Video Cameras for Gigs - Help!

[Bassnkeys]

Not finding much on this topic. Starting to look at "GoPro" or equivalent type cameras that claim low light, wide lens, and ability to record loud band settings with good audio quality. I believe with GoPro, you can literally put it right in front of you, and it will still capture the band due to fisheye/wide lens. I know very little about this topic, other than my Roland MP3 recorder does a decent job handling loud gig recordings, once the recording level is set. Hoping a camera is out there with good video AND audio recording capabilities. Has anyone successfully used these for recording their band -- just for your own consumption, or maybe to post to Youtube or share via Facebook, etc.? Thanks!!

 

[DWBass]

The GoPros are nice cameras. Do they record in stereo though? I much prefer stereo vid cams. I just bought a Tascam stereo mic capsule for my iPod Touch. Haven't tried it out as yet.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The audio will sound like crap if you're trying to record the whole band. One reason is the mic will be right up against you and not the whole band. Crappy audio is the worst sin of YouTube videos. Don't even bother.

 

[seamonkey]

Get the best audio recording you can get using audio equipment.

Record some video

Then use some of the software DAWs the let you mix video and audio.
It's not a big deal to sync audio and video these days.

 

[Justice]

for quick and easy band video, i use a Creative Vado HD flip style camera. it is a little older and shoots 720p at 60fps. Is decent in low light and has a brick wall limiter built into the mic that prevents distortion. The video below was shot with it just sitting on a small tripod on a table. If I could have put it more towards to middle or to my side you would hear the bass a little better. But if you are editing in something that can split the audio from the video, you can ad some extra EQ to punch up the sound. This is the video right off the camera with the only editing being the addition of the logo at the beginning.

 

[tuBass]

I use a canon HD video camera with a hot shoe mountable Microphone. here's a shot from two cameras being run side by side. one using the built in mic, and the other using the external mic

 

[tuBass]

here's a video of our band with the same setup

 

[Bassnkeys]

tuBass, thank you very much for taking the time to demonstrate the different options! Very helpful and appreciated. Bands sound great, too.

 

[DWBass]

This was recorded with a Canon HG20 Vixia video camcorder.

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This one was recorded with a Kodak Playsport ZX3

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