Multicam Video Recording (3+ Cameras)

Last updated 5 years ago

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👏 visually clap (slate) three times to assist in later synching audio and video
get performers’ permission and you may need a synchronization license
use tripods (holding the camera with your hand is too shaky)
use only optical zoom (don’t use digital zoom); buy camera with 20x or more optical zoom
never stop recording on any of the cameras so aligning camera footage is easy
hold a shot for at least 10 seconds
don’t shoot like spraying a garden hose = zoom/pan only between shots

Recording the Concert

use a separate audio recorder from the camera (cameras have bad microphones)
- uncompressed (AIFF, WAV) 48kHz sample rate for audio
= 24fps gives the “film” look (high frame rates can create smooth slow motion)
MP4 and MOV are easy to work with (AVCHD can produce higher quality)
white balance = set the same for all cameras (custom white balance is best)
- easiest = use preset (such as “tungsten”)
: vs. , , and ()

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: use more than one camera!

Cam1 = “Safety” = fixed, wide angle camera that gets everything (turn off autofocus)
Cam2 = manned camera hunting for medium & close up shots of performer(s)
Cam3 = manned camera hunting for medium & close up shots of performer(s) AND b-roll footage = timeless reaction shots (of the audience, for example)

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)
- 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)

Last updated 5 years ago

Was this helpful?

👏 visually clap (slate) three times to assist in later synching audio and video
get performers’ permission and you may need a synchronization license
use tripods (holding the camera with your hand is too shaky)
use only optical zoom (don’t use digital zoom); buy camera with 20x or more optical zoom
never stop recording on any of the cameras so aligning camera footage is easy
hold a shot for at least 10 seconds
don’t shoot like spraying a garden hose = zoom/pan only between shots

use a separate audio recorder from the camera (cameras have bad microphones)
- uncompressed (AIFF, WAV) 48kHz sample rate for audio
= 24fps gives the “film” look (high frame rates can create smooth slow motion)
MP4 and MOV are easy to work with (AVCHD can produce higher quality)
white balance = set the same for all cameras (custom white balance is best)
- easiest = use preset (such as “tungsten”)
: vs. , , and ()

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: use more than one camera!

Cam1 = “Safety” = fixed, wide angle camera that gets everything (turn off autofocus)
Cam2 = manned camera hunting for medium & close up shots of performer(s)
Cam3 = manned camera hunting for medium & close up shots of performer(s) AND b-roll footage = timeless reaction shots (of the audience, for example)

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 (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)

more shot types =