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First multicam concert video…setup/suggestions please
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Rob- BIG help, thanks! I do have an audio feed from the mixing board that I will use as my main track. I’ve got a RODE Pro on my 5D Mk III for interviews etc. You’ve got me pegged with the shyness thing, as I do not want to be that “annoying guy.” But I WILL remember your post as I politely demand to have the show lighting turned on prior to go-time.
To help with knowing what to record/when to change shots, I’ve been attending their rehearsals and I have a copy of their last videoed performance… which, shows me, by the way, why they want me to shoot them again. Without being too critical of someone else’s work, I saw no attempt at color correction when cutting between different cameras, and all very shaky footage, with very little thought put into making deliberate cuts. My feeling is that those are the biggest reasons why the band did not like the first video.
I am somewhat concerned about using my Sony HDR CX150 camcorder (from 2010)… while it does have manual WB, it only shoots 60i, and matching both color and frame rate might prove to be nightmarish. It might be time for a Canon VIXIA HF G10, for the 24p to match my DSLRs.
Everyone’s help here is contributing to what I hope will be something they’ll love. Thanks.
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That Rode VideoMic isn’t going to be all that great for interviews – what it IS good for is giving you better in-camera sound and something that is easier to sync with. With that mic alone you’ll have to remain close to your subjects in order for the mic to pick up a relatively decent signal and that’s assuming you are conducting interviews in a quiet environment which I don’t think you can count on. Also, you won’t be able to monitor the sound quality while recording which is risky.
Search this forum for “dual audio” for a much preferred technique – great visuals with poor sound is not a good combination. Audio is a costly aspect of video production but makes a HUGE impact on the results.
Steve Crow
Crow Digital Media
http://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com -
OK! I will search it! Thanks Steve.
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My iMac is a 2008 Intel Core 2 Duo, with 4 GB, maxed out. I hope the editing isn’t too painfully slow. I’ve been watching many FCPX tutorials on multicam, and there are some great tips out there. I will keep you all posted as to my progress. Many thanks!
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You could do this idea with any stationary camera. I personally would want a straight on stage shot – I think that would work best.
The computer I work on has a 3.0 cpu and 4GB ram.
David
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We also had a 5th camera, a slightly older HD video cam.
The shots were more video like but did not have the low light DR of the Nikons or Canons so we did not use that footage. (It would have worked in post, just a different look that’s all)
If you have a friend, intern pal, younger relative etc. see if you can have them tag along for line credit or dinner, and use a boom pole with an appropriate shotgun.
Even a Zoom H4N on a pole will do a better job close in than the Rode as mentioned in the last post. The Rode might do well also, on a pole don’t know the field/range/SPL of that model.
Perhaps you can stage an area where the interviews are taking place with a static placement of a good overhead drum mic or shotgun, also to better control the interview lighting.
If you can scrounge up a DAR for live interviews, just watch the gain at each stage of the process and check levels before the down beat for the spoken bits.
Mics are either dynamic (magnet on board) or Condenser (48v Phantom or battery) so check with your friends, or even the band.
Even though this all may seem like the performers are being put upon, encourage them to meet your suggestions over the fact that getting the best possible product from the moment, allows the HD content to be wrung out later (SD versus HD) onto DVD, and these steps allow for the best quality going forward or for h.264/Flash/html5 uploads.
Sounds like you have it under control, have fun.
Rob
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Ok! Well it’s show day and I am super-nervous… Here’s my plan, and a few last questions… Suggestions welcomed!
CAMERA SETUP:
-Sony HDR CX150, in sound booth center, for super-wide;
-Canon Vixia HF G10, left side of auditorium for medium- wide left shot;
-Canon 60D on edge of stage- right, where I can reach it to start/stop it every two songs.
-Canon 5D III on monopod in my hands, as I float in front for close ups.I plan to start the 2 camcorders and walk away from them. QUESTION: is it still best to try to set manual exposure/focus on those two, since I really have no one monitoring them? The lighs shouldn’t be varying too much, but I really won’t have much chance to check/adjust them.
I have all cameras set to tungsten WB and 24p (Sony handycam is 60i and set to indoor). DSLRs are set on Neutral Style, with sharpness & contrast dialed all down, saturation 2 clicks down. (I can’t change the Sony)
The show is two sets of a bit over an hour each set. I am following the great advice you all gave about doing a featurette, but they also want the full video when all is said and done. I think I’m running out to buy a few more higher capacity memory cards now too just to be sure.
Any other lat minute advice about settings, camera placement/function, etc?
Thank you all for your wonderful help. I will report back with the outcome.
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I would definitely set the unmanned cameras to manual. If there is an opening band, use that time to check how they look and adjust accordingly. You don’t want a camera on auto. If a camera is on ‘Auto’, the camera tries to adjust itself, and they usually don’t do a very good job.
Next time you do this I would highly recommend getting some people to man those cameras. I have a feeling that when you edit this you will want more variation in your shots. Maybe you can get some camera ops to shoot for you as long as you buy them a beer or two.
Shoot this one and see what happens. Learn from your mistakes for the next time.
If it helps, I just released the first in a music series that I am producing. This three camera ops on three DSLRs and a Zoom H4N picking up audio from the sound board. We shot 5 or 6 songs and an interview, then condensed it down to this.
John Young
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