Seven.Oh.Three.
268 posts
Jan 17, 2014
11:43 AM
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I've read a ton of different ways to record gigs and seen some really quality video's. But before I fork over a fair amount of money I wanted to get some input from people who have done this before. Here are my current thoughts:
1)Go pro for video with a H4N for audio
2)Zoom Q2HD or Q3HD- audio and video
3)DSLR with video capabilities with H4n for audio
Obviously the third option is probably the best but it's also the most expensive by a lot. Can someone give me some pointers?
My goal is to record live gigs of my friends bands and such and eventually once I make that leap record myself. The video's will be posted mostly on youtube but also used for promotional type stuff. So, while I can't afford to make professional quality stuff I don't want to sink a bunch of money into this side project and get crap quality in return.
Thanks guys!
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rogonzab
463 posts
Jan 17, 2014
1:06 PM
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" The video's will be posted mostly on youtube but also used for promotional type stuff"
In that Case, option 3. The zooms are great to YT videos, but V.Quality is not that good, and Gopros are not build to that aplication.
Whit a DSLR you can have Full HD image, and whit the zoom great sound.
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tookatooka
3603 posts
Jan 17, 2014
4:25 PM
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#703 Even very basic equipment can give excellent results. I've seen brilliant gig videos made with a Kodak Zi8 using plug-in stereo mics. Don't forget most of the magic happens in the editing software. That's where you want to concentrate your research.
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Jehosaphat
658 posts
Jan 17, 2014
6:29 PM
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The video of my old band was shot in 2002 on a single Panasonic domestic video recorder.
I downloaded it to my computer and put it into a cheap video editing program.
I stripped the audio of the tape and then edited the film to match it.
I had more film than sound because some of the cut shots were of them playing a different song.
The camera wasn't moved during the actual song so it would capture the sound cleanly.
Cheap and easy enough
Some other music vids i did on my channel 3hazzy
Corny editing with the effects but i was just learning back then:)
Last Edited by Jehosaphat on Jan 17, 2014 6:48 PM
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Rick Davis
2891 posts
Jan 17, 2014
9:17 PM
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Here is a video I shot with the Zoom Q3HD. The audio is better than the video, but as Tooka says, if you are good with video editing software (I am not) you can really improve things.
This band will be in Memphis next week representing the Wyoming Blues & Jazz Society.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jan 17, 2014 9:20 PM
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garry
486 posts
Jan 19, 2014
2:30 PM
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the q3hd can produce very nice videos if conditions are right. specifically, if the lighting is good and you can place it such that you needn't zoom much (it's a fixed focus camera with digital zoom). there are other devices that will give better video. but the zoom excels in aufio quality, and that's more important to me. i use mine all the time.
here's rob paparozzi at a recent show:
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Last Edited by garry on Jan 19, 2014 7:54 PM
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Baker
366 posts
Jan 20, 2014
5:10 AM
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Something else you should consider when recording a gig is taking the audio feed straight out of the desk. This only really works well if all instruments and mics are running through the desk, however you can get some great results. The noise of the room, the crowd etc will be picked up by the various mics on stage and you get a bell balanced mix too.
This does require that you get in with the sound man and that he's happy to help you do this.
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garry
489 posts
Jan 20, 2014
7:36 PM
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Just to give a feel for the worst case, this video was shot in low light, and I had to zoom way in. You can see it's fuzzy and a little blocky. Most videos fall somewhere in between this one and the one I posted before. It helps a lot if you can turn up the lights a bit, and if the band is frontlit, not backlit.
Harp starts around 3:20 or so.
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Seven.Oh.Three.
269 posts
Jan 21, 2014
7:24 AM
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Thanks everybody for the input so far! I borrowed a GoPro from a buddy and did some trial stuff on friday. It was 100% completely unusable.... Looks like I'm leaning towards a DSLR. The zoom Q3HD looks like it'll be okay. But I think the DSLR + H4N will take it to the "next level". Still weighing my options.... Trying to find a DSLR to test and compare. There's a fair amount of Q3HD video's out there....
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Oxharp
557 posts
Jan 21, 2014
9:55 AM
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Hi
I have been doing vids for 5 plus years now and have had some great responses to my vids,
I now have a 1080p camcorder from Panasonic and the H4n which for me gives the best results for working in post on a good video/audio package. I use Premier Pro cs6.
The Vid is a recent capture using the pana and the H4n
I synchronised the audio and vid with no adjustments to the sound.
I think the DSLR option is a good one but you will be disappointed with the amount of time you will have to record at 1080p/I.
I can get 6 hours from my Pana with a 64gb SD card so is great for festivals and workshops with an evening show.
Hope this helps.
Get the sound right and you can be forgiven if the picture quality is fair.
Cheers
Russ
I bought a Q3HD and was disappointed with its low light capabilities but the sound capture was better than a zoom mic or mic from the camcorder.
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Oxharp
Last Edited by Oxharp on Jan 21, 2014 10:01 AM
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Seven.Oh.Three.
270 posts
Jan 21, 2014
3:08 PM
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OxHarp- What Panasonic camcorder were you using in these videos? I'd love to make my videos look that good? Depending on the price point on your particular camera what features are needed? Also, what do you mean by "amount of time you will have to record at 1080p/I." I'm assuming you mean the amount of video recording time possible from a DSLR?
Thanks man!
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Martin
604 posts
Jan 21, 2014
4:15 PM
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Ricks video above is really impressive (great band BTW!) given the money you put up for a Zoom Q3HD. Even om my crappy listening equipment it sounds great.
Another item just got introduced on my wish list ...
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Oxharp
558 posts
Jan 22, 2014
12:01 PM
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Hi Its a Panasonic X-900 HD.
I got it because it has great low light capabilities.
It has a separate processor for each primary colour so that was the selling point for me.
I thought about a DSLR but I am not a photographer and just wanted to get better crisper HD video.
The Above vid was recorded on automatic at 1080p 25 fps.
I used the stereo in the camcorder to record just as a back up for the H4n.
I was 4 rows back on a tripod with the H4n pointed at a speaker and recording at -6 to -12 db.
I used Premier Pro CS6 in post and synchronized the audio and video with no adjustments to the picture or audio.
You can get a really good camcorder much cheaper then mine as long as it is capable of good quality Full HD 1080p/I. Some of the lower spec Panasonics are great value.
I meant the recording time on a DSLR will be shorter generally than a camcorder and the file sizes will be much bigger which will slow you down in post editing especially if your pc is struggling with video files.
I always record 3 mins before any action and leave the camera running for the whole time as well as the audio though you will not be able to sync the two exactly even if you press the buttons at the same time.
Here is a recording I did with a Sony Handy cam in Digital format which is not too bad.
You can see that it has a soft haze to the vid and the black has some noise in it.
I think you should get the best that you can afford and think about the lighting mostly when planning your vids.
You can get away with poor quality vids if the sound is good so a H4n is a must IMHO.
Hope this helps
Russ
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Oxharp
Last Edited by Oxharp on Jan 22, 2014 12:05 PM
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Frank
3731 posts
Jan 23, 2014
5:26 AM
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I have a sony handycam and I'll connect an XLR Audio Adapter XLR Audio Adapter for Handycam ...The adapter is used to connect microphones to, an SM58/57 or what have you. You don't have to buy new, there are some deals out there if you search :)
Here is an improvisation that I recorded with that set up in the house...Not sure how it would work in a club though :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jan 23, 2014 5:33 AM
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Rick Davis
2902 posts
Jan 23, 2014
8:26 AM
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Martin, the shortcomings of the Zoom Q3HD are that it has a digital zoom instead of an optical zoom. When you zoom in the image becomes granulated pretty quickly. So, in the video of Gary Small's band above I am standing right in front of the band shooting the video. That is also the case in most of the video I put up from the jam at Ziggies. If you can get that kind of access the Q3HD works very well.
btw... Gary Small & The Coyote Brothers are in Memphis for IBC. They played their first set last night at Rum Boogie, and I've heard from several people that they killed it. They are a Native American band from Sheridan, WY. The band has won awards for their world music. Not bad at blues, either. I really like the tone Gary gets with that Tele.
Edited to add: I just checked and found that I had the Q3HD set to 720. I changed it to 1080, so future videos might look a little sharper.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jan 23, 2014 8:49 AM
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