Cameras for recording

[conttador]

I have been building up a jazz combo and to date we’ve recorded using iPhones. I’ve bought video equipment and now I need some cameras.

I have this:

Roland V-1HD 4-channel HD Video Switcher with 4 HDMI Inputs, 2 HDMI Outputs

I also use this for pure audio recording:

Tascam DP-32SD Digital 32-Track SD Portastudio Portable Studio Recorder

One of my mates has a really good Sony camera but I need three more so we can shoot from different angles. My next goal is to Livestream our next jam as I’ve got ten people confirmed and possibly more. I’m expecting 5 horn players, piano, bass & drums + percussion & guitar. Because I need three cameras I’d like keep the budget at about $1k total. I could buy three if a kind or mix and match as well. This is new to me!

The next step would be to try to monetize these jams.

Here’s a link to our band’s instagram if anyone is curious about what we’ve been able to do with our phones:

https://www.instagram.com/combo_210?igsh=OHlydmQydXZjYzZ2&utm_source=qr

Thanks as always, thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I was going to recommend three of these but then I saw your budget.

Invalid Link Removed

Don't forget to buy some lenses, too.

 

[conttador]

I was going to recommend three of these but then I saw your budget.

Invalid Link Removed

Don't forget to buy some lenses, too.

Yeah, that’s a long term goal! LoL! Just 1 though!

 

[bassbrad]

Video Recorders

 

[conttador]

Video Recorders

That’s more like it!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

How high of production quality are you going for with the livestream audio? Which platform (Youtube? Twitch?) are you going to be livestreaming on? Are you upstreaming the footage using a PC or some other device? Are you going to use OBS, Streamlabs, or something else for stream capture?

 

[conttador]

How high of production quality are you going for with the livestream audio? Which platform (Youtube? Twitch?) are you going to be livestreaming on? Are you upstreaming the footage using a PC or some other device? Are you going to use OBS, Streamlabs, or something else for stream capture?

For the audio I’m going to run the instruments into the Tascam & the Tascam will go into a 2 channel Behringer interface to go into the computer.

I’m going to get two video recorders & one video recorder + audio for days when we don’t want to do the full setup.

Because I’m starting out, not very high production quality. As we get better we’ll want to increase the production quality.

We’ll be using OBS Studio, probably will livestream on YouTube & Instagram initially.

Thank you!

 

[FenderP]

I've owned the Roland V-1HD. Great, easy to use gear with good audio stuff. Super easy to frame shots, crop, picture in picture. Really well thought out.

However, I sold it ultimately and got an ATEM Mini ISO Extreme because it fit my recording needs better. The audio stuff in terms of interfacing is easier on the Roland (you can easily send it from the computer; no such thing on the ATEM). Roland has free video capture software to record the video output, so if I were you, I'd do that if you plan on keeping the Roland. The ATEM Mini ISO and the ISO Extreme allow you to record direct from the unit to a USB hard drive. The ISO Extreme can do every camera plus the composite feed so you have choices when editing later.

You can also livestream direct from the ATEM without needing OBS. I don't livestream that way; I got it mainly for recording.

So if it was me all over, I'd do what I already did and despite it in some ways being a better unit, the ATEM has just worked for me.

That said, I'd also have a look at the Roland SR-20HD. It may be more up your alley. It's a self contained unit and you can record to SD cards.

 

[conttador]

I've owned the Roland V-1HD. Great, easy to use gear with good audio stuff. Super easy to frame shots, crop, picture in picture. Really well thought out.

However, I sold it ultimately and got an ATEM Mini ISO Extreme because it fit my recording needs better. The audio stuff in terms of interfacing is easier on the Roland (you can easily send it from the computer; no such thing on the ATEM). Roland has free video capture software to record the video output, so if I were you, I'd do that if you plan on keeping the Roland. The ATEM Mini ISO and the ISO Extreme allow you to record direct from the unit to a USB hard drive. The ISO Extreme can do every camera plus the composite feed so you have choices when editing later.

You can also livestream direct from the ATEM without needing OBS. I don't livestream that way; I got it mainly for recording.

So if it was me all over, I'd do what I already did and despite it in some ways being a better unit, the ATEM has just worked for me.

That said, I'd also have a look at the Roland SR-20HD. It may be more up your alley. It's a self contained unit and you can record to SD cards.

I wish I had heard of the Roland SR-20HD, sounds a little more practical! I went ahead & got the zoom cameras in the interim. We’ll do our first livestream on 2/17. We’ll see how it goes!

 

[DirkP]

It doesn’t make sense to buy 3 cameras for under 1.000,-, even used. A recent iPhone will do better. I would stay away from the Zoom recorders, these are outdated and can’t compete with recent smartphones. Cheap, tiny, low quality plastic lenses combined with tiny sensors and no computational power, that smartphones have, doesn’t make a good camera.
In very good light the results might be acceptable, but I would rather look for at least 1” sensor, better APSC video centric cameras from Sony or Panasonic. The first generation 1” ZV from Sony is rather affordable esp. used and better than the recent model for example. Better start with 2 good real cameras than 3 crappy ones
A quality camera with a big sensor allows you to shoot wide angle with a high aperture and to later crop and cut, add camera movements etc. in post.

 

[conttador]

It doesn’t make sense to buy 3 cameras for under 1.000,-, even used. A recent iPhone will do better. I would stay away from the Zoom recorders, these are outdated and can’t compete with recent smartphones. Cheap, tiny, low quality plastic lenses combined with tiny sensors and no computational power, that smartphones have, doesn’t make a good camera.
In very good light the results might be acceptable, but I would rather look for at least 1” sensor, better APSC video centric cameras from Sony or Panasonic. The first generation 1” ZV from Sony is rather affordable esp. used and better than the recent model for example. Better start with 2 good real cameras than 3 crappy ones
A quality camera with a big sensor allows you to shoot wide angle with a high aperture and to later crop and cut, add camera movements etc. in post.

Can you give me the model number for the Sony cameras?

I’ll probably go that route

 

[FenderP]

I wish I had heard of the Roland SR-20HD, sounds a little more practical! I went ahead & got the zoom cameras in the interim. We’ll do our first livestream on 2/17. We’ll see how it goes!

For your needs, it sounds like the SR-20HD and the ATEM may be better but I get if what you have is sunk money already, not worth investigating. I loved the V-1HD, but I really needed multicam recordings without going and buying external recorders. The ATEM was just a cheaper solution. I've been hoping Roland would make something that lets you save the multicam output and not just the composite.

 

[FenderP]

Can you give me the model number for the Sony cameras?

I’ll probably go that route

Honestly, there are a lot of good cameras that can do that beyond Sony. Look at things like the Nikon Z (30, 50, fc), Olympus (X-T3, 4, and the like), etc. Most can be had used fairly cheap. I've used an X-T3 and Z50 successfully in my setup. I started with an old Sony A6000, but the Olympus and Nikon have worked better. YMMV

I do agree with the sentiment that starting with better cameras helps but the bigger key is lenses. Quality lenses will make a huge difference.

 

[DirkP]

Can you give me the model number for the Sony cameras?

I’ll probably go that route

The video centric cameras are the ZV series. It starts with the ZV 1 (1” sensor), the ZV E10 has an APSC sensor, the ZV E1 is full frame, but way over 2.000,-.
The successor of the ZV 1, the ZV1 II is more expensive, but seen as a downgrade by many.
I own the A6400 since many years, it has exceptional 4k quality. The videocentric cams are often less expensive, because they don’t have viewfinders etc., but base on the same technology as the hybrid or photocentric cams.
I have owned one of the Zoom musiccams, but no longer use it.

 

[DirkP]

The video centric cameras are the ZV series. It starts with the ZV 1 (1” sensor), the ZV E10 has an APSC sensor, the ZV E1 is full frame, but way over 2.000,-.
The successor of the ZV 1, the ZV1 II is more expensive, but seen as a downgrade by many.
I own the A6400 since many years, it has exceptional 4k quality. The videocentric cams are often less expensive, because they don’t have viewfinders etc., but base on the same technology as the hybrid or photocentric cams.

Honestly, there are a lot of good cameras that can do that beyond Sony. Look at things like the Nikon Z (30, 50, fc), Olympus (X-T3, 4, and the like), etc. Most can be had used fairly cheap. I've used an X-T3 and Z50 successfully in my setup. I started with an old Sony A6000, but the Olympus and Nikon have worked better. YMMV

I do agree with the sentiment that starting with better cameras helps but the bigger key is lenses. Quality lenses will make a huge difference.

Agree with you that other manufacturers offer good video cams, too. I didn’t want to advertise Sony, although their AF is incredible good and that’s important for a lot of video work. My favourite camera is a Fuji, but you have to give Sony credos for their AF.

 

[FenderP]

Agree with you that other manufacturers offer good video cams, too. I didn’t want to advertise Sony, although their AF is incredible good and that’s important for a lot of video work. My favourite camera is a Fuji, but you have to give Sony credos for their AF.

At this point all of the major camera makers (Sony, Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic) have fairly close specs when it comes to focusing. We're not talking sports here, and if it's a fixed shot, chances are you may want to set manual focus anyway. I did not find Sony to be better or worse for fairly stationary work versus the others. If we're talking shooting a sporting event? 100%

We're spoiled these days.

 

[seamonkey]

On the iPhones, download Black Magic Camera app - it is a free killer app for video.
Set them all up the same so you can smoothly switch video using software or a switch.
Download all the video to a PC editor, and do the switching in software.

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro Max then look into using LOG
Also the 15 can record direct to an external SSD
Iphone 15 Pro Max can give dedicated video cameras a good challenge.

 

[conttador]

On the iPhones, download Black Magic Camera app - it is a free killer app for video.
Set them all up the same so you can smoothly switch video using software or a switch.
Download all the video to a PC editor, and do the switching in software.

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro Max then look into using LOG
Also the 15 can record direct to an external SSD
Iphone 15 Pro Max can give dedicated video cameras a good challenge.

Mine is a 13 Pro Max but I’d been refusing to upgrade because I didn’t want the monthly recurring expense but it be time now…

 

[seamonkey]

Mine is a 13 Pro Max but I’d been refusing to upgrade because I didn’t want the monthly recurring expense but it be time now…

"All of the presenters, locations, and drone footage in the event were filmed using iPhone 15 Pro Max, the preferred smartphone for creative pros and filmmakers."

...

"Capturing footage with multiple iPhone 15 Pro Max devices, the team utilized the integration between iPhone 15 Pro, the Blackmagic Camera app, and Tentacle Sync, showcasing the true power of the Apple ecosystem. "
...

Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone.


You could of course wait for the iPhone 16 Pro

 

[DirkP]

Mine is a 13 Pro Max but I’d been refusing to upgrade because I didn’t want the monthly recurring expense but it be time now…

Even the ordinary 11 is capable of quality videos.
I own some dedicated cameras, although I am much more interested in photography than in video. Rather happened to me because of the gear I own, that I became the video guy in the band
The most important element in video as in photography is light.
For example the iPhone 11 is able to produce good quality material. But in low light it sucks, no comparison to an APS-C or Full Frame. But even with dedicated cams,live music is hard to record. I, for example, am not that experienced with artificial light and manual white balance. But if you have decent stage lights, that’s half the rent for video.