Portable audio/video recording setup for shows

[Nephilymbass]

One of the things we’re wanting to do with our YouTube (but also all social media) this year is to start putting up better quality video of shows. But paying people to come out and do it gets expensive and pretty much eats away any profits the band makes that show so it’s nit something we can do often. So I’ve been shopping around looking for a decent portable setup. So far I’m thinking a go pro hero session 5 for video and maybe a zoom h4n pro for audio which I can bring home after the gig and use my laptop to edit and post footage. Fan cell phone footage doesn’t cut it. I realize for some bands it works ok. The video in particular has gotten much better over the years, but we’re a loud rock band that plays gigs with loud PA systems and the cellphone microphones just can’t handle the volume levels also our fans tend to all post footage of the same songs show after show, songs that’s we’re honestly tired of playing (and it shows sometimes lol) but play anyways to make the fans happy. I’m thinking with the zoom I can get a direct feed from the board and also use the built in mics to get the crowd noise and stuff. The go pro hero session 5 appears to be a good deal for video. Has stabilization features. Think it’s called linear mode which produces a normal image instead of the fish eye look older go pros are known for.
What do you guys use? Pros and cons? Can you post some videos for me to check out?

 

[bholder]

Subbed. I think @jlepre has some experience, I forget what he uses though.

 

[Aloe]

I have the h4n (non-pro). it records in stereo, either built-in mics or the inputs (but not both at once). we tend to use it for mixerless vocal processing, but not as audio recording device though.

 

[J Posega]

For a bit more money, get the Zoom H6. You can input 4 XLR or 1/4” signals stock and you can add the XLR expansion to get 2 more combo jacks. It does record both the attached mic and the input jacks at the same time.

 

[J Posega]

For a bit more money, get the Zoom H6. You can input 4 XLR or 1/4” signals stock and you can add the XLR expansion to get 2 more combo jacks. It does record both the attached mic and the input jacks at the same time. What is the band instrumentation?

 

[bholder]

For a bit more money, get the Zoom H6. You can input 4 XLR or 1/4” signals stock and you can add the XLR expansion to get 2 more combo jacks. It does record both the attached mic and the input jacks at the same time.

Was just looking at those and wondering why I should splurge for the more expensive model - thanks!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

It is a good idea to separate the video and audio as the best placement for the video recorder is not always the best place to capture the sound. Place the camera to where you get the best view. Listen to the mic in the room and ideally place the audio recorder where it sounds the best in your ears. Try to get a nice even stereo image and have enough headroom so you dont clip.

One thing important: the direct output from the board is not everything always. I do sound and depending the venue, I sometimes only put the vocals, DIs, keys and maybe the kick drum on the pa. If you rely on the direct out, the guitar amps etc won't be recorded. Unless you have a multitrack recorder that records the acoustic sound from the mains in stereo, AND the direct out from the board, your priority should be the house mix, not the board mix imo.

 

[J Posega]

Was just looking at those and wondering why I should splurge for the more expensive model - thanks!

Portable recorders are definitely a rabbit hole. The H6 comes stock with a mid-side mic and an XY mic. They also offer 2 different shotgun mics, plus the dual-combo jack module. It has options for high pass filtering, compression/limiting, pre-recording, auto-start, and can record a second file at a lower db level in case you get clipping.

It is a good idea to separate the video and audio as the best placement for the video recorder is not always the best place to capture the sound. Place the camera to where you get the best view. Listen to the mic in the room and ideally place the audio recorder where it sounds the best in your ears. Try to get a nice even stereo image and have enough headroom so you dont clip.

One thing important: the direct output from the board is not everything always. I do sound and depending the venue, I sometimes only put the vocals, DIs, keys and maybe the kick drum on the pa. If you rely on the direct out, the guitar amps etc won't be recorded. Unless you have a multitrack recorder that records the acoustic sound from the mains in stereo, AND the direct out from the board, your priority should be the house mix, not the board mix imo.

This is an important point. While something like the H6 lets you take all kinds of direct feeds, it can sound weird to use only those for a live video. If you can, record a soundcheck with just the recorders mic module, listen back with headphones, and figure out what elements you need more control over. By putting an aggressive high pass filter on the bass, you can save the recording from a muddy bottom end by mixing in the DI'd bass and kick signals.

 

[DirkP]

Instead of buying a Zoom recorder and a Go Pro, I definetely would have a look at the Zoom Music cams. They are very easy to set up. The audio quality is very good. The more expensive models allow 4-track recording (integrated or external mics AND board audio). The movie quality is good if you have natural light or spotlights etc.
The budget Q2 looks interesting, but what I like about my Q4 is the long lasting battery (3-5 hours). I don't even stop it during breaks or sets and don't have to care.
Zoom Q8 Handy Video Recorder

As an example: this is recorded with the camera directly set up in front of the stage.
Yes it is true that sometimes there's a compromise between audio and video positioning.


This was recorded much further away from the stage and it has the real PA-sound. The above video is dominated by the onstage sound:



But still far away from a "professional" recording. This was recorded by a pro-camera-guy with his private gear (we didn't hire him!). The audio isn't very good, but the picture quality is much better than the two examples above:



I have more expensive gear like a DSLR and a Lewitt-mic. But most of the time I use the Zoom, because it is so simple to set up, esp. with a magnetic gorilla pod.
Another alternative is an iPhone, if you already own one, with a mic like the Shure MV-88.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Portable recorders are definitely a rabbit hole. The H6 comes stock with a mid-side mic and an XY mic. They also offer 2 different shotgun mics, plus the dual-combo jack module. It has options for high pass filtering, compression/limiting, pre-recording, auto-start, and can record a second file at a lower db level in case you get clipping.



This is an important point. While something like the H6 lets you take all kinds of direct feeds, it can sound weird to use only those for a live video. If you can, record a soundcheck with just the recorders mic module, listen back with headphones, and figure out what elements you need more control over. By putting an aggressive high pass filter on the bass, you can save the recording from a muddy bottom end by mixing in the DI'd bass and kick signals.

I def plan on attending several local shows and getting whatever I buy dialed in before I record anything of my band I would put online. Also plan to do some bass play along videos to get comfortable with the gear. My main concerns are getting decent audio that’s not clipping like crazy and I’ve noticed a lot of people really struggle with filming video in low light situations which happens to be the the situation for most of our shows.

Here are some examples of stuff we’ve had other people shoot. This one i think has good picture quality but we used album audio and the video is edited down from the entire show. Would like to get close to this video wise.

This was multiple cameras years back. Def notice the phase problems cause by the different camera microphones.

 

[bholder]

I def plan on attending several local shows and getting whatever I buy dialed in before I record anything of my band I would put online. Also plan to do some bass play along videos to get comfortable with the gear. My main concerns are getting decent audio that’s not clipping like crazy and I’ve noticed a lot of people really struggle with filming video in low light situations which happens to be the the situation for most of our shows.

Here are some examples of stuff we’ve had other people shoot. This one i think has good picture quality but we used album audio and the video is edited down from the entire show. Would like to get close to this video wise.

This was multiple cameras years back. Def notice the phase problems cause by the different camera microphones.

Nice tunes!

 

[Nephilymbass]

Nice tunes!

Thank you

 

[Nephilymbass]

Wondering about the zoom q8? Seems like a decent and affordable all in one solution. Sound quality seems great, maybe not the best video quality but I’m wondering if the people that are shooting shows that look super dark are actually putting the camera on concert mode or if they are leaving it in daylight mode not knowing they can change it.

 

[bholder]

Wondering about the zoom q8? Seems like a decent and affordable all in one solution. Sound quality seems great, maybe not the best video quality but I’m wondering if the people that are shooting shows that look super dark are actually putting the camera on concert mode or if they are leaving it in daylight mode not knowing they can change it.

Yeah, that's what I've been looking at (drooling over). Not too too pricey, until you start adding options...

 

[Nephilymbass]

Yeah, that's what I've been looking at (drooling over). Not too too pricey, until you start adding options...

Well listening to the different microphones I don’t know if I’d even buy any of the optional ones they seem more geared towards things like picking up someone talking at a distance.

 

[bholder]

Well listening to the different microphones I don’t know if I’d even buy any of the optional ones they seem more geared towards things like picking up someone talking at a distance.

Yeah, the site doesn't do a great job of differentiating between them, either.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Yeah, the site doesn't do a great job of differentiating between them, either.

There are some demos of them on YouTube. the optional stereo xy mic sounds pretty similar to the stock one. Maybe slightly better. The two shotgun mics seem more geared toward capturing low level audio from a distance. I wouldn’t want to the shotgun mic with no ambient pickup because videos of shows would be loud while the band was playing but the crowd would be much quieter cheering between songs making it seem like no ones into the show

 

[DirkP]

Wondering about the zoom q8? Seems like a decent and affordable all in one solution. Sound quality seems great, maybe not the best video quality but I’m wondering if the people that are shooting shows that look super dark are actually putting the camera on concert mode or if they are leaving it in daylight mode not knowing they can change it.

My recordings were done with the Q4. The Q8 should be a bit better at low light. I mostly use the concert mode if it isn't at a sunny day and open air and you're correct: it expects professional stage lights and if this isn't the case or you're just using ordinary light as in a rehearsal space and the light isn't directed at the artists, the results are a bit "milky" and "pale".
But the concept is really convincing, esp. with a magnetic gorilla pod or the Zoom GHM-1. The later is usefull if you want to adjust the Zoom on the headstock of a guitar or bass, but I use it to adjust it, wherever I find a place.

Another advantage is the fish-eye lense that allows you to posion it very close to the stage.
But before I become a Zoom-Advertiser:
The camera quality of the iPhone since at least Model 6 is better, significantly better. Not to even mention a DSLR. But you don't get into all the problems related with these (battery life, bad audio quality with a DSLR, no fish eye lense etc.)
With good light you get surprisingly good results, no hassle with synching later (although that isn't so hard), very good audio quality and the biggest advantage for me: find a place, set it up, press record and forget it.

 

[Nephilymbass]

My recordings were done with the Q4. The Q8 should be a bit better at low light. I mostly use the concert mode if it isn't at a sunny day and open air and you're correct: it expects professional stage lights and if this isn't the case or you're just using ordinary light as in a rehearsal space and the light isn't directed at the artists, the results are a bit "milky" and "pale".
But the concept is really convincing, esp. with a magnetic gorilla pod or the Zoom GHM-1. The later is usefull if you want to adjust the Zoom on the headstock of a guitar or bass, but I use it to adjust it, wherever I find a place.

Another advantage is the fish-eye lense that allows you to posion it very close to the stage.
But before I become a Zoom-Advertiser:
The camera quality of the iPhone since at least Model 6 is better, significantly better. Not to even mention a DSLR. But you don't get into all the problems related with these (battery life, bad audio quality with a DSLR, no fish eye lense etc.)
With good light you get surprisingly good results, no hassle with synching later (although that isn't so hard), very good audio quality and the biggest advantage for me: find a place, set it up, press record and forget it.

Avoiding have to edit video and audio together is def very attractive for me. I’m not an idiot when it comes to computers but I’m not the best either.

 

[JRA]

my jazz band is dabbling in the video 'thing' (our keyboardist is young and hip and video is a hobby of his!). he/we have several editing software tools, but we use our own digital cameras (usually 2-3 of them, operated by friends/family). for sound: we record all the tracks as if in a studio (multitracked). we then marry the audio to the video. since we play jazz we are more interested in the audio, but we record video when we can find suitable camera ops.

your videos are nicely done! impressive.