Topic: Maiden Voyage: Canon HF10/11

[mblindsey]

Here is my first attempt at running 3 cams and mics - solo.  Actually, it's my first indoor concert video with any gear...my first multi-cam edit...first real use of Vegas...etc...(this thing took me forever and a day)....

The predominate stage lights were dark red the entire show.  Since I don't really understand adjusting color, I stumbled upon the "Black & White" filter.  I applied it at 75% and rendered.  It's not as painful to watch now.

http://www.vimeo.com/6971454

Tips and criticisms are encouraged...

--Michael

[kcmoejoe]

Nice job Michael!  your gonna do some great stuff with those cams! I can feel it...you will get more comfortable the more you mess around with it, and with stages that give you better lighting to work with. 

[phanophish]

Looks great considering that room.  They just do not have good light there, I had a hard time with my D300 and 50/1.4.  One minor tip might be to set up the second camera that you have fixed on a wide stage right shot to be something more tight.  The 2 wide shots are a bit too similar so you don't really gain much switching between the two.  If you are feeling massochistic, let me know and you can run my HF11 sometime for a 4 cam.  Might open up the options a bit more

[Josh P]

Looks great considering that room.  They just do not have good light there, I had a hard time with my D300 and 50/1.4.  One minor tip might be to set up the second camera that you have fixed on a wide stage right shot to be something more tight.  The 2 wide shots are a bit too similar so you don't really gain much switching between the two.  If you are feeling massochistic, let me know and you can run my HF11 sometime for a 4 cam.  Might open up the options a bit more

looks great.  A couple things..

yep, that was my thought too.  Although I know why you were doing it, you couldn't zoom out enough to just use 1 cam for the whole stage.  Been there, only thing you can do is invest in a wide angle lense if you want the straight ahead full stage shot in small rooms.

I'd also consider doing a static side stage angle to get your full band shot (if space allows).  Sometimes you can fit everyone in the frame easier than straight on.

Also, I find that having 3 uniquely different angles is the most entertaining to watch.  Don't discount behind the stage shot shooting back at the crowd too! 

[mblindsey]

Thanks for the feedback.  Much appreciated.

Yeah, there are a couple of reasons for the two static shots that are so similar.  I need to figure out the best configuration for that bar...

- Both cameras were mounted to my microphone stand with Bogen variable friction magic arms/super clamps.  I was solo and wasn't sure if this band would draw a crowd, so I figured that was the safest option for unattended use. 

- You are right, though, I need to look at adding a wide angle lens to the equipment list.  One cam can't get the whole stage from that position, and unfortunately, I can't get any further back (right against front of SBD).

If The Record Bar is crowded, I wouldn't be able to get those roving shots very easily.  I had the 3rd cam on a monopod and moved around.  At the end you can see some jitter in the video.  That was due to bass vibrating through the floor and up to the cam.  Most of the time, I set the monopod on top of my foot to act as a shock absorber...it worked.

I'm considering one static stage shot w/wide angle lens, asking the venue for another safe location for a second static shot of to the side.  And for busy nights on the third cam, I'll probably be pretty much camped by the mic stand for panning/zooming.

video = hard.

Thanks again,
Michael

[datmike]

Very nice..I like your pace on the cuts.

[robertitrujillo]

That looks great with the saturation down, it helps alot when a venue is using lotsa red lights and you can't get them to turn them down or off. I thin josh is right on too, variable angles.. I think a wide shot is the most important static to have, centered and back behind the crowd, but don't forget to set it to manual iris/focus or the people walking by will make the camera adjust (zoom in on the face of one of the guys on stage to set it). I want to get one of those clamps sometime, i think it'll make it easier to be able to clamp it someplace high for the wide/static so people don't mess with it or bump it.. On the floor vibration, you might try taking a dark colored towel (so it doesn't stand out) and cut it to three 3 inch wide strips and fold it lengthwise a few times to have a thick piece of fabric and set one tripod leg on each. Or you said your using mic stands, mabye one towel folded.. kind of tacky, very unprofessional (from what people tell me), but it helps, doesn't cut all the vibration though. Make sure your OIS is on if you have it, and you can apply stabilization through software (might soften the image though if there's too much movement).