📹 Equipment & Materials

Analog Video Basics

The minimum equipment needed to get started with camera feedback is:

At least 1 video camera with composite output

At least 1 television/screen with composite input (this can be a CRT or LCD monitor)

Cables (and converters if needed) so that you can plug your camera into your screen

Though you can create a feedback loop with cameras and screens via other types of signals, such as HDMI, we are focusing on composite video in this class. Using an analog composite video signal allows us to incorporate other analog video equipment and tools into our feedback signal chain, and it allows us to use older, (sometimes) less expensive equipment.

Composite video usually uses a yellow RCA connector. Some professional video gear will have a BNC connector.

If your gear setup uses a mixture of RCA and BNC connectors, you can use a passive adapter to connect them together. However, if a device has BNC connectors, make sure they are definitely for composite video, because BNC is sometimes used for other types of signals as well.

If you are new to analog video, you should find out if your region typically uses the PAL or NTSC standard (or less commonly, SECAM). You will need to make sure that all your gear uses the same standard so that it is all compatible (some devices are able to switch between NTSC and PAL, either automatically or as a setting, and some only support one standard).

The primary goal here is that you can plug your camera into your screen, and the screen will show the live feed of what the camera is seeing. This basic setup is something you should be able to achieve on your own prior to the class. It is recommended that you have at least some experience working with analog video before this class, or be ready to do some learning on your feet.

If you happen to have access to multiple composite video cameras and screens, all the better. Different equipment can produce very different results, so experimenting to find what works best is a big part of the process.

A note about external links to products

I will try to add some links and models as examples of different equipment that can be used here. However, if you are purchasing equipment it is important to do your own research. Product links can be modified by sellers to show different products, inventory can run out, and prices can change, so we can't make any guarantees or simply point everyone to purchase the same items and rely on them to work. Be patient and know that finding the right equipment for video feedback often involves some trial and error. The up side to this is that since there is no one-size-fits-all solution, each of us will likely be working with different gear, and we will each get our own flavor of feedback as a result.

Cameras

Below are some of the types of cameras that can be found with live composite video output.

Security cameras

many CCTV cameras have a composite video output. These can be great because they usually output a clean video feed. Some may be small and come in a dome-like enclosure; these will usually have a fixed wide-angle lens, and sometimes an infrared LED array for night vision. Others are larger and rectangular; these usually have a c-mount for attaching any compatible c-mount lens.

Pros: this type of camera is meant to be run 24/7 and powered from a wall, so will not have any automatic shut-off function.

Older consumer camcorders

many camcorders from the 80s and 90s have a composite video output, though some need a specialized cable. Some of these types of cameras have text or icon overlays on the video output, but it is sometimes possible to turn this off and get a clean output. Some even have digital effects.

Pros: camcorders usually have manual zoom controls and other settings that can be fun to experiment with

Cons: usually need to be sourced used, so price and inventory can vary widely

Mini cameras

there are a number of tiny cameras out there with composite outputs, which are sometimes used as backup cameras for cars, or other uses where they are built into some other device. These can be found brand new online for very cheap, but they usually have a lens that you can't change and no control over any of the settings (focus, exposure, etc.)

Pros: very cheap

Cons: no controls