Multicamera Video - Recording

General tips

  • 👏 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

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

  • use ORTF stereo microphone setup

Typical 3 camera setup:

  • 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)

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)

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