Studio Equipment, its Functions and Operation

This is all the equipment we will be using for our TV Quiz Show:

- 3 Pole Cameras - These are used to film the overall show. Pole cameras can move around on wheels. Before recording, the camera operator needs to adjust how much light goes into the camera, using the turning dial. This is called the exposure. Camera Operators can tell if there is too much exposure by looking at the view finder, looking for zebra bars. These are diagonal lines going across the view finder. Exposing the skin at 75% is a perfect exposure (just so the zebra bars go). To control the position of the shots more easily, there are handlebars to hold, also containing the zoom control.

- 1 Jig Arm - To get a WS of the Set and Talent. A camera is attached to the Jig Arm on a long bar. This can be moved up quite high, or manoeuvred down low. A view finder of the camera filming is set down low, so the Camera Operator can see the position of the camera.

- 5 Omni-Directional Clip Microphones - An Omni-Directional microphone means that they can pick up sound from all around. These are clipped on the Talent, so the Sound Operators in the audio control room, can control there sound levels.

- 1 Directional Microphone - This is needed for the Studio Audience. Directional microphones; meaning that they can pick up sound from a set direction. These are used for a Studio Audience because this would prevent the recording picking up any other sound effects, such as whispering from the audience. These will only detect the clapping. This is attached to the Grid, above the audience.

- Talk Backs/ Comms - This is an audio device, which is used to enable the crew to communicate from the Studio Floor to the control rooms. On the Studio Floor, the crew such as the F.M and Camera Operators would where headphones, with a mic and a small Talk Back box, to be able to communicate. The main Talk Back box is in the vision control room, which sits in front of the Director.

- 1 Vision Mixing Panel - This is a vision box, which displays all of the cameras shots from the Studio Floor, on little separate screens. Below the screens there is a panel with different buttons. The buttons control, which camera needs to be "on line", numbered 1 - 5. For example if camera 1 needed to be "on line", the VX would press button number 1. To fade in/out a camera to another camera, there is a second row of buttons exactly the same. For example; if camera 1 was "on line" but the VX wanted a transition to camera 2, the VX would press button no.2 on the second row of buttons, and pull a yellow lever to get the transition displayed.

- 1 Sound Mixing Panel - This is a mixing box, which is used to control the sound levels of the Talent or VT, using the faders. Using the faders, allows equal sound levels of the Talent's speech. A master fader can also be used to adjust all of the sound levels. To make it more easier to use, there is separate faders for each clip microphone. There is also a VU meter on the panel, which shows the Sound Operator, if the sound is too low or too high. The sound is measured in Decibels (dB). For example, if the sound levels were reading to high on the VU meter from the Host, the Sound Operator would fade down the Host's fader.

- The DVD Player - This allows DVD discs to be played. DVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc, is an optical disc storage media format, which will store our VT inserts, titles, etc.

- The Lighting Grid - All of the different lighting is attached to a rail above the set on the Studio Floor. This is called the Grid. The lighting is obviously used to light the set.

- The Dimmer Pack - This is a electrical box, which powers the Lighting Grid.

- STOB Box - This is a box, which controls audio and visual footage being passed through the signal flow. STOB stands for Studio Terminal Out Box.

- A Floor Monitor (TV) - This is for the Talent on the Studio Floor. They can see what is being filmed during rehearsals and 'Takes', also allowing them to watch the VT inserts, Opening Titles, Credits and Round Stings.

Mise En Scene

- The Set - Backboards and board on and in front of the table.
- Props - Buzzers, Cue Cards