Color Bar at DVinfo.net

Linda Schodowsky · April 2nd, 2004, 03:34 PM

I know I am spewing out the questions today, but I am really trying to avoid the "auto everything" on my camera, and trying not to rely on all the default settings.

So my question is this... what do I need to use the color bar for? It's there for some reason, and I want to make use of it.

Don Bloom · April 2nd, 2004, 04:36 PM

I shoot a few (10-20) of color bars on each tape so first I'm not right at the beginning of the tape (goes back to the old days) and 2nd you have a reference to make sure your NTSC monitor (if you use one) is set correctly so when you look at the colors you know that red is red and green is green.
Can't hurt to run a few seconds but for the moment I don't know that you really need it.

Don

Mike Rehmus · April 2nd, 2004, 05:53 PM

The other thing you can use the bars for is to properly set up your LCD and any attached displays. Works for a viewfinder too.

Wayne Orr · April 2nd, 2004, 08:25 PM

Actually, Linda, the horrible truth is, there isn't any REALLy good purpose for the color bars. They would be handy for setting up an external monitor, but they have no "pluge" (don't ask) which guides you in setting up brightness on NTSC monitors. Without the pluge you really can't tell if your monitor is accurate. Also, SMPTE split field bars would have been much better to use for this purpose. Don is a veteran like myself, from the days when we used to include color bars at the top of the tape to allow the editor to adjust the output from the tapes properly. But today, with everything digital, that is pretty much a wank. But Don brings up a great point of laying down something at the top of your tape for about 30 seconds to get past the beginning of the tape where you are most likely to have a problem with the tape.

Mike has a really trained eye, so he may get a little use out of the bars when tweaking his lcd, but for most of us, setting the screen to the middle positions will give adequate results. And have you noticed that everything looks GREAT on the lcd? Then when you play the tapes at home and view on a big tv screen, they just don't look as teriffic. Those damn lcd's seem to make everything look good, so don't put too much faith in them. They are especially deceiving for setting exposure. So take care.

Now my question. Are you related to "Big Chuck"? Actually, his name may have been "Sadowsky". Worked at WJW-tv many years ago.

Wayne Orr, SOC

Linda Schodowsky · April 2nd, 2004, 08:42 PM

Thanks for all the help! All of the suggestions are good and I will put them to use!

To answer your question, Wayne... "Big Chuck" Schodowsky is a distant cousin of my husbands dad. Put it this way, he did not attend my husbands dad's funeral!

Big Chuck is still around, with "Lil John". Were you here when he was with Hoolihan?

Wayne Orr · April 2nd, 2004, 09:20 PM

"Big Chuck is still around, with "Lil John". Were you here when he was with Hoolihan?"

Yup. I started my career at WEWS and used to play softball with those guys and "Goohlardi," who we all know is the father of Paul Thomas Anderson.
(Fire up the polka band)

Linda Schodowsky · April 2nd, 2004, 09:25 PM

My dad sold "Houlihans" (Bob Wells?) house when he moved to Florida. I'm 44 by the way! Old enough to know "Ghoulardi" too!

April 2nd, 2004, 03:34 PM	#1
Linda Schodowsky Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 139	Color Bar I know I am spewing out the questions today, but I am really trying to avoid the "auto everything" on my camera, and trying not to rely on all the default settings. So my question is this... what do I need to use the color bar for? It's there for some reason, and I want to make use of it.

April 2nd, 2004, 05:53 PM	#3
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The other thing you can use the bars for is to properly set up your LCD and any attached displays. Works for a viewfinder too. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

April 2nd, 2004, 04:36 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I shoot a few (10-20) of color bars on each tape so first I'm not right at the beginning of the tape (goes back to the old days) and 2nd you have a reference to make sure your NTSC monitor (if you use one) is set correctly so when you look at the colors you know that red is red and green is green. Can't hurt to run a few seconds but for the moment I don't know that you really need it. Don

April 2nd, 2004, 08:25 PM	#4
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	Actually, Linda, the horrible truth is, there isn't any REALLy good purpose for the color bars. They would be handy for setting up an external monitor, but they have no "pluge" (don't ask) which guides you in setting up brightness on NTSC monitors. Without the pluge you really can't tell if your monitor is accurate. Also, SMPTE split field bars would have been much better to use for this purpose. Don is a veteran like myself, from the days when we used to include color bars at the top of the tape to allow the editor to adjust the output from the tapes properly. But today, with everything digital, that is pretty much a wank. But Don brings up a great point of laying down something at the top of your tape for about 30 seconds to get past the beginning of the tape where you are most likely to have a problem with the tape. Mike has a really trained eye, so he may get a little use out of the bars when tweaking his lcd, but for most of us, setting the screen to the middle positions will give adequate results. And have you noticed that everything looks GREAT on the lcd? Then when you play the tapes at home and view on a big tv screen, they just don't look as teriffic. Those damn lcd's seem to make everything look good, so don't put too much faith in them. They are especially deceiving for setting exposure. So take care. Now my question. Are you related to "Big Chuck"? Actually, his name may have been "Sadowsky". Worked at WJW-tv many years ago. Wayne Orr, SOC

April 2nd, 2004, 08:42 PM	#5
Linda Schodowsky Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 139	Thanks for all the help! All of the suggestions are good and I will put them to use! To answer your question, Wayne... "Big Chuck" Schodowsky is a distant cousin of my husbands dad. Put it this way, he did not attend my husbands dad's funeral! Big Chuck is still around, with "Lil John". Were you here when he was with Hoolihan?

April 2nd, 2004, 09:20 PM	#6
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	"Big Chuck is still around, with "Lil John". Were you here when he was with Hoolihan?" Yup. I started my career at WEWS and used to play softball with those guys and "Goohlardi," who we all know is the father of Paul Thomas Anderson. (Fire up the polka band)

April 2nd, 2004, 09:25 PM	#7
Linda Schodowsky Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 139	My dad sold "Houlihans" (Bob Wells?) house when he moved to Florida. I'm 44 by the way! Old enough to know "Ghoulardi" too!