Video Depositions

Recording video depositions is one of our staple services. We’ve streamlined our equipment to minimize our setup time and space “footprint” without compromising quality. Here are just a few of the reasons why we are ahead of our competition:

Equipment

Video Cameras:  We use only very high quality 3-CCD high definition video cameras with excellent low-light capabilities (see the discussion regarding standard definition and high definition below).

Audio:  We capture audio using broadcast-quality lavaliere microphones (one for each attorney and one for the deponent).  We use a professional audio mixer to balance the audio levels for each microphone.  If you have a soft-spoken witness and an attorney with a loud, booming voice, they are both mixed down on the audio track to be virtually the same level.  These audio levels are monitored and adjusted continuously during the proceeding to ensure pristine sound in the finished product.  We also provide a mixed and balanced audio line to the court reporter for them to record and/or listen to during the proceeding.

Lighting:  We carry auxiliary lighting equipment, but seldom use it.  Most legal conference rooms are well lit, and our cameras have excellent low-light capabilities, as well as color balance settings to make the deponent look “natural” in almost any light setting.  Occasionally, if the room is too dimly lit even for our cameras, we will provide additional lighting.  When this is necessary the attorneys typically appreciate the additional lighting as well.  Some of our competitors insist on tightly controlling the room lighting, putting the deponent in great light at the expense of making the rest of the room uncomfortably dark for the rest of the participants.  This is not necessary.

Backdrop:  We bring and deploy a neutral colored, quick-set portable backdrop to every deposition.

Redundancy:  We record two simultaneous copies of the proceeding; one in the camera and one externally, either to standard definition DVD or to a high definition digital video recorder.  If your court date is imminent, we can usually provide you with a copy of the proceeding immediately following its conclusion.

Additional Equipment for Complex Depositions

Evolving technology means the potential to harness new methods to enhance your trial and mediation presentations.  The days of having jurors fumble through large binders of exhibit documents are quickly fading.  We can provide a high definition ELMO document camera for your use during the deposition.  The output of the ELMO camera can be displayed on a high definition projection system for all participants to see, or on high definition TV monitors placed on the table (one for the witness and one for each side of the table).

We also record the ELMO feed, and then “mix” the document and deponent video files in post production to provide either a “split-screen” or “picture-in-picture” format for presentation at trial or mediation.  The video segment below is a great example of this service.  If you are more comfortable with manipulating documents on a computer rather than hard copy documents shown through the ELMO camera, we can project and record your computer feed for use in post production as well.  We can also provide a “trial technician” to handle the documents for you during the proceeding (either using the ELMO document camera or using Trial Director™ trial presentation software).  We have a great deal of experience in this realm; so much so that our competitors occasionally call us to take these types of jobs.

Standard Definition vs. High Definition

We generally record “simple” depositions in “Standard Definition” (720×480 interlaced), because today, most courtroom playback equipment is limited to standard definition.  DVD media is still the “normal” transfer media, and it is limited to standard definition.  However, if you know that the courtroom is equipped with high definition equipment, or if you intend to provide it (or even better, if you intend to have us provide it for you), then we can shoot and playback the deposition video(s) in high definition (either 1920×1080 progressive or 1280×720 progressive).  For complex depositions where documents will be shown on video, we highly recommend high definition for the final video product so that the documents are presented as clearly as possible.

Coverage Area

Our company president is an instrument-rated commercial pilot, and is part owner in 5 aircraft, each with 4 seats. He regularly travels privately to depositions by air to locations that are between 150 and 500 miles from Indianapolis. This can be a benefit to the hiring attorney, as well. For example, if the hiring attorney is scheduled to take a deposition in Nashville TN, that flight can be made in under 90 minutes (one way from Indianapolis). Drive time is almost 5 hours. Traveling privately by air to and from the deposition site saves almost 7 hours of round trip travel time.  The hiring attorney benefits, not only due to our stellar videography services, but also because we can pick the attorney up at a local general aviation airport along the way to fly with us to the deposition. Once the deposition is over, we can fly home without being tethered to airline schedules and delays.

Experience

We’ve recorded literally thousands of legal video depositions.  We have vast experience in both the audio/video realm, as well as the legal media realm.  We are the premier legal video provider in Central Indiana — and beyond.