Great observations, thanks!

Yes, the audio in this segment is really hollow because I was shooting with a shotgun in a small enclosed space. In the evolution of the "studio," I worked on lighting first and then audio (which gets better in later segments - more treatment of the space like you recomend and swithed to cheap lav). I'm STILL struggling with the audio.

And yes again: white is easier to key on simply because white fringes and imperfect keys are much more forgiving than trying to deal with green halos. Yes, I can do a perfect key in this setup, but it's a lot of work in post (like it ALWAYS is in any situation) and I just don't have the time or talent to do that and still finish a segment every other week.

Yea, there are differences, of course, but I think it's in degree and detail, and not content. "TechKnow" episodes also involved about 3x more manhours overall - there's definitely a professional polish that's missing in my homemade videos. On the other hand, the 720p video here on Vimeo looks better and loads faster than the Ultra quality vids at Digital Juice, so there's that.

Good questions:
First, it's all keyed. First video to last. Originally, the key was done simply to get the background perfectly white, but I got bored with that and added a gradient and then a gradient with a subtle virtual floor. Subtle, but I like it better.

Second, it's actually easier to key white than green, but only because poor/quick keys result in a white fringe/halo and not a green one. So a white halo on a white background is almost invisible. You can see the edge if you look closely, esp. if there's something darker behind me. The latest video I did (the Casio review) actually uses very quick and dirty keying ('cause I didn't want to spend too much time on the project) and it's easier to see what I'm talking about. Also, check out my feet in that one: I forgot to turn on a light in front, which left a shadow on the floor!

One caveat: This type of quick/dirty keying will NOT work for Hollywood-style effects, like Superman flying or what have you, because of the sloppy white halo. The trick is keying white to white. Sorta cheating, I suppose, but whatever works!

Third: I'm not chromakeying, per se, but luma keying. Again, check out the Casio Review, about mid-way through I show some raw footage from the studio/garage from my Sony SR7. The back wall is insanely blown out and overexposed: That's the trick! If your camera has zebra stripes, it's really useful, since anything with stripes will key very easily.

Finally, any light will work, as long as they all have the same color temp. The only reason I don't use halogens is that they are hot and miserable, and I'm already cranky enough while shooting. Large tube flourescent banks on the sides would be great too (ala, indymogul.com light bank tutorial).

Sounds like it worked and yea, there's no need to be obsessive about the color temp, but you probably want to whitebalance on the 5400K keylight instead of the 6500K background (which will get keyed out anyhow).

I still haven't solved the clamping part in a permanent way (mine are clamped and duct taped - which is not a very good solution). Ultimately, I'm thinking I could build a really nice grid for about $20-30 out of PVC and metal strapping... might be the next upgrade.

I don't know - they should have a canvas dropcloth, I would think! I know I still have a canvas dropcloth that my first generation American great grandfather used, so it is a very common thing. I'm only using it for covering the floor so it doesn't get footprints. You can use anything instead, like a blanket, but the dropcloth was the cheapest, most durable thing I could find. I have carpeting over other parts of the floor (mostly for sound suppression).

As far as the paint goes, I used cheap flat latex wall paint. It may have been smarter to use a garage floor paint, which may have resisted dirt and footprints better, but since I never walk on the floor unless I'm shooting (the dropcloth is always down), it's not a problem.

After a little bit of more googling I also found Malervließ in white, I think that is the right kind of material. About 40€ for 50m².

Another question - is the paneling really needed? Cloth should automatically make a round edge on the floor - or is this solution not stable enough without the paneling?

I also plan to place the bottom part on carpet - my garage is really too small to act in it. I just have to figure out if I should try to apply the paint it in my bedroom. ;)

Oh, I see: yea, I'm not using the dropcloth at all during shooting.

And, yes, cloth backdrops are definitely an option, especially if you don't have a dedicated (or semi-dedicated) space. Photography shops will have backdrop rolls that will work. 40€ for 50m² sounds like a good price - my local shop has high key white muslin (cotton) 10' x 16' rolls (~17m²) for US$60. (I've used paper rolls too, but they aren't much cheaper and are a lot less durable - not recommended.)

Nice. I don't think your video is "hurt" at all by not having an infinite enviro - the content is great and the narration moves in and out of the music in a very natural way. Content is king and your video is very well done.

Thank you :-)

You won't need quite as much with green/blue screen because you don't need to blow it out, but maybe 80% as much, so not much difference.

I may do a segment on green, but I need to make a little money before my next video and, quite frankly, I'm not a fan of green screen + virtual sets. Too distracting if you don't get it perfect and I rarely have time/money to get it perfect. White is much more forgiving (when lumakeying over a light background).

Why yes, yes you do. And you gotta watch belt buckles and reflections on glasses and teeth and eyeballs, but, there are two tricks here: (1) the back is also blown out, so if you keep foreground whites properly exposed (but not overexposed), you can get away with a lot and (2) since this only works on white backgrounds, small bits of white on your subject are keyed through... to white! It's cheating, but it works.