Single Camera Video - Recording

Tips

  • 👏 visually clap (slate) three times to assist in later synching audio and video

  • use a tripod (holding the camera with your hand is too shaky)

  • never stop recording on the camera or external audio recorder so you just have to sync the two once

  • use only optical zoom (don’t use digital zoom)

    • a camera with 20x optical zoom or more is ideal

Camera settings:

External Audio Recorder Settings:

  • format the SD card (erases all data)

  • uncompressed/lossless file type (AIFF, WAV)

  • sample rate = 48kHz (to match the camera's sample rate)

  • bit depth = 24-bit

Composition

  • use rule of thirds (turn on grid)

    • use lead space = space in front of where subject is facing

  • avoid placing your frame edge on one of the body’s joints

  • avoid too much headroom (or person looks to be sinking)

  • avoid too little headroom (or focus will be on the person’s chin and neck)

  • use a variety of Shot types (hold a shot for at least 10 seconds)

    • extreme long shot (XLS) = establishing shot - context for shots to follow

    • long shot (LS) = person from head to feet

    • medium shot (MS) = person from about waist up

    • closeup shot (CU) = person’s neck and head

    • extreme closeup shot (XCU) = one detail of a person

    • cut in = closeup shot of an object (such as the face of a watch or an instrument key)