and I've been asked to help out on a film which plans to use 3x 405 line TV's in its set. I see STD converters available from Frank Cuffe and I am interested in finding out prices of a finished built unit. Also I would appreciate some advice on which model of STD converter I might need. I have asked what models the TV sets are but not heard back yet. Should I be asking any other important questions? I'm happy I can produce a PAL signal, but I'm not even sure of the RF connectors required, assume 75ohm cable though. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[paulsherwin]

You should investigate further before proceeding. Using actual vintage TVs on set showing live video is extremely rare as the setup is complex and specialised, there are reliability and H&S issues, and the colour temperature of a vintage B&W tube looks wrong on film and video. Standard practice is to shoot the scenes with static props then add the sound and video in post - this is relatively easy with modern editing technology, and looks very convincing if done well.

If you really want to do it the hard way, you will need:

Fully restored TV(s) which look nearly new rather than 70 years old
Source(s) of analogue 625 line composite video
625-405 standards converter(s)
VHF modulator(s)

and someone who knows how to configure everything and keep it working.

Still sure you don't want to just do it in post?

[FRANK.C]

I am the guy that just designed the Hedghogs. It is Stephen (Freya) that supplies them. He would be able to advise you what is available.

Frank

[steevjg]

Hi paulsherwin.

Very good advice, Thank you. Definitely doing it post will be a much better solution and if this is the plan from the outset no one will be upset on the day of filming if the TV's are camera shy! Also I have struggled to find a VHF modulator at the right frequency (Band 1).

I'm just wondering though, would it still be an interesting project? You mention the CT of a vintage tube what was that, not D65?

Hi Franc.C.

Thanks for your reply, I will drop Freya a message.

[McMurdo]

I dont think you need a vhf modulator with The Frank Cuffe hedghog do you?

[FRANK.C]

That's right Kevin.
All Hedghogs have a built in modulator.
Or if you needed a stand alone System A modulator there is the Vol modulator.

Frank

[Gulliver]

No advice to give except that keen eyes will almost always know when TV pictures have been added in post. If you take the brave route and have the TVs actually running for the filming, I wish you the very best of luck.

But then I am the lunatic that just shot and edited a music video on B&W super 8 film.

[high_vacuum_house]

Just a thought, but I presume you would need some means to synchronise the television signal (horizontal and vertical scanning timings) with the camera you are filming with to prevent flicker.
Christopher Capener

[emeritus]

When we were in France for the 1999 eclipse, I managed to record flicker-free footage from the French SECAM TV using my PAL VHS-C camcorder by putting the camera on a tripod to shoot the screen in a darkened room, and setting the exposure to 1/50 second. I had to restart the camera a few times to synchronise it with the TV raster by trial and error so that no line was visible. Unfortunately most later camcorders don't seem to have manual shutter controls, opting for much shorter exposures.