Maranata
Hello everyone!
I am completely inexperienced about video cameras. Could someone recommend the best professional HD video camera for recording INDOOR (guitar/string quartet/piano/some percussion) concerts and dance/drama performances, which usually have low light. I would prefer a shoulder-mount model. My budget is only $1300.
Thanks in advance!
Answer
My definition of a "professional" HD video camera:
Lens diameter of 70mm or larger;
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip array.
Low compression video capture and storage.
When you find this, you get:
Separate zoom and focus rings on the lens barrel;
Manual audio gain control on the outside of the camcorder;
Neutral density filter setting on the outside of the camcorder...
At the low end are "prosumer" units like the Sony HDR-FX1000.
Low end camcorders have small lens and small imaging chip - this makes it impossible to capture good video under poor lighting conditions. Manual controls are buried in the menu and difficult to use/reach (your iPad has no manual controls). As the lens diameter gets larger and the imaging chip size increases, the low-light and poor light video capture behavior gets better and so does the price. As the manual controls migrate to the outside of the camcorder, more price increases - and add a mic jack an manual audio control...
dSLRs and other still image capture devices that happen to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature" should not be used as camcorders. This does not mean they cannot capture good video - they can, but they can't be treated as a camcorder. dSLRs have known issues related to overheating when capturing video over a prolonged time; poor audio options, file size and video length limitations. Generally, dSLRs do not have "stabilization" for video (even when the lens has stabilization).
Best video is captured under perfect lighting and best audio levels using low compression. That is not reality. That means we need to use equipment that works under as many adverse circumstances as possible.
Use of some sort of stabilizer (other than the camcorder's optical stabilizer) is strongly recommended. Humans are not built to be steady. Use of the ground, a rock, chair, shelf, monopod, shoulder-mount - anything but handheld... If you are capturing video handheld - with a camcorder, dSLR or other video capture device, expect poor quality.
Audio: The built-in mic works well with any camcorder when the audio is at an appropriate level and located in the right place. When this happens, the video framing may not be good. When the video framing is good, then the audio may not be set up correctly. The resolution to this is to use an external mic or audio recorder. This way the audio and the video are not physically depending on each other. Even if you don't choose to use an external mic or audio recorder, it is much better to have the mic jack and manual audio control (in a camcorder) when you want it - rather than want it and not have it.
I would suggest you look into the Canon Legria HF S series. Decent lens diameter and imaging chip size for the price, external mic jack and manual audio gain control. Please do not compare their video quality to a $4,000 camcorder - especially under poor/indoor lighting conditions. The lesn diameter is only 58mm and single imaging chip is 1/3".
Tips:
Use a tripod or other steadying device.
On a camcorder, use the white balance.
Use an external stereo mic (Audio Technica has a decent, affordable ones) or audio recorder (like a Zoom H2) when recording music - the stereo separation is much better than mono audio.
Use the manual audio gain control.
Capture video under good lighting.
Use the White balance settings.
Capture video at highest quality.
The shoulder mount cams in your price range have small 37mm lens diameter. The Canon HF S series on a shoulder mount system will be much better. And when you go with the HF S series cam, that leaves you budget for the other stuff.
And we don't know if your computer needs to be upgraded to deal with the AVCHD compressed video.
My definition of a "professional" HD video camera:
Lens diameter of 70mm or larger;
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip array.
Low compression video capture and storage.
When you find this, you get:
Separate zoom and focus rings on the lens barrel;
Manual audio gain control on the outside of the camcorder;
Neutral density filter setting on the outside of the camcorder...
At the low end are "prosumer" units like the Sony HDR-FX1000.
Low end camcorders have small lens and small imaging chip - this makes it impossible to capture good video under poor lighting conditions. Manual controls are buried in the menu and difficult to use/reach (your iPad has no manual controls). As the lens diameter gets larger and the imaging chip size increases, the low-light and poor light video capture behavior gets better and so does the price. As the manual controls migrate to the outside of the camcorder, more price increases - and add a mic jack an manual audio control...
dSLRs and other still image capture devices that happen to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature" should not be used as camcorders. This does not mean they cannot capture good video - they can, but they can't be treated as a camcorder. dSLRs have known issues related to overheating when capturing video over a prolonged time; poor audio options, file size and video length limitations. Generally, dSLRs do not have "stabilization" for video (even when the lens has stabilization).
Best video is captured under perfect lighting and best audio levels using low compression. That is not reality. That means we need to use equipment that works under as many adverse circumstances as possible.
Use of some sort of stabilizer (other than the camcorder's optical stabilizer) is strongly recommended. Humans are not built to be steady. Use of the ground, a rock, chair, shelf, monopod, shoulder-mount - anything but handheld... If you are capturing video handheld - with a camcorder, dSLR or other video capture device, expect poor quality.
Audio: The built-in mic works well with any camcorder when the audio is at an appropriate level and located in the right place. When this happens, the video framing may not be good. When the video framing is good, then the audio may not be set up correctly. The resolution to this is to use an external mic or audio recorder. This way the audio and the video are not physically depending on each other. Even if you don't choose to use an external mic or audio recorder, it is much better to have the mic jack and manual audio control (in a camcorder) when you want it - rather than want it and not have it.
I would suggest you look into the Canon Legria HF S series. Decent lens diameter and imaging chip size for the price, external mic jack and manual audio gain control. Please do not compare their video quality to a $4,000 camcorder - especially under poor/indoor lighting conditions. The lesn diameter is only 58mm and single imaging chip is 1/3".
Tips:
Use a tripod or other steadying device.
On a camcorder, use the white balance.
Use an external stereo mic (Audio Technica has a decent, affordable ones) or audio recorder (like a Zoom H2) when recording music - the stereo separation is much better than mono audio.
Use the manual audio gain control.
Capture video under good lighting.
Use the White balance settings.
Capture video at highest quality.
The shoulder mount cams in your price range have small 37mm lens diameter. The Canon HF S series on a shoulder mount system will be much better. And when you go with the HF S series cam, that leaves you budget for the other stuff.
And we don't know if your computer needs to be upgraded to deal with the AVCHD compressed video.
What angle should my camera record my piano playing?
Rally Car
I want to record myself playing piano, I already got the sound taken care of... but
How should I video record myself? Just showing my hands? Or all of me? I don't know. I've looked at other YouTubers and can't find any "successful" position.
Thanks
I want to upload videos to YouTube to share @Iridflare
Answer
If your going for a single angle that will be nice an simple to edit, I'd say directly from above. Presuming you have a small light point and shoot camera, you could use a light stand or mic stand to suspend it squarely above you while you play. Try framing it so that it shows your hands on the keyboard, with the full keyboard stretching left to right of the screen. The shape of the screen means you should be able to fit yourself on the edge of the frame. You could get creative and place a mirror on the piano tilted so that the camera can see a reflection of your face as you're playing.
The other option if you only have one camera is to fake a multi-cam shoot. This is more complicated and requires you to be capable of using a semi-professional non-linear editing programme. First record an angle showing a close up of your hands with audio, but before you start to play, with the audio recording clap or play a quick sharp beat. Then take the audio from that and play it through loud speaker whilst you record from different angles. Try to keep your playing in time with the first recording, and make sure your camera captures the clap/beat at the start of the recording as it plays through the speakers. You can then take all the different angles and line up the first clap. This will put all your shots in time. Strip all the audio except the original and then go through the timeline and chose what angle you will use for every part of the music. Some editing programmes like Premiere Pro or Final Cut include a multi-cam mixer, which makes life a lot easier!
Hope this helps, if you need anything else pop me an email.
Best wishes,
Brice
If your going for a single angle that will be nice an simple to edit, I'd say directly from above. Presuming you have a small light point and shoot camera, you could use a light stand or mic stand to suspend it squarely above you while you play. Try framing it so that it shows your hands on the keyboard, with the full keyboard stretching left to right of the screen. The shape of the screen means you should be able to fit yourself on the edge of the frame. You could get creative and place a mirror on the piano tilted so that the camera can see a reflection of your face as you're playing.
The other option if you only have one camera is to fake a multi-cam shoot. This is more complicated and requires you to be capable of using a semi-professional non-linear editing programme. First record an angle showing a close up of your hands with audio, but before you start to play, with the audio recording clap or play a quick sharp beat. Then take the audio from that and play it through loud speaker whilst you record from different angles. Try to keep your playing in time with the first recording, and make sure your camera captures the clap/beat at the start of the recording as it plays through the speakers. You can then take all the different angles and line up the first clap. This will put all your shots in time. Strip all the audio except the original and then go through the timeline and chose what angle you will use for every part of the music. Some editing programmes like Premiere Pro or Final Cut include a multi-cam mixer, which makes life a lot easier!
Hope this helps, if you need anything else pop me an email.
Best wishes,
Brice
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