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Byline: Musica Viva
There are less than ten days until entries close for the 2021 instalment of Strike A Chord! As we reach crunch time for recording and submitting entry videos, we decided to seek the expertise of ABC Classic's Digital Producer, Matthew Lorenzon who joined us for our webinar series and laid out his tips and best practices for recording your videos; from lighting to framing and everything in between!
Check out Matthew's tips for filming your entry video below.
Lighting and orientation
- Ensemble in “concert setup” (ie. facing camera in a semicircle, not directly facing each other).
- Musicians facing main source of light. A big window without direct sunshine is best.
- No bright lights in background.
Artificial lights
- “45 degree rule” (keep lights 45 degrees to the side and above musicians)
- Reflect light off a wall, whiteboard, or place a bag over the light (if it’s a low-heat LED light) to diffuse harsh shadows.
Camera and framing
- Film with rear camera (not the selfie camera).
- Camera steady on tripod or clip.
- All players visible
- Ensemble fills the frame
- Camera raised to help fill the frame and improve audio
- Lock focus and exposure on ensemble.
- Recommended video settings: 1080p 30fps
- Check there is enough space on the device so it doesn’t cut off. (>500mb)
Sound
If using external microphones:
- Record in stereo with a stereo microphone or microphone pair.
- Place microphones around two metres in front of and above musicians.
- Use “cardioid” or “omni” microphones, not shotgun.
- Test to ensure all players are clearly audible and sound does not distort at loudest point.
Action
- Don’t forget to hit record!
Watch our webinar with Matthew Lorenzon including full demonstrations below.